Forsaken (2/?)
Chapter 1.
Chapter 2. Can You Stake My Heart?
It was a bold move, I admit. But from that moment on, they were my friends, my children, my band. Together we rode on the wave of preternatural ambition to superstardom, giving the world a new God...me.
The lights of London blind hoards of people as police cars section off a few blocks around a very sleek, ultramodern office building where a huge crowd has gathered. Through the crowd, a very long, black limousine snakes its way towards the building. Rows of fans dressed in gothic style as ghouls and vampires scream out while pushing and shoving to get closer to the vehicle.
"Gerard! Gerard!"
Girls press their breasts and necks up against the limousine. The band looks frightened as they hear the thump of fan after fan flinging themselves onto the car. The sound of groupies screaming with pure excitement is almost too much to bear. The crowd's screams reach a fever pitch as Ray, Mikey, and Bob climb out of the limousine with wide eyes. Brian, the band's manager, climbs out after them and begins to usher them past the crowd.
A wave of hysteria hits the fans as Brian hustles the band through the crowd and up the stairs into the building, past the giant billboard with their own faces painted on it. Gerard's smiling face is larger than the rest, placed right above the announcement millions of fans have been waiting for.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE-LIVE & UNDEAD-OCTOBER 31, ALL HALLOWS EVE, DEATH VALLEY, USA
The band is ushered into a high tech conference room with hundreds of reporters waiting for them. The room crackles with anticipation. Brian steps up to the main podium and waves his hands to silence the crowd.
"May I present to you, Gerard Way!" Brian pushes a button and a black curtain slides open to reveal a huge monitor on the wall.
Every eye is glued to the screen even though nothing but static is showing. Then suddenly, a face in shadows appears. Gerard's hair is much shorter, though still at shoulder length. Red eye shadow is applied heavily, giving him an even more corpse-like appearance. He remains half-hidden by shadow as he begins to address the numerous reporters.
"Good evening. I'm so sorry I'm late. I was just having my...breakfast." Gerard leans forward into the light, giving him an even more eerie glow.
Hushed whispers move through the crowd as Gerard stares at them with his eyes burning unnaturally bright. When no one dares to speak up, Gerard smiles out at the reporters with fangs showing.
"Excellent makeup job. Marilyn Manson, look out!" One journalist cracking a joke was all it took for the entire crowd to burst into shouting questions.
Brian steps back up to the podium to gain control, "Hey, hey! We're going to keep this short! One at a time. Uhh, you!" He points to a pretty French journalist in a magenta suit.
"So, Gerard. You say you're a real vampire. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but from what I remember about vampires, you guys usually keep your identities secret. Why have you chosen to come out of the coffin, so to speak?" The journalist finishes her question and readies her pen, waiting for Gerard to answer.
"What you say is true, but why hide it in this day and age? I've hidden in the shadows for centuries. It's time to share myself with the world."
As nearly every person in the room hurries to record Gerard's words, Brian gives a big winking smile to the camera crew before a younger, hipper music magazine reporter pipes in.
"Hi, Patrick Jones from Kerrang! Magazine. I was wondering if your being undead hurts the record sales?"
Gerard laughs, his voice cracking towards the end. "Our album just topped all sales records. Our label couldn't be happier."
The French journalist from before interrupts several other people about to throw out questions. "Could you prove it? You know...give us a demonstration of your powers?"
"If you'd like, I could give you a private demonstration in your hotel room tonight, even though your blood doesn't suite my...tastes." Gerard licks his lips and winks at the reporter, causing her to drop her pen and pad.
"Why not a demo at your own house? I mean, what's with all the secrecy about where you stay? Is it true you move residences every few days?"
Gerard smiles, not giving anything away. "After calling one stone tomb home sweet home for so long, I like to experience as much diversity as I can. Wouldn't you?"
The Kerrang journalist cuts in with yet another question. "There are a lot of rumors flying around the internet about the hidden meaning in your lyrics, some say you're giving away vampire secrets, specifically referring to the song Vampires Will Never Hurt You. Something in all that?"
"Maybe I'm trying to resurrect a few old friends with my words. Daring them to come out and play."
"Out of the closet?"
Gerard smiles, "The casket..."
The crowd erupts in laughter, enjoying this performance thoroughly.
"Gerard, your first and only concert for this album is just days away. Why just the one?"
"I don't like repeating myself. We will never make the same album twice and never play the same songs."
"But, aren't the other vampires pissed you're giving away their secrets?"
"I imagine they are. My lyrics are just confirming legends, nothing more, they really have no right to be so angry."
"Last question, Gerard. Do you have anything to say to the other vampires listening out there?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Gerard leans forward and smiles at the camera. "Can you stake me before the sun goes down?"
Gerard leans back into the shadows before the screen turns to black. As the reporters shuffle out of the room, two figures are left standing in the shadows, unseen. Their eyes are glowing strangely.
"Goddamn fool's going to bring back the Inquisition."
"I say we kill him before this gets out of hand, bleed him dry."
"We gotta find him first. Elusive bloke. Never know where he's going to turn up."
"Well, we know one place he's definitely going to be..."
"When I was in Manchester, the coven there was saying exactly the same thing. That we should nail him at the concert."
"I'm not sure...if he's as old as they say, he's gotta be pretty strong...if you came within a mile of him, he'd eat you alive."
"Yes. Well, let's see how he handles a thousand of us at once."
The two figures skate off into the night, leaving no trace of them behind. Gerard sits all alone in his magnificent chateau. He stands up and crosses to the large doors the lead to the balcony, opens them up, and walks across his lavish grounds, gazing up into the night. As he stares up at the dark heavens, he inhales like an emperor taking in his kingdom, stretching his arms out, still drinking in the adulation. Slowly, his grin fades only to be replaced by a melancholy look.
Quietly he whispers to the world, "Can you take this spike? Will it was away this jet black feeling?"
Chapter 3.
Chapter 2. Can You Stake My Heart?
It was a bold move, I admit. But from that moment on, they were my friends, my children, my band. Together we rode on the wave of preternatural ambition to superstardom, giving the world a new God...me.
The lights of London blind hoards of people as police cars section off a few blocks around a very sleek, ultramodern office building where a huge crowd has gathered. Through the crowd, a very long, black limousine snakes its way towards the building. Rows of fans dressed in gothic style as ghouls and vampires scream out while pushing and shoving to get closer to the vehicle.
"Gerard! Gerard!"
Girls press their breasts and necks up against the limousine. The band looks frightened as they hear the thump of fan after fan flinging themselves onto the car. The sound of groupies screaming with pure excitement is almost too much to bear. The crowd's screams reach a fever pitch as Ray, Mikey, and Bob climb out of the limousine with wide eyes. Brian, the band's manager, climbs out after them and begins to usher them past the crowd.
A wave of hysteria hits the fans as Brian hustles the band through the crowd and up the stairs into the building, past the giant billboard with their own faces painted on it. Gerard's smiling face is larger than the rest, placed right above the announcement millions of fans have been waiting for.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE-LIVE & UNDEAD-OCTOBER 31, ALL HALLOWS EVE, DEATH VALLEY, USA
The band is ushered into a high tech conference room with hundreds of reporters waiting for them. The room crackles with anticipation. Brian steps up to the main podium and waves his hands to silence the crowd.
"May I present to you, Gerard Way!" Brian pushes a button and a black curtain slides open to reveal a huge monitor on the wall.
Every eye is glued to the screen even though nothing but static is showing. Then suddenly, a face in shadows appears. Gerard's hair is much shorter, though still at shoulder length. Red eye shadow is applied heavily, giving him an even more corpse-like appearance. He remains half-hidden by shadow as he begins to address the numerous reporters.
"Good evening. I'm so sorry I'm late. I was just having my...breakfast." Gerard leans forward into the light, giving him an even more eerie glow.
Hushed whispers move through the crowd as Gerard stares at them with his eyes burning unnaturally bright. When no one dares to speak up, Gerard smiles out at the reporters with fangs showing.
"Excellent makeup job. Marilyn Manson, look out!" One journalist cracking a joke was all it took for the entire crowd to burst into shouting questions.
Brian steps back up to the podium to gain control, "Hey, hey! We're going to keep this short! One at a time. Uhh, you!" He points to a pretty French journalist in a magenta suit.
"So, Gerard. You say you're a real vampire. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but from what I remember about vampires, you guys usually keep your identities secret. Why have you chosen to come out of the coffin, so to speak?" The journalist finishes her question and readies her pen, waiting for Gerard to answer.
"What you say is true, but why hide it in this day and age? I've hidden in the shadows for centuries. It's time to share myself with the world."
As nearly every person in the room hurries to record Gerard's words, Brian gives a big winking smile to the camera crew before a younger, hipper music magazine reporter pipes in.
"Hi, Patrick Jones from Kerrang! Magazine. I was wondering if your being undead hurts the record sales?"
Gerard laughs, his voice cracking towards the end. "Our album just topped all sales records. Our label couldn't be happier."
The French journalist from before interrupts several other people about to throw out questions. "Could you prove it? You know...give us a demonstration of your powers?"
"If you'd like, I could give you a private demonstration in your hotel room tonight, even though your blood doesn't suite my...tastes." Gerard licks his lips and winks at the reporter, causing her to drop her pen and pad.
"Why not a demo at your own house? I mean, what's with all the secrecy about where you stay? Is it true you move residences every few days?"
Gerard smiles, not giving anything away. "After calling one stone tomb home sweet home for so long, I like to experience as much diversity as I can. Wouldn't you?"
The Kerrang journalist cuts in with yet another question. "There are a lot of rumors flying around the internet about the hidden meaning in your lyrics, some say you're giving away vampire secrets, specifically referring to the song Vampires Will Never Hurt You. Something in all that?"
"Maybe I'm trying to resurrect a few old friends with my words. Daring them to come out and play."
"Out of the closet?"
Gerard smiles, "The casket..."
The crowd erupts in laughter, enjoying this performance thoroughly.
"Gerard, your first and only concert for this album is just days away. Why just the one?"
"I don't like repeating myself. We will never make the same album twice and never play the same songs."
"But, aren't the other vampires pissed you're giving away their secrets?"
"I imagine they are. My lyrics are just confirming legends, nothing more, they really have no right to be so angry."
"Last question, Gerard. Do you have anything to say to the other vampires listening out there?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Gerard leans forward and smiles at the camera. "Can you stake me before the sun goes down?"
Gerard leans back into the shadows before the screen turns to black. As the reporters shuffle out of the room, two figures are left standing in the shadows, unseen. Their eyes are glowing strangely.
"Goddamn fool's going to bring back the Inquisition."
"I say we kill him before this gets out of hand, bleed him dry."
"We gotta find him first. Elusive bloke. Never know where he's going to turn up."
"Well, we know one place he's definitely going to be..."
"When I was in Manchester, the coven there was saying exactly the same thing. That we should nail him at the concert."
"I'm not sure...if he's as old as they say, he's gotta be pretty strong...if you came within a mile of him, he'd eat you alive."
"Yes. Well, let's see how he handles a thousand of us at once."
The two figures skate off into the night, leaving no trace of them behind. Gerard sits all alone in his magnificent chateau. He stands up and crosses to the large doors the lead to the balcony, opens them up, and walks across his lavish grounds, gazing up into the night. As he stares up at the dark heavens, he inhales like an emperor taking in his kingdom, stretching his arms out, still drinking in the adulation. Slowly, his grin fades only to be replaced by a melancholy look.
Quietly he whispers to the world, "Can you take this spike? Will it was away this jet black feeling?"
Chapter 3.