Daddy Dearest
"Mina, we're on soon!" Cyryl called, and I nodded. I started to the stage with Jonathan in tow, holding my hand in his, and Alec was trying to decide which instrument to use. Cyryl parted with Alice after pecking her lips cutely.
"What song are you guys up for?" I shouted over the powerful noise of the music that was currently playing and the crowds of gothic teens and ancient vampires.
"Animal?" I smiled at Roby, our second guitarist, and nodded. We have been practicing Animal I've Become for a while because it was one of Roby's favorites. I personally enjoyed the song and was happy to agree.
We waited for our que and when the DJ, who blasted the Crypt day and night with music, stopped his marathon for us to play. The colored lights around our little platform went on and the boys of Suck My Life raved on their instruments.
I took in a breath and started singing. "I can't escape this hell..." The little smirk on my face wouldn't die. "So many times I've tried, but I'm still caged inside."
"Somebody get me through this nightmare." Jon, Roby and me sang together.
"I can't control myself!" As the lights started to flash with the song and I continued to sing, I started to enjoy it. "So what if you can see the darker side of me? No one can ever change this animal I have become! Help me believe it's not the real me. Somebody help me tame this animal!"
The boys chanted the words, "This animal, this animal."
"I can't escape myself, so many times I've lied." I felt my mind slip into memories of last year but I shook it off and continued the performance. "But there's still rage inside! Somebody get me through this nightmare. I can't control myself!"
I stopped my dancing for the last line and sang into the microphone at a higher range than the song was written for, me being a girl and Three Days Grace singing as guys.
"So what if you can see the darker side of me? No one will ever change this animal I have become. Help me believe it's not the real me. Somebody tame this animal I have become! Help me believe it's not the real me. Somebody help me tame this animal!"
I danced again with Jonathan this time and shared smiles and looks with him as he sang with me. I wasn't the only singer at the Crypt, of course, and I enjoyed Jonathan singing duets with me.
"Somebody help me through this nightmare. I can't control myself. Somebody wake me from this nightmare. I can't escape this hell!" I held out the last words and the musicians behind me slowed and mostly paused as all four boys sang while I remained silent...for once.
"This animal." Was repeated all of seven times. As they went on I took a breather but when I did the sweet, strong scent of the blood surrounding me filled my thoughts. The Crypt was packed tonight...packed with blood-pounding teenagers ready to be eaten. I could even hear their sturdy heart beats drumming in my ears louder than Cyryl and his drums.
I shook my head wildly to make it look like clearing my head was me going with the song. I lifted the microphone to my lips and prayed my fangs weren't visible. As I was about to sing and the music and singing died, but not the crowd, a light of red shined on me. Everyone in the Crypt knew my favorite color was red, and red was always my color when Jonathan and I sang duets and they lighted him with blue. But I didn't remember this at the time. All I thought of was that I was surrounded by red...blood red.
"So what if you can see the darker side of me? No one will ever change this animal I have become!" The music roared back to life after me. "Help me believe it's not the real me. Somebody help me tame this animal I have become!"
