As you walked through the silent, echoing halls of the old Nevermore school building, a haunting melody began to drift towards you. Piano notes danced through corridors like whispers of forgotten stories, each chord echoing hauntingly. The music seemed to weave, wrapping around the silent lockers and beckoning you further up the spiral staircase, up towards the music classroom.

Each note was almost chaotic as if it wasn’t a sheet of music being played but rather emotions controlling the musician. The piano seemed to breathe the essence of the building, as if it vibrated and hummed the very cement of the walls.

You followed the sound, each step brought you closer to the source, the music growing more intense and enveloping. Soon, you reached the grand, old doors of the music room and gently pushed them open with a quiet creak.

A woman sat at the grand piano, her eyes closed as she allowed the music to take over; to control her. You leaned against the wall, watching her in silence. You’d heard of her before — the new music teacher at Nevermore, Ms Isadora Capri.

A few seconds rolled into a minute as the notes passed by the time and she opened her eyes. When her gaze found yours, her fingers stopped abruptly on the piano keys and her eyes widened. She quickly stood up from the piano stool and swallowed. “Ah-… sorry, I didn’t realise anyone was still up,” she explained with a small chuckle.