The Silent Orchestra

1

Alexandria sat against the shabby wooden hut she lived in, her head buried into her arms. Rain poured nonstop from the cloud covered sky. It wasn't a violent thunderstorm; In fact, it was the strange kind of rain that is good for thinking about things you could've done differently. In Alex's case, she was thinking about how things would've changed if she'd gone to search for her friend earlier. She knew it was not safe for her friend to be out here alone. So much could happen to her out here in the wild. She could get mauled by a bear, or hit with a stray arrow. She could possibly get caught in a war zone or catch pneumonia. It was had telling what kind of ill fate could befall someone she cared about so much.
Alex's worries were interrupted by the sound of a legion of soldiers marching through the area.
Soldiers were one thing that she simply loathed. She understood that they were helping whatever country they were fighting for, and that it was wrong of her to feel that way.
But the way the soldiers walked, and their uniforms reminded her far too much of her friend, Skye.
She remembered everything about Skye. She was short and had such fast reflexes. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, and brushed her mid-back area, and she had bright blue eyes. Skye was always getting herself into trouble. Whether it was falling from a tree and earning bruises or scrapes, or running out into the rain and falling ill with a fever.
"Or traveling alone and getting herself killed", Alex thought to herself.
But the reason why the soldiers brought back memories of Skye, was the fact that she was in marching band.
The soldiers had so much similarities to the band that every time they marched by, she remembered the times when her and her childhood friend would travel to the fairgrounds after a good show.
Once again, Alex was brought back to the present. But this time, by a man clad in the typical soldier's uniform. Strands of hair stuck out beneath his tall hat. In the heavy rain, Alex couldn't tell whether  it was blonde or ginger.
"Who are you?", she muttered as she pushed herself to her feet.
No response.
"What, why won't you answer me? Do you not understand English? Are you simply retarded?" The woman's expression softened.
"Are you mute?"
A simple nod.
Alex pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, as well as a quill soaked in ink. The soldier took the items and scribbled his name on the scrap of paper.
Alex glanced down at his writing and nodded firmly.
"Roger, it is? Well, Roger. I don't understand what you're doing here, but you should go back to your group.
Roger nodded and then turned around and began to slowly walk away.
"Wait!", Alex called. The strange man turned around quickly.
"You seem rather suspicious. It's strange that a soldier would leave his troupe just to talk to some traveler like me. It's like you're obsessed! You wouldn't possibly be the scandalous criminal, Christopher Joeseph, would you?"
He shook his head violently in response.
"Okay...", the woman questioned.
"Are you even a soldier? Are you lost or something? You're just an everyday traveler who thinks you're soldier, aren't you?"
Another negative.
"Well. If you really are a soldier, go back to where you belong. A good soldier would protect his country. Go now! Shoo!"
Alex crossed her arms as Roger began to run away, attempting to catch up with his fellow soldiers.
The woman mumbled under her breath as she entered the small wooden cabin.
"That Roger boy is suspicious. I'm going to find out who the hell he is if it's the last thing I do."
"And if he is indeed the wretched Christopher Joeseph... I will end his life without any mercy or hesitation ."