Music Masters: CD One

SAD TOMORROW: PART FIVE

A sinister melody prevailed loudly in the night air, but Calvin's question was still as clear as day.

"Uh, Aeris...I thought you said this place was abandoned?"

All three teenagers seemed thoroughly entranced with the view in front of them. Like a devilish gatekeeper, the clown-shaped entrance served as the only barrier between them and the still missing Kim Ramone.

"It was." she replied, eyes still forward as she absorbed everything she could. "Unless they decided to build a new attraction overnight."

Michael was the only one to chuckle at her attempt at a joke, all while he moved just a bit closer. In particular, he found that the dingy coin receptacle nearby had caught his interest.

"Or maybe this all just one big song effect." he pointed out, in a moment of rare clarity.

They'd arrived in old Astroland less than fifteen minutes ago, and in following Kim's assumed trail, it didn't take long for the three Audio Knights to discover a lively and bright carnival waiting for them.

Just minutes before, the clown-shaped gate that stood in their way had almost taken off Calvin's hand when he tried to cross through.

So since then, Michael and his companions had been understandably cautious about travelling further.

As Michael continued to debate the situation in his mind, Aeris leaned down on one knee. Her fingers touched the dirty asphalt, rolling particles between the tips as she noted a large bootprint.

"Song effect or not, Kim definitely came this way. We're going to have find some way inside." she pointed out.

In response, an idea popped into Michael's mind. Of course, he was talking before he could even fully think it through.

"Oh snap, we could totally use the Big YMCA to get us over! The wall's really not that big."

Aeris shook her head as she smacked her hands clean. "No, it'll attract too much attention. We don't even know what's waiting on the other side, so the more discreet we are, the better."

Calvin smiled. "Good, cause I'll have you know that discreet is my middle name."

Aeris turned to him, offering her own pleasant smile in response.

"Of course it is." she said. As he basked in his own cheesy one-liner, he suddenly felt her warm, comforting hand on his right shoulder.

For a brief moment, the continuous sound of Greatest Show Unearthed became silent in his ears, and all Calvin could hear was Aeris's angelic voice.

"Thanks for doing this by the way. I know you and Kim have your issues, but this means a lot. To me, at least."

It took everything in his power for Calvin to stop the most powerful red blush from overtaking his face.

Somehow though, he managed to keep his cool.

"Hey, it's nothing. Just helping out a fellow Audio Knight. Truth be told, I was starting to miss the beatings a little..." he joked, laughing in spite of himself.

But his humor had zero effect on Michael, who was far too busy focusing on the coin receptacle that still seemed unresponsive no matter where he prodded and pressed.

"Oh come on, are we seriously just locked out?" Michael complained as he fiddled with it, leading him to finally kick the machine in frustration.

He crossed his arms, and a great many thoughts surged through his mind. He thought about what Kim was going through, how she was completely on her own, and about to face a Music Master who already seemed more powerful than any they'd face up to this point.