Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 388

itself. The door swung open automatically, and then they felt a hot gust of air close in on them, pushing towards
the building.
The inside of the building were the most curious, for the walls were gray marble, with beautifully curved gold
pillars, imitating a cage. Suddenly, a loud slam sounded behind, the door had shut, there was nowhere out.
Then, from way above, a sharp, clear note sounded. A flaming creature was circling the top, bathing in the center
of the sun rays, singing a strong melody, full of feeling. A Phoenix! Giselle instantly realized. She read enough
books to recognize this mythical creature. She had never seen a Phoenix sing so enchantingly, for the myths
always said they had terrible singing, but before she had thought things through, the bird descended on them
with a majestic sweep of its wings. Miraculously, when the bird touched ground, it transformed into a gorgeous
girl of about 20. A waterfall of silver hair, dressed like a Chinese empress, holding a polished violin and bow in
hand, she looked cold and regal at the same time. In the meantime, Zach’s mind was working furiously, “there
must be some sort of connection between the card, feather, fortune teller and this girl. Hmmm...so the feather
must be crucial, for we keep seeing red and gold everywhere. The card and the fortune teller were only directing
us here... I know! That feather is the Phoenix’s, but how about the girl? Could she be the Human form of the
Phoenix? The bird did disappear the moment she appeared...” At the same time, Giselle told him, “the title of
the book! “it explains something! “Oh! So you mean that the sun and the Phoenix are connected? That might be
a possibility...”
That moment, the girl raised the violin and played a sweet song, but the aftermath was far from sweet. A ray of
sun, shot from the sky, as if it was controlled. It crashed to the ground, creating a fire barrier between the girl and
the children.
“Solve this mystery, and the fires will stop.” The girl had a raspy voice, unlike the sound of her violin. Wait the
violin! Giselle suddenly saw through. She said to Zach, “the girl is the Phoenix! And that violin controls the sun!
Every time she plays a tune, the sun’s rays direct themselves to her will, destroying things just for fun! Or other
reasons,” she added.” But I’m fairly sure that violin is the cause of all this!” Before Zach could reply, the girl
interrupted, cold as ever” that’s right! And as promised, the fires will stop, but you find eventually that it’s not me
you need to get rid of.” saying that, she transformed and flew away, her tails feathers fluttering in the breeze. The
violin and bow clattered to the floor.
Zach took the violin in his hands and Giselle the bow. Before them, the fiction world faded, slowly turning back
to the office of the museum. “Great story!” the Professor greeted them, waving the book in one hand, “you
finished your first book!” Both of them grinned as they held over the musical instrument. “We have to leave
now sir, we have to go home.” said Zach.
The Professor put the violin on the table, about to study them, but when he touched them, a music note played,
and the violin faded away.