Chapter 16: Immortal.
"I can't believe this day has finally arrived!" Marceline cried excitedly as she looked at her band mates prepare and arrange their equipment for storage in the van she borrowed from her dad's work.
It was Saturday morning and the members of "Marceline & The Scream Queens" had to get up earlier than usual because their leader had not been able to rest the night before due to the excitement and nerves of the festival, although everyone was excited and anxious for that day, who was more than excited it seemed was the young woman with long dark hair. Fern, with a sweaty forehead, was making sure that the equipment cables were perfectly coiled and ready to be carried to the van.
"Is this really necessary?" the boy asked, lifting up a box full of microphones and other stuff.
"If you don't want our sound to suck in front of the whole audience, then yes, it's absolutely necessary" Marceline replied, barely glancing at him as she looked at a things-to-do list.
"You could have hired someone to do this job" Fern grumbled, setting the box down next to a pile of already packed instruments.
Wendy, the band's keyboardist, laughed from her position near the cellar door.
"And with what money, man? we barely managed to afford the T-shirts with the drawing Finn designed" she pointed to a pile of boxes stacked with the newly printed T-shirts next to the back of the van.
Marceline smiled as she remembered the dedication Finn put into that design, although she would not admit it out loud, she appreciated the effort the blond boy had put into capturing the essence of the band with his drawing.
"By the way, have you checked if the sizes are the right ones?" the young woman with long dark hair asked, leaving the list of tasks aside and heading to the boxes.
"Hey, don't take this the wrong way, but... these T-shirts are great" Booboo, who was wearing one of the T-shirts as a test, commented. It was decorated with the snake and broken ice creams, "Marceline & The Scream Queens" logo was read underneath in a gothic and elegant style that Finn had created especially for them. Marceline sketched a smile at his comment.
"Everything is in order, Marcy. I even made sure that the T-shirts for us were ready so that we arrive at the festival well identified" Wendy replied raising an eyebrow with a touch of pride.
"Perfect" Marceline sighed with relief "so once we're done here, we'll head straight to the festival. I want to get there early to make sure the stage is ready and everything runs smoothly!"
"Early?" Fern asked raising an eyebrow as he loaded another box into the van "but don't we have to show up for the performance until the afternoon?"
"Yes, but we've to be there earlier for sound checks. Besides, we don't want to take any chances, it's our big chance, guys, we can't blow it just because we're late or something goes wrong" Marceline exclaimed with a determination that everyone recognized instantly. The group cheered, infected by her excitement, once they finished stowing everything inside the van, they each grabbed a T-shirt before heading out. Marceline smiled at the sight of them: they all proudly wore Finn's design over the clothes they were wearing that day, and for the first time in years, she felt like a professional musician, ready to go out on stage and give her best "all right" she added, climbing into the driver's seat "it's now or never!"
With that, they set off for the festival, with anticipation and excitement filling the atmosphere inside the van.
Finn looked at himself in the mirror once again, adjusting his favorite hoodie: white, with little bear ears. His reflection showed a mixture of excitement and nervousness, he felt something odd since Phoebe invited him to the festival. As he tucked his T-shirt under his hoodie, his phone began to ring on the bedside table.
"Hello?" he answered, holding it between his shoulder and his ear as he rummaged through his closet for his jacket.
"Finn, are you ready?" Phoebe's cheerful voice sounded on the other end of the line "tell me you're ready because I'm too anxious, this day is going to be amazing!"
Finn smiled, infected by her enthusiasm.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm almost ready. I just need to put on my sneakers and I'll pick you up."
"Perfect. Don't be late, I don't want to miss anything."
"Of course not. I'll see you in a little while, Phoebs."
"Great" she said before hanging up. Finn sighed deeply, feeling a mixture of joy and anxiety, just then, his mother's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Nervous about the festival?" the short blond-haired woman asked peeking out of the bedroom door, smiling warmly at him.
"A little, I guess" Finn replied, turning to look at her "I've never been to one of these before"
Minerva walked into the bedroom, approached him and brushed back an unruly lock of his hair.
"Just be yourself, sweetheart. Enjoy the music, the company, stay safe and remember to call me if anything happens, okay? I'll come get you as soon as I can."
"I will, Mom" Finn nodded and thanked his mother for her concern.
Minerva hugged him tenderly before letting him go.
Arriving at his friend's house, Finn took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. It was barely a few seconds before the door opened, revealing a tall, almost reddish-brown-haired, serious man with a penetrating gaze: Phoebe's dad.
"Ugh, it's you again isn't it?" the man asked, examining him up and down, Finn nodded feeling intimidated by his scrutiny "Phoebe!" he crossed his arms, then raised his voice to call inside the house "your boyfriend's here!"
Finn felt his face flush immediately. Before he could react, Phoebe appeared behind her dad with an expression of disbelief and embarrassment.
"Dad!" the girl protested, pushing him out of the way with a gentle shove "I told you Finn and I are just friends."
"Oh, right, right. Just friends" her father replied, raising his eyebrows with a smirk as he walked away.
Phoebe sighed, looking at Finn with a mixture of apology and amusement.
"Sorry about that. Sometimes he just wants to embarrass me."
"That's okay" Finn said, though he still felt the heat on his face "so are you ready to go?"
Phoebe smiled, putting aside the awkward moment.
"More than ready. Let's go before my dad comes back and says something else to embarrass us."
They both headed to the bus stop and made their way to the festival, the excitement and anticipation building with every step they took. The morning sun was already warming the streets of the city as Finn and Phoebe waited to catch the bus that would take them to the festival. The bus stop was quiet, there were not many people waiting, except for the sound of cars and other vehicles passing by, some stores were closed because it was still too early for their usual opening hours. Finn looked distractedly at a cat that ran across the street while Phoebe was checking something on her phone.
"Do you think it's too crowded?" the blond boy asked, breaking the silence between him and his friend.
"It's a music festival, Finn. Of course it's going to be crowded" the copper red-haired girl answered with an amused smile. She put her phone away and turned to him "but that's what makes it exciting. Lots of people, lots of energy... it's like the music connects them all"
"I don't know if I'm that good with crowds" Finn admitted, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.
Phoebe looked at him and then, in an unexpected gesture, tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"You're going to be fine" she reassured him "besides, you have me to guide you. I'm your compass in this chaos."
Finn chuckled, staring at the sidewalk for a moment before looking up.
"Okay, "compass." I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Of course I do" Phoebe exclaimed, feeling offended, as she held a hand to her chest dramatically "I've been to more festivals than you can count on the fingers of your hand!"
"How many? Three?" Finn asked with a smirk, remembering what his friend had said earlier. Phoebe simply rolled her eyes.
"Enough to be an expert."
A light wind blew, causing Phoebe to tuck a lock of her hair behind her ear. She turned her hazel gaze to the clear sky and again looked back at Finn.
"Hey... have you ever thought about getting on stage?"
"No! Of course not, why would I?" Finn asked, clearly confused by the girl's question.
"I don't know, maybe you have some hidden talent out there" Phoebe said with a shrug "besides, it's not that different from what you do when you have to speak in front of the class, is it?"
"It's totally different" Finn replied, laughing a little nervous "to stand up in front of a bunch of strangers who are judging me... no, thanks"
Phoebe looked at him for a moment before smiling.
"Well, if you change your mind, you know who to look for to teach you" she said, pointing a finger at herself.
Finn shook his head, but could not help but smile. Just then, the roar of an engine announced the bus's arrival.
"Come on, Compass" the teenager said, pointing to the vehicle that stopped in front of them "it's time to lead us into the madness"
Phoebe nudged him gently before going up first, and Finn followed her, feeling that even if he was not sure what was in store for him, at least he would not be alone.
In another part of the city, Marceline and her band finally arrived at the place where the Rock Festival would take place: the parking lot of a supermarket that, for that weekend, had become the location for a music event. The place was full of equipment, cables, food trucks, small craft-related activity stands, a tent where tattoos were being made, another one where later there would be a kind of fortune teller reading people's hands and merchandising of the different bands that would be performing.
"WELCOME TO CHAOS!" Wendy exclaimed leaning out of the window as they parked the van in an assigned space.
"This is bigger than I imagined" Fern said looking around with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.
"There's no time to waste, guys" Marceline ordered, jumping down from the van "let's check in first and then get back to unpacking everything."
"I thought Phoebe had already taken care of that" Fern muttered, but no one paid any attention.
The group walked to a gazebo where a man with a tired look on his face and a long list on a tablet seemed to be in charge of sign-ups. Marceline (direct as ever) was the first to approach.
"Hi, we are "Marceline & The Scream Queens" We're here to sign-up for the show."
The man looked up and then checked his list.
"Did you register five days in advance?"
The question came as a bucket of cold water. Marceline frowned in disbelief.
"A friend told us not to worry about it and that we could register the same day."
The man shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but we already have too many bands registered. I can't add any more names to the list."
"This has got to be a joke" Marceline exclaimed, clenching her fists, clearly frustrated.
"I'm sorry, girl. It's the rules" the man replied indifferently. Marceline sighed, looked at her bandmates who were waiting impatiently, again she saw the man in charge of registering the bands for the event, turned around and went back to the others.
"What's going on?" Booboo asked, a little worried about the sudden change of attitude in his leader.
"What's going on, you said? That thanks to Phoebe's "incredible" advice, we're about to be left out of the festival" Marceline replied visibly annoyed.
"What?! We worked so hard to get here! I'm not going to quit just because someone made a mistake" Wendy protested "there must be something we can do"
Without wasting another second, the long dark-haired young woman went back to the sign-up table.
"Listen to me, man. We need you to make room for us, we work too hard for you to say no. We're not just any band, we have been rehearsing, preparing, we even brought merchandising to sell.
Tell me what we can do to get them to let us perform."
"Uh, well, maybe..."
"We know how to turn on the audience" Marceline interrupted him, giving him a confident smile "just give us a chance, you won't regret it"
The man sighed, laughing at her insistence.
"All right, I'll make an exception and get you a space but you'll only get a short set."
"Deal!" Marceline and the guy shook hands closing their deal, the rest of the band started to shout in victory. After that, the woman went back with her bandmates "okay, guys, let's unpack!"
The band followed her quickly although Fern paused for a moment, his eyes looking in the direction of the Gypsy's booth, wondering who would be the person who would come to read people's hands at the festival that day.
"Fern!" Marceline called out to him, noticing that he had been left behind "come on, we don't have all day. We still have to prepare the instruments and tune the guitars"
"I'm coming" Fern replied, hurrying to catch up with them
The van they had used to transport the equipment was parked behind the stage, and although it had a few dents, it had served its purpose of getting the band to the festival. Marceline opened the back door and began to pull out her bass and amp, while Wendy busied herself getting out her keyboard and Georgy, with a more relaxed expression, took care of lowering the cymbals on his drum kit.
"Do you think we have time to do a sound check before the festival begins?" Wendy asked as she carefully cleaned the keys.
"If no one is late, we might have a chance" Georgy replied, putting his drumsticks in his back pants pocket "although Booboo still needs to work on his trumpet notes."
"Hey! I'm not the only one who needs to improve" Booboo replied, appearing behind the van with his trumpet in hand "besides, the audience won't notice if I'm wrong. They'll be busy looking at Marceline.
"Of course they'll notice, you asshole!" Marceline asked with a mocking smile, adjusting the strings of her bass "and when they do, I'll point at them and say 'do you see the trumpeter? it was him!'"
Laughter erupted among everyone, even Booboo had to join in.
"Lucky for everyone, my playing will be so incredible that it will overshadow any mistakes" Fern added carrying his guitar.
"Just don't try to improvise another solo like last rehearsal, Fern" Wendy joked, pointing a finger at him "you almost made us sound like a failed cover band."
The group burst out laughing as they finished unloading the equipment. Once inside the designated sound check area, they began to set up.
"Okay, let's test the microphones" Marceline said grabbing one of the cables.
One of the girls from the choir, who was further away from the rest of the band, arranging some music scores, joined the conversation.
"As long as everything is ready for when we're called, it doesn't matter that much. The important thing here is to stay cool and concentrate" she said in a calm voice, although she could not help but hide a small smile of enthusiasm.
Georgy began to set up the drums, gently tapping the drums to make sure everything was tight.
"Concentration, yeah. But if Booboo goes out of tune, I'm going to lose it completely" he commented, winking at the trumpeter.
"I'm never out of tune!" Booboo exclaimed, throwing his hands up in indignation "my notes are like poetry to the ears. You people just aren't ready for my art."
Marceline let out a laugh as she tuned her bass.
"Sure, Booboo, and if something goes wrong, it's "art" too, right?"
As he adjusted his guitar, Fern played a couple of soft chords to test it out.
"I just hope the audience is less critical than you are. You should be glad to have me in this band."
"Glad?" Wendy raised her eyebrows in feigned surprise "I think the word you're looking for is "tolerate". But yes, of course, we're happy to have you here, master of impromptu solos."
The atmosphere was filled with laughter as everyone tuned their instruments and checked their equipment. Finally, Marceline took the microphone and spoke to everyone.
"Fine, let's try this for real. Remember, first impressions count, even if it's just for the sound guys."
"And for Georgy, who continues to be impressed by every stroke of his drumsticks" Fern added earning another round of laughter from the group.
As the testing progressed, the members became more motivated by the idea of performing on stage. They joked with each other but showed the cohesion that made them a band. Gradually, the music began to echo in the area, catching the attention of some people passing by the festival, peeking out curiously.
The bus stopped a few meters away from the festival, Finn jumped off first helping Phoebe load a backpack with some basics. The place was already bustling with groups of people walking around the various stands, buying food and checking the schedule of bands to get an idea of what time they would be performing.
"Whoa, this is a lot bigger than I imagined" Finn commented looking around as he adjusted his white sweatshirt with bear ears.
"And we're just getting started" Phoebe replied excitedly as she pulled out her phone to check a message "we're going to have an amazing day!"
"Could we walk around before everything is crowded?" Finn suggested, pointing to some colorful stalls and a craft store.
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave it for later" the copper-red haired girl said shaking her head "first I need to meet with some friends, I promised we'd see each other as soon as I got here. After that we can do whatever you want, what do you say?"
"Okay" Finn agreed, following her as they made their way to the stage area.
The sound of laughter and familiar voices caught Phoebe's attention and she hurried up.
"There they are!" the girl cried excitedly "Marcy, yoo-hoo, here I am!" she added, calling the attention of the group in the sound check area.
Marceline quickly turned around with a huge smile on her face.
"Phoebe! We thought you weren't going to make it, my girl."
"No way I was going to miss this" Phoebe replied hugging her.
"Hey, are you sure you know what to do? I mean, you barely came to rehearsals and you just showed up to perform with us, you didn't even do the sound check!"
The copper-red haired girl released the young woman from her hug and smiled at her with a confident air.
"Pfff, please! I was born ready. Besides, trust me, I don't need a rehearsal, don't I, guys?" she said looking at the rest of the band.
Georgy let out a sarcastic laugh as he tapped on his drum kit.
"Oh, of course. Because we all know that improvising has never gone wrong in the history of festivals."
"Booboo is still trying to remember the notes, so technically we're all jamming" Wendy commented with an amused smile as she adjusted the keys on her keyboard.
Marceline sighed in mock exasperation, bringing a hand to her forehead.
"Well, you'd better not screw up and make me look bad up there" the long dark-haired woman said "if you screw up, I swear I'll sing 'Francis Forever' and say it's your farewell to the band."
"You wouldn't dare!" Phoebe cried feigning indignation "besides, if anyone can overshadow a mistake, it's me. It's part of my talent."
As the others laughed, Fern stood a bit on the sidelines watching the interaction of her bandmates with a smile until her gaze met Finn who had been waiting patiently behind the girl.
"Finn!" the boy said with an amused expression that seemed genuine.
"Fern!" Finn answered reciprocating the expression with a wide grin as he approached him and held out his arms; however, Fern backed away slightly raising his hands in alarm.
"Wait, wait. Not here. There are too many people looking at us" he said quietly as if to prevent anyone else from overhearing.
"Are you serious, Fern? You're going to make rules right now?" Georgy asked his bandmate from afar.
Marceline, who was always attentive, could not help but overhear the conversation, arched an eyebrow and let out a mocking laugh.
"Georgy's right, none of you is going to bite" Wendy commented, looking at Fern with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. Finn, not even flinching, just smiled wider and said:
"Come on, man. It'll be all right."
After a moment's hesitation (and under the pressure of his companions' stares) the blond with the green-tinged tips let out a resigned sigh and allowed the hug, though his posture remained somewhat stiff. Finn, on the other hand, seemed delighted and gave him a couple of pats on the back before releasing him.
"You always have to complicate everything, huh?" the teenager joked as Fern rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's part of my charm" Fern replied, discreetly smiling back.
"What are you doing here?" Marceline asked turning to Finn as she went back to adjusting the microphones.
"I come with Phoebe" Finn said pointing to her "I wanted to explore a little earlier, but she had to come and meet with you first."
"Priorities" Georgy said mockingly.
"Besides, I'm also here to support her" Finn added with a smile as he looked at Phoebe. Hearing that, Fern looked down a little, adjusting the strap of his electric guitar. Although he was trying to keep up his neutral expression, he could not help but feel a little left out.
Marceline noticed the change in his demeanor and, with a conniving smile, approached Finn.
"Hey, don't forget that Fern is here to shine too" she said with a nod of her head.
Finn quickly took the hint and looked at Fern with a sincere expression.
"Of course! I'm here to support you too, buddy. I want to see you do your best up there."
Fern looked up, smiling with a little more confidence.
"Thanks. I hope you don't regret those words when it's my turn to sing."
The group laughed in unison, breaking the brief tension, as they went back to their preparation tasks. As they all walked to the backstage area, Finn could not help but blurt out a question that had been on his mind.
"Hey, Phoebe, how do you know Marceline and her band?"
"Oh, that" Phoebe, who was checking her phone, looked away from the boy with a casual smile "we met a while ago at an open mic night, Marceline and I hit it off right away because we both love music, especially singing, after that I was invited to join as a backing vocalist and well... here I am"
"And it never occurred to you to tell me that you were in a band?" Finn asked arching an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. The girl shrugged, trying to hide her discomfort.
"It wasn't something I wanted to share with everyone. This is more of a hobby, something I do for fun."
"A hobby?" Finn crossed his arms in indignation "Phoebe, you're in a band that performs on festivals now and you never told me? I thought we were close friends"
Phoebe laughed softly at her friend's tone of voice.
"It's not that I didn't trust you, Finn. It's just... I didn't want people to see it as anything more... serious than it really is. Besides, I like to keep certain things secret."
Finn sighed, but his expression softened.
"Well, that's good. But only because I want to see how good this band of yours is."
"You'll see" Phoebe gave him a gentle nudge on the shoulder, amused "I promise you won't regret it" once they arrived at the backstage area, Phoebe checked the time on her phone and then looked at her friend with a quiet smile "well, Finn. I have to go with them to prepare what's left, but don't worry, I'll see you after the show, okay? In the meantime, you can go explore the festival"
"Nah" Finn said, shaking his head almost immediately, crossing his arms with determination "I'd better stay here, I want to see your performance from the beginning, besides, I'd love to hear "Marceline & The Scream Queens" live"
Marceline, who had overheard the comment while adjusting a cable, smirked.
"That's the attitude, Finn. I promise you won't regret it."
Phoebe rolled her eyes mockingly.
"You're always so loyal" the copper-red-haired girl said as she put a hand on her friend's shoulder and smiled at him "well, wish us luck!"
"You don't need it. You guys can handle this" Finn assured her confidently.
His friend gave him one last smile before joining the rest of the band, who were already starting to walk to the backstage. Finn followed them with his eyes until they disappeared, then mingled among the people starting to gather in front of the main stage. With his hands in his pockets, he scanned the faces of those in the crowd, many of them talking cheerfully as they looked at a band playing their music on stage. It was not long before he began to pick up snatches of conversation about Marceline's band.
"Hey, have you heard of or listened to the band "Marceline & The Scream Queens"?" a guy in a leather jacket asked his friend.
"Are you kidding? Of course I did, they played at my cousin's bar last month. The lead singer is amazing, she has a great voice and... moreover, have you seen the way she dresses? it's unique" the other guy commented admiringly.
"Not only that. They say the guitarist is a prodigy, although he doesn't seem very sociable, he plays as if he had fire in his hands."
Finn smiled slightly at that last remark, imagining Fern's reaction if he had heard the comment.
"I think the weak point of the band is the trumpet player" another female voice interjected a little farther away.
"The trumpet player? Booboo is good" her partner said.
"Yeah, but compared to the others, he doesn't stand out that much. It's as if the rest were in a different tune."
The teenager could not help but frown slightly at that comment, but before he could think any more about it, another group near him caught his attention.
"I hope they play "Remember You" this time. That song gives me goose bumps" a girl in a colorful cap said.
"Really? That one? I prefer "I'm Just Your Problem" or "Wake Up". Those songs are a straight punch to the heart."
Finn began to feel even more excited about the show. Expectations seemed high, and he was sure the band would not disappoint. As he adjusted his position to get a better view of the stage, he looked toward the area where the final preparations were being made. Although he could not see Fern or Marceline, he knew they were both working hard behind the curtains.
"Come on, guys. Give them something to talk about" he thought to himself, anxiously waiting for the show to begin.
On the other hand, at the backstage, the band was gathered to make the last details. The sound of the current band echoed in the air, mixed with the screams and yells of the audience present, the timer placed on the giant screen near the stage marked that there were ten minutes left until the end of the assigned time for the musicians who were performing.
Marceline drummed her fingers nervously against her bass as she paced back and forth, Fern and Georgy sat nearby, calmly tuning their instruments as Wendy went over some chords on the keyboard with her headphones on, Booboo adjusted the mouthpiece of his trumpet, softly whistling a melody to distract himself.
The long dark-haired young woman stopped suddenly in front of the black curtain that separated the backstage from the main stage, pulled back the fabric a bit and poked her head through the crowd.
"Is something wrong, Marcy?" Wendy asked looking up from her keyboard.
"No, nothing's wrong" she replied, pretending to be calm even though inside she was dying of nerves, her eyes still scanning the audience, hoping to find a familiar figure in the crowd.
"If nothing is wrong, then why do you keep looking out as if you had lost something?" Fern asked, putting aside his guitar and approaching her, he crossed his arms as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye.
"I didn't lose anything" the young woman replied pulling the curtain closed "I was just having a look around"
"A-ha, sure" the blond boy with the green-dyed tips murmured before walking back to his place.
Georgy, who had been testing the sound of his portable drum kit, tapped the sticks a couple of times to check the quality.
"Come on, Marcy. Spill it is it Bonnie again?"
The mere mention of the pink-haired woman made Marceline frown slightly, but she said nothing.
"Really? Are you worried she's not here?" Booboo asked, leaning his trumpet on the stand and folding his arms "maybe she's on her way or caught in the crowd. It's crowded outside"
"She's never missed a show" Marceline replied, not bothering to hide her concern this time "she's like my... my good luck charm, you know?"
"It's okay, as long as you don't start crying if she doesn't show up, everything will be fine" Georgy joked with a smile, earning a withering glare from Marceline.
"Shut up" she snapped, though without much strength in her tone of voice.
The timer read eight minutes and the band's sounds on the main stage were starting to fade, telling that their last song was coming to an end. Marceline opened the curtain again, this time biting her bottom lip, her anxious eyes looking for Bonnie among the sea of unfamiliar faces.
"Marcy" Wendy said, taking off her headphones "are you sure everything's okay? You don't have to carry this alone"
Marceline sighed and stepped away from the curtain, sitting down on a nearby stool.
"I know. It's just... this show is important to us. I want everything to be perfect."
"And Bonnie being here makes everything perfect, right?" Fern asked sarcastically, letting out a snort and resting his guitar on his leg.
"Shut your mouth, Fern" Marceline replied quickly, though her slight smile gave her away. The group exchanged a few laughs, momentarily relieving the tension as the time continued approaching zero.
The bustle of the festival filled the atmosphere with laughter, music and chatter. Bonnibel adjusted her backpack over her shoulder as she looked at a map on the event website in her phone. The place was about to collapse, there were lines of people waiting to order and buy some food, the different craft stands were also crowded and the stages in different areas of the parking lot gave life to the place. As she walked along, her eyes scrolled through the names of the different bands and schedules printed on the chronogram.
"Main Stage" with a slight smile, Bonnie started to make her way through the crowd in that direction; however, as she turned a corner, she accidentally bumped into someone causing them both to take a step back.
"Ouch!" Finn exclaimed, holding a hand to his chest as he let out a small high-pitched cry "Professor Bubblegum!"
The pink-haired woman looked at him in surprise but amused by her student's reaction to bumping into her.
"Finn! Oh, my. Excuse me, I didn't see you."
Finn, still wide-eyed, pointed his finger at her as if he had found someone in a place where they should not be.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, looking around as if he expected a classmate to show up too "it's Saturday, you can't come and complain to me about school, could you?"
Bonnibel let out a soft laugh and shook her head.
"Don't worry, Finn. I'm here to have fun, just like everyone else. Besides" she paused and looked at the map on her phone "I came here to support Marceline's band"
Hearing this, Finn looked at her in surprise.
"Support Marceline?" he repeated, frowning slightly "you and Marceline are friends?"
The young woman lowered the screen of her phone and a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Something like that. We've had our moments, but that's in the past."
Finn noticed how a slight blush appeared on his teacher's cheeks, which made him more curious.
"Moments? What kind of moments? Were you guys like... close friends?" the teenager asked, arching an eyebrow with a mixture of mischief and puzzlement.
Bonnie cleared her throat, her tone of voice still relaxed but with a hint of discomfort.
"We were close, yes. But those are old stories, Finn. Better worry about finding a good spot near the stage if you want to see the show."
"Is it going to be a good show?" Finn asked, trying to sound casual with his professor as he followed her toward the main stage. Bonnie nodded confidently.
"It will be. Marceline is an amazing performer."
Finn noticed the gleam in his professor's eye as she spoke of the young woman, but decided not to insist further. Instead, they both continued walking toward the stage, losing themselves in the growing crowd.
The timer on the screen reached zero and the Main Stage went silent. One of the event organizers took the microphone to introduce the next group.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, give a warm round of applause for "Marceline & The Scream Queens"!" they announced enthusiastically as the audience responded with applause and cheers.
At the backstage, Marceline took a deep breath and adjusted the strap of her bass, slowly turned to see her bandmates.
"This is it, guys" she said, trying to sound confident, but a wave of nerves washed over her body.
"It's going to be okay, Marcy" Wendy said, patting her on the shoulder.
"Remember, no matter what happens, we're here to help you" Fern said, giving her a reassuring smile.
Marceline nodded with a small smile as well. Then, with determination, she walked through the black curtain and climbed upstairs to the stage followed by her band, already outside she greeted the audience with a raised hand as they took their respective places. The sound of cheers and the voices of the audience announced the long awaited moment, Marceline took a deep breath and walked to the center of the stage with a mixture of nerves and determination. The spotlight focused on her leaving the rest of the band in gloom, although Fern, Georgy, Wendy, Phoebe, the backing vocalists, and Booboo were already in position.
The screams from the audience intensified, and many voices began to call out song titles.
"Play "Screaming Shadows"!"
"No, "Haunted Love"!"
"I want "Broken Strings"!"
Marceline grabbed the microphone waiting for the screaming to die down a bit before speaking.
"Hello everyone!" she greeted in a strong voice but with a slight trembling that only the most attentive could notice "thank you for coming" the audience responded with a new burst of applause "today I'd like to do something different" she continued looking at the audience while her fingers fiddled with the strings of her bass "the truth is, this isn't one of our usual songs. It's something I've been working on for a long time" murmurs began to spread among those present as Marceline looked down slightly and added "this song is very personal to me, it's for someone who at the time was very important in my life. I don't know where she is now... but if she can somehow hear me, I want her to know that this is for her..."
The audience was silent for a few moments, some of them impressed by the sincerity of her words. Marceline closed her eyes, took a breath and nodded towards her bandmates.
Fern started the melody with soft chords on his guitar, while Georgy and Wendy joined in creating an enveloping atmosphere. Booboo set the beat with his trumpet, adding a melancholic touch. The intro to "Immortal" began to flow, and Marceline approached the microphone with her eyes closed, letting the first notes fill the space.
When she opened her mouth to sing, her voice came out clear and emotional:
I have your cursed kisses hidden here under my dress
Butterflies that at dawn on their way back home came with me
I have here under the bed every morning that we "undid" it.
I have so many things and none of them are in place.
[Tengo aquí bajo el vestido bien escondiditos tus besos malditos
Mariposas que al alba de regreso a casa se venían conmigo
Yo tengo aquí bajo la cama cada madrugada que la "deshicimos"
Tengo tantas cosas y ninguna está en su sitio]
Marceline's voice resonated with a mixture of emotion and vulnerability that captured the audience's attention.
From the shadows, Bonnibel appeared in the crowd that gathered in front of the stage. Her figure stood out among the others, and Marceline caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye. For a second, she lost her rhythm, but quickly pulled herself together, fixing her gaze on the audience in front of her.
I have here in a glass the first waves of that morning.
I have in one of my curls the rhythm of the tango that you always danced
[Tengo aquí dentro de un vaso la primera ola de aquella mañana
Tengo en uno de mis rizos el ritmo del tango que siempre bailabas]
"I have written in a sigh those words we never said [Yo tengo escrito en un suspiro aquellas palabras que nunca dijimos]" she sang now along with Fern focused on his guitar, he exchanged a quick glance with Marceline, noticing the short distraction. Beside him, Wendy and Georgy kept the beat, aware of the emotional weight the song carried for their vocalist.
Bonnibel, unaware that she had been discovered, smiled at the sound of Marceline's voice, slowly moving closer to find a place to get a better look at her.
I have so many things and none of them are in place.
After you, I understood. That time doesn't make friends.
How short love was.
And how long the oblivion.
[Tengo tantas cosas y ninguna está en su sitio
Después de ti entendí, que el tiempo no hace amigos.
Qué corto fue el amor.
Y que largo el olvido.]
"I'll be your light, I'll be a disguise. A streetlight that lights up when passing by, any butterfly, the North Star. Which comes alone and goes alone [Seré tu luz, sere un disfraz. Una farola que se enciende al pasar, cualquier mariposa, la Estrella polar. Que viene sola y que solita se va]"the words floated in the air, and in that instant, Bonnibel felt as if each verse spoke directly to her. The connection was undeniable. Marceline remained calm and focused, though inside her heart was pounding "I will be the taste of a kiss in the sea, an old proverb about how to forget, I will be immortal, 'cause I am your destiny[Seré el sabor de un beso en el mar, un viejo proverbio sobre cómo olvidar, sere inmortal, porque yo soy tu destino]"
Bonnibel's presence gave the performance even greater weight, and each word felt more intense.
I have here under my pillow, your portrait in front of Santa Clara.
You were more than a thousand words and I confess to you that I loved you too.
[With Fern] I have the window open because that's how time escapes without seeing you.
Tengo aquí bajo mi almohada, tu fotografía frente a Santa Clara.
Fuiste más que mil palabras y yo le confieso que también te amaba.
[Con Fern] yo tengo abierta la ventana porque así se escapa el tiempo sin verte.
As the song progressed, some in the audience began to turn on their phone flashlights, moving them gently to the beat. Finn, from the side of the stage, watched in fascination, not knowing exactly what he was feeling but deeply moved.
I have so many things, I have all of them in my mind.
After you I understood, that time doesn't make friends.
How short was love.
And how long the oblivion.
[Tengo tantas cosas, tengo todas en mi mente.
Después de ti entendí, que el tiempo no hace amigos.
Qué corto fue el amor.
Y que largo el olvido]
Bonnibel finally found a place near the stage, her gaze fixed on Marceline. When their eyes met again, Marceline barely sketched a small, almost imperceptible smile, before turning her attention back to the end of the song.
[Chorus & Marceline]
I'll be your light, I'll be a disguise
A streetlight that lights up as you pass by
Any butterfly, the North Star
That comes alone and all alone goes away
I'll be the taste of a kiss in the sea
An old proverb about how to forget
I will be immortal
[Seré tu luz, seré un disfraz
Una farola que se encienda al pasar
Cualquier mariposa, la estrella polar
Que viene sola y muy solita se va
Seré el sabor de un beso en el mar
Un viejo proverbio sobre cómo olvidar
Seré inmortal]
[Bridge]
I'll be that mole that graces your skin
A dove close to where you stand
A stroke of luck, your three o'clock coffee
Some look that makes you go crazy.
I'll be the voice that warns on the train
A premonition that all will be okay
I'll be immortal
I'll be immortal
I'll be immortal
[Seré ese lunar que adorne tu piel
Una paloma cerca de dónde estés
Un golpe de suerte, tu café de las tres
Alguna mirada que te hará enloquecer
Seré la voz que avise en el tren
Un presentimiento de que todo ira bien
Seré inmortal
Seré inmortal
Seré inmortal]
"'Cause I am your destiny [Porque yo soy tu destino]" Marceline's soulful voice echoed through the room. Her gaze swept over the audience, the light from the spotlights barely allowing her to make out a few faces in the crowd "all right, now I want everyone to clap loudly"
After saying that, the long dark-haired young woman began to clap along to the soundtrack as she swayed her hips slightly and the audience just went along with her as the music progressed. The band continued performing with precision, Bonnie also clapped along with the audience although a bit more shyly.
(U-u, shalala)
(U-u, shalala)
(U-u lu)
The moment turned into an unforgettable show. The energy Marceline was transmitting from the stage seemed to connect everyone, including those who barely knew the band. As the song neared its end, Marceline moved her bass to the rhythm of the last notes, closing with a sonorous thump that left the audience screaming and clapping with fervor.
The young woman looked out into the audience once more, Bonnie was still in the crowd. For an instant, their eyes met again, and though the moment was fleeting, Marceline could not help but feel a pang of emotion mixed with nostalgia.
"Thank you, thank you all!" she said into the microphone, bowing along with her band as the applause continued.
The presenter came back to the stage as Marceline and her band began to retreat backstage, leaving behind a vibrant and expectant atmosphere for what was coming next.
Bonnibel remained standing in the crowd, observing how Marceline moved around the stage naturally, waving goodbye to the audience with a broad, genuine smile. Applause resounded as soon as the stage lights began to dim gradually, marking the end of her performance. In Bonnie's chest, emotions that she could not quite decipher mingled, each word of that song had deeply touched her, awakening memories that she thought were buried and feelings that she had not allowed herself to analyze for a long time.
She saw Marceline disappearing into the shadows of the backstage and for a moment, she thought that maybe it was better to let it go. Say nothing. But something stronger inside her prompted her to move.
With determined steps, Bonnibel began to make her way through the crowd, heading towards the side area of the stage. Her hands were shaking slightly, and her heart was pounding, as she approached the backstage, the sounds of the festival mingling with the echoes of Marceline's words:
"I will be immortal, 'Cause I am your destiny."
That phrase echoed in her head, over and over again. The words were not only beautiful, but they seemed targeted at someone very specific. Bonnibel could not help but wonder if that "someone" was her.
Although she knew that her relationship with Marceline had ended long ago and not in the best way, hearing those feelings captured in a song made something soften inside her. She did not expect that song to mean an immediate make-up, but perhaps it could be the first step in trying to recover a friendship she had thought was gone forever.
On the other hand, Fern had decided to get away from the group a moment to explore the rest of the fair, since they were busy with sound checks and he did not have time to sneak away to explore all that the event had to offer. He walked among the booths, trying to dodge the people coming and going, and found himself in front of a tent decorated with soft lights and brightly colored fabrics. A worn sign announced:
"Hand Reading by Madame Circe."
Intrigued, the blond with green-dyed tips stopped in front of the tent's entrance, inside a familiar figure was arranging cards and crystals on a small table. Her bright green dyed hair with some leaves as decoration fell in waves over her shoulders under the hood of her electric blue cloak while the rings on her right hand's fingers glittered in the dim light.
"You..." Fern said, taking a step forward "I know you"
The girl looked up, her amber eyes meeting Fern's green ones. For a moment she looked confused, but then her expression hardened.
"I don't think that's possible" she said in her calm but distant voice. Fern crossed his arms, leaning forward slightly.
"I saw you a few weeks ago at a party, you were very close to Finn."
She blinked, relaxing her posture a little.
"Oh, yeah, I remember it, so what? Are you going to do something for that?" the girl asked with a slightly defiant smile.
"No, of course not" Fern answered, raising his hand to reassure her "I just noticed you here, are you really a palmistry or are you just doing this for fun?"
She looked at him for a moment like she was analyzing him before smiling with a touch of irony.
"It's a bit of both. But it works for making some money at events like this" she answered simply, without dropping her wry smile. Fern nodded, putting his hands in his pockets.
"So" the blond-haired boy with green-dyed tips hesitated a bit before speaking "what do you say, can you read my palm?"
She arched an eyebrow, surprised by the request.
"Do you really want to know what your fate is?"
"Yes, of course" Fern replied, looking at the chair in front of her "I want to know what huge changes will happen in my life. What the future holds for me"
The girl leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Okay. Take a seat" she indicated "but don't complain if you don't like what you hear later" Fern settled into the chair, extending his hand toward her. The girl took it gently, her fingers cool but firm. For a moment, the bustle of the festival seemed to fade, and Fern found herself fixing her gaze on the quiromancer's piercing eyes as she traced the lines on her palm "you know?... you've a strange energy" she added after a while, her voice soft but serious "your lifeline is marked by abrupt changes, as if you are destined to adapt to new circumstances constantly"
Fern frowned.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"Not necessarily. But I also see something interesting here" she continued, pointing to another line on her palm "you're going to meet someone who will change the way you see the world. It could be for the better... or for the worse."
He looked at her curiously.
"Someone? that's it?"
She released his hand and shrugged.
"The lines tell a story, but they don't always show the details. The rest is up to you."
"Thank you" Fern smiled slightly impressed by the seriousness with which she spoke as he get up from the chair "I guess that's something to think about"
The girl smiled back, somewhat more relaxed now.
"I'd say you're already doing it."
Fern got up, but before she left, she stopped at the entrance to the store.
"Wait a moment. Before I leave, I want to know something, is your name Circe?"
She arched an eyebrow and shook her head, smiling slightly.
"No. That's just a pseudonym I use for these events" she replied "my real name is Tess"
"Tess..." Fern repeated like he was testing the name in his mouth "it's a good name"
"Thanks" she said with a small shrug of her shoulders "and yours?"
"Fern" he replied, giving her one last look before leaving. As he went back to the bustle of the festival, he could not help but reflect on what he had heard and the strange feeling his encounter with Tess left him with, wondering if those enigmatic words would really have any meaning in his life.
Bonnibel reached a black curtain that separated the audience area and the area where the bands assembled after their performances. She took a deep breath and made her way backstage with her thoughts becoming clearer, she was not looking to get back what they had been, but maybe, the song Marceline dedicated to her was a sign, a progress, the reason that they could find a way to at least be friends again.
When she reached the backstage area a guard stood in her way. Bonnibel firmly explained that she knew one of "Marceline & The Scream Queens" members and that she needed to talk to her. After a moment of hesitation, the guard complied and let her in. The murmur of the place was constant mixed with the laughter of the other bands and their organizers, from her position, Bonnie spotted Marceline next to her group with her bass resting on a table, she was laughing, apparently relaxed after her performance, but the pink-haired woman noticed something in her gestures: a kind of vulnerability that seemed to be reserved only for those who knew her well.
She took a breath and approached, striving to keep her composure.
"Marceline" her voice came out clear but calm. She turned her head, her smile fading slightly as she recognized her, their eyes met and for a moment it seemed words were unnecessary.
"Bonnie" Marceline said putting aside what she was doing "what are you doing here?"
"Well, in the end I accepted your invitation and I came to the festival because I wanted to distract myself a little and... because I wanted to see you play" the woman replied with sincerity, feeling the pink color tinging her cheeks.
The long dark-haired young woman arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms. Her usual confident and somewhat defiant attitude seemed to come to the surface again.
"So, what did you think?" she asked with a faint smile, although there was something else in her eyes, as if she was seeking an approval she was not used to asking for.
"The song... it was beautiful, very personal, it moved me, very much" Bonnibel could not help but smile, but this time in a more restrained way. She paused, looking Marceline straight in the eyes "what you said in the lyrics, did you really mean it?"
Marceline looked down for a moment, fiddling with a bracelet on one of her wrists.
"Every word" she confessed softly before looking up again to meet Bonnie's gaze "but I know it won't change anything, I didn't expect it to"
The pink-haired woman nodded slowly, organizing her thoughts as she spoke.
"You're right. The song doesn't change anything and it may not help us to get back what we had but... maybe it's a new beginning, for us" Bonnie spoke who smiled with more confidence "I'd like to get back some of what we had, at least I'd like us to be friends"
The surprise on Marceline's face was evident, but it quickly turned into a warm smile. She nodded, relaxing her shoulders as if an invisible burden had disappeared.
"It sounds like a good deal to me, Bonnie. Being friends sounds pretty good."
They were both silent for a moment, the bustle of the festival filling the space between them. Suddenly, the shouts from the audience grew louder, chanting the band's name.
"They seem to be asking for more" Bonnibel commented with a faint smile.
Marceline laughed and picked up her bass, giving her one last look before going back to her band.
"It doesn't end here" she said with a wink before disappearing towards the stage.
Once under the spotlight, Marceline began to play. As she reached the chorus of the song, she took off her band's promotional T-shirt and tossed it into the crowd with a casual gesture. To her surprise, it ended up in Bonnibel's hands, who caught it unexpectedly. The pink-haired woman looked down, trying to hide the blush that colored her face as the rest of the crowd clapped and cheered.
On the stage, Marceline let out a mischievous laugh as she noticed what had happened before resuming her singing with renewed energy.
The show continued for a few more minutes, but after that time it had to cease. While some people in the crowd began to disperse to continue enjoying the rest of the festival activities, Finn walked through the crowd looking for a certain copper-red haired girl with his eyes. His voice echoed through all the noise.
"Phoebe! Where are you?" he asked aloud, trying to locate her.
Suddenly he caught sight of her near one of the side stands, talking to a guy. He was carrying a caramel-colored bag on his back, inside the bag was one of those velvety tracksuits for exercise, Finn stopped dead in his tracks as he saw the young man smiling and congratulating Phoebe.
"You did great up there. I'm really proud of you, my princess" the young man said before leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Phoebe, with her cheeks burning, laughed softly as Finn looked at them from a few feet away. The scene left him completely confused but he did not hesitate to approach them.
"Phoebe" Finn said firmly, interrupting the moment. She looked away as she saw her friend not far from where she stood.
"Finn!" the girl exclaimed who signaled the guy who was with her to wait for her, she ran to the teenager, jumping into him in a tight hug "what did you think of the concert?" she asked with a wide smile as she pulled back.
Finn returned the gesture although he was still a little shocked by what he had just seen a few seconds ago.
"It was great. You... you really showed off up there" he replied sincerely, then turned his gaze back to the guy standing a few inches away from where both friends stood, his eyebrows furrowed slightly "so who is he?"
Phoebe noticed the look on her friend's face and smiled, moving to the young man's side as she clung to his arm.
"Oh, right. Finn, this is Dee. But he prefers to be called by his stage name: C.B" she replied with a mixture of pride and sweetness "and he's my boyfriend"
Those words fell like a bucket of cold water on Finn, who blinked several times trying to process what he had just heard. He came out of his trance when he saw C.B. extending a hand towards him with a relaxed smile.
"Nice to finally meet you, Finn" the stoutly built guy greeted him, chuckling slightly at his own joke.
Finn, still dazed, reflexively shook his hand.
"Likewise..." he mumbled, not knowing what else to say. His gaze alternated between Phoebe and C.B., trying to hide his bewilderment as the noise of the festival continued around him.
Phoebe looked at the time on her phone with some eagerness and then turned to C.B., who was finishing adjusting the strap on his bag.
"Hey, C.B. in ten minutes we have our performance on the second stage" she reminded him, giving him a gentle tap on the arm to get his attention.
C.B. smiled calmly, as if time was not an issue for him.
"I know, I know, Phoebs. Relax, we still have time" he replied as he pulled a bottle of water out of his bag and took a sip.
Phoebe watched him with a mixture of exasperation and affection at the same time.
"You always say that, and then we end up running at the last second" she replied, crossing her arms. He laughed and leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I'm ready this time, now let's go before you keep nagging me."
Phoebe smiled reluctantly letting her carefree energy carry her away. They both started walking towards the backstage of the second stage chatting animatedly as they made their way through the crowd. Finn, who had been watching them from afar, decided to follow them without knowing exactly why.
From his position, the blond boy could see Phoebe and C.B. talking quietly, probably going over the last details of their performance. He noticed that Phoebe looked excited, with a twinkle in her eye that he had rarely seen in her. On the other hand, C.B. looked relaxed, as if performing in front of a crowd was completely natural to him.
Once they arrived backstage, Phoebe opened her boyfriend's bag, handed him his clothes as she took off Marceline's band T-shirt, began to quickly arrange her hair, and switched out some of the clothes she wore at the performance for something more comfortable and with better mobility. Meanwhile, C.B. also changed with carefree movements, putting on a lighter outfit suitable for the choreography they had planned.
Finn, still hidden in the crowd near the backstage area, looked at the scene with growing discomfort. Seeing Phoebe so integrated and connected to someone else made a strange knot tighten in his chest.
As they adjusted the final details of their outfits, Phoebe and C.B. exchanged a few words, followed by a brief shared laugh. Then, the copper-red haired girl gave him a quick hug, as if that gesture embodied both support and emotion.
"Ready for this?" she asked her boyfriend with a defiant smile.
"I'm always ready, baby" C.B. replied with a confident smile, adjusting his cap before taking his place next to her.
Finn looked as the two of them walked up on stage as the music began to play and on the big screen on stage both the timer and some static appeared as the music blared through the stereos set up on the side of the stage.
["My Humps" Lyrics]
[Intro: C.B & Phoebe]
What you gon' do with all that junk
All that junk inside your trunk?
I'ma get-get-get-get you drunk
Get you love drunk off my hump
My hump, my hump
My hump, my hump, my hump
My hump, my hump, my hump
My lovely little lumps, check it out!
The audience erupted in hoots and cheers as they began their perfectly synchronized choreography.
[Verse 1: Phoebe]
I drive these brothers crazy, I do it on the daily
They treat me really nicely, they buy me all these iceys
Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi and then Donna
Karan, they be sharing all their money
Got me wearin' fly, but I ain't asking
They say they love my ass in Seven Jeans, True Religion
I say, "no" but they keep giving...
The music echoed from the stage as Phoebe and Dee moved to the rhythm of the vibrant song, the lights spun in kaleidoscopic patterns over the audience who responded with more screams and cheers, Finn was engrossed in the performance, looking how Phoebe moved with an infectious energy that made the stage sparkle; however, there was something there that for some reason made him feel uncomfortable. It was a subtle sensation at first, like a slight tingle on the back of his neck, the strange impression that someone was looking at him, Finn decided to ignore that for the moment, focusing again on Phoebe's choreography but then he heard it: muffled laughter, brief, barely audible but it was directed at his person.
He turned his head to the crowd behind him trying to decipher where the laughter was coming from. He saw nothing out of the ordinary: a group of friends talking near a food truck, a couple laughing while playing with chemical light sticks.
"It's just my imagination" he thought, but when he turned his gaze back to the stage, he noticed a figure moving through the crowd, too fast to identify who it was.
Finn felt his stomach shrink, the discomfort was a constant twinge. He decided it was best to move away a bit, find a quieter place, perhaps if he moved among the stands he could calm down. As he walked, he glanced at the stage, he saw Phoebe smiling as she performed an acrobatic spin and for a moment, he felt peace.
But that peace quickly faded.
A hug on his shoulder startled Finn, who, upon realizing from whom the gesture came, felt the hair on his nape stand up in terror.
That gesture marked the beginning of his nightmare.
A nightmare he hated with all his strength.
A group of figures emerged from the shadows of the stands. Mark led the group, with a smile that did not reach his eyes. Jamaica and Toughy were right behind, exchanging knowing glances, while Blombo stood at the end staring at Finn like a cat stalking its prey.
"Hey, Finn!" Mark greeted with an exaggeratedly animated tone "it's been a while since we've "talked", buddy" he added without undoing his friendly hug on his shoulder as he walked him away, he had saw him walk away from the stage a couple of minutes ago, it was the perfect moment to do what he had waited so long for.
Mark's "friends" surrounded them as they walked but now they were heading to a much more secluded area devoid of people.
I could feel a cold sweat break out on my back. I tried to remain cool, even though my hands were shaking slightly.
"No... it's okay. I just wanted to get some fresh air" he replied, his voice barely cracking. Jamaica let out a light, almost mocking laugh.
"Oh, yeah, of course. These places can be pretty overwhelming, can't they?" he asked "come on, we'll take you someplace quieter"
Finn tried to escape but Toughy again blocked his way.
"Don't worry, man. We take care of our friend, Finn" Blombo added in a soft voice, but with a latent threat.
Finn's heart pounded as he looked around. No one else was around, and the bullies made sure to keep up an air of faux companionship, just enough so that any casual observer would not suspect a thing.
"I'm really fine" the blond boy said, trying to take another step back only to be pushed back roughly by Toughy "l-let me go, Phoebe will be worried if she doesn't see me near the stage"
"Oh, come on, man, didn't you miss us or what? I'm offended by your mistreatment" Mark commented with a tone of fake sadness, the rest of the group just laughed at the situation, Finn looked so small next to Mark, who could be almost as tall as him and even much stronger than Fern. Finn swallowed his breath, feeling panic coming over him. There was no way out of this situation, at least not without making things worse. As they cornered him, Mark undid the 'friendly hug' as soon as he made sure they were far enough away, he had to be careful what he would do to the boy next to him, they could not get into more trouble than they were already in, they were not on school grounds, that was also brought home to Finn as he held his wrist tightly, the rest of the bullies on the other hand were trying to cover up whatever was about to happen as they all headed to the back of a few stands. The lights of the festival seemed to become more distant, and Finn, isolated and with no allies nearby, knew he was completely alone. Mark let go of the teenager's wrist, who for a moment thought he would just be given a warning and get out of there unharmed. But he was wrong "Toughy, Jamaica, watch out that no gossips get into things that don't concern them" he exclaimed while his eyes went back to Finn as if he were just another one of his "toys".
The blond was trembling in terror, the tears in his eyes began to slowly slide down his cheeks as he mentally prayed that some outside force would appear to help him.
He felt devastated, confused, why, why did these things always happen to him, why did they always have to mess with him?
Toughy and Jamaica nodded with a mischievous grin, positioning themselves near the ends of the narrow aisle that formed between the stands. Blombo, for his part, watched silently, crossing his arms with an air of superiority. Mark took a step forward, leaning slightly toward Finn, who could not help but back away until his back touched a wooden wall.
"Why the long face, Finn?" Mark sneered with a crooked smile "don't you understand how important you are to us?
Finn tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. His breathing was erratic and the tears kept falling as his hands clenched into trembling fists.
"Please, let me go..." he managed to mumble, his voice cracking "I... I didn't do anything to you"
Mark let out a dry laugh and looked over his shoulder at his mates, as if Finn's plea was the most pathetic thing he had ever heard.
"Nothing?" he repeated, feigning surprise "did you hear that, guys? Poor Finn thinks he didn't do anything!"
"Poor Finn!" Jamaica sneered from his lookout post followed by a derisive guffaw from Toughy.
Mark turned his attention back to Finn, his face hardened and serious.
"Look, this is nothing personal, you know? it's just... well, someone has to remind you of your place. And today it's our turn" Mark said threateningly, looking at the boy's expression in front of him, seeing him so weak, sobbing and doing anything to protect himself was unmanly and disgusting.
With a swift movement, Mark pushed Finn against the wall, trapping him with one arm against his chest. Finn struggled, trying to free himself, but Mark's strength was far beyond him.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Finn yelled, that exclamation was enough to receive the first blow that made Mark let go and let him fall to the ground, Blombo had hit him right in the stomach.
I felt how the air escaped from my body, I tried to pull myself together, to get even on my knees but it was impossible. I could not cope with that immense pain, not only physical but also emotional.
Mark looked at Blombo with a mixture of irritation and approval, as if he was not quite sure if he should reprimand him or congratulate him for taking the initiative.
"Blombo, relax" he finally said, his tone more teasing than serious "we don't want him to die...yet"
The others let out a mischievous laugh, while Finn remained on the ground, gasping for air. His mind was clouded with pain, but he could still hear their laughter, feel their gazes on him, like blades piercing his already fractured spirit.
"Why me?" Finn thought with tear-filled eyes, a question that never seemed to have an answer.
Mark held him tighter, and his face moved closer to Finn's, his eyes filled with a mixture of mockery and cruelty.
"Easy, Finn. No one will come to save you" Finn closed his eyes tightly, trying to block out the fear that was sweeping through him. Mark, full of the fury he had in store for him, was not satisfied with just holding Finn's face, who was sobbing in pain, and punched him in the face.
When that blow met the teenager's face, he felt every nerve in his body contract until he felt the most horrible pain so far: he felt something warm and thick gushing from his bottom lip, and only then he could realize that the jerk of Mark had broken his lip making it bleed. He could not stand it any longer and fell to the ground giving uncontrollable sobs. The coldness of the floor contrasted with the burning sensation on his face, especially where Mark's fist had impacted.
Mark looked down at him from above, with an expression of twisted victory.
"What happened, Finn? Where's all that bravery they say you have?" he sneered as he flexed his fingers, as if preparing for another blow.
Blombo and Toughy watched from the shadows, chuckling, while Jamaica stood guard at the end of the corridor. For them, this was just a game, but for Finn, it was hell. The blond tried to sit up, his shaking hands struggled to find support on the floor but his body was exhausted, the pain in his face and stomach keeping him paralyzed.
"Please..." he murmured, his voice cracking with fear and pain "let me go..."
Mark knelt down beside him, grabbing him by the collar of his coat and lifting him slightly so that their gazes met.
"Let you go?" he repeated with a sinister smile "and miss all the fun? Don't make me laugh, Mertens!"
Before he could do anything else, Jamaica interrupted from its lookout position.
"Hey, I think someone is coming."
Mark frowned, his amusement clearly interrupted. He looked at his fellows and let go of Finn abruptly, dropping him back to the ground.
"Damn it..." he growled, looking at the blond one last time before sitting up "listen to me, Finn. I'll leave you alone for now, but this isn't over. Don't think for a second that you're safe, I've got eyes everywhere."
With a quick gesture, he gestured for Blombo and Toughy to follow him, and the group scattered into the darkness, disappearing into the stalls and shadows of the festival. Finn was left there, huddled on the ground, shivering and gasping for breath. The echoing footsteps of his attackers faded, but the fear and humiliation were still present, crushing him.
He tried to move, but his body did not answer. The pain was too much, both physical and emotional. He could only close his eyes and wish it was all a bad dream.
It was then that he heard a voice, soft and concerned, approaching quickly towards where he was.
The crowd burst into ovations as soon as Phoebe finished with her performance, the energy of the festival reached its peak; however, while the screams and the euphoria continued, and the stage lights went out, the copper-red haired girl turned her eyes away from her boyfriend for a moment to look for someone in the crowd.
"Where is Finn?" she muttered to herself with a frown. She knew he had told her he would try to be close to the stage but he was nowhere to be seen. The girl bit her nails nervously, a habit she had picked up since she was a child although she did not do it that often. Dee, who had just joined her after the performance, noticed her anxiety and was quick to reprimand her.
"Phoebe, again?" he said as he took her hand gently to pull it away from her mouth "I've told you a thousand times, it's not healthy"
"Sorry" she replied in a distracted tone, withdrawing her hand and scanning the area again. Her concern did not diminish and the background noises did not seem to matter to her.
At that moment, Fern appeared running through the crowd, his breathing ragged and his expression full of urgency.
"Phoebe! Have you seen Finn?" he asked, stopping in front of her.
Phoebe shook her head, which made her concern increase.
"He was here earlier, in the crowd. I saw him before I went on stage, but... he's not here now."
Fern ran a hand through her hair, visibly frustrated.
"I need to find him. There's something I can only tell him" he explained with a tone of seriousness that the copper-red haired girl did not quite know how to interpret.
"If he doesn't show up in a few minutes, I'll get my phone to call Minerva" Phoebe decided, crossing her arms and looking around, as if the blond boy was going to emerge from the crowd at any moment. Fern tensed at hearing that.
"I don't think it's a good idea to worry his mom about anything. Besides, it could be something simple. Maybe Finn just got lost trying to get back here."
"So what do you propose, then?" Phoebe asked, reflecting a mixture of concern and impatience.
"Let's go look for him" Fern proposed, pointing toward the maze of stands illuminated by the festival lights "if he got lost, he can't be far away. We can find him before anyone needs to be alerted."
Phoebe hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed.
"All right. Let's go."
Without another word, they both began to walk at a quick pace, leaving the hustle and bustle of the stage behind. The worry on their faces was evident, although neither wanted to admit it out loud, they both shared the same fear: something might have happened to Finn.
Phoebe and Fern moved quickly through the brightly lit festival stands. The music and laughter of those in the crowd contrasted sharply with the tension they felt as they searched for the blond. Dee decided to join them after noticing his girlfriend's concern.
"Are you sure he couldn't have left on his own?" Dee asked as he looked around with his eyes.
"I don't think so. Finn wouldn't do something like that without telling me first" Phoebe replied firmly, pressing her lips together.
Fern walked a little farther ahead, his eyes scanning every nook and cranny. He felt a weight in his chest that he could not ignore, as if something was terribly wrong.
"I'm going to check over there, guys" the blond boy with the green-dyed tips said pointing towards a less traveled area that connected to the festival parking lot. Phoebe followed him closely while Dee stayed a few steps behind, still wary of the urgency of the situation. The parking lot was partially lit by tall streetlights and the scattered lights of cars, the music of the festival barely reached there leaving the place in a strange and tense silence. It was then that a low, barely audible sound caught Fern's attention "did you hear that?" he asked, stopping dead in his tracks. Phoebe frowned, sharpening her ears, at first she heard nothing but then a faint whimper broke the silence "over there!" he exclaimed running towards the source of the sound, the copper-red haired girl quickly followed him with her heart pounding in her chest.
When they reached the place, the sight left them frozen for a moment: there, lying on the cold pavement, was Finn, lying on his side with one hand clutching his belly and the other trying to wipe away the blood gushing from his broken lip. His messy hair was plastered to his face, and his breathing was ragged, marked by pain.
"FINN!" Phoebe screamed, the blond boy barely reacted at the sound of his friend's voice. The girl without stopping to think about it ran over to him, knelt down beside him, gently touching his swollen and bleeding face. Her voice trembled as she wiped the tears from the boy's face with her thumbs "my Glob, Finn, what happened to you?! What did they do to you?!"