I’ve been hearing a sound. I’ve only faintly heard it… for a moment I thought it was just my imagination. But after this ordeal happening for a week, then two, I started doubting that this was more than just “my imagination”.
At first I didn’t know what I was hearing. It was almost mesmerizing. It was such an oddly beautiful tune. Once I started to concentrate on the noise, it almost sounded like… like a violin. A soft violin, yes that’s it.
Today marks the 2 week streak of that song playing again for its three hour segment. Every night I was plagued with that horrid tune. It was 12 in the morning. The song always plays when it’s dark, and when nobody is out, which is odd. Right now, it’s a bit early for it to play, so it surprised me when I heard that same eerie tune play.
The violin made me wonder. Where was the sound coming from? Who was the person producing such a sound? So many questions. I wondered if my parents could hear it. Maybe I’m just going insane. Just maybe.
. . .
The next morning I came down to breakfast. My mother came and as usual, greeted me with a smile and a “good morning”. I sat down, as she gave me some toast.
“How did you sleep, hun.” said my mother, her grin practically radiating. I wondered how she could be this cheery.
“Not great…” I muttered.
“Aw… well, it’s a good thing it’s a weekend. Your father is out for a business meeting, and won’t be back till Monday. I'm going to my moms, so you watch over the house while I’m gone ok? I won’t be back till tomorrow.”
“Ok mom.” I paused, “Hey mom, do you hear a violin at night playing? I’ve been hearing it… It’s usually early in the morning.”
My mom looked at me concerned, but gave a forced smile. She wasn’t hiding it very well, she always has been like that. Keeping secrets wasn’t really her thing.
“No, I did not. You say it’s early in the morning, maybe you're just sleep deprived.” offered my mother.
I’m adamant that I wasn’t, I was actually awoken by the sound. I drop the conversation though. My mother probably thinks I am insane. To be honest, I do too. I watch as my mother grabs her things, waves goodbye, and leaves.
Then it hit me. I’m all by myself tonight. I can investigate what that mysterious tune is. I began to think, what do I know about this… thing?
I knew that it was the sound of a violin, and that it always came at the early hours of morning. I once got up to investigate, when I first started hearing it. Over by the forest that I can see in my backyard, I saw a flash of something, a person, maybe? Too big to be a cat or a raccoon, maybe it was a bear? I didn’t go down and check what it was, I was way to exhausted, and all I cared about was sleep. Whatever that creature was I thought nothing of it. I just shrugged it off, thinking it just was wildlife. But only now I have come to realize it might be something more than just “wildlife”.
So I knew maybe the location of whatever is playing that violin, and at what time it appears. As I pondered about what else, I came to a sudden realization.
This thing might be dangerous. I never had thought about that. Whatever this unknown entity is, wants my attention for a reason, lest it be good or bad. I came to the conclusion I should make a note, and stick it to the kitchen counter, saying where I’m going, why I’m going, just in case I never come back.
That, is a scary thought. “Just in case I never come back”. For all I know it’s nothing but maybe a squirrel. But it’s still safe to have that note, just in case.
I look at the time. 5 o’ clock. It’s been a few hours, hasn’t it? I got up to get the mail. I noticed my neighbor, Martha, waved at me, and I waved back. She walked up to the fence that spaced our yards apart. She was a nice old lady, and I really enjoyed her company.
“Hi Martha! How are you doing?” I chirp, glad to see her.
“Oh I'm just doing fantastic, darling.” she paused, thinking. “You look quite tired, are you having trouble sleeping?”
I smile. Nothing gets past her. I then realized maybe she might know of the violin. She has been here long enough to probably know a thing or two of what goes on over here.
“Yeah, I've been having some trouble sleeping. Say… have you been hearing a violin playing? I've been hearing it nearly every night.” I ask, hoping I might get some answers.
To my dismay, Martha’s smiling face turned to a cold, pale, serious one. She seemed flustered. She suddenly leans closer to me. I too, lean closer. I want to get as much information as possible.
“I’ve heard some rumors. I’ve never heard it myself, but legend says that there is this creature that has been supposedly living in that very forest that’s behind your backyard. Legend says that whoever hears his violin is his next victim. If… if I were you I wouldn’t go to that forest.” muttered Martha.
I laughed, and smiled at Martha.
“It’s probably just a silly myth, Martha. I’m probably just hearing things. You shouldn’t worry about it!” I reassure Martha. She stared at me, for a good few seconds. I shift my weight, uncomfortable. She sighed, and turned.
“I-I have to go… Do get some sleep.” Martha said quickly, before walking back to her house and slamming the door. I found such behavior to be a little unusual for her. Yet again, I just shrugged it off. Old ladies are always dramatic.
I grabbed some pizza from the fridge, and put it in the microwave. I nibbled on it, and wrote the letter. After finishing the pizza and the letter, I taped it on the kitchen counter, and went to bed.
. . .
Right on cue, I awaken to the sound of that unknown, haunting violin. 1:00, right on time. I grab my robe, flashlight, phone, and put my shoes on. I take a deep breath, and take a step outside, heading towards the forest. I follow the sound of the violin, hearing it as it gets louder and louder, as I go deeper and deeper. I couldn’t see my house anymore which made me a little nervous, though, I already have been from the start.
I swing my flashlight around. Thankfully, I seem to be close to the source.
“Hello…?” I say tentatively.
Suddenly I see a flash go behind a tree. I swing my flashlight wildly, stunned, as my heart rate quickens. My hand trembles. I notice how dizzy I’ve started to become, as I stumble. And there, I see it.
I see a silhouette of a man. I shine it again as my vision blurs. Why is it blurring…? No matter. The silhouette was a man. He had to be in his 20’s? 30’s? He had pale blonde hair, almost white, which I thought odd. Maybe he is an albino? He wore a very long black scarf which blew in the wind. He was tall, 6 feet I estimate. He wore black gloves, and it made me wonder why he was wearing them. His whole attire was raggedy. I could see his foot hanging out of one of his shoes, and his pants were ripped to shreds at the ends. He looked like he literally ran through the entirety of the woods, and then had a fight afterward. The mud smeared all over his clothes, holes on his shirts, and rips scattering every piece of clothing on his body, just gave me an eery chill. One thing that was a little weird was that his face was turned away from me. Maybe he didn’t notice me?
“Excuse me! Excuse me sir, who are you?” I called.
The man pauses, and stops his playing, slowly dropping his bow. He puts down his violin. He slightly turns to me, still not revealing his face.
“So you noticed, my dear, of my music?” said the violinist. I was taken aback by his voice. It was so raspy, and… demonic.
“W-why, er, yes sir.” I stuttered, collecting myself.
“It’s a shame, you’re so polite. I bet you’ll be just as delicious.” chuckled the man.
He turned around and I screamed. His face… oh god his face… He didn’t have one. It was just this empty hole. Just a black void.
He snarled, and charged at me. His abnormally long tongue hung out of his mouth, pitch black. A row of sharp teeth appeared around the edges of the hole that was his face. He ripped his gloves off revealing long, black claws, in which he swiped them at me. I now realized he wore gloves to cover his claws. I dodged, and ran for my life. My flashlight started to flicker.
“No, no, no! Not now, don’t die please!!” I scream at the flashlight. It was no use. I just had to blindly run through this god-forsaken forest, for my life, from this thing.
I wail, as I see in my peripheral vision the monster trying to attempt another slash at me with his claws. I could tell this thing was hungry, he wanted food, and I was his only source of it. I run and I run, until I hear that awful violin. I didn’t know he had brought it!
My vision begins to dwindle. I start getting dizzy, and my pace starts becoming slower. No, I can’t stop, I gotta keep going! I have to get out of this forest, if it was the last thing I do, which at that moment, I started to think it really was going to be my last.
I go behind a tree, in hopes it will hide me. I was exhausted and needed a rest. I soon found out it did not provide me with the needed cover I wanted, as I saw that empty black hole right next to my face, screeching. It went from a gentleman in the woods playing the violin, to a monster that was out for my blood.
I scream, and I run once again. I was one foot away! One foot!
I suddenly hit the ground. The thing had tackled me. I had failed. I failed, and I couldn’t do anything about it. It roared in my face, and I screamed, wailed, and kicked. I tried everything in my power to stop it from doing whatever it was going to do to me.
“Nobody escapes the violinist.” it said.
The last thing I saw was the inside of the mouth of The Violinist as it took a bite out of my face.
At least, I tried.
Written by Buddy You Aint Got That Style
Content is available under CC BY-SA