River’s head was swimming. She had been sleeping, but the noises were starting to come back. They were usually whispers, but tonight, they were stranger...

It was like static.

She could recall flipping through a radio when she was very little and the strange surge of noise it made between music and voices. That’s what River heard in her head.

Static.

Synthesized music.

Static.

A piece of an operetta.

Static.

A diplomat speaking in a foreign tongue.

Static.

A Jazz band playing a high spirited song.

Static.

An announcer came in announcing a program playing that night. In a smooth and somewhat fuzzy voice, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present, a picturesque score of passing fantasy...”

Soft footsteps sounded in the room, passing through the static in River’s head. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up. “Hello?”

“I was wondering when you were going to wake up.”

River jumped as she looked across the bed. A girl with short black hair and a red dress and coat sat on the other end, smiling at her. “Who are you?”

The girl pushed some of her hair out of her face and continued to smile a sinister smile that gave River chills. “Just a passing fantasy...”