The songs of Nirvana blasted on the boom box and a sense of false security entered the room. The windows, fastened shut, echoed the sounds of a harsh wind that could of been heard if the music wasn’t on. Sounds of rain, which were audible, pasted the shingled roof of the house and lulled three of the four family members into a deep and dreamless sleep. The fourth member, known as Rita, was up thinking of the past days discoveries. Her eyes were closed as if in meditation, her acute body was in a Budda position in the likeness of that which you see on Indian statues and skeptical cartoons. The Nirvana music on the radio switched to the melodious tunes of the Cranberries and small tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. This song always made her cry. But when the song finished she still wept. Her face still streaming, she got up and walked to the other side of her small room and starred out the secured window, becoming fascinated with the visible wind which was, in Rita’s mind, a banshee. The snow blowing on the current was her death white hair and the stars her eyes. As she starred at her wind she-demon Rita felt her tears dry. “She was misunderstood to, she thought, becoming more and more happy with THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THE OUTSIDE WORLD was were the banshee ruled. She didn’t take crap from no one and killed those who bothered her nightly prowl. Rita wasn’t allowed to visit because that world had no protective bolts on the doors and bars on the windows, THE OUTSIDE WORLD was real. And her parents often implied that reality was bad, so to Rita, THE OUTSIDE WORLD must be too. The swirling image of the banshee faded out as the windstorm ceased. Her star eyes could no longer see, for in THE OUTSIDE WORLD blindness could happen. And so could Death, that is, if she wanted it to be. And so, Rita realized, the banshee who lived on the wind was no longer alive. “She should of come in here, Rita whispered to herself, “She would of been safe.” And at this the conquered tears came back again and cleansed her face of the recognition that another world did exist; that danger could happen. With this final, fading thought, Rita turned out the light and went to sleep. * * * * * Rita’s overprotective parents were still asleep at eight o’ clock when Rita awoke from her five hour sleep. She got up with her nighty on and made a breakfast of marmalade toast and juice and walked to the patio door, which was still covered with a light frost. Looking into the frosted glass she sat down on the brown, carpeted floor of the living room and resumed the same face and pose of that which she was in last night. Not knowing what she was doing she looked deeper and deeper into the frozen steam on the entrance. The frost’s delicate patterns started to grow fuzzy and then clearer, like when she once looked at a 3-d puzzle, only this time she saw the clearest, most horrible and subtle image imaginable. It was the banshee sitting on a rock with her head in her bony hands and her torn dress fluttering in a still breeze. Rita stifled a scream and reached out to touch the sad picture when it suddenly moved! Now the banshee was standing up with a look of vengefulness on her face. It was a sharp pale face with jade green eyes like cats boring into her eyes and into the core of her soul. And there both stood, one hypnotized, the other hypnotizing, but both totally unaware of their changing surroundings. A green mist surrounded them in advancing curling wisps and enveloped both. The sudden change brought Rita out of her stupor and an O of surprise formed on her mouth. Their was nothing here but this puking green! She felt like if she could faint that she would, but seemed unable to do so. But suddenly the curling tendrils parted to show where to go. Now, if this had been more realistic she would of thought before her actions. But when a small clearing formed ahead of her, without even realizing what she was doing, Rita ran full speed toward it, gasping for real air. When she reached it she suddenly screamed. Before her stood the banshee that had brought the green mists, with her death white hair, green, starry eyes and torn dress. A blank look was on her demon face. Before Rita could utter a sound the banshee opened her mouth to speak. “Do not question why you are here, child.” The banshee told her sternly. “You wished for a chance to see THE OUTSIDE WORLD with all your heart, but were afraid to ask. So view this world and if you want, wish for a chance to see your old one and it will appear.” With this the banshee blew away on a cold wind and Rita was alone, standing strait up, and all the tears she had shed in the enclosed world spilling out onto the barren floor of the green misted, OUTSIDE WORLD. A bit later with a shaking hand she wiped her red eyes. With a wavering voice, she meekly commanded, “I wish to see my world.” Now not surprised when the air shimmered and waved, a small, window shaped thing appeared in front of her. In it she saw little specks that slowly grew into images of her parents. The strange window then forced her to see herself sitting still in front of the patio door, ignoring her mother’s crying and her father slapping her, but simply starring strait ahead. With a cry of despair Rita flung herself at the picture that, at her disturbance, disappeared. Rita stood helpless in the small island-like meadow. Nothing could be done now, no miracle would save her. Her thought’s drifted to what she would do here and she ignored all else around her. Her ears closed to sound and her eyes to sight, for she couldn’t bare to face the cold truth that she was really stuck here. But THE OUTSIDE WORLD was full of unwanted truth, so she couldn’t so this much longer. After five minutes of this, an unseen opening in the green mist appeared, and as silent as a cat the Banshee stepped through. A small grimace appeared at the sight of her latest catch standing so idiotically, and a new thought entered her head. She tip-toed to where Rita was standing and whispered something as she did a strange, wave-like dance around her. After she finish she threw her head back and laughed and laughed although no sound could be heard. And then the mist came and... * * * * * * * * Rita awoke to find herself asleep in the den. It was only a little after nine in the morning and Rita thankfully saluted the crucifix for THE OUTSIDE WORLD to of been a dream. In a little leap of joy she raced out of the chair that she had been resting in to wake her parents. As she ran she thought in a joyful way, “Thank God that THE OUTSIDE WORLD isn’t real at all, and thank God that the outside world isn’t real either.” At this she laughed for now Rita figured out the truth, her parents were right. Rita would never die and never get sick as long as she remained inside with Mommy and Daddy dearest. And as she climbed the stairs to wake them, somewhere far off the Banshee laughed.