Dare To Enter (Part 1)

“Boo!”

The sleeping, blonde woman jumped up from her car seat and hit her head in the ceiling, which woke her up instantly.

“You fucking idiots!” she cursed loudly and rubbed the swelling that already started to form on her head.

In the backseat, her friends were laughing so hard that all of them were bending over and gasped for air. The driver of the car also burst into laughter while he tried to keep the van on the road.

“I said to Emppu that he didn't dare to do it! Oh Anette, you should have seen your face!” Jukka continued to laugh while Anette turned around and shoot a death glare at the guys. But soon she couldn't hold it and laughed as well.

The road had turned from an asphalt one to a dirt road and Tuomas, the driver, seemed to hit all the big rocks and caused the car to wobble a great deal.

While the guys calmed down in the back, Anette turned around and faced the car door window. Fir and birch trees were growing along the road. Once in a while, a lake showed up with the summer sun being reflected in the peaceful water.

“We’re almost there” Tuomas said and immediately all the guys started clapping and cheering. It seemed like they had been driving for hours, and by now they were all getting tired and hungry.

While the swelling on Anette’s head started to subside, she leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. She thought about the weekend and how she would spend it with her four university friends. She had asked her female friends if they wanted to go, but the thought of camping seemed to scare them away. But their reluctance didn't matter to Anette; she had always enjoyed the company of guys more anyway.

“Break open the beer cans, now we have arrived!”

Marco’s voice tore her out of her musings. Anette’s eyes fell on a rather small cabin. Next to it was a big boat house and a pier, which stretched a long way out in the lake. Tuomas started to slow down the car while he looked at the three rowing boats that were moored along the pier.

Before the car had stopped fully, Emppu opened the door on his side and jumped out.

“Freedom!” he shouted while his body crashed on to the grass-filled ground. 

Jukka and Marco joined him while Anette put her hand up to cover her mouth.

“They’re crazy!” she said with a slight amazement in her voice.

The group started to unload the van and put their bags in front of the house they were going to live in. Tuomas searched his pockets for the key and pulled it out after a while. After unlocking the door, Marco stepped up and started to throw all of the bags in, except for the one containing the food.

“Screw the bags, this man needs his dinner!”

All of the guys agreed while Anette rolled her eyes.

Tuomas and Jukka took the lead and walked towards the fireplace. On one of the tree-trunks, surrounding the fireplace, sat a white duck. The animal stared at them while it started to flap its wings and quack at the same time.  

“So what do we have here? Shoo, shoo!”

The duck spread its wings and started to fly towards Jukka, who thought it was going to hit his head. But in the last moment the duck headed for the lake instead and placed itself on the shore.

Jukka raised his hands in triumph while the others just laughed at him.

“Nice one, you scared of a defenseless duck. We bow to your bravery.” Marco said with the most sarcastic voice he could think of. Faced with the fact that he hadn't saved the day, Jukka sat down and started to get the fire ready.

While the guys settled down, Anette went back to the cabin.

The color had started to chip off from both the door and the rest of the cabin. Anette grabbed the door handle and pushed open the door. There was a small entrance hall with the usual coat hangers and shoe rack. At her right were two doors. Anette opened the one closest to her, after she had grabbed the bag Marco so carelessly threw in, and saw that it was a small bedroom. Considering that she was the only girl, she thought the guys wouldn't mind if she called this room her own. After throwing the bag onto her bed, Anette walked past the other door and saw that it was a kitchen with two, really big windows. On the kitchen sink stood a broken hotplate and above it hanged several frying pans.

The room across the kitchen was a living room with pale yellow wallpaper. The only furnitures in the room were four chairs staggered onto one another.

It looked like nobody had been living in the cabin for years and countless spider webs occupied the corner of the ceiling.

Anette’s stomach growled loudly when the smell of hotdogs reached her nostrils. Her sense of adventure quickly subsided as she joined the guys for dinner.

“It’s a lovely place you got here, Tuomas.”

“Well, it’s not entirely mine, my cousin recently died and we found keys and a map leading to this place among his belongings. It’s weird that he never told us about the cabin”

Anette let Tuomas words sink in while she opened another can of beer. The sun was about to go down and the air was getting cold. Anette shivered while a small breeze caressed her naked arms. Emppu seemed to notice her turmoil and put an arm around her shoulders.

“Better?” Emppu asked while Anette giggled.

“Oh come on, you just wanted the rest of my beer since you’re too lazy to get your own!”

“Well…maybe…” Emppu mumbled while he grabbed the can in Anette’s hand and gulped the last drops down. He felt her snuggle up to him and Emppu’s heart started beating faster in his chest. Just as he was about to start caressing her arm, Marco burped loudly and stood up.

“So kids, should we check out the pier before we get too drunk?”

Anette stood up and caused Emppu’s arm to slip off her shoulders.

“Are you coming or what?”

Emppu looked into her wonderful blue green eyes and tried not to get caught in them.

“I’m just going to stay here, so the fire won’t go out.”

“Okay then, see you later!”

Anette flashed one of her warm smiles at him before she joined the others.

Emppu took one of the sticks they had gathered earlier and started poking around in the fireplace. He could feel his heartbeat slowing down while the memory of Anette’s smile slowly started to leave his mind.

“One…two…three!” Jukka and Marco shouted while Tuomas flew through the air and landed in the nearly ice cold water. Anette had already started to run towards dry land, afraid that they would throw her in next. The planks underneath her made a cracking noise as she ran. In the corner of her eye, she saw the white duck they had been chasing away earlier, sitting in one of the boats in the boathouse. It looked straight at her. Anette stopped and looked at it for a while and could see something blue on its feathers and head. Just as she was about to step closer to the animal, she heard and felt the guys running past her. The duck suddenly forgotten, she tried to catch up with them.

When her eyes landed on the soaking wet Tuomas she laughed so hard her stomach started to hurt.

“I’m freezing my ass off and you ruined my favorite pair of jeans! Get me some beer or else!” Tuomas held his hand up in anger, but the others didn't take him too seriously.

After Tuomas had changed clothes, the group settled down by the fire place again. Soon sixteen beers and a bottle of vodka were consumed and moods started to shift. But Anette remained calm and composed. Someone had to stay sane so the guys wouldn't wander off into the woods.  

After a while they called it a night and headed for bed.

After some nagging about why they should let Anette have the lone bedroom, the woman finally won and said her goodnights.

She folded out her sleeping bag on the quite hard mattress and started to undress. With her jogging pants and t-shirt on she slipped into the sleeping bag and closed her eyes. For a while she listened to the guys settling down in the living room, but she soon fell asleep, exhausted from the long and exciting day.

A large bang woke her up. Anette sat up and rubbed her eyes. It sounded like it came from outside, near the boathouse. Curious about what it could be, she got up from the mattress and put on her shoes and a zip-hoodie.

Anette opened the door to her room as silent as she could. The thought of investigating the banging noise still lingered in her mind. She peeked into the living room and saw that Jukka and Marco were still awake. Anette saw their surprised faces while she entered the room.

“ Didn't you guys hear that?”

“Heard what?” both of them said in unison.

“That!”

The banging started again, and this time it seemed much louder. The guys looked at Anette in confusion, but then Jukka smiled.

“So you’re afraid and wanted us to go and check it out?”

“No I’m not afraid; I just wanted to ask if someone wanted to join me!”

Marco and Jukka looked at each other, and then Jukka rose from the ground.

“I shall help you, fair lady, for no harm shall be done to you as long as I’m by your side!”

Anette rolled her eyes and looked around and saw that they had woken up Emppu and Tuomas.

“What the hell are you doing? It’s the middle of the night; can’t a man get some sleep?”

“Anette is taking Jukka out on a little adventure” Marco said.

“Okay, but don’t moan too loud and remember to use protection.”

Anette’s face turned bright red while the guys laughed, except for Emppu who tried very hard to push away all the images that appeared in his head after Tuomas not so amusing comment.  

“You were right all along.”

After a lot of hesitating, they now stood in front of the boathouse and watched the doors slam against the door frames. Jukka stepped up and was about to close them, when something appeared. The white duck came wobbling out from the house and stood right in front of them. It was now wearing a blue sailor suit and a red bow tie.

“What the…”

Suddenly the duck grew.to the size of a man. Huge razor sharp teeth started to form while the tip of the wings reminded of feathered, human fingers.

“Oh Phooey!” the duck suddenly said.

Anette put up her hand to cover her mouth while the duck’s eyes turned red.

“Run!” Jukka screamed while he grabbed Anette’a arm.

The duck began quacking while it started chasing after them.

  

     

Leave a footprint on every island you see

Anette leaned back in the deckchair and put her sunglasses on. Her long, blonde hair stuck to her sweaty and light sunburned face. The sun was merciless and she was almost glad that she and her family were going home to Sweden tomorrow. Johan and Nemo were playing around in the sand while Seth was out swimming. The waves were calm, but Anette still kept an eye on her oldest son.

After a few minutes of sunbathing Anette couldn’t take it anymore and rose from her chair.

“Can you keep an eye on Seth?” she screamed to Johan. He answered by holding his thumb up. Anette smiled and walked to the hotel lobby, where she ordered a diet coke. She shivered when the cold liquid ran down her throat. After drinking it she ordered some water for her boys back on the beach. In the corner of her eye she saw a man and a woman walking towards the desk where she stood. When the desk clerk had given the water bottles to her, she glanced at the people behind her as she walked to the door. Anette spotted the long, black hair that belonged to the woman and by her side stood a South American man. Even though it was just a quick glance, she knew she had seen them somewhere before.

After a few minutes of building sandcastles with Nemo, she had forgotten all about the incident. The boy threw sand all over himself and his mother. In the end there were no castles left. Anette picked up the boy and went down to the water where she glided him over the water and dipped his body from time to time. Nemo laughed hysterically and caused Anette to break out in laughter as well.

Anette looked up and saw the two people from the lobby walking down the shore. But before she could put anymore thought into it, she felt something grab her heels. Anette jumped straight up and screamed loudly, with Nemo still in her arms. When she saw the face of her boyfriend emerging from the water, with a big grin on his face, she felt the sudden urge to drown him.

“Are you crazy?! You scared me to death!” But Johan just laughed and kissed Anette gently on the cheek. She giggled and looked over her shoulder.

“Where is Seth?” she asked and gave Nemo to her boyfriend.

“He is up there” he pointed “by the trees.”

Anette saw him lying on a towel in the shade.

“Can you get the boys ready for lunch? I have to cool off a bit first.”

“Sure sweetie” Johan said and kissed Anette on her lips.

With Nemo under one arm he went to get Seth and then the boys disappeared out of Anette’s sight. She sighed and lowered herself into the water. She swam near the shore and noticed that the man and the woman from the lobby stared at her. They quickly looked away while Anette dipped her head in the water and started to get up. She grabbed the towel that laid near Nemos smashed sandcastles, and started walking towards the hotel. The man and the woman were nowhere to be seen.

“Mom, I want to play some games in the arcade” Seth said after the lunch.

“Johan can take you there; I will be there after I’ve changed Nemos clothes”

The little boy sucked on the juice stains on his shirt. Anette sighed and lifted the boy up from his chair. She took the elevator up to their room. When the doors opened, and when she saw who stood on the other side, Anette could have sworn that she had fainted and that this was a dream.

“Tarja?” Anette asked hesitantly. She could see that Tarja was just as surprised as herself. The two women stood silent for a while, but then Nemo broke the silence by mumbling in some language that only he could understand. Tarja giggled and stepped away so that Anette could get out of the elevator.

“The press would have loved this, the two ex Nightwish singers together in the same room” Anette agreed and coughed before she spoke up.

“So… do you want to grab a drink or something? Or are you busy?”

Both women could feel the weird tension, but when Tarja agreed on the suggestion the air got lighter.

“Okay, I have to go change this little rascals shirt, but meet me in the bar later”

“Yeah sure, see you then!”

Anette walked to her room while the black haired woman took the elevator down.

Well in her room, Anette reached for Nemos suitcase and pulled out a clean shirt for him. After Anette checked herself in the mirror, and decided that she looked decent after a quick brush through her hair, she took Nemos hand and they went down to the ground floor again.

“Can you believe it, she is actually here, what are the chances?!”

Johan was still a bit dumbstruck after what Anette had told him.

“What am I still doing here; she is already waiting for me at the bar!”

“Good luck, you will need it”

“Oh come on, she doesn’t seem so bad. I remember clearly what Tuomas and the other said about her, but I want to get my own opinion.”

Johan knew that he couldn’t stop her. She had always been this stubborn and determined. So he continued playing the air-hockey game with Seth while Nemo were clinging to his leg. Anette left after cheering for her son to win.

She got around the corner and saw Tarja sitting in one of the booths. After ordering a soda for herself, she started to walk towards the black haired woman and sat down opposite of her.

First they talked about small things, like how their vacation went and how hot the weather was. But as the minutes passed, the conversation got deeper and soon the topic of Nightwish  came up. Tarja sensed that Anette still had some sort of grudge against the guys, even though she wouldn’t admit it to herself.

“Forget about them; focus on your solo career instead. I did, and now the past is forgotten and my third album is in the making.”

Anette took comfort in the singer’s words. She had listened to Tarja’s albums and had liked them from the beginning.

After an hour of talking and laughing the two singers parted ways, but promised to say goodbye to each other before Anette went home tomorrow.

After a relaxing evening, with some more swimming and raiding of the buffet table, Anette were lying in her boyfriend’s arms and listened to his soft breaths. Seth and Nemo slept softly in an adjoining room next to theirs.

Anette had a hard time sleeping and after the fourth attempt she had given up. Memories of the happenings during the day flooded her mind.

For months she had been trying to forget about Nightwish and all the drama surrounding it. But the talk with Tarja brought it all up again. For years, Anette had been living in her shadow. During concerts, people sometimes screamed the name of her predecessor.

Anette thought she could handle it in the beginning, but it built up inside of her and eventually she couldn’t take it anymore. The whole drama with her as Nightwish new singer was just the top of the iceberg. Her loyal fans were so sad when the message about her leaving the band were out. The comments she received on her blog brought tears to her eyes.

But now, after meeting Tarja, she felt that she could truly move on.

Anette shook it off mentally and sighed heavily. Johan started to caress her hair and kissed the top of her head. Anette smiled and closed her eyes and let her thoughts float away until morning.

“I feel sorry for her” Tarja said to her husband as they wandered up and down the beach. The countless stars shone brightly in the sky. They were not the only ones on the beach and the hotel staff had put up torches here and there.

“If she went through the same shit as you, then I would feel sorry for her too” Tarja leaned her head on Marcelo’s shoulder as they continued walking.

“Do you like her?” Marcelo asked.

“She is a really nice person and I would really love to talk to her again”

“Hmmm, people would be drooling over the idea of you two becoming best friends. Think about all the attention you two would get!”

“Haha, maybe not best friends, just two ex bandmembers talking and having fun together.”

Marcelo became quiet and Tarja stopped walking.

“Are you thinking about a collaboration in the future? Between Anette and me?

“Maybe” Marcelo winked at his wife and put his arm around her shoulders.

But to Tarja their talk had been so much more than just the opportunity to work together, but also a chance to help the blonde swede to move on. She knew how hard it was and how angry she had been herself.

After their breakfast, Anette and her family began packing. After touring all over the world, both Johan and Anette were used to pack things up in suitcases. Nemo were running around and tried to help them, but only caused chaos instead when he threw the clothes out from the bags instead of in them. In the end, Anette calmed him down and asked Seth to watch him.

When they were done, they took the elevator down to the lobby. Johan handed the keycards to the desk clerk and the family went to the door. Just outside, by their taxi, stood Tarja and Marcelo. Just where Anette told Tarja to wait.

While Johan loaded the bags in the car, and made sure the boys put their seatbelts on, Anette stepped up to the couple. She shook Marcelo’s hand and then looked at Tarja. The black haired woman had a big smile on her face while she handed Anette a note with her e-mail on it.

“Keep in touch, maybe we will see each other again someday.”

“Maybe even make music together.” Anette said and flashed an even bigger smile at the woman in front of her.

“We have to go now, or we’ll be late to the airport” Johan said while he put his own seatbelt on. Anette opened the door and got into the car. She closed the door and when the car drove away she waved to Tarja and Marcelo, who answered by doing the same.

While the car drove on the bumpy road, Anette fiddled around with the note in her hand.

This was a new beginning for her, the big lump in her chest had been lifted away and she could finally forget about the bad things she had gone through with Nightwish, and instead focus on the good ones, her fans and future career.