Fallen Hope

run

I hung up. I looked around my room. I grabbed my guitar and put it in its case with a small amp. I walked upstairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Dad hissed.

But I just left flipping them off. I got in my car and drove away. I didn't have an exact destination. My phone was ringing off the hook. So I just powered it off. I was driving for hours. I was just going where the road was taking me.

All of a sudden I saw the Hollywood sign. I parked somewhere and got out. With my bag and guitar. I saw the Hollywood walk of fame. It was starting to get dark so the streets lit up and people were all over.

I was walking past a record store when somebody grabbed my shoulder. Out of instinct I turned around and punched him in the gut.

"Ow! Holy shit dude!" He cursed.

"Oh my god. I'm sorry." I apologized immediately. "I'm just new here and it was out of instinct."

"Hey, hey it's fine. It's not a bad instinct to have." He assured.

He had an accent but I couldn't put my finger on what type. And I didn't want to ask.

"I just wanted to know if you're a guitar player." I looked at the case.

"Uh, yeah I am. Why?" I answered.

"Great. My band and I need a guitar player. Do you like metal? And if so, do you wanna join our band?" He offered. My face brightened up.

"Holy shit. Yeah." I agreed.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the record store. Two guys were standing there.

"My dudes! I got our guitar player!" He announced.

"How do we know he can play?" One of them pointed out. "Play a song."

I got out my guitar and started to play the riff of Five Finger Death Punch's version of House Of The Raising Sun. They aproved.

"Well I'm Eddy; the vocalists, that's Brian; the Bassist, and that's  Markus; the drummer. Welcome to Contagious Filth... Uh..." Eddy announced. I thought for a second. I glanced around the store.

"William Mars." I lied.

"Really?" Markus questioned.

"No... My real name is Chris McAndrews. I'm just trying to escape my old self." I gave in.

"Well welcome to Contagious Filth, Will." Eddy announced.

"Tell us about yourself." Markus insisted.

"I'm 18 and from Monterey. I just got to Hollywood a little over an hour ago after." I said.

"Oh shit, are you with anyone?" Brian asked.

"No. It's just me. I kinda sorta ran away." I admitted.

They looked at me with the "wtf" face. I looked down at my feet.

"So you got nowhere to go?" Brian implied.

"No sir. At at the moment." I answered. "It was a last minute decision. But I was planning on getting a hotel."

"The hotels around here suck dick. You can stay with me. I got a spare bedroom." Brian insisted.

"It's fine. You don't have to. I'm just some random kid you found on the street. The last thing I want is to be a burden." I replied.

"You won't be a burden. Just don't be an asshole and be good at guitar." Brian assured.

"Thank you." I thanked.

"You're on the band if you agree to call your mom. I've never met her, but I bet that she's worried sick about you. And you don't need that on your conscience." Markus declared.

"It's pretty impossible to call my mom. She uh... Died when I was born..." I said.

"Fuck. Sorry, I had no idea." Markus apologized awkwardly.

"Listen, I'm a run away too. I don't know what your home life was like. But still. No matter what, whoever is at home is worried. So just call and assure them that you're not dead." Brian insisted.

I thought for a second and agreed. I walked outside the store and turned my phone on. Only over a hundred missed calls and unread messages.