Dirty Lyrics [Chapter One only - now published on Amazon]

PROLOGUE

LUC

*****

I hit my thumb against the shelf as I grabbed onto the heavy can of paint that nearly slipped out of my hands. I was in the process of re-stocking paint containers on the top shelf, and my lack of concentration nearly caused both a giant mess and an unwelcome injury.

"Shit!"

I looked around to see if any customers, or worse, my boss, overheard that slip, and exhaled in a sigh when the coast seemed clear.

I hated my job at the hardware store. I hated everything about it. It was boring as fuck. My boss sucked, and that was being generous. The monotony of each day was slowly killing me inside. And the fact that I was tired from playing a gig the previous night until late, didn't help things either today.

But I needed a "real job" by day to support myself. It was the price I had to pay to pursue my true passion: writing songs and performing live. I craved music like oxygen in my lungs. And even when I was mindlessly re-stocking shelves or helping customers pick out a particular paint for their home improvement projects, I was always composing new songs in my head. Always thinking of lyrics that would match those melodies which lived inside my mind.

And although that day started like so many others before it, it would end up being the day that my fortune changed, that my soul was sold, that my heart was stabbed wide open with the force of a giant, rusty samurai sword.

I was on my lunch break, and just about to head back inside when the phone started ringing in my pocket. And little did I know, but that particular call would change my orbit and set me on a collision course with destiny...

"Afternoon," I answered hesitantly. It was an unknown number, and I was expecting some sort of sales pitch, to begin with.

"Good afternoon. Is this Lucas Johnson?" An unfamiliar male voice asked.

"Yes, it is," I confirmed, a frown starting to furrow between my brows.

"This is Dan Storm, from Daniel Storm Talent Management. You sent in a demo a few weeks ago..."

My hand clenched tighter around the handset, and I felt a sense of anticipation rolling around in my stomach.

"I did, yes." I was still skeptical, thinking that there was some sort of catch.

"I'd like you to come in for a meeting. This afternoon, preferably."

It was a statement, not a question.

"What time?" My skepticism was slowly starting to give way to hope.

"Let's make it four. You have the address?" Storm asked impatiently.

"I'll manage to find it," I responded quickly. I didn't have a pen handy, but I knew that the address wouldn't be hard to find.

"See you then."

The call disconnected, but I still had the handset pressed against my temple. It was the first call-back I'd ever received, after years of sending in demos, making calls, trying to get someone to meet with me, face to face...

For the first time in months, hope flickered inside of me. A tiny flame, licking at my insides, filling me with warmth even though the temperature was close to freezing point outside.

But I was on the cusp of selling my soul, although I didn't know it. I was on the verge of making a deal with the Devil, but I didn't recognize him. I was about to sign my life away, but I was completely unprepared for it...