The Summoning (Sleep Token FanFiction)

III pt.I - I Wanna Dance With Somebody

I had asked Vessel to play The Way That You Were. It was a bit of a change getting the lighting ready for a song not on the setlist, but he accepted without any second thoughts, hurrying to Sam to communicate our change in set. 

I sat on the speaker at the edge of the stage, eyes on her as she looked back at me curiously. 

She always had a cute little furrow to her brow when she was deep in thought. I had always said I could tell she was plotting something in the hopes that she would tell me what was on her mind.

Vessel messed with his keyboard to find the right tune. Switching to the organ setting and playing around with the keys a little like usual before starting in. 

~~~~~~~~~~

"Should I go?" Hayley pointed to door, already taking steps back as if to escape the situation.

I didn't blame her. As soon as the others figured out who the woman was, it was over. 

"Stay." IV commanded, snapping his fingers to Hayley and she froze in place. She may have been more afraid of IV than Vessel.

II sat hunched on the loveseat in front of me, chin in his hand. "You never know if you don't try -"

"Okay, fine, then." I threw my arms up, looking around the room. "I'll never know, then. What the hell am I supposed to say, huh? I'd sound like a fecking lunatic! She went to my Goddamn funeral for chrissakes!"

In the moment of silence, Vessel shook his head. But she knew...

"Vess." I pointed to him. "Don't start with me."

"We'll drop it then." IV raised a hand to quiet II before II could speak up again.

II shook his head in disappointment and Vessel stood to go to his own room. Seeing them so defeated made me angry. Was I angry at myself? It was my decision. 

Instead of saying anything, I grabbed my jacket and wallet and headed for the door.

"Three -" II stood.

Let him go, Vessel responded. 

Just as I asked myself where I was going, I realized I already knew. There was only one place I went when I was upset. It had been years, though. I hadn't been home in a long time - not like this. 

Trudging out in the cold, I pulled my trench coat closer to me and folded my arms over myself. About a block down the road, I felt them and cursed. They were following. 

Deciding to wait for them, I turned to find all four of them rounding the corner, Hayley struggling to pull her arms through the sleeves of IV's sweater as if they had run out after me in a hurry. For a brief moment, I thought about everything she had been through and she was still here with us. Had known what we were and accepted us as we were. 

Was the same possible for....

Not letting myself finish the thought, I threw a hand out. "Not very good stalkers, are ye?"

"Going out for a pint?" II gasped, trying to keep up. I almost smiled. 

"You're in a hurry for someone that knew where I was going." I rolled my eyes and threw my arm around Vessel when they approached. Vessel was usually the fasted of us.

"Well, if you're gonna be drinking alone, might as well have some stalkers as company." IV clapped a hand on my shoulder as he passed and led the way. 

I sighed, swaying for a moment before Vessel put an arm around me and pulled me alongside him toward The Old Fashioned.

We had gone there a lot when we had turned 18 and it became a regular place since one of our old acquaintances was related to the owner. I wondered if the same family still owned it. I didn't know if I wanted to see anyone else from our past tonight.