User:Darkenlightenment

Yes I also posted this story on /r/nosleep ... It didn't grab much attention, so I thought I would try here.

The Musician - When I was a little boy (ten I believe) I would often wander my neighborhood at sunset. I figured I lived in a safe enough neighborhood so I thought nothing of it. I had a very typical, close-knit suburban town but, it was quite small. Everyone knew everyone and they all seemed to be quite friendly. But, to get back on track, I was walking to the corner store one day, I was barely down my street when I noticed something very peculiar...

A music store was at the end of the street. At this point I was interested because I walked this route often, and never once saw any sign of construction. The building that occupied that space was always vacant to my knowledge. I walked up to the large window in front of the music store. I examined it closely. I stared at the crude wooden sign that had the words The Sound of Music painted on it.

"That doesn't look very professional." I said to myself. I carefully studied every instrument from the smooth wood of the guitars, to the sharp strings of the violins. I then looked at a very beautiful, very sleek, upright double bass. You know, those large instruments they use in Orchestras? Anyway, I was simply fascinated with the thing and I didn't know why. Maybe it was because I had heard it being played before. I loved the way it sounded, how low and beautifully its' notes would resonate. Then, as if by command, sweet, soft bass music started playing from behind the store. It was getting dark, but I was entranced by the music, I wanted to go closer. The sharp yell of my mother's voice broke the trance. "It's time to come home Dear!" she exclaimed with a hint of panic, which I found to be unordinary for her. The music stopped...

I wondered if it was ever there, but I returned home. The next day, after school, I decided to make the same rounds as yesterday. Surely enough the music store was still there. I stood in front waiting for the music to begin. I waited and waited...and waited. Still nothing, it was closer to dark then yesterday and I was started my journey home... I heard the music again. I quickly went behind the store only to be greeted by a grown man who obviously hadn't bathed in weeks, maybe months. He was playing a bass, but it didn't look like the one in the window, it as as dirty and rugged as he was. I'll never forget his words, "Welcome" he said with a hideous rotten grin. "H...Hi" I managed to stutter. "I see that you noticed the bass in the window" he said. I nodded and he simply smiled and continued to play. Then, for the second time he was interrupted by my mother "Honey!, it's getting dark, please come here!" She sounded worried. When I started to walk away... the man grabbed me.

"Where are you going?!" he asked me in a gruff serious tone. "I have to go home now!" I replied worriedly. He maintained his grip, looked up for a moment then back at me. "If I let you go, do you promise to come back tomorrow?" he asked. I nodded. When he eased his grip I ran hurriedly to my home and asked my mother why she was so worried about me getting home these past two days. She simply pointed to the paper that was lying on the coffee table. I glanced over at the headline and was immediately filled with terror, it read: Kidnapping Sends Quiet Town Into an Uproar.

Through loud sobs I told my mother everything about the store and the strange man. Not only but a few moments later I heard loud sirens, screaming, and what I thought to be gun shots coming from down the street... I decided to still go to school tomorrow even though my mother was against it. As we slowly drove down the road I lived on, I stared out of my window observing a painfully familiar building. It was the "Music Store" although now it was as empty and bleak as I remembered it being, previous to the whole event. I always wondered what happened to that beautiful bass, but I never walked down that road again...and I wouldn't have it any other way.