Last Song - Rileykinss

[Arrow Cervantes]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KO8iAKdfMw
That’s the song he sings : )

Long ago, this shack was used to house a monster, a werewolf to be specific. It was only a couple decades ago, but it gave the shrieking shack a life of its own, to have that history behind it. Now, in its loose hardware sat a boy on the ripped and vintage couch. His steel eyes looked down at his lap where a black guitar sat. His slender but muscular fingers rested against the metal strings, just thinking. He randomly strummed a couple chords trying to strike up something to play but something was wrong and he leaned back against the couch and sighed.

For some reason, his surroundings was his temporary muse, he couldn‘t think of what to play. He couldn't get much from the damp and murky walls, the creeky, moldy stairs, or the dented and abused flooring, but it was enough for him to play previous songs of his or songs he learned from others. His own material required a certain kind of muse, one he hasn't been able to find for a while. Remembering a time in the past, he remembered his cheerful, full of life mother that he used to write songs for. His music made her smile every time and back in the day…he lived for it.

Now he was alone and he had nothing to play for. Not even for himself. Sighing, he decided just to play a song from the past:

The light that's in your eyes, like everyone wants it to be
Well can't you see that it must be this way
Who knows who's wrong or right, just as long as you're here tonight
Just like my mother, always taking my likings away
When nobody's watching us

I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there too long
I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there

I miss the love, I miss the holidays
I miss my best friend, cheap cigars, stupid kids and movie stars
And just like my father, always taking my likings away
When nobody's watching us

I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there too long
I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there too long

Why does it feel like this world is just not for us
Why does it feel like this world's all they've got for us
Why does it feel like nobody's watching us

I missed her sweet smell, I miss it everyday
I miss my best friend, cheap cigars, stupid kids and movie stars
And I missed the last song and I miss you
And this time this one's for us

I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there too long
I missed the last song
I blame myself for just standing there too long
I missed the last song
I missed the last song
I missed the last song
I missed the last song

[/I]

He faded out during the last lines. His fingers slid down the metal strings savoring the feeling of the cold. Leaning his head back once more, he sighed remembering the last song he played for her…[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[giggle]

It was pitch black out. Despite the round, full moon overhead, the stars seemed completely hidden behind a curtain of silvery midnight clouds. The white iris of the moon didn’t seem to reach the earth, only illuminating through thick layers of cottony thick rainclouds. As an effect, everything was dark. Tonight, every creature seemed to be in a deep and surreal slumber. Not even the night owls dared to prowl outside their safe walls, the comfortable haven of Hogwarts, or their welcoming homes encaged in their owner’s household. It didn’t seem like anything or anyone dared stir, and much less step out into the forsaken and dangerous streets of Hogsmeade. Everyone was too afraid, on that too dark fullmoon night.
Or…maybe not everyone.

Riley stood in front of the shrieking shack, looking up at it solemnly with gleaming eyes. Morbid curiosity grew on her face. Though no one else was outside, and no one else could hear, she stood, and she listened…to the ghostly music that was so distant, it was almost impossible to hear. Her heart beat a rhythm almost too painful to contain. Was it a lament, what she was hearing? Was it a song meant only for the ears of the player? She felt almost like an intruder in the midst of a sad, unawakening lullaby.

Her curiosity seemed to be getting the better of her. She knew it would have been better to just leave whoever it was be…but Riley was too attracted to the solemn sound she heard ahead. The gap in the doors to the interior of the shrieking shack was small…but it was perfect for her slender figure to fit in. Why not? She was curious enough. She didn’t want to interrupt the person when in the middle of a song, but…he would be finished soon enough. She wanted to talk. And talking to a stranger with a guitar and a voice that melted her heart seemed to be her idea of a good night.

He was half obscured in shadow. It was as if he couldn’t hear anything but the own strumming of his guitar, and the sound of his own voice. She stared at him, hidden in a corner, trying to keep herself as quiet as possible. How could it be possible that such beauty could confine itself in darkness? The image of a boy, quite handsome it seemed, in darkness was so breathtaking to her. Like a picture she wanted to paint. Almost as if she wanted to touch him. But she could only suffice with staring.

As he played the final note, Riley stepped out of her little shadowed corner. “Wow,” she said, her voice slightly less smaller then what she wanted it to be. “I didn’t know there were still people out there who listened to muggle music…let alone play the guitar”

[Arrow Cervantes]

When he entered the unaware state of playing, he did not notice the girl sneaking around, hiding herself in the darkness of the corner. If he did, he probably would not care, for he did not like interrupting his songs. They were...pages of his life, so to speak. The lyrics the words, the music the meaning behind them. No one but the author knew what he truly meant. His life was a epic poem. Stanzas upon stanzas built themselves on top of each other creating a work of tortured beauty that no one could possibly understand. It was not fathomable.

Words broke through the quiet trance he entered after the song had end; the feeling the notes had created still intertwined in the atmosphere. The voice that spoke was feminine and sent a chill down his spine that he did not particularly welcome. Steel eyes pierced through the darkness as they focused on the girl who didn’t seem to fit amongst the shadows. To him, she did not belong in his sanctuary. His gaze hardened and he looked away, choosing to stare at the shadows dancing on the wall. How he wished he had built a fire in the fireplace as he was starting to feel the chill of the night.

To me, it’s not Muggle music and I was taught when I was young. He said looking back at her with a glare. How dare she insult his music to something as generic as Muggle music? Sure he might play a song created by a Muggle musician, but in his personal belief, it was the player who created the feeling behind it. Imagine the most happiest person playing that song, it would be awkard and no one would really get it or why the person even played it to begin with. Even though he gave something away that was personal about him, the girl was not welcomed.

Why are you here? His voice had become stoic, glazed over with feelings of resent toward the girl. Would she catch his drift, or would she stick around? Arrow preferred the former option…

[/size]

[giggle]

Cold. His voice was definitely cold. And yet, Riley couldn't help but smile. He had passed her first test. Disregarding the music as only muggle. In truth, she had been surprised when she heard the song, and was able to make clear exactly which song it was. Not many would be caught playing such forbidden music nowadays. Riley was ecstatic with the boy, though he remained so very cold. She didn't really seem to mind one bit. He had passed the test...which was all she cared about. And he seemed mad, too, that she would use such an off-cast name. "Don't be angry," she said lightly, "I'm only being cautious. How do I know you're not some undercover death eater trying to lure in poor, innocent music lovers like myself?" She let a dazzling smile show. "Besides, you aren't half bad," she said in an understatement.

His tone was not inviting. In fact, it was almost pleading for her to leave. Riley put her hands on her hips, a small frown forming on her face. Why was she here? Why would anyone sneak into the shrieking shack in the middle of the night? A witty half smile emerged on her lips. She chose to answer...what did she have to lose anyway? "I came to investigate." She leaned against the wall and stared back into cold, steel eyes of pure...loathing. A small drop of pity fell into the pit of Riley's stomach...but she chose to ignore it, instead deciding to continue speaking to him...for some reason, she was curious. "I could ask you the same thing, but...I guess I already know."

[Arrow Cervantes]

Looking back at the shadows, he closed his eyes and took an inaudible deep breath, trying to lessen his annoyance toward the girl. It didn’t quite work, she was still there, and her voice was still going at it. New people never really seemed to strike Arrow as someone to talk to, someone to listen to, or even someone to make friends with. His cold and hating wall kept them away and they usually left him alone in a matter of minutes. Maybe the girl will leave soon?

Oh yeah, because the only muggle lovers I would get are the stupid, too-curious-for-their-own-good, muggle lovers that are hardly around anymore. Yeah, great plan. His voice filled with annoyance. A little voice in the back of the head whispered but isn’t that what a muggle lover is? He ignored it, trying to ignore the prejudice of a former time. It was part of a past that he tried to erase from memory but his nightmares wouldn’t let him.

He chose the time to actually observe his persistent annoyance. She was definitely shorter than the six foot three inches Slytherin, and her light blue eyes showed a kind of soul he hadn’t seen in a very long time. Choosing not to really focus on her hair or body or anything, he turned around thinking about her eyes. He chose to answer her at that point in time. Choose to think what you want to. Now, why are you staying? It came out cold like usual, but a small bit of Arrow wondered why she hadn’t left already. But there was no way he would let anyone, especially this girl, that he was truly not this cold, hollow shell that wanted separation from the idiotic world around him.

[/size]

[giggle]

Her eyes shined slightly in wonderment at the hint of annoyance in his rough voice. It made her wonder…had she seriously interrupted something incredibly important? And yet…he continued talking. He wasn’t just ignoring her. So she couldn’t have interrupted that badly. Riley tilted her head to the side, studied the boy deeply, then smiling slowly at his answer. ”Yeah, I guess that’s true…but we’re still around.” She let out a tiny, musical giggle. ”You know you miss us. The world just wouldn’t be the same.”

She pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes focusing more intently on his before he turned his head, now very clearly ticked off. Silver eyes of pure angry loathing seemed burned to her vision. Common knowledge helped her realize that a person didn’t just have those eyes…something had certainly seemed to happen to this boy. But for the moment, it was none of her business. His tone clearly spelled out one thing: he wanted her to leave. But Riley didn’t want to leave. She liked the cool sanctuary of the darkened shrieking shack. She liked being in the presence of someone who didn’t seem to mind muggle things, and didn’t seem to judge people by status…she didn’t think. That’s what it seemed like, anyway. She realized she wanted to feel free for a little while longer…and she felt free in the shack. No…she didn’t want to leave. And she wouldn’t.

”I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong about what you’re thinking. Maybe…just maybe…I’d like to know.” She offered a charming smile, and a tiny wink. Her flirtatious character shined through, but she was still able to keep modest and playful, while letting truth shine through in the same sentence.

[Arrow Cervantes]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ

Rolling his eyes, not caring if she could see or not, he looked down at his guitar and just…started strumming which ended up leading into one of the most beautiful songs he had ever heard. He had only heard the song once straight through and he remembered every pluck and string there was needed to play in that six minute song. What world? Surely not the one I live in, I don’t like to associate with the one you live in. Or was it that he ran from that world? Afraid with the past catching up in a moments notice and becoming overwhelmed with the regret and hurt he knew that would crush him. He didn’t want that. The peaceful world that consisted of the Shrieking Shack and perpetual darkness was all he needed. No company. No feelings. Just getting by day by day doing what he needs to do.

When he had stopped playing the guitar to glare at her out of annoyance, the lack of music in the air created from the acoustic beauty in his lap made him realize that it just…wasn’t worth it. Why did he have to stop creating the sound that made him sane just to take his repressed resent out on someone else? His eyes softened up a bit realizing what was going on and began to play the same song. It was a melancholic sound that sent chills through his body just playing it. Her annoyance wasn’t worth interrupting his peace.

His fingers kept dancing on the guitar. His silver-steel eyes looked over at the girl taking in the scene. Since he did not light the fire, he realized the only light he had to look at the girl was the moonlight. There was no other source of light in the house but fire and he lit none yet. Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you… His mind whispered out the lyrics and he turned back to the guitar. He would not let her into his world. She would be an intruder. Correction: she was an intruder. There is nothing I want to tell you. It wasn’t the first time a girl tried to flirt their way into his life.

[giggle]

"This world," Riley said in confusion. "This one world. The one we all live in, demons and angels alike." By the way he spoke, it sounded like he had made himself an outcast to society. He certainly looked like one. Riley could understand why he would. The world was a cruel and hateful place, where it just hurt to be yourself. If she could have the power to leave humanity, she would. But she just couldn't imagine being in a cold and emotionless loneliness. She needed people, to love and to hate, and she strongly believed everyone needs someone.

Silently, she watched. She was awestruck with the gentle movements of his hands against the bronze and silver colored guitar strings. Her head tilted slightly to the side, as slowly the peaceful and strangely quiet music engulfed her body. And again, he was beautiful. A lone angel, playing an acoustic, clearing the mind of all senses. And yet, she was confused The tone of his voice, inexplicably harsh, didn't seem to fit with the rest of his image...not when he was playing the guitar at least. When he played...he was peaceful. Real.

Through a window, the clouds suddenly parted. A bright ray of moonlight shone through, and Riley found herself staring deeply up at the beauty of the pure light. The rest of the room flooded with the sudden illumination, and every single broken chair and spider web shone with beauty. She turned her head, and for a moment she caught a glimpse of something unknown in his eyes. It was the way Felix used to look at her...but it had a profound beauty deep within his eyes. Awestruck, she let out a breath of amazement. But the look in his eyes only lasted a moment, and instantly it disappeared into nothing. It was as if she had imagined it. Riley blinked in confusion, then huffed in exasperation with herself.

His eyes were sharp suddenly. They glared at her, as if she were the cause of all the torture in the world. Appalled, she blinked at him...had she actually gone too far with only a few sentences? No, that couldn't be it...he just had a hard time letting people in. A normal person would have left him alone. But Riley's growing need to help as many individuals as she could, especially since Felix, made her determined to stay. Even if it meant he'd have to kill her to get rid of her. "That's fine," she said, smiling and shrugging off regection. "There's nothing you have to tell me. So how about we start again. Hello, angel of the acoustic. I'm Riley Fenmare" She hoped he wouldn't recognize her aristocratic last name as she walked toward him and stretched out her hand in greeting. "What's your name?"

[Arrow Cervantes]

Looking over at her he had a hardened look in his eyes. People who confronted him always tried to get him to see that it was better being social. That it was better joining the wizarding world rather than just wander among it. He was a wanderer, it was all he’ll ever be as long as he suffers from his past mistakes. But there is always the purgatory. There are others, not just me, that choose to separate themselves from this repetitive world we live in. We wander, we have no name, we have no place or time. He said looking straight into her vibrant blue eyes with his cold, dying steel eyes. There wasn’t anything to save, why bother trying? He was just another scratch on the world’s surface, no better than the demons the girl spoke of.

The strings beneath his calloused fingers felt like heaven to him. They meant everything to him; to be able to manipulate and control what sounds they make gave him a sense of power that he wouldn’t find anywhere in the world he, unfortunately, lived in. Why would he? The power went in the hands of the ‘pure’ and even though his ‘blood’ was ‘pure’ he considered himself far from it. Frets and chords, notes and scales, they were a weave of pure…beauty, that he doubt he would find in any human being. Although…and he found his eyes wandering to the corner of his vision where he saw the girl watching him, entranced as if he was luring her in with his music.

The end of the song was nearing and it was disheartening to him, it was his favorite song to play. It took so much heart and soul to play this song perfectly, it was the last lingering reminder that he even had a heart left. He was too consumed in his song he forgot the girl that was sitting there.
well, maybe there's a god above
but all i've ever learned from love
was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
it's not a cry that you hear at night
it's not somebody who's seen the light
it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
Would she know the significance behind that stanza? Would she understand that he was not some angel? That he was a broken individual that was crying out for some meaning in the world, some…saving grace to shine on him just like a fairytale ending. But that light dared not penetrate the Shrieking Shack. The two were complete opposites. Tortured souls rested in the depths of this fortress.

His fingers rested against the metallic strings, just peaceful enough to have the feeling of the possibility of exerting his control under his fingertips. Leaning his head against the back of the couch, he closed his eyes hearing the girl become impatient about something when he looked away from her. When she began to speak again, he peeked out from behind one lid and looked over at her. Angel? And he snorted in laughter and closed his eye once more, thinking about her name. Riley…it was a different name from the rest of the plastics in the school. He liked that name…

Arrow Cervantes.

[/size]

[giggle]

A strange sort of sadness seemed to suddenly fill up Riley's heart. It accelerated painfully as, with a heavy soul, she heard his tiny speech. Wanderers...those who wandered didn't have a home. And without a home, they were alone...the way Riley felt. But she wasn't a wanderer. She was just a girl, trying not to be alone, and trying to cure those desperate for solitude and empty loneliness. "What about love or hate? Feelings. Do you not have those either?" She shook her head, but tried to smile, but suddenly she could feel her senses being engulfed by memories of the past. "I'm alone. Without a home. Without love. Without you...so what is the point in feeling anymore?" Those words, spoken to her only once, were engraved into her head. She tried not to think of them, but they were there. She was under torment of the past once again.

Riley was a relatively happy person...anyway, she tried to be. But certain walls she struggled every day to put up, just to keep her image in tact, started shattering suddenly. His voice cried out to her, in a way she had never imagined it before. Her heart fluttered painfully, and her eyes stung with the sudden need to just break down and cry. She didn't know why, but everything about this boy, down to the last note he played, reminded her fully of Felix. And yet, they were polar opposites. The boy before her was nothing like the boy she lost. And still, her heart throbbed painfully in the same longing she couldn't understand. A lone tear fell from her face as she looked at him, a tortured soul...what in the world could have happened to him?

His harsh laugh broke her spell. She looked up suddenly, realizing once more where she was, and what her purpose was for being there. Her walls, collapsed, seemed to struggle to rebuild themselves, and in the effort she was able to give him an impressively passable smile. "Maybe you don't believe it. But you're not as walking dead as you may think."

She felt a shiver run down her spine. His name...she liked it. A lot..."Arrow," she breathed, her eyes lifting to his face, studying it as he sat back with his eyes closed. A perfect name for a perfect face...

[Arrow Cervantes]

Feelings. The word echoed in his mind as he sat there staring out the window trying to think he felt these so called feelings. Yes, he did have his best friend Ray. She was there when he let her to be. But, for some reason he shuts her out most of the time. Or else, she would know about the Shrieking Shack. She would have known he was there playing his melancholic melodies. Feelings. Hate: surely he felt that. He hated people and their actions and their superficial thoughts. He hated the world and how the events that it causes ends up leaving many hurt. He hated himself, for being the monster in the past he knew he was. He tortured an innocent soul. Over some anger. Over the death of his mother. Aiden and him ran with the wrong crowd. They saw evils most would never imagine. He hated evil. He hated good. Hate…yes. Love? No.

He didn’t even know if he could believe in the word anymore. The only love he has seen since his mother died is the love between Aiden and his daughter Gracie. But parental love…can’t compensate for all the pain someone goes through in their life. He would wake up, his small bedroom dark with only the lingering sunlight that managed to peek through the curtains shielding him from the harsh glares of the sun. He would lay there and wonder what reason does he have to get out of bed. What was his place in this world. Why do you even care? He turned and saw the lone tear that ran down her cheek. Why….why are you…crying? He stuttered to find the right words. It shocked him someone was that…emotional in his presence. Usually people are just annoyed or they hate him. Except for Aiden and Ray. His steel gray eyes were locked on her broken yet beautiful figure as he watched the tear slide down her delicate cheek.

He snorted in laughter again at her words and shrugged. Think what you may. He said in a cold voice. Thinking about the girl in his company he decided she wasn’t that bad…but could he let her past his walls? Most likely not.

[/size]

[giggle]

He was such a cold person. His world must have been filled with so much hate and suffering...he was in so much pain. She could start to feel it now, how deep his lonely emptiness grew. She could almost begin to understand. But a life without love...it was something she couldn't imagine. It shredded her to pieces, the simple four letter word. But she still found herself engulfed in the meaning. Love...believing in it was the only way she found she could go on. "To know hate is to once have known love..." she whispered, again letting one of Felix's quotes float through her head. She took a step toward him, but averted her eyes gently. She didn't want to see to probing as she asked her question: "What happened to you?"

She held his strong gaze. So many people ran from him...Riley could see that. She refused to run. There was nothing to run from. He was only hurt. And obviously, no one seemed to care. A ghost of a smile shined through her smooth face. "Because I just do," she answered. It was the only answer she could find anyway.

Taken aback, she tried to blink the tear away. But it had already fallen, and hastily, she tried to wipe it away unnoticed. But he had already seen it. Trying to hide the growing empathy she felt for him, and the way he seemed to make her suddenly feel, she let out an exasperated sigh. "I'm not crying. What are you talking about?" she tried to scoff, but...Riley was just not a scoffing kind of person. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him...in case another tear decided to fall.

She took another hesitant step toward the couch he sat at. He seemed indifferent suddenly, and it made Riley shrug. "Fine. I'll think what I may. And I'm sure I'm right, Arrow Cervantes." Her smile was genuine this time.

[Arrow Cervantes]

What happened to you…

Those four words were repetitive; banging on the sides of his mind, unrelenting, forcing memories of his monster back into consciousness. What caused it? What let it happened? What happened to him? It was all pointed at one thing: his anger. Death is a natural event of the life cycle, something everyone has to go through and eventually do themselves. Everyone lives…and then they die. His behavior after the death of his mother was just as stem of his anger he had with the world. He blamed the wizarding world for the death of his mother. He blamed the good side for the death of his mother. She was on the order. Shouldn’t they have protected her? Shouldn’t they? Aiden wasn’t happy with the Order at all either. He didn’t approve of their methods and the holes in their system. Together, they joined a gang of people who were neither good nor bad but decided to raid villages both muggle and wizards alike. They burnt houses. They tortured people. They reminded them all that no one would help them.

Then…it happened. The event that left him this hollow man that he is today. Gripping his guitar tighter he closed his eyes only to see the searing flames of the deadly fire and opened them up again. Myself. His very cold voice had grew deadly and he didn’t want her to question it further. Turning to his guitar he strummed only a couple chords before he took his anger out on something…or her. That wouldn’t be good. He only learned how to control his anger through the guitar recently. He wasn’t very good. It’s not everyday you find someone who cares for no reason His cold voice muttered in thought.

Rolling his eyes he put his guitar down on the table and kicked his feet up next to it. The couch was very comfortable, his favorite ‘sitting-thinking’ spot in the entire school. You want to know me and help but yet you won’t admit that you are crying. It’s not a one way street/ He said draping his arms over the couch. His head slightly turned to her and his steel eyes staring at the back of her head. Now that she was turned he observed her some more. Her long brown hair was amazing to him. He wanted to run his rough fingers through it and see if it was as soft as it looked. Her body was small, as if she recently went through a period of not eating. Her style of clothing was not like the other girls and Arrow found himself attracted to the girl.

Turning his head, he realized the girl was heading over to the couch. If you want just sit down. You don’t seem like you’re going anywhere soon. He said the last part in frustration. The longer she stayed, the more likely he was going to start to like the girl. He didn’t want to let anyone in. Why was she working her way into his lonesome world?

[/size]

[giggle]

There was a change in his voice. It was more intense by far then she had heard it that night. And yet, it held only one word. "Myself...." But what had he done? There was definitely something tormenting him, and it was engraved in his past. Riley sighed sadly, trying to figure him out...but she could get the hint. His tone was dismissive...he didn't want any more questions. She could understand...she had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last of their conversations. She would ask some other time, when he was ready to respond. As long as he knew she would be there for him...though why she decided that after only a moment of knowing him, she had no idea. "Not everyone cares. I do. That's the difference between me and the rest of the world. But does that really even matter?"

She turned her head, giving him a profile of her face, and glanced at him through the corner of her eyes. He was right, she supposed...but this was the first time someone actually asked her. It was usually her concerned for other people...never the other way around. She blinked hesitantly. "Its nothing. I'm just strangely emotional like that. You play beautifully, what can I say?" Admitting to her heartbreak was not something she was ready to do yet. She didn't even admit it to herself, that the absence of Felix made her hurt in ways she never imagined to feel pain.

Though he invited her to sit down, it didn't really seem like he wanted her to. There was still something in the way he spoke that had him begging Riley to leave. But she wasn't about to do that. So instead, she smiled, and took a couple steps forward, sitting next to him gracefully...the way only a debutante knew how to sit. Courtesy of royalty. "What brings you out here to seek this solitude, then? Why so lonely?"