The Eradicators - A Pandemic Inspired Novelette

The Eradicators

Raden stared dreamily across the vacant venue. Outside the Troubadour Club, the crowd grew more boisterous as the countdown to show time drew closer. Paying his attention back to his guitar, Raden smiled. He would see them at the show tonight. As he did every night Phoenix took to the stage. No matter what, they would be there. Guaranteed.

From day one of the re-opening of the planet, they had proven themselves to be the ultimate top fans. Die hard groupies, some might say. But Raden preferred to call them the chosen ones. And although they hadn't been formally introduced, he knew their names. Anna and Louise. They were sisters, but not in the biological sense. There was a much more ominous relationship between them. And Raden just couldn't wait to find out what it was.

Louise was sly yet sharp, with emerald green eyes set in perfect contrast to her jet black hair streaked with indigo highlights. Her interest in him had been a no brainer. Raden was right up her alley. A young, guitar playing, tattoo-riddled rock star in one of the hottest Nu-metal acts emerging from the East coast. She would be easy enough to persuade for his proposal.

Anna, on the other hand, was feisty yet flighty, diamond blue-eyed and Nordic blond. Unlike Louise, Anna harbored more of a sexual aversion toward older men. From what Raden could tell, the reason is due to long engrained daddy issues. Nevertheless, he could feel her carnal pull sway every time she laid eyes on him. Apparently she wasn't just there for the music.

Deep down, Raden knew they would each pose their own challenges. But there was no way he could turn one without the other. They were a package deal. Raden strummed his guitar lovingly. He never thought he would break the golden rule of rock 'n' roll again. Never fall in love with a fan. How the hell could he possibly end up falling for two this time?

"You're thinking about them again, aren't you?"

Glancing up, Raden spotted Angelo taking a seat behind his drum set. "Man, can't you knock first before entering my mind?"

"I would steer clear of those two."

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?"

"Their trouble. I can smell it."

"Maybe you just need to practice better hygiene."

"Dude, maybe you should try growing a pair."

Raden smiled, baring inch long incisors. "You mean like this?"

Angelo sneered, revealing his own his sharp fangs. "Seriously, if I were you, I'd take out the Swedish Berry first. If ya don't, I bet any money she's going to be wearing your balls as a necklace. The Goth might be easy enough to snatch, but she's definitely smarter than she looks."

"Cut it out. They're just eye candy. Nothing more."

"Whatever you say. Just mark my words. Those girls are going to be your downfall."

Placing his EPS Tiger Eye on an empty tripod stand, Raden picked up his back up Gibson Flying V. He fooled with the tuners. "Are you seriously saying they'll be the death of me? Again? Is that even possible?"

Angelo keyed the rims. "Don't push your luck, man. Remember, it was more than just a STD you got from the last fan you banged. Not surprising though. She was playing the stage in more ways than one. Hell, she played the whole damn stadium."

Raden snapped a string at the mention of the one woman who had changed his life forever. The one who had changed all their lives. Glaring back, he said, "You're one to talk. You were hitting her all the same. All you guys were. How do you think we got what we have here today?"

Angelo picked up his drumsticks and gave the snare a fierce drumroll. "Yo, cut out the eye hate, dude. Besides, there's a difference. We fucked. You fell in love."