SIGNS & SYMBOLS

2. A Ghost Of A Chance

  She started to feel the panic when she noticed that Jim and his gang is following them. Her breathing became shallow and she started shivering. "Cold? Should I turn the heat on?" Kyle was asking. But was not sure if she can answer him. When she did not answer Kyle looked at her and noticed that she was struggling to breath. He stopped the car, "Rey? You alright? What is it?" He asked. Rey reached for him and he took hold of her hand. She bend forward and put her head between her knees and started to breath slow and long. Kyle rubbed her back and hand. "Sorry, panic attack" Rey said. "Can we go. They are following us."
Kyle has noticed them. He wanted to fight those guys but that is not practicle or productive at the moment. So he decided to do whatever he can do to help this girl.
"Don't apologise. Happens to the best of us" He  said. Rey was still watching the rear view mirror when the car stopped again. The exhaustion of the day and the minor panic jumbled her thought and she wished that the coffee would kick in soon and that she can hold on to a couple more hours. The venue was crowded as most of the thousands of students and faculty members are present. The chance of being lost in the crowd gave her a slight relief. As they approached the theatre door she can hear the performance inside and the crowd rapping along with the artist. They usually have tickets for shows and this felt like a sold out event. Rey doubted they will be allowed to get last minute passes. Kyle's phone started ringing and he moved a little away to talk as the music was loud even outside. Rey thought may he have friends inside or maybe a girlfriend. Suddenly she felt guilty of imposing on a stranger and ruining his plans. But if he had a girlfriend why was he sitting alone and watching anime in the Starbucks.
A guy in a t-shirt and skinny jeans came out near the side doors and called "Bro, this way". He also looked like a student. Kyle walked to the skinny jeans guy and bumped shoulders with him. He looked at Rey and pointed toward the side door with his head. She entered into the hallway after the skinny jeans guy and Kyle followed her. They entered a large room with sound equipments and technicians and volunteers. Rey realised they were backstage the venue and thought maybe Kyle and his friends were music department students and part of the organisers. Kyle and his friend were e talking a gurl who was dressed in black tee and black jeans which looked like the selected uniform for volunteers tonight. Rey felt underfoot and out of place. She is classical dancer and part of the Harvard Indian Cultural Art Association for students. So, this organised chaos is not unfamiliar. The coffee has started to energise her but there is nothing she can do. The volunteer girl came up to Rey and said "come on, it's better if we claim the seats near the side stage. The crowd will go nuts for corpse so pit is not really safe" Rey thought the stress and caffeine are messing with her comprehension as she could not make sense of what the girl was saying. Also with the loud music maybe she misheard but she was sure that  she heard something about "corpse in a pit".

"Stay with Tina. I will see you after the set" She heard every syllable of that rumbling more that felt the vibrations. She also felt his hot breath near on her ears and goosebumps raised on her neck. She turned around and faced Kyle. "Are you going on stage?" She asked. He nodded. The intense eyes are making her lose track of what she was supposed to do or maybe it was the traumatic experience of the day.

Kyle was called by Brian, the skinny jeans guy. Rey went to the side stage with Tina. There was a short set of steps and they entered a mezzanine floor with the uninterrupted view of the stage. There were two other girls there both of them were not volunteers. Must be friends if Kyle's bandmates. Rey wondered if any them were Kyle's girlfriend. Then the MC started speaking, "Ladies and Gents of The bestest university in the world..." The crowd roared in answer. "Are You Having Fun?" Another roar. "Are you ready to Have Some more Fun?"
"YEAH...."came from the pumped up audience." So.. Let's Welcome The Star Of Tonight's Show..... Corpse Husband" With that the roar was deafening. Rey felt her ears pop.

The light were off of the stage and the guitar riff started with a melody. A single spot light flicked on and a mic stand appeared at the centre of the stage. Before the crowd could respond the light flicked off again. Then in succession it went on and of a few times in rythm to the music. Then as the music slowed and the spot light turned a single guy appeared on the stage. The audience started to scream so loud that Rwy couldn't hear the song. The singer was wearing a mask which covered most of his face. Only one of his eyes and small portion of his for head was visible. When the crowd started to listen to him then Rey realised that it was not the base guitar but his voice that was rumbling through the speakers and realisation hit that it her good samaritan who was the star performer of the night.