Teaser: A tall, blond haired youth stepped hesitantly toward the trunk, leaning back as he furtively glanced down. With an abrupt shake of his head, he quickly backed away, “Nuh-uh! No way! I ain’t goin’ in there!! ...There could be gremlins hiding in there!!” Brian placed a reassuring arm around the youth’s shoulders, “Aw, c’mon Nick! There’re no gremlins! Besides, we’ll be right there with ya.” Nick sent a nervous glance at the trunk and then looked back at Brian’s face, seeing the smile and wink. Nick nodded his head and forced a grin upon his face for Brian, but his eyes were still nervous and he was soon worrying his bottom lip. Brian gave him one last pat on the back and stepped away. Nick closed his eyes and took deep breaths, his reaction to the trunk not an act as his friends had always assumed. Relax, Nick. he told himself, Remember, this is just a skit, same as the other hundred times you did it. Just suck it up and go into the trunk... the dark trunk... the confining, dark trunk... With a slight shudder racking his frame, Nick opened his eyes and saw Howie climbing into the trunk, giving a wave to the crowd as he disappeared into the box. Brian stepped up next and gave the audience a salute as he descended into the trunk’s depths. Nick felt his chest tighten, it was his turn. He hesitated. He felt the fear that resided deep within him surface and it took his breath away, same as it did every time they got to this part of the concert. This time it was even more intense, causing him to freeze up. Nick jumped slightly as a hand touched his arm, his wide blue eyes darting over to see AJ covertly nudging him toward the trunk, a confused light in the brown eyes that peered over silver sunglasses. Nick gave him an apologetic smile and managed to step toward the trunk, his breath quickening as he neared the object. He now stood at its threshold and felt a sudden shiver course up his spine. His hand reached out and gripped the box’s rim as he swung his legs over the edge and onto the platform within that would lower him below stage. Nick felt his hands begin to tremble as he painted a bright smile on his face and gave the audience a wave as the platform began its descent into the darkness. Nick gripped his shaking hands into fists and tried to control his overwhelming fear as the inky blackness closed in all around him. Nick felt as if the air around him had turned solid, the heavy weight of it pressing against him, suffocating him. Nick closed his eyes tight, his form motionless save for his tremors of pure fear. Nick let out his breath in a whoosh as he felt the platform jolt to a stop, not realizing he had held his breath the entire time he was descending into the blackness. Nick quickly scrambled off the lift before it arose to retrieve AJ, his feet tangling in some cords on the floor and causing him to abruptly lose his balance. Nick gave a gasp as he felt himself fall, then relief coupled with a splice of fear flashed through him as a hand shot out of the darkness and snatched his arm, halting his fall. “Whoa there, Nick!” exclaimed Brian, his other arm reaching out to steady the blond, “Careful.” Nick stared at his best friend as he was guided to the side, the spectral beams and dim glows of the stage lights causing Brian’s features to become somewhat visible in the semi-darkness, though morphing his best friend’s kind features into something almost ghostly. Nick shivered. Now standing along side Howie and Brian, Nick forced a smile upon his face. He tried to speak, but his voice broke and he had to clear his throat. Finally, his voice came out, his mind not acknowledging that it was merely a husky, raw whisper, “Thanks, Bri’.” Brian gave him a distracted grin, his eyes looking past Nick for the arrival of their absent band mates, “No prob’, Frack. You ought to watch yourself a bit more though, you’ll end up gettin’ hurt in all this darkness.” If it weren’t for the pale glow of light that served as the only source of illumination, Brian would have noticed as Nick’s face drained of color. Nick swallowed, swiping a still trembling hand through his spiked hair, “Oh, I’ll watch it, Frick. Promise.” |
