Dull Luminol Read online

She gags, but nothing comes up.

  She opens the front pocket and grabs the toothbrush. She sticks it down her throat, wiggles it in circles and quickly pulls it out. Vomit follows.

  She heaves several times.

  INT. HALLWAY - SAME

  Callan’s RETCHING echoes through the hall. The girls remain silent, but do not eat anymore.

  Marissa puts her celery in saran wrap and stares at the wall in front of her.

  The retching stops, but the girls stay quiet.

  The water cooler GURGLES.

  INT. BATHROOM - STALL - DAY

  Callan wipes her mouth and the sweat from her forehead.

  She stands up and unlocks the door.

  INT. BATHROOM - COUNTER - DAY

  The water runs, Callan scrubs the vomit off of the toothbrush.

  She collects the wrappers from her bag and places them in the trash can underneath the garbage already there.

  Callan pops stick of gum in her mouth and stares into the mirror.

  Mirror Callan is still chubby.

  Callan takes a deep breath, then peels off her sweater.

  Her body is gaunt, skin papery. Her veins are bright blue underneath, and twist around knobby joints and bones.

  She turns to the side and presses her stomach flat, as Eliza did in the studio. She frowns.

  INT. HALLWAY - DAY

  Callan stumbles out of the bathroom to find all of the girls staring at her. They quickly look away.

  Callan stares at Eliza’s body.

  Eliza stands up.

  ELIZA

  What the hell is your problem?

  Callan shifts her weight from side to side, and grabs her arms tight.

  ELIZA (CONT’D)

  You keep staring at me and it’s weirding me out.

  Callan bites her lip and opens her mouth. A noise comes out but she does not speak. She bites her lip again.

  Marissa tugs on Eliza’s leotard.

  MARISSA

  Lizzy, cut it out.

  ELIZA

  Why? She’s being a freak. She keeps looking at me and I know you used to do the same things, but at least you got help and Christ--

  Marissa smacks Eliza’s leg hard.

  MARISSA

  Sit down and eat your fucking food, okay?

  Eliza looks at Callan, and slowly sits down. Marissa hands her the celery she packaged earlier.

  Callan turns and rushes into the bathroom.

  INT. BATHROOM - COUNTER - DAY

  Callan vomits more into the sink, sobbing. Snot and tears run into the sink with the food.

  She turns the cold water on and sticks her face under the faucet.

  The paper towel holder CLICKS as she pulls paper towels out and wipes them across her face.

  INT. HALLWAY - DAY

  Callan walks down the opposite end of the hallway, away from the group of girls.

  Callan stands outside of the costume room.

  INT. COSTUME ROOM - DAY

  Various shades of tulle and flowing fabrics line the walls. Fluffy white tutus are packed into every other available space. Half-finished lavishly decorated costumes sit on mannequins.

  MORE DANCERS stand in a line to be measured. They all are smiling as the tape wraps around their waists.

  TWO YOUNG GIRLS, 8, still covered in baby fat, laugh loudly. They play underneath the racks and wrap tulle around each other.

  A SEAMSTRESS, 43, heavyset, hushes them. They smile to each other. The Seamstress turns back to her work. The Two Small Girls stick their tongues out at the Seamstress.

  INT. HALLWAY - DAY

  Callan’s eyes gloss over. She blinks back the tears.

  She walks down the hall until she reaches the door to get outside. She smacks her body against it and pushes.

  EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY

  Callan takes a cigarette out of her bag and lights it. She takes a long drag and closes her eyes. She holds the smoke in, and blows it out slow.

  A few more drags, eyes still closed.

  The wind BLOWS softly and RUSTLES the tree above her. A few leaves fall and land on her.

  INT. DANCE STUDIO - DAY

  Callan walks into the room. She bends over and ties her shoes as she goes.

  The rest of the girls walk in calmly and chatter.

  The Instructor fumbles with a CD player, songs skip around in the machine. She turns around.

  INSTRUCTOR

  Is everyone ready to learn Swanhilde’s ballad?

  The girls all nod.

  INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

  Okay, I’m going to group you into threes to go at a time.

  The Instructor points to each of the girls and to an area on the floor until there are four groups of three girls.

  INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

  Now watch carefully, I’m only going through the steps once. And one and two--

  The Instructor begins to move through the dance, and the girls watch intensely.

  Marissa and Eliza motion along with the Instructor, they shuffe their feet.

  The only noise in the room is the Instructor counting and the shuffling.

  Callan’s, eyes darting back and forth. She watches the Instructor. Her eyes droop, but she blinks rapidly to keep them open.

  INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

  Let’s do a run through with the music and then the first group will start.

  The Instructor pushes play on the CD player and MUSIC blasts through the room.

  The Instructor brushes through the movements and the girls follow behind her.

  Callan stares at herself in the mirror while the others dance. The music and barrage of pointe shoes clacking on the floor is muffled.

  The MUSIC stops.

  INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

  Okay, first group step up!

  Callan shakes herself and joins two other girls in the center of the floor.

  The MUSIC starts again.

  Callan dances. Her muscles are taught, spine straight. She smiles.

  Her moves stretch longer and are now more graceful and carefree. Her smile grows even larger.

  The trio start the toe hops as the MUSIC slows.

  Callan’s ankles shake and she loses her balance. She stumbles forward.

  She bites her lip, heavy sweat slides down her face.

  Callan continues with the other girls, but stumbles again. This time she falls.

  The MUSIC continues. Everyone stares.

  Callan buries her hands in her face and cries.

  Eliza mumbles to Marissa, but Marissa silences her quickly.

  Marissa takes a step toward Callan. She hesitates and falls back behind Eliza.

  The Instructor runs to the CD player and presses stop. The room is quiet, except for Callan’s sniffles.

  CALLAN

  I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I can keep going. I just slipped.

  The Instructor bends down and puts her hand on Callan’s shoulder. Callan slides it off and tries to stand.

  CALLAN (CONT’D)

  I can get some more rosin and we can keep going. I’m sorry.

  The Instructor stands.

  INSTRUCTOR

  I think you should go home. I don’t think you’re ready for the part.

  Callan quivers and breathes heavily.

  CALLAN

  I can do this, I promise. I just tripped.

  The girls around her start to whisper.

  INSTRUCTOR

  No, I mean I don’t think you’re healthy enough to perform.

  CALLAN

  All I do is exercise and diet. I’m healthy. I can dance if you let me.

  The Instructor puts her hand on Callan’s shoulder again.

  INSTRUCTOR

  You’re not healthy, Callan. Look at yourself.

  Callan looks in the mirror. Her actual reflection is in the mirror.

  She stares, touches her face, and pulls at her skin.

  The girls around her do the same, except for Marissa. She stares at Callan.

 
The Instructor walks to the table where the CD player sits and takes a notebook from it.

  She scribbles on a page and then rips it out.

  She hands the paper to Callan.

  INSTRUCTOR (CONT’D)

  Give them a call. I don’t want to have to talk to your mother. But you need help.

  Callan holds the paper tight against her chest.

  Callan gathers her bag and walks out the door.

  The girls and the Instructor watch at her as she walks.

  INT. HALLWAY – DAY

  Callan stands outside of the door, the girls staring at her through the door.

  Callan looks at her reflection in the window.

  The MUSIC again, and she walks away from the door, smartphone in hand.

  She catches her reflection in the smartphone. Mirror Callan stares back at her. Callan swings her backpack around, crumples the slip of paper, puts smartphone in the front pocket, and walks out the front door.

  About the author:

  Hailey Hartford is a writer who focuses on print. She mainly writes prose and poetry, but also dabbles in comic and short film scripts. Her work is dark and uncomfortable, and she loves to make people squirm. She currently lives in Florida.