Part 13
The SPs barged into my room and dragged me down the stairs, gripping their hands tightly on my already cut and burning arms. I was quickly strapped down onto a cold, metal table while the bright lights above the ceiling blocked my vision as my heart pounded violently in my chest. I tried to look around, but I couldn't see or feel what was going on...until one of the surgeons came into view. He shoved something down my throat and slyly said, "This won't hurt a bit."
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"Jimi, wake up! Jimi!"
I shot up abruptly and almost screamed in Layne's right ear-drum, but he managed to snap me out my nightmare as I gasped heavily in the dark with my eyes still closed.
"You're okay, love," I heard Layne whisper, trying to touch my shock-ridden face. "Just a nightmare, alright? It's just a nightmare."
"It...seemed too real for me," I muttered in between sobs. "It was like I was about to be murdered on a table while this surgeon was shoving something down my throat."
"You've heard too many of those damn stories from everyone..."
"No, I haven't. This was different, Layne."
Suddenly, someone turned on the lights and I saw that it was my brother.
"I heard shrieking from down the hall..."
"Yeah. I think EVERYONE else in the Hotel did as well," Layne replied.
"You okay?" Gaz asked, walking over to me.
"I'm fine. It was just a nightmare," I replied, trying to shake him off.
"By the sound of that yell, it didn't sound like a nightmare."
"Sounded more like a murder," Layne said.
"Could you just drop that last comment please?" I asked. "Seriously."
Layne placed his arm around me and apologized.
I then slowly got up and replied, "I need to practice the songs."
"You want us to come with you?" Gaz asked. "You know, just to be safe?"
I shook my head and replied that I didn't need them for the time being.
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(2 days later)
I walked down the hall in a daze, clutching the sheet music in my right hand, and holding on to the wall with my left. I had been unable to sleep for many nights, and I was too afraid to fall asleep. I was worried that if I did, then the nightmares would come to life and it would be a reality. I knew that Layne and Gaz were worried about me, but I didn't want to make another scene, so I spent most of my sleepless nights practicing the songs and trying to do a technique called "vocalizing", where I had to warm my vocal chords up in order to sing.
"Hard time sleeping?"
I looked up and faced some guy I had never met before who looked like a Bohemian.
"How'd you guess?" I asked, feeling as if I could trust him.
"I could tell by the how glassy your eyes are. Your very, sexy eyes."
"I'm not in the mood for yelling, but I am going to tell you to piss off."
"Ooh. Very touchy this evening, aren't we? Ever consider getting laid?"
I glared at him and continued to walk down the hall, but kept getting blocked by the mysterious person.
"Not in the mood for games either. So would you mind letting me through?" I asked.
"One condition though, Ally. You and I might have to get introduced...in a different way."
My eyes widened at the sound of my deserted real name. He wasn't a bohemian, that's for sure. He was a spy. An SP, maybe. But how did he know who I was?
Before I could break out into a run and yell for help, he grabbed a hold of my hair, dragged me into another room and threw me down on the floor while he sat on top of me and struggled to rip off some of my clothes. I punched him twice in the face, but he punched me back and continued to grip my neck. He then started to force his tongue down my throat, but I ended up biting down on it until he yelped and jerked back. He suddenly started to punch and choke me hard again, and was about to lose consciousness until someone grabbed his shirt and threw him against the wall.
"Get off of her right now, pig!"
The guy glanced up at Scaramouche and smiled at her.
"You want to play rough, too, eh?" He asked, walking over to her.
She suddenly punched him in the jaw and grabbed him by the shirt.
"You better go back to where you belong or else I'll follow you down and finish you and your stupid friends off. Got it, mate?"
Hours later, I came to and saw Scaramouche pour some cold liquid on a washcloth and press down on my head.
"He's gone now. You don't have to worry 'bout him," she said.
I traced my fingers to where he hurt me and felt something loose on the back of my neck. I lifted it off and saw a small black chip that started to gain some static until she grabbed it from my hand, yell some obscenities into it, and smash it on the floor with her boot.
"You don't have to worry 'bout that, either. Just take a load off, as they used to say."
I glanced at her and managed to say, "I guess I should...apologize..."
"Nah. That's my job. I'm sorry for doubting you. Usually I'm not good with apologies, but it needed to be said."
I closed my eyes until I heard more footsteps enter the room. I opened them again and saw Layne move over to my side.
"Be careful. I'm still in a lot of pain, you know?"
Layne nodded and lightly kissed my cheek.
"Scared you again, huh?" I asked.
"I'm just glad the pig didn't kill you," Layne replied, placing a comforting arm around me.
"I told you the nightmares were coming true," I muttered.
"It must've had something to do with that chip," Scaramouche said and she picked up the broken pieces and threw them out. "They probably monitor dreams now, too."
"Shit. They probably have plans now to sabotage everything. The concert, the Hotel... us..."
"No, no. Don't think that," Layne said, trying to comfort me for minutes on end.
After a while, I suddenly replied, "Where's my brother?"
"Right here."
Gaz came in and rushed over to me while I buried my face into his shoulder again.
"You okay?" He asked nervously.
"Yeah but be careful. I'm still in pain."
(To be continued...)
