Chapter 52: Heal You

Pre Author Note: I strongly recommend you listen to Coldplay’s ’Fix You’ for this Chapter. Truly, I don’t think there could’ve been a more fitting song for me to have drawn inspiration from.

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Currently in a popular theatre on Sunset Trip, the crew was filming one of the last performances in [Silver Comets].

Having already filmed three other performances from the other bands that had made it to the finals, they were now filming Red Velvet’s performance, the fictional band performing the song that Silver Comets was meant to sing.

At the moment, Niall, Sam, Archie and Lucas were in character, watching from backstage in a mix of shocked, perplexed horror.

And then, as the performance came to an end, the extras in the room cheering in excitement, Harrison called out;

"Cut!"

Gradually, everyone in the room stopped acting, the noise lulling to quiet hums and mundane conversations.

Though Red Velvet’s performance was great, the impact they tended to have, often paled in comparison to Silver Comets.

"Alright guys. We’ll take five. After that, we’ll film the last scenes of the day." Harrison informed, his voice carrying across the hall to which everyone seemed to nod in acknowledgement of.

"That was a great performance, guys." Niall and his fellow artists greeted Leeroy and his band members once they’d stepped backstage.

"Thanks guys. It’s still pretty surreal that we’re almost done though," Leeroy replied, a genuine honesty to his tone.

"Yeah. It really is." Lucas nodded in acknowledgement, a sentiment Niall, Sam and Archie couldn’t help but share.

"You guys have been awesome, through it all." Niall complimented, gesturing to everyone with genuine respect, to which he then looked to the trio specifically;

"All that’s left, is for us to wrap it up with our best performance yet."

Once again, the trio nodded.

For as emotionally poignant as the last performance in the movie was, there was not a single doubt on their features or last-minute nerve in their bones.

And albeit they could’ve never been aware of the platinum grading of the very song they were about to perform like Niall was, all three artists knew that it was a truly special song nonetheless.

Soon enough, after their five-minute break was over, Harrison ordered for everyone to take their positions and they promptly did.

Once again, Niall tugged on his Gift of Bestowal,selectively guiding it towards Sam, Archie and Lucas as they settled into character.

As for the extras who were actually seated this time, especially since the hall was pretty high-standard, they did their best to suppress the excitement in their hearts as they looked forward to the last performance with high expectations.

In sync, the necessary checks were made.

As the director whom was seated at the very back of the hall looked through the cameras which had been connected to another backstage, all to ensure that Niall and his co-artists were ready, he then called for the clapperloader who promptly did his job.

Then, with a similar glint of expectation in his eyes, one the rest of the production crew equally shared, he dropped the magic words;

"Lights... Camera... Action!"

-

{Silver Comets | 3rd, October 2016 | Act 6 | Scene 6 | Take 1}

Luke gripped Leeroy by the collar, fury in his eyes even as Sam, Archie and the members of Red Velvet, alongside the competition coordinators and stagehands backstage tried to pry his hands off.

"Get, off, me! I’m gonna beat him to a pulp!"

Yet, through it all, the conniving thief simply sneered, his eyes finding Owen’s which was radiating a cold fury of his own.

Clearly, their chances of winning the competition had plummeted.

With their song stolen, even if they were to perform now, it would paint them out to be the ones in the wrong.

Added to that, there was very little time to prove they were indeed the actual owners of the song.

Soon enough, a furious Luke was separated from the sneering Leeroy, Sam and Archie holding him back despite their own gazes carrying the same, unrestrained fury.

Unfortunately for them, the competition’s host couldn’t have chosen the worst possible time to announce;

"They’ve been bulldozing through the competition! They’ve been rocking each performance! Rockstars, give it up for... Silver Comets!"

Watching as Leeroy dusted himself and adjusted his leather jacket, Owen walked up to him and his bandmates and said, his voice tight and seething;

"You’re irredeemable. All of you."

It was only a few words, and yet it carried every shred of fury, disgust, disappointment and resentment Owen could’ve ever mustered.

Seemingly taken aback by the raw emotions on his former lead guitarist’s features, Leeroy’s sneer faltered.

Without even getting to witness that reaction, Owen shoved past them as he called out to his band members;

"Let’s go. We’ll just have to perform it again, nonetheless."

Seeing the resolve on their buddy’s features, the trio did the same, shoving past each member of Red Velvet aggressively.

Then they stepped onto the stage, the audience practically cheering in a mix of expectant and excited anticipation!

Yet, standing on the stage, each of them currently with their respective instruments as the crowd lulled to a quiescence, they found it hard to start.

Now that Red Velvet had stolen their song, the chances of their victory were very slim as the wow-factor of their song had already been taken away.

Simply put, Silver Comets, for the very first time since they’d actually began performing together as a band, were a bundle of nerves.

It wasn’t until they’d noticed that the audience and the judges were looking at them in confusion before they realized that the spotlight had been on them for a while, and yet they hadn’t began performing.

Stepping up to the mic slowly, Owen adjusted the strap of his guitar, ready to begin with the killer riff of the song they’d rehearsed over and over again.

However, just as his fingers were about to descend, it froze. Then he clenched them in to a fist, heaved out a breath and then turned around to his bandmates and said;

"Let’s perform [Heal You],"

The trio eyes widened, to which Alex then remarked;

"But you said... but we haven’t--"

"I know. Play it." Owen assured them and then walked back up to the mic.

Notably, the judges had already began scoring them. Down, most likely.

Ignoring them, Owen gripped the mic, heaving a breath and preparing himself.

Alex on the other hand, reluctantly glanced over to Simon and Luke whom were just as lost as he was. Still, he proceeded to do as he was told.

Slowly, his fingers descended onto the electric piano, a droning, poignant tune filling up the venue.

Yet, it was equally, very fragile. Almost too fragile for a competition stage.

And as if to echo that thought, a few audience members looked to each other in deeper confusion, a few audible mutters exchanged between them.

Especially since Silver Comets had spent the entire competition building a reputation for explosive performances and infectious energy.

Yet, after the tune had lingered a while, Owen’s lips parted, his voice soft and resonant;

When the lights go dim in empty rooms...

And the nights feel long and deathly cold...

When you’re fighting shadows in your sleep...

Stuck in limbo...

As Owen’s voice carried through the speakers with an intimacy that made the massive venue suddenly feel much smaller, the audience quieted down, as did the judges who stopped scoring.

Suddenly, it felt as though everyone present at the venue--Red Velvet included--had been invited into a private conversation they weren’t supposed to hear.

Yet, Owen continued, his voice carrying a world of emotions as tears formed on his eyelids;

And I’m right beside you as you dream...

As your hands stay warm in mine...

And I tell you stories of my day...

Just in case you’ve heard...

By now Simon, Alex and Luke were much the same, the trio well-aware of how deeply Owen felt whenever he sang the song.

So, their voices joined in the pre-chorus, almost as if to support him;

And if your soul... is faraway,

Somewhere I... can’t go,

I will stay... to heal you,

A lone spotlight rested upon Owen as he slowly began to strum the guitar, Alex’s piano accompanying it with a delicate melody.

Simon entered next, his bass notes sparse and measured as Luke, for the first time since the competition, didn’t attack his kit.

Rather, every strike from him felt careful, gentle, and almost so very protective, resulting in a song that felt less like music and more like a piece of Owen’s very soul.

And for the listening audience, the effect it had on them was immediate, some already wiping the tears from their eyes as they listened to the next verse from Owen;

And every tear surely dries,

And every storm eventually goes,

And every broken piece of pain,

Will find its way to joy...

Then, with their voices accompanying his again, Owen sang the pre-chorus once more;

And if your soul... drifts home,

Somewhere I... will be,

I’ll be there... to heal you

By the time the second half was over, the arrangement had begun to grow, almost imperceptibly at first.

Then, as Alex’s melody became fuller, Simon’s bass carried more weight to it and Luke’s drumming became steadier, the song began climbing.

Practically all of it was done on the fly, yet it felt like it had been rehearsed so many times.

Looking over to his bandmates with so much love and appreciation in his teary eyes, Owen suddenly raised his arms.

Then, he brought it down instantly, strumming the chords of his guitar with a fast, strong and hopeful riff to complete the growing tune.

In sync, Luke exploded, rising to meet the riff as Simon’s bass did the same!

In an instant, the entire venue felt an electrifying chill run down their spines!

Then, the whole band sang together, their voices harmonizing to deliver the song’s powerful bridge;

Tears flowing, down your face,

When the light streams into those beautiful eyes,

Tears streaming, down your face,

Is proof I never left...

Tears flowing, down your face,

When the light comes shining through those beautiful eyes,

Tears streaming, down your face,

Is proof I always believed...

By now, more than half of the audience was teary-eyed, the song provoking and stirring emotions deep within their souls.

Soon, Silver Comets brought the tune to a gradual halt.

Then, Owen sang the outro, his voice quivering as he forced the words out;

And when your soul... comes home,

Somewhere I chose... to be,

You’ll know I stayed... to heal you...

-

For a moment, the audience sat still, shaken to their very cores and unable to react to the deeply impactful and resonating performance they had witnessed.

Then came the first clap.

It echoed through the venue alone, like a wisp in the wind.

Then another accompanied it. And another. And another.

Before the quartet knew it, everyone in the venue was applauding.

Not in an act. But seriously engaging in the act without any pretenses as they all stood up to their feet.

Even the crew was the same, as was Harrison himself.

Instead of stopping the shot, he simply allowed the cameras to keep rolling.

Afterall, as a director, there were certain moments you had to allow a genuine reaction to play out, especially if it’s very fitting for the scene.

More than that, he was certain this particular reaction would be more impactful in the final shot and would sell the scene better than any act the extras could’ve ever put up.

But for Niall...

Niall had broken down in tears, his hands tightly gripping the mic as Sam, Archie and Lucas walked up to embrace him with pats on the back.

Yet, even as they did that and the familiar tingles washed over him in rippling waves, he simply remained as he was, his emotions so strong it had drowned out every sound and applause in the venue.

Advance Chapters are available on Patreon!

/Caer07