The Muses Muse

Layna, what a beautiful name, everyone thought so, "Like a raindrop
that hits a flower, just rolls off your tongue" Johnny laughed, "Oh be
quiet!" Layna giggled, but she had to admit it, she was only 12 but she
did quite enjoy the attention, yet she had not quite understood the
meaning of attention until the new boy started at her school. His name
was Matthew, he was quite different to the others, silent and a loner,
he had jet black messy hair, and drawn in gaunt cheeks, his eyes were
what first caught Layna though, they weren't like any other eyes she'd
seen, they hid something, something dark and terrible. "MATT MATT THE
COWPAT!! HAHAHA!" all the other boys yelled at Matthew as he pulled
himself further away from the class, "Leave him alone! What's he done
to you??" Layna came storming across the room and pushed one of the
boys, "Alright! Alright Lane! Calm down!" and they all settled into
their seats. "Are you ok?" Layna asked with a smile, but Matthew only
stared at her, he looked deep into her eyes, and she felt something
or?heard something that she'd never felt or heard before. A slight
tingle flew across the back of her neck and she blinked and quickly
returned to her seat. That was the first time she experienced 'the
strangeness' of Matthew Bell, he soon left the school and Layna thought
she'd never see him again, until 6 years had passed, Layne had turned
18 and she was out with her friends at a restaurant when he walked in.
"M-Matthew?" Layna thought, she was sure she didn't speak out aloud,
but he turned just as if she had called out to him. He still looked the
same, except a little older, but his gaunt cheeks and dark eyes hadn't
changed. He didn't smile at her, only looked, but soon had walked by
without another glance. "Who was that Laynie?" Maggie asked, "Oh, just
someone I knew back in Primary school" Layna smiled. Once again, Layna
had the thought that she might not see Matthew again, but once again,
she was wrong. A year passed, Layna was 19, and she was in University
doing a photography project. She stayed back late to finish up. "See
you tomorrow Lane!" Trevor waved and was gone. Now she was alone, Layna
had just one last film to develop, so off she went to the dark room.
The door clinked shut behind her and the red light beamed on, Layna was
used to this, the silence, the red gleam, the reflection of Matthew
Bell in the developing fluid?. the reflection of Matthew Bell in the
developing fluid?! Layna spun around, and there he was, standing behind
her, he almost didn't look real, the red light caught his features in
odd angles, which made him look threatening. "Matthew? W-what are you
doing here?" Layna asked, "I'm here to see you" he spoke with no
emotion in his voice, "M-me?" she repeated, "What did you want?" "I
want?" but he stopped and looked away, for the first time in her life,
Layna wanted Matthew to look in her eyes, she wanted to feel and hear
what she had 7 years ago. "Matthew?" she began, he did not look at her,
"Matthew?what's wrong?" she asked, "?I?I want you to come with me" he
said, still gazing at the wall, "Where? If?if you give me a few minutes
I'll be finished up here?.we can ?" "NO!!" Matthew grabbed her arm,
fear rose up in Layna's chest and she looked at him, "M-Matthew!
P-please!!" And then he did it?slowly he turned his head and his eyes
met hers. It was as if something took over her body, she felt lifted,
free, as if nothing mattered in the world, and all she could hear was
his voice?his beautiful voice filling her head, He was singing...
rewarding her with songs, glorious songs about her. She didn't know how
long she was listening to him but it soon stopped and she was back in
the dark room with Matthew. "W-what?happened?" Layna breathed, she was
sweating and was out of breath, "I'm sorry?" Matthew replied, and ran
his hand across her cheek and she looked up at him, this time his eyes
were soft, and his voice was filled with calm. "What did you do to me?"
"I can't explain it to you? you wouldn't understand?" he backed away
from her, "Don't?don't go?" Layna said reaching for him, she couldn't
quite explain it, but although she was afraid, she still felt safer
being near Matthew. "I need you to do something for me?" Matthew began,
"Come with me" They both walked along a street darkening with every
step, Layna spoke, "Where are we going?" Matthew didn't reply, a
sadness overtook his face as they walked. They seemed to arrive at
their destination; they were now standing at the entrance to a vast
forest, pitch black and eerie, "Are we going in there?" Layna asked,
swallowing silently, Matthew nodded and looked back at her, "Take my
hand if you're afraid" Layna did just that, and she felt safer. They
walked through the forest, twigs snapping under their feet as they
went, a few branches caught Layna but she quickly shook them off. They
came to a clearing, it looked like someone had been living there for
quite sometime, a stack of logs sat in the middle smoking slightly, it
seemed someone had only recently put out a fire, the ground was worn
out as well, as if someone had been pacing up and down. "What is this
place?" Layna asked, "This is where I have been living for the last
year" Matthew replied letting go of Layna's hand and walking to the
stack of logs and began to light a piece of paper with his lighter.
Layna looked around her, the trees were tall above her and gave the
impression that they were leaning in toward her, stalking her. "I'm
afraid Matthew? why are we here?" she whispered, Matthew stood up from
the now blazing fire and walked toward Layna, "Don't worry? I'm here
with you? I'll always be with you, I just need you to do something for
me" he replied, gazing in Laynas eyes, "What?do ??" Layna said, but she
suddenly found she couldn't speak anymore, she heard Matthews voice
inside her, he was singing again, filling her mind with beautiful
songs. Without a thought, Layna turned, blankly, and began to walk
through the forest, she didn't know where she was going but all she
knew was that she had to find someone.