How A7X got their names: Ch 1: Matt
The sun began to set as I walked towards home. I had a feeling that Mom and Dad would be worried about me, like getting mugged or beaten by the bully's from my high school, even though I was taller and older than them. Hopefully I wouldn't get in trouble for getting home "past curfew", especially since I had a great song idea stuck in my head. I didn't want to get it mixed up with a long talk about "safety". Really, so many things were going through my mind.
My buddies and I (Jimmy Sullivan, Brian Haner Jr, Zacky Baker, and a few other friends) had recently begun a band called Avenged Sevenfold, and we were about halfway through finishing our first album called Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. We loved it, except for the fact that we probably wouldn't become famous or anything.
But the main problem was that we hadn't thought of awesome stage names. Nobody would want to show up to a gig if we just used our own names. We had to think of something dark and creative.
But, as different ideas flashed through my mind, a menacing growl echoed from behind. Slowly turning around, my heart nearly stopped when I saw it: a giant, angry Great Dane by the name of Thomas. What a stupid name to give to a dog, I thought as it slowly took a step towards me, teeth bared, fur standing on end. And once it barked, I was already running.
"Crap,crap,crap,CRAP!" I whispered, praying that the animal would see a squirrel and take its eyes off of me. But no, because every time that I turned around, it would just be getting closer as I sprinted down the street. I turned the corner, nearly sliding on the gravel that led to the alleyway. Before I knew it, a giant wooden fence loomed before me. Great, I thought, hoping that I could jump the fence and end up behind the strip mall.
At the last possible second, I stretched my legs, reached up . . . and grabbed the top of the fence. It was big enough where Thomas wouldn't be able to reach me . . . but I wasn't strong enough to pull myself over the edge. I was officially dead. I put my feet on a ledge, watching below me as the dog stood on its hind legs, barking and snapping at my feet.
I laughed. "What now, you dumb animal?" But I was the dumb one, because I was stuck on this God damned fence.
Either it knew English, or was just super strong, because in one second, the fence and I were on the ground. Now, the only thing behind me was the brick wall, AKA, Kim's Nail Salon. And I wasn't going to run from this thing. I stood up. "What do you want? I can fight, you know!"
Then, Thomas took one look behind me, and was running down the street like I was only a few minutes ago. What the hell? I turned around, almost and literally scaring myself with my own shadow. No, really. The light from the street lights made me look at least a few feet taller than I really was. I didn't really think about it, but then I had an idea for my stage name: M. Shadows.