Remember My Dreams

37. New Tour

POV Bill

We had finally arrived in Luxembourg, and from the moment we left the airport, the intensity of the tour was immediately palpable. The air was charged with the excitement of what lay ahead. This was our first stop on the Humanoid tour, and although we were all used to life on the road, this tour felt different—bigger, more intense. The hotel where we were staying was luxurious, but we barely had time to put down our things before we had to head to the concert venue. There was no time to settle in, no moment to catch our breath. Everything had to be perfect for tomorrow's show, so the set needed testing today.
As we drove past the concert hall, my eyes caught sight of the crowd already gathering at the entrance. Hundreds of fans were lined up, many armed with sleeping bags and chairs, clearly planning to spend the night there in hopes of securing a good spot. For us, this was routine by now, but I saw Elise staring outside in amazement, her eyes wide with wonder. She had never seen this kind of fan dedication up close before.
"Are they... staying here all night?" Elise whispered, her voice full of disbelief.
I smiled softly and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. This was our life, the life of Tokio Hotel, but for Elise, it was still something new, something that continued to amaze her. "Yes," I replied, "for them, this is more than just a concert. This is their life, just as it is for us."

When we finally arrived at the concert hall and got out, I felt a surge of excitement rush through me. This was the moment I'd been looking forward to for so long. The massive hall, still empty and quiet, would be filled tomorrow with thousands of screaming fans, all ready to lose themselves in our world. But first, it was time to see the stage—the stage I had worked on for months, envisioned in my head, and that had now finally become a reality.
The doors to the hall opened for us, and we stepped inside. I felt my breath catch for a moment when I saw it. It was even more impressive than I'd expected, a futuristic masterpiece that would be the perfect backdrop for our music. The stage was enormous, built from dark, angular shapes that almost resembled an alien landscape. LED screens covered the back wall and floor, ready to display the most spectacular visuals we'd ever used. And in the center stood a massive, mechanical structure—a sphere both terrifying and fascinating—the perfect embodiment of the Humanoid aesthetic we aimed to achieve.
"Wow," I heard Georg say softly, his voice full of awe. "Beautiful, Bill."
Tom came to stand next to me and patted me on the shoulder. "I knew you had it in you," he said proudly. He had always believed in my vision, and now there it was, tangible and impressive.
I couldn't help but smile. "Yeah," I replied, unable to take my eyes off the stage. "It's exactly how I pictured it in my head."
Gustav, always the proactive one, was the first to be unable to contain his excitement. "Can we test it out already?" he shouted to Hans, our manager, who was busy with the crew making final preparations.
Hans looked up from his clipboard and nodded approvingly. "Go ahead," he said, with a broad smile on his face. He knew how important this moment was for us.
I let go of Elise's hand, hesitating for a moment because I didn't want to lose her warmth, but the urge to stand on that stage, to feel it under my feet, was too strong. Along with the rest of the band, I walked up to the stage, my heart pounding in my chest. This was the moment we had been waiting for. All those months of preparation, ideas, and designs now came together in this one moment.

As I took my first steps onto the stage, I felt energy coursing through me. The lights, the structure, the immense LED screen behind us—everything was perfect. It was as if the stage was alive, an extension of ourselves, of our music. I looked around at Tom, Georg, and Gustav. Their faces mirrored the same emotions I felt: excitement, pride, and a touch of disbelief that this was really our stage.
This was what we lived for, what we gave everything for. And now, as I caught a glimpse of Elise smiling in the corner of my eye, I knew that this was only the beginning. The Humanoid Tour was going to be something big, bigger than anything we'd done before. This stage, this moment, was proof that we were ready.
As we stepped off the stage, I still felt the adrenaline pulsing through my veins. While we walked back to the hall, my gaze fell on Elise and Bas, who were deep in conversation. They were laughing together, and for a moment, everything around me seemed to pause. When she saw me approaching, Elise's face broke into a warm smile, and she held out her arms to me. I felt her warmth as she embraced me, her soft scent surrounding me.
"Amazing, Bill," she whispered in my ear, and a thrill of pride shot through me. I placed a tender kiss on her forehead.
Next to Elise stood Bas, his stance relaxed but with a subtle tension in his eyes. It was hard to act naturally around him, especially with everything that hung between us, but I knew I had to—for Elise, and for the band. So I greeted him kindly, and I saw the relief in Elise's eyes when she realized I was handling the situation.
"Did you see how many fans are already outside?" Bas asked, and I could hear the excitement in his voice.
Georg nodded, leaning casually against one of the seats. "Yeah, I feel bad for them. Sleeping in the cold, being exhausted... all just to get a spot in the front row."
Tom grinned broadly, his eyes full of playfulness. "Yeah, I get it. I'd do anything to see myself up close, too," he joked, and Gustav gave him a friendly jab on the shoulder. We could all laugh at his remark.
But as Tom laughed, an idea sparked in my mind. "Maybe we should do something for them," I said, without really thinking it through. The thought was spontaneous, but it felt right immediately. "Let's go outside and sign a few autographs. It's the least we can do, right?"
My suggestion hung in the air, and I saw the sparkle in the others' eyes. This was why we loved all of this—the connection with the people who supported our music, who had brought us to this point. But before we could say more, a familiar voice brought us back down to earth.
"I don't think so, guys," said Hans, with a concerned look in his eyes. "Do you realize how dangerous that could be?"