underneath.
"Safe or not, I'm pretty sure we don't have a choice," Isabella replied. "There don't seem to be any holes in the roadbed that I can see. We have to take that chance. Come on." They got back in the van. Nora, Leah, and Maryann said prayers their respective deities, and Isabella slowly steered the van forward.
Maryann was right; the van was a tight fit. And with all their equipment, it was extra heavy too. Perhaps luckily, the sound of the swollen river below them drowned out the creaking of the boards as Isabella inched the van across. But finally they emerged from the cramped bridge to a dirt road on the other side. Immediately the passengers pulled out their phones.
"We have bars!" Maryann said.
"Good. Then put up the GPS unit and let's get out of here," Isabella said.
"Speaking of bars, I am starving," Leah said, "Anyone want a granola bar?" she asked, pulling a bag out from underneath her seat. "So what happens to Bridgetown?"
"There's nothing we can do about it," Isabella said. "Not until the mayor wants to break that spell."
"But other people are going to get trapped there," Maryann replied.
"Yes. I know. But there is nothing we can do about it," she said sternly.
"I hate that, you know," Nora said, crossing her arms. "I hate it when we come across these things we know are going to hurt someone else and there's nothing we can do. We couldn't leave a note. It would just disappear. And since Albert ran off like that, we couldn't even tell him there was another way out."
For a moment they were silent.
"Nora, find me a gas station, okay?" Isabella said.
And the band continued on their way.
The Lyrics:
You're on the road to anywhere
The destination isn't the goal
You'll know when you get there
This life is just how you roll.
You've learned a lot on your own
But sometimes you would like to share
You are comfortable being alone
But it'd be nice for someone else to care.
Refrain: You've crossed the bridge to nowhere
Look any and everywhere for another route
But don't give up hope for despair
You aren't trapped; there is another way out.
You met another who was so free
You thought yourself well aware
But then he got down on one knee
And you got up caught in the affair.
At first his presence was a perk
As he behaved with such a flair
But after a while it felt like work
And his attention was heard to bear.
Refrain:
Your feelings turned to woe
And you laid your soul bare
But concern he refused to show
So you decided to go elsewhere.
You didn't cry or debate or argue
You just up and walked out of there
Running down a forgotten avenue
Trusting the road to get you somewhere.
And you're on the road once more
And won't be caught unaware
You're more careful when you explore
And avoid the bridge to nowhere.
Track 12 - Saving Grace
The Interview:
Jana: Okay, we're nearly through the album. This next-to-last track is, well, how can I describe this?
Nico: A restrained power metal ballad?
Jana: Yeah, something like that. I didn't even know that was a-a thing, you know? And is there an electric harp?
Lenore: It's not electric, but yes, there's a harp in the background orchestration.
Nico: Who even plays a harp?
Lenore: Obviously, one of us does.
Anna: We like doing something new and unexpected.
Nico: This is definitely different. It's also an unexpected follow-up to "Bridge to Nowhere," which, as we just talked about, is about a bad break-up. This song seems to be the exact opposite.
Jana: Yeah. This is definitely someone singing about the person they can't live without like their soulmate or something. It uses overblown religious metaphors, but that's something that shows up in a lot of songs.
Belle: I suppose that's one way to look at it.
Nico: What's another way of looking at it?
Lenore: Huh. I really didn't think we were being that subtle with this one.
Jana: Wait, what are we missing?
Lee: Yeah, I thought we were being sort of obvious too. I guess not.
Nico: Come on, what's your take on this song, since it's obviously not ours.
Anna: Oh, no, your opinion is fine, it's just not necessarily what we were going for, and that's okay. Everyone's allowed to like something for different reasons.
The Story:
"Maryann, are you okay?" the short brunette asked the taller redhead who was sitting across from her in the cargo van.
She sighed. "I'm still worried about Derek, that's all, Leah."
"We'll be in New Roads soon," said Isabella, a blonde in the driver's seat of the van.
"Are you going to be okay with going back so soon?" asked Nora.
"Well, probably not. I still have dreams about Mee-maw, you know? She's still alive and I'm really confused because I know she died but I want her to still be alive. And then I wake up and I feel sad."
The band was silent for a minute. Maryann sighed and blew her nose.
"So what do you think is wrong?" Isabella asked.
"I don't know," she answered. "I asked Derek and he says nothing's wrong. But I just don't believe it."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm dreaming about Mee-maw every night. I never did that before, not even right after she-she died."
The other three had been with Maryann a long time and knew she often had psychic dreams but on the other hand they knew she missed her grandmother terribly, and were inclined to doubt if her dreams were due to anything but grief. Still, they were willing to take a huge detour and miss a gig to set Maryann's mind at ease. As they approached the town, the weather turned from overcast to light rain to heavy rain with thunder and lightning.
"Does this seem ominous to anyone else?" Leah asked. "Just me?"
"No, this is weird," Isabella replied.
"I really wish Derek would just tell me what's going on," Maryann sighed.
Isabella slowed down as they drove through New Roads. "Guys, this is bad. I mean, this is really bad."
"How bad?" Nora asked.
"It's just bad. This is all bad. There's nothing natural about this storm and I am seeing some weird auras." She also thought she was hearing an odd noise in the wind, but since the others weren't saying anything, she decided not to mention it.
"Do you need to switch out?"
"No, we're almost there," she replied. "And we're the only ones on the road. Haven't you noticed that?"
"I feel like we're in a horror movie and just took the fatal wrong turn," Leah answered. "Maryann, did you tell Derek we were coming?"
"Yes, and he told me everything was fine and not to worry."
"And did you tell him we'd be here anyway?"
"Yes. But he, um, didn't reply. He actually hasn't replied to anything in two days. That's part of why I'm so worried," she said.
Isabella parked the van by the side of the road across the street from the church. "Umbrellas or run for it?" she asked.
"Umbrellas," Nora said immediately. "He may not even be here. It's raining so hard I can't even tell if any lights are on."
They fished out two large umbrellas and made a break for the wooden double doors. Neither their haste nor the umbrellas made any difference; they were soaked. Maryann and Leah banged on the doors and called out but the storm was nearly right overhead and they could hardly hear themselves shouting. They were just about ready to return to the van when the doors finally opened.
"Maryann!" said a good
looking, dark-skinned man who was a great deal older than he looked. "I told you not to come!"
"I'm here now. Please let us in," she said.
He moved to the side and they stumbled in and dripped water all over the floor.
"I'm sorry, Derek," Maryann said. "But I know something's wrong. I've been having dreams. And then you stopped replying to my texts and emails. You didn't even answer my calls!"
He hugged her and then kissed her.
"Um," Leah muttered. "Maybe I should ask Maryann more about the guys she hooks up with."
"Or maybe not," Nora said in an equally low voice.
"You should not be here," he replied breathlessly. "But I am glad to see you. You've been having dreams about your grandmother, haven't you?" he asked, shutting the doors and locking the doors behind them.
"Yes. How did you know?"
"It's a good guess given how I got this place."
The nave was lit by camping lamps set on picnic tables. There were blankets and sleeping bags propped against the walls.
"The power's been out for days," he explained. "Stay here. I'll get you some towels." He walked into the back to what had once been the minister's quarters.
"That is really weird," Isabella said as she looked up into the dark rafters.
"It's sparkling," Maryann said.
"No, those are fireflies," the blonde replied. "But I don't know why they'd come in here. I mean, it is raining outside, but this is really strange. Even for this place." She blinked a few times. "Do you guys mind spirit sight?"
"Are we going to regret it?" Leah asked.
"I don't know, but it might be helpful to figure out what's going on here."
"I'll just ask Derek," Maryann said.
"I'm not sure he'll tell us, or if he even knows." Isabella concentrated a moment and cast a spell to allow herself and her friends to see into the spirit world.
"Those aren't fireflies, are they?" Leah asked once the spell took hold.
"Of course they're fireflies," Derek responded, overhearing her question.
When they looked at him they