Join the black parade

dead!

Life goes quicker than you think. In the end of it, everything blends to a fading memory. Seems like life was a dream, and all you know is the blackness you get surrounded in. And the sinking cold feeling, it bites at your fingers and silences your voice. "Where's the ground?" could be your thought. Or maybe, "Where your family is". Truth is, if you reach this point, you're dead. I am, I remember it clearly. I was laying in bed, when I died... And I've been falling forever, I think.

One thing I've been able to hold onto is the soft distance scream of music. It's below me, it's where I'm going I'm sure. So I follow the piano, soft at first, but becomes joined by drums, and a soft play of guitars.

Then something happened that I didn't expect, I hit the ground, a feeling of stability and a sickening dizziness shot through my whole body. The music was loud now, and I heard someone's voice singing. His voice sounded beautiful, as I laid on the ground listening to the song come closer, and a part he kept singing stood out to me "We'll carry on." He sang over and over. Like he was singing to me about my transition from life to death. That I can still exist happily....

The music stopped, and I felt empty, I half expected to look up and see a set of people on a stage, but when I sat up, I was in an entirely different world. Everything was gray and black, the street I was on was rundown and deserted. In the sky I saw a huge black blimp, there was white words on the side, I couldn't tell what it said, my vision was blurred and all I could make out was an "M", and an "R" at the front of what was the last word. I turned around to see a parade stopped, and this wasn't any small or normal parade, it was huge. People marched alongside in the strangest marching costumes. Then I saw men standing and chatting on the float in black marching parade jacket. I stood up finally.

"Um, excuse me?" I asked waving my hand, a handsome man in the mix looked my way with a smile as he jumped off the rather depressing float.

"Hi," he smiled holding out his hand. "Welcome to the black parade." I slowly reached for his hand, noticing that they were covered in tattoos, and shook his hand. His hands were soft but

"W-Where am I? And who are you people?" I asked being curious. Then saw my hands gloves on them, and I wore a costume similar to him, but more leaning towards my own style. "And....what are we wearing?"

"Well...." He sighed biting his lip which was pierced. Cute. " told you, this is the black parade, and all the people here are apart of the black parade." He pointed back to the float of the people laughing and chatting. "As for who I am, my name is Frank Iero, I play guitar." He smirked, obviously proud of himself. "Also, all of us are wearing the black parade uniform." He leaned in whispering, "We are required to wear them." He leaned back and shrugged.

"By whom?" I inquired, still not sure what was happening. I wasn't freaking out like I usually do in confusing situations, but this Frank guy seemed calm, so, I was too.

He chuckled, also cute. "Gerard," he pointed back again at a man with white short hair. "The one with the white hair. He kinda runs a lot of what happens here. How bout I introduce you?" He asked.

My mouth was hanging open slightly as he grabbed my hand, eagerly pulling me on the float. I looked around, finally getting a clear look around. And I was horrified.

Woman with gas masks and torn dresses. Girls with ghostly complections, and men in hospital gowns with black around their eyes. People with bald heads and sunken faces. The only people who seemed normal, were the men on the float. But even they had black and white marching band outfits and ghostly pale skin. Even Frank's hand was cold to the touch.

"You okay Tami?" Frank asked.

"Y-yeah... wait, my name, how do you know my name?" I lifted my eyebrows, becoming more aware that something here wasn't right.

He giggled. "Well, your daughter wanted to make sure you got here safely." He smiled.

"My daughter?!" I exclaimed. But she's alive and well! I need some answers before I really get confused.

Just then, the white haired man named Gerard walked over to me. "Tami, we are the band My Chemical Romance. We run the black parade. After you die, you join the black parade, it's just what happens." He shrugged.

"My Chemical Romance?" I pondered out loud, still clearly not understanding.

He laughed lightly. "Relax, I know you have a lot of questions, but the more time you spend here, the easier you'll feel at home." He put his arm around me comfortingly. But I wasn't paying any attention. I was thinking about my daughter.

"My daughter...." I mumbled.

And he sighed, his grip around me becoming more strong as if he was holding me up. It felt safe. "I know you miss your family. And your daughter did everything to make sure you got here safely. She trusted us and we want you to trust us too. " He smiled.

My fist clenched. I knew I could trust these people....if she trusted them....then I should....but, I still felt as if I needed more proof. I needed to know what these people were doing here, was this purgatory? Was this heaven? Or am I in Hell?

Before I could say a word, I felt a cold hand grab my own and pull me off the float and walk me down the street, I looked up and saw Frank again. All he did was smile at me, and I looked at the ground, not sure what he wanted as we walked down the dirty road.

"So...what's your favorite color?" he asked quietly.

I looked up at him, I guess he's just trying to get me to relax a bit by making small conversation. "Uh, purple." I mumbled.

"Nice." he giggled. "I wonder what purple looks like, I don't see a lot of purple." He looked around at the gray, black and white world around us. "I mean, this is a nice home, I just wish I could see more than I do." He bit his lip looking down as he held my hand nicely.

"Did you grow up here?" I asked. Looking at him with wide eyes as I listened.

"N-no, not really. I don't remember anything before here, but this is all the guys and I have ever known...." He sighed. "That's why I was excited to see you here, because you are a different sight than the everyday boys."

I giggled. "I hope so, considering I'm female." He smiled and chuckled running a hand through his hair. "And you know what? I think I might just enjoy being here with you." I smiled and he returned the smile.

"Good." He nodded. "I know you will enjoy it here." He smiled and we continued on walking together.