The Keys: part 4

“Ironic.” Madelyn chuckled. “We built a place to forget, and we are forced to remember.”

“Remember what?!” Collin shouted. “I don’t know any-” He dropped to his knees holding his head. Groaning as he struggled until the soft strumming stabilized him again.

“You do,” Madelyn replied. “or did. Not that it matters anymore.” Madelyn grunted and flinched forward. Hat tilted down as she got up. “Unlike your battle with Inka, which she won’t shut up about. The unphasable Dreamscape brought down. Hopefully the next 16th is less of a whiner.”
“Ugh.” Collin stood up. “Does every watcher have these weird split personalities?” 

“Surprisingly, no.” Madelyn replied. “Most of them learned to get rid of their… weaker half.” rolling her eyes as she said the word weaker. “Don’t think Maddie is going to help you though.” She said stumping off key notes. “I’ve never played without her.”

Collin braced himself as she played, and caught the last note as it flew out towards him. Maddie replayed the notes in perfect harmony. The note Collin was holding shook before exploding sending to the group. “If she hates music so much why keep playing?”

“Collin, Collin” Symphony said as she circled around him. “It’s just not that simple.”

“I’m glad you helped Nikki find herself.” Maddie's voice came through. “and I’m hoping we help you,”

“Realize what a ridiculous pursuit this is.” Symphony finished, and stump again, Collin pushed himself up jumping over the shockwave as it came.

 “And what about you? What about the other watchers?” Collin rebutted. “Wasn’t this place ridiculous?” He charged forward

“Far from it.” Symphony answered strumming out notes followed by their off key counterparts. Notes flew past Collin left and right before circling and diving at him. Collin grappled Maddie as he dove at him in response. “What are you-” Notes plowed into both of them and flash out an explosion. Both laid on the ground clothes in tatters and panting.

“A tie doesn’t… count.” Maddie said. “Especially, not when you didn’t even do any damage.”

“No points for creativity?” Collin asked, and both chuckled before he sighed. “You… never said anything…”

“I was going to… last tuesday…” Maddie replied as she sat up. “Figured you’d find out yourself after that.”

“Oh… Right…” Collin sat up, and looked at her. “I still don’t know what everyone else expected.”
Maddie chuckled. “Yeah, we were a bunch of optimists, I guess. Still, I thought you liked it here... I thought you liked me.”

“I… didn’t realize I’d have to go through you…” Collin said. “You like this place that much?”

Madelyn opened her mouth and then closed it. “... Alright.... As long as I also get those points.”
Collin tilt his head. “What that’s supposed to-” Maddie locked him in a long kiss as his vision faded.

You can’t allow your most precious desire to be tainted by sour notes.

Collin watched as his wife dragged Madelyn back to their home before throwing her into her room. Turning the TV up as his wife yelled and pounded on the door to get their daughter to go to yet another concert that day. Collin watched on and doubted himself as his daughter grew more and more disgusted with her own music often purposely playing off key at home. Madelyn made little effort to hide it, and her mom made no effort to notice. Still their young girl grew into a charming woman, and never tired of writing her own melody. Over time it was simply too easy. To not travel to that section of their mansion. To ignore all the people his wife paid off. To ignore the faces of the endless music teacher. He did nothing. When Madelyn broke a piano and several other instruments he did nothing. When his wife purchased more than even they could afford, he did nothing. When more concerts they could ever do were promised to the powerful elites, he did nothing. When their only chance to save their wealth hinged on a single performance, he did nothing. And so when his daughter played a self-composed piece of disgusting harmonies of soul notes, he did nothing. As his wife sold their one and only daughter to save what little they could, he did nothing. Madelyn’s music was too dear to her to let be tainted by anymore soul notes. And it was then, she pulled back from her kiss. “Just go.” She whispered before Collin could speak. “At least you did something.”

“Maddie…” Collin hesitated. 

“I can’t answer anything else, Collin.” Maddie replied. “It’s far too early for that… and far too late for anything else.”

“But you said ties don’t count?” Collin asked.

“They don’t.” Symphony replied. “But if you were going to lose, it would’ve been tonight. I think it was clever, and she thinks you’re cute.” She winked. “Keeping you here isn’t worth the trouble, so we surrender.”