tongue of the serpent ➵ a.b.

Chapter 1: The Arrival

Standing alone. Facing the creatures of my mind in an epic battle for my creations. I had to fight the temptation of giving in and facing the consequence of losing everything. Losing my band, losing the story I am about to fashion, about to create. The creature slumbers now, but it shall awake soon. I suddenly feel dizzy and my head begins to create illusions. The creature has awoken.

"Lethia," it beckons, "wake up."

But I can't listen, sleep is my only escape from the creature. How did it get inside of my head? How can I contain it? My insanity; is it growing larger?

"Lethia..." the voice drags on.

Am I really dreaming? The infamous bright light at the end of the tunnel begins to take place. A deer in headlights; or is it an escape? Is the monster at the light or is the light the way out? My intuition tells me I must run, run from the dark. I seem to grow legs and a body out of the blue and I begin to run. Run from the growling male voice ringing through the space I am held within.

"Lethia Harper, get up!"

I spring up in my bed, gasping for air. My head hits the ceiling of my bunk. "Ahh, shit, Cadell! I was sleeping!" I look at my iPhone for the time: 10:30. Why did he wake me up this goddamn early?

"Having one of those nightterrors again?" he smirks with the grin of a serial killer stalking his prey.

"Would you shut up?" Ugh, Cadell always had a way of pushing my buttons. Though he was only one of the few people I could talk to about my problems. "Why the fuck did you wake me up this early?"

"Wow, you really are out of it aren't you?" he takes an inward sigh, "We're in LA. You know, Los Angeles?"

"I know, I know what LA stands for!" What? Did he think I was that dumb? We're here for the talent act. For the new "gameshow". But for us and all the contestants, it was more than that. A chance to be loved and adored by millions.

Cadell takes a step back and ruffles his hair. Gosh, he can make any girl beg on her knees for him. But not me. I'm immune to his enhanced charming mechanisms, as clever as they may be.

"C'mon, Leth, we'll be late," he says as he playfully pokes my nose. And he even knows how much I hate it when he does that. Don't call me Leth. Or I'll bite you.

"Ugh!" I cram a pillow in my face. I don't feel like getting up, I'd rather just-

"By the way, we only have 30 minutes to get ready," Cadell says intensely, breaking my train of thought.

"THIRTY MINUTES?!" I scream. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE?!" I push him out of the way and run to the bathroom to put on my clothes and makeup.

I'm a sucker for blasphemy. I'm Atheist so I like to dress up with upside-down crosses, Illuminati symbols, and anything to do with pissing people off to the maximum. So I decide to wear my red, upside-down cross shirt with a pentagram on the back. My jeans are black and short so I wear ripped up fishnet stockings for a dramatic look. On goes my thick eyeliner and BAM! Got yourself a sexy babe. Okay, maybe I'm just a little too dramatic. I grab my red Converse, all ripped and gross looking, and slip them on. God, does it feel good to look pretty. I walk into the living room of the bus.

Astaroth (the drummer) walks in wearing leather upon leather.

"Really?" I ask, playfully. He's a deep-thinking man, so he enjoys the attention. "You know, just because you're named after a demon, doesn't mean you have to dress tacky like one." His name reflects himself. A demonic man. Dark; yet self-aware and alone. He creates sin.

"Oh hush, you're just jealous your parents didn't name YOU after a demon!" He smirks.

I swear, one day he's gonna drag us all to hell.