People Can You Hear Me? [A Brian May Story]

[8]

Genevieve's sobs were still ringing throughout the stairwell as Roger and Brian reached the stall. Balancing her, Roger opened the door and the two carried her into the room, setting her down on the couch. Brian wiped the sweat off his brow. "What do we do now?"

Roger shrugged, running a hand through his blonde hair. "We hide her until the drug wears off I guess."

Brian frowned and looked at Genevieve. Her eyes were enormous, her face white as a sheet. Her whole body was trembling. She had her left hand covering her ear, the other arm hanging limply. While Brian was very scared, his heart also ached at the pain she seemed to be in. These were cries and screams of absolute terror. He wasn't sure they could just hide her. "We have to do something Rog," he said quietly.

"We know nothing about LSD," Roger said.

"I know but... we can try and calm her down, maybe help her come back a little bit." Brian glanced at Genevieve again. "Let's try talking to her again."

Roger nodded. "Genevieve... Genevieve... can you hear us?"

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Who called my name?

Don't! You're going to wake the monster! He just went away...

I hear it... the loud roar...

What have you done?

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As soon as her name left Roger's lips, she gasped and looked around. Brian stepped back as she jumped upright. Shakily removing her hand from her ear, her fingers folded, pressing her index finger to her lips. She was breathing erratically, panic apparent.

"Maybe that wasn't a good idea," Roger whispered.

Brian nodded. "But now what do we do? We have to be quiet?"

Before Roger could answer, the door opened and in walked the other half of the band, along with their respective girlfriends, Mary and Veronica.

"Where the fuck did you go?" Roger asked Freddie.

"Out to go meet Mary, you sod," Freddie retorted before laying eyes on the still Genevieve. She frantically pressed her finger to her lips repeatedly, shaking her head.

"Is this the mute girl?" Mary asked. "The one I met at Imperial with Brian?"

Roger and Brian nodded. "Keep it down, she doesn't like loud noises right now," Brian whispered.

The entire group stared at Genevieve in a mixture of fascination, confusion and intimidation. "We saw all the police outside," Veronica said lowly. "Was she a part of that?"

Roger quickly explained to the others the situation while Brian and Freddie got closer to Genevieve, who remained frozen in her position on the couch. "What do you two plan to do?" Freddie asked.

"We don't know," Brian said tiredly. He was beginning to think bringing her up was a bad idea. But then... he also thought that prison was much worse. He was torn, but his heart was telling him to comfort her, no matter how much it was scary. "Genevieve..." Brian whispered.

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Who is saying my name?!

I blink to try and better my focus but nothing is erasing this snow-filled hell. Wait... wait... it's suddenly very hot. Super hot. Almost scalding! Looking around, I see nothing but snow but why am I so hot? The monster has disappeared but I'm sure he will be back.

Something is clinging to me. I look down and see the black ooze wrapping around my body. Screaming, I grab at it, trying to force it off. It's squeezing me, choking me!