Unwound (The Symphony of Brass and Bone)

by Yolanda Olson

  Winter had to catch me. I lost my footing as my leg went straight through the glass. The sound of a blaring alarm suddenly started to go off and we heard the screeching of the creatures that had taken Astor and Jett get closer as they swarmed around us.

  London Bridge is Falling Down

  Winter never left my side. Even when the creatures descended upon us. Even when Karma became furious with me for damaging the gazebo. Even when the Keepers wanted me thrown to the Killing Fields.

  She beseeched them on my behalf and I wasn't sure why.Apparently she had been quite convincing as well because they forgave me my error and had the glass rebuilt immediately.

  The next few nights I spent in a cold sweat. The fever came over me and held me tightly in it's grip. Each night Winter would put a cold cloth to my forehead and would sing to me until I would fall asleep.

  I wasn't going to last long in The Program and I think she knew it as well. My days were numbered at the Orphanage and I honestly couldn't say I minded. I either wanted death or to go home.

  One night she came to me and opened an envelope that looked oddly familiar. She explained that Roman had left it in her room with a note to her to read it to me.

  I rolled on my side with my back to her to let her know that Roman's words were of no consequence to me.

  I heard her tear open the envelope as she settled into bed next to me. In her soft voice she began to read.

  "Little London, please don't hate me for not telling you about the Poison Willow.I know there is no way out of here no matter what they tell you. I thought that if you drank the sap you would know death sooner and not have to worry about Edison anymore. I promise I'll take care of him for you, but don't let them lie to you anymore. Don't. They're sending me away so I can't make this too long. If you, by some way, make it out of here alive I swear to you I'll find you and make everything up to you. I'm sorry. Roman."

  Winter sniffled a little bit as she folded up the letter again and put it back in it's envelope.

  "I'll do my best to help you anyway I can," she said changing the cloth on my forehead.

  I didn't answer. If anything I could almost swear I heard myself responding but not saying actual words. I felt like I was slowly starting to lose my mind.

  "London, who's Edison?" she asked shyly.

  "Edi—he—my—," I let out a giggle.

  Why is it funny that I can't explain who Edison is? Why can't I form a complete sentence?!

  "Never mind that for now," she said kindly. "Did you ever hear a song called London Bridge Is Falling Down?"

  I shook my head slowly.

  "Would you like me to sing it then?"

  Without waiting for my answer, she proceeded to sing.

  "London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair Lady. Build it up with wood and clay, wood and clay, wood and clay. Build it up with wood and clay, My fair Lady. Wood and clay will wash away, wash away, wash away. Wood and clay will wash away, My fair Lady. Build it up with bricks and mortar, Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar, Build it up with bricks and mortar, My fair Lady.Bricks and mortar will not stay, Will not stay, will not stay, Bricks and mortar will not stay, My fair Lady. Build it up with iron and steel, Iron and steel, iron and steel, Build it up with iron and steel, My fair Lady. Iron and steel will bend and bow, Bend and bow,bend and bow, Iron and steel will bend and bow, My fair Lady. Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold, Build it up with silver and gold, My fair Lady.Silver and gold will be stolen away, Stolen away, stolen away, Silver and gold will be stolen away, My fair Lady. Set a man to watch all nigh, Watch all night, watch all night,Set a man to watch all night, My fair Lady. Suppose the man should fall asleep, Fall asleep, fall asleep, Suppose the man should fall asleep? My fair Lady. Give him a pipe to smoke all night, Smoke all night, smoke all night, Give him a pipe to smoke all night, My fair Lady."

  I laid there in a delusional silence while she sang the song to me. I felt like London Bridge. I felt like I was falling down into an endless spiral.

  I started to slowly roll back and forth on my side. I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't want to be anywhere. Edison could do well on his own. I knew I wouldn't be any of any use to him now.

  "Wi—nt—er,"I managed to say. "Yes?"

  I reached into my pocket and made a snapping motion with the branches.

  "You want me to break them?" she asked curiously.

  I nodded and she did as I opened my mouth slightly. I let the sweet sap fill my mouth and swallowed it down as I felt the last grip of my humanity leave me. I felt a strange power starting to course through me and I sat upright. I looked Winter in the eyes who was staring at me like an innocent delicate child and looked down at the branches scattered about. I picked one up and snapped it in half. Before I knew what was happening, the room was a bloodied mess and Winter's screams of terror faded out.

  I had killed her.

  Her body was torn to pieces and it looked like she had a scarlet scarf around her neck from how I had torn it out.

  But still I felt no sorrow. No pity.

  No remorse.

  The one person who honestly wanted to help me was dead.

  With a grin on my face I walked over to the wall and licked the blood splatter. I leaned down and picked up her head and stared into her wide vacant eyes.

  I ...could get used to this. I took a rickety step forward and realized that my walking was now a saw.

  Xandy would be next.

  Then Ember.

  I take out Karma after the male Orphans and then the Keepers themselves would fall to my hand. I would tear this Orphanage to the ground and then I would find Roman and tear his heart out.

  London Bridge has finally fallen, I thought gleefully as I skipped down the hallway with her head in my hand in search of Xandy singing Winter's last song.

  Acciaccato

  I closed the journal. I felt the single tear that rolled down my scarred face. One of my many questions was finally answered.

  Parts of me ached for everything London endured. Parts of me felt weak with compassion for her losses.

  Most of me felt that hopeful feeling again when I read of Edison. I thought of him so much and to read of a time when he was alive again made the ice I had allowed to form around my heart start to melt.

  I always felt such horrible guilt when I thought of him. Not only because I had killed him, but because I also yearned for another's touch.

  I missed her smile. I missed her laugh.

  I missed the soft bright blue hair that would tickle my face when she slept against me.

  Oh Winter, I thought as I sobbed quietly to myself. I had betrayed her so many times with my love for Edison. My want for revenge against London. My disregard for her.

  How could I redeem myself to her? How could I ever let her know that I truly did love her?

  Suddenly my thoughts went back to something London had described in her journal. Wiping the tears away I flipped it to the middle and reread how she described her feelings at one point.

  At that moment I knew.

  "Cassara, get dried off and dressed," I said walking past her.

  "What's going on, Caelum?" she aked.

  I didn't answer her right away. My arm was all the way in one of the cavern's craters. I kept feeling around until my hand grasped what I had hidden away almost a year ago.

  I paired the book together with London's journal.

  "I know how to repay her for years of monstrous torture. I know how to avenge Winter. I know how we can end London, Cassara, " I said excitedly.

  I walked through the tunnels that lead up to the earth above and could hear Cassara yelling at me to slow down.

  I refused though. I had formulated the perfect plan. One more tunnel and I would have reached the surface but Cassara put all her strength into stopping me.

  "Listen to me Caelum! You haven't cared for yourself and if the humans were to see you like this,
they would tear us both to pieces before we could get very far," she said as she began dragging me back beneath the earth. "Whether you like it or not, you need to get into that pool and stay there for at least a day or two. We'll find her and we'll destroy her, but you need to be intact and I'll need to fix you up," she said gently pulling away a rotted piece of flesh from my face.

  Sighing, she took both books from me and set them down on one of the rock ledges nearby. She busied herself to give me the privacy to undress and submerge myself.

  It was a brutal shock how cold this water could be when she, Winter, and Jett had frolicked so carefree in the pool.

  "Dip your head," she commanded as she got on her knees and gently pushed me under the water.

  My eyes were closed and I lost myself momentarily underwater until my insides felt like they were starting to freeze up.

  Frantically, I clawed my way to the surface and tried to climb out, but Cassara shoved me back in. "It's okay, Caelum! Even though we're made of different things, I know what you're going through right now. You have to stay calm and in the water and belive in Winter. You know she would never hurt you in anyway."

  She was right. I knew she was and I felt my skin starting to heal itself in the water and my body starting to become stronger, I closed my eyes and let myself slip under thinking of how I had formulated the perfect revenge.

  I would go to the Orphanage. I would find the one person she had trusted for a precious moment and I would reanimate his corpse.

  If London's journal had ended the way it was I was sure that no on in the Orphanage had survived and it would shock her to see Roman alive again.

  To have Roman by my side in the fight against London would be the greatest triumph against her.

  In a mere few days I would be able to put my plan into action.

  For now I would have to wait patiently.