"…And I was really starting to worry about you guys. I mean, running off into the middle of nowhere, not using those emergency phones I gave you, what were you thinking? Well, at least you're okay, but please, don't ever scare me like that again." The chipmunks nodded, answering Dave's request. "Alright. Now, dinner will be ready in an hour, you guys mind helping me set the table?" "Sure" answered Theodore, heading for the kitchen. "Not tonight Dave, I have some…um…important work to do." And with that, Simon excused himself down to his laboratory, hoping for a few minutes of quiet reflection. "What about you, Alvin" asked Dave "give us a hand?" "Sure" Alvin replied, clapping. "Alvin" warned Dave, before letting out a good chuckle "that's the oldest trick in the book." Alvin chuckled to. "Sorry Dave, I guess I needed to get that out of my system." "I understand" said Dave as he messed up his son's hair "but sometimes, I think you make a better comedian then a musician." And with that, Dave went to Theodore in the kitchen to help set up for dinner.
It's been at least 4 hours since the chipmunks and chipettes returned from their investigation. The realization of what they just learned still struck them hard, and no matter what, they couldn't forget it. Since returning home, they have tried to tell their respective guardian, but to no avail. No matter how they tried, the words just wouldn't seem to come to them. They tried countless times to say something, but so far, noting was coming. Their had to be some way to express what they just witnessed, some way to get their message out. As they hoped, Dave's phone suddenly began to ring. "Hello?" answered Dave. The chipmunks were tried to overhear what and who Dave was talking to, but to no avail. "This late?" asked Dave, seeming confused. "Well, yeah, I understand that but…'sigh' okay. We'll be down in a few minutes." "Who was that" asked Simon as Dave hung the phone. "That was the record company, apparently we need to do some work on the next album." "This late?" asked Simon, most confused by the request. "Afraid so guys, so pack up, and let's go." "But, what about dinner" questioned a concerned Theodore. "Looks like we'll be eating on the run. Right now, pack up the instruments, and anything else we might need. If I know the record company, we're gonna be there for a while."
As Dave drove the chipmunks and chipettes to the record studio, an uneasy silence seemed to choke the whole lot. Normally, the back seat would be filled with the sound of Alvin and Brittany fighting, Simon and Jeanette discussing books, and Theodore whispering secrets to Eleanor. But tonight, not a sound was heard. "Something wrong?" asked Dave, concerned for the uncharacteristic silence behind him. At first, no one seemed to reply, all of the boys and girls just stared out the window. Dave cleared his throat, hoping that someone would notice. Again, nothing. The front that the chipmunks pulled when they returned home seems to have fallen, and Dave could tell that something was bothering these six passengers. As they made their way, Dave turned on the radio, hoping that maybe some music will right things. He searched all the frequencies, looking for a good song to listen. Suddenly, he reached a hard rock station, and Alvin stopped him. "Can we listen to this song, please?" asked Alvin. Normally, neither Alvin or any of the guys and girls listened to hard rock, only rock and roll. But, something about this song seemed to strike a cord with them. "Sure" he said, turning up the volume.
Alvin's thoughts were buzzing like flies. After hearing, and slightly seeing what kind of person Chase really is; a scared child living with a inhuman monster for a father, really changed his perspective on his sights of Dave. Sure, Dave would be mad at him, and sure, sometimes Alvin admits he was a slight cause of some of them. Okay, he was the cause of a lot of Dave's anger, but Dave would never hurt them. The worst he would do was ground him, but never strike him. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he thought about parents in general. It made him sick. Parents are suppose to love their children, protect them even. Sure, they can be mad at them, and scold them at times, but what type of parent actually hits their own kid? An evil one, that's what Alvin thought, and he was sure he wasn't the only one thinking these thoughts. He could see it in all the faces of the chipettes and his brothers. But, what scared him the most, wasn't the thought of what type of parent Chase lives with, but what's going through Chase's mind. As that dreadful realization crashed into his mind, music began to play. Somehow, the song seemed to fit their feelings. The solid guitar licks, the semi-psychedelic bass, and the pounding of the drums. It all seemed to fit in with Chase's problems, what he must go through every day of his life. "Can we listen to this song, please?" Alvin wasn't sure where that question came from, but he knew he needed to hear this song. Dave might have answered, Alvin didn't notice, but he did notice the volume from the car radio turn up. Alvin knew this song, he heard it one time. It was from a band called Trapt, and it was called "Headstrong". That's what Chase felt, that he needs to be strong, and face his father. But, Chase knew that he was weak compared to his father, and always feared him. As the music played, Alvin and the chipmunks began to sing it to themselves.
Alvin:
Circling your, circling your, circling your head
Contemplating everything you ever said
Now I see the truth, I've got no doubt
A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out
I'll see you later
I see your fantasies, you want to make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our head (yeah)
Well now it's over
I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
Alvin and the Chipmunks:
(Whoa)
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong, and this is not where you belong
I won't give everything away
Theodore:
Conclusions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best
I see you're full of it, and that's alright
That's how you play, I guess you'll get through every night
Well now that's over
I see your fantasy, you want to make it a reality paved in gold
See inside, inside of our head (yeah)
Well now it's over
I see your motives inside, decisions to hide
Alvin and the Chipmunks:
(Whoa)
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong, and this is not where you belong
(Where you belong) I won't give everything away
As the song radiated through the car, images began to play in their minds. The sight of Chase being hurt, Chase standing up to his father, Chase being hit. As the images played on, the thoughts became more graphic, it was almost impossible to keep tears from falling. They tried to block the images, but, it was almost as if they were happening in real time, and as they ended, they prayed it was just visions. In the final scene, Chase was standing up to his father, shouting at him, apparently fed up with his life. His father did not take it to well, and punched Chase hard in the face. The force of the blow was enough to topple Chase, causing him to fall down the stairs. He tumbled and turned down each step, until finally landing at the bottom. There, he just lay, motionless. A pool of blood was forming around his body, his eyes were blank. In the vision, Chase Benadict, was dead.
Simon:
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
I know, I know all about
Your motives inside, and your decisions to hide
Alvin and the Chipmunks:
(Whoa)
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong
Headstrong, we're headstrong
Back off, I'll take you on
Headstrong to take on anyone
I know that you are wrong, and this is not where you belong
(Where you belong)
(This is not where you belong)
"Wow, not bad guys" said Dave. Alvin nearly jumped out of his fur. "You heard us!?" asked one very surprised, and red face chipmunk. "Well" shot Brittany, "It's kind of hard not to hear you when you were screaming that song. Honestly Alvin, my ears were about to explode." "Watch it, Brit" warned Alvin, his hand balling into a fist. "Okay you two, that's enough" said Dave. "We're here, so everyone help me unpack, and we'll have this album finished in no time. Maybe we'll add in your new song guys. I'm sure people will like it." Nobody heard Dave's remark, all they could think of was the visions they had, and hoped against everything that was all they were, visions.