Silence is Suicide.

Chapter Twenty-Five.

We pulled into the deserted club's parking lot. Eddy volunteered to go inside to pick up the keys and whatever else was left for us.

"This is fucking epic!" Jeremy laughed, punching Pops' shoulder playfully. Pops didn't hesitate punching his son back. He then gave me a warm smile while Jeremy winked at me.

Eddy returned shortly after with the hotel room keys and other paperwork and cards.

He climbed back into the van and we started driving a little longer, once again. We turned and weaved through a few streets. To me, it all looked the same.

I watched with total amazement. I was stunned by all the awesome things. We pulled up next to a hotel and a bellboy approached the van.

"Hello! You all must be members and friends of 'Nuclear Winter,' correct?"

We all nodded.

"We've been waiting," he said with a huge smile, "I'll take the van and park it, please, let us serve you the best we can."

All of us removed the bags from the car and Eddy, reluctantly, handed over the keys. We then rummaged through the piles of bags and found our own. We began to walk inside, wheeling what we could, but another bellboy approached us. He came with carts for our bags. He said, "Let us help you. Be our guest." He piled all the bags on three carts and we didn't even have to lift a finger.

We walked inside, the we were escorted to the elevator. We all squeezed in and pressed the "15" button.

Room 1539. Jeremy slid the key card through the key slot and the light turned green, indicating that we could go inside. A few quiet gasps escaped loose lips. We all rushed into the room.

The interior of the room was absolutely stunning. White marble tile flooring, red velvet curtains thatstretched over huge sliding glass doors to go to the patio. Walls painted a beautiful shade of red, and huge golden pillars that stretched to the ceiling. It reminded me of a castle, or something only found in children's story books. I later found out that the glass doors led to a huge balcony overlooking the city.

The room, more like "house", had three bedrooms with two king sized beds each. The mini fridges all were stocked full of free beverages and chilled snacks. Each room also had a 43" flat screentelevision.

After taking the quick tour, we decided on sleeping arrangements:

Jeremy, Ambrosia, and I bunked together in Room 1539: A.

Eddy and Pops bunked in Room 1539: B.

Pete, Gracella, and Darren bunked in Room 1539: C.

When everything was settled, and our bags finally arrived, it was seven o'clock at night. We were all tired and felt like it was time to sleep. I curled up into my bed, and dreamt.

**

"Emerson..." a voice moaned. It's the same "voice" that had been haunting me in previous dreams...

"What...? Who are you...?" Fear consumed me. I could not control myself no matter how much I tried. I felt a hard pressure on my chest... Harder....Harder...and harder... To the point where I could not breathe... Then, nothing. It ceased. No more pain. No more pressure. No more feeling...

Screams. Blood curdling screams. Screams of blood murder. Screams OF murder... That's what it sounded like. I could not decipher if they were even screams that left my own mouth.

Silence.

I now found myself walking through a tunnel. Again, I was being controlled. I was forced along as a puppet. An unknown, unseen forced guided me.

I could see a white, blinding light. Then, almost immediately, darkness followed.

What's going on? What's the significance? What's the hidden metaphor? Why?

**

The next day, I awoke with no recollection of the dream. I tried to remember, but I could not.

After showering, dressing, and eating, the five band-mates practiced while the rest went out to tourthe city.

We were determined to do our best, and then some. We worked and stressed over this. We all knew this is what we wanted, and with knowing we can't let each other down, it caused more stress. If one band-mate goes down, the rest surely follow.

**

It was about ten o'clock at night when we finally decided to give it a break. Our friends and family returned with trinkets and random souvenirs. Jeremy suggested we "check out the competition" at local clubs, so that's just what we did.

With Jeremy's smooth talk when it comes to getting in places illegally and Ambrosia's style to make me appear older, I was able to make my way into the 21+ Club.

One of the bands playing in the same show with us next week, Daytime Nightmare, happened to have a gig at the club we were hanging out at.

According to Pete, they sucked and we were undoubtedly 100% better than them.

I was so nervous, their bassist seemed to play a lot better than what I could do. She was so calm and I was a wreck. I watched her almost the entire night, and tried to pick up on what she laid down.

I don't remember much of that night. I can recall watching the bassist almost 97% of the time. What ever else happened, is history.

**

We practiced that week straight. The closer we got to the date, the more stressed and agitated we got. The breaks we took were minimal: sleep, eat, shower, dress, night life. We didn't complain, we all knew that we had to sacrifice to make it. We had to make sure we did this right.

The closer we got to the date, the more nervous I got. I felt light headed and I wanted to throw up. What if I messed up? What if I ruin this fore everyone? What if I embarrass myself in front of a countless amount of people? What if...what if...what if...