Chapter 26:
Disaster
The screaming in the arena
was deafening, as it always was, so the guys were pretty good at reading their
own sign language to one another when the need arose. Kevin signaled to the
others that he was ready to jump over the catwalk, indicating the others to
follow as soon as he was clear. Brian leaned over the railing, the last one to
jump, holding his breath as he watched his cousin repel down the long rope. The
clamor of shrieks rose a notch and Brian felt Nick nudge him. He turned to see
Nick grinning at him, and he grinned back, knowing exactly how his friend felt.
It was still a rush to hear the shattering blast of music, to feel the
vibration of 30,000 fans screaming their names. He leaned over again to see
Howie, then Nick glide down. If only he didn’t have to do this everytime. He had gotten over most of his fear of heights
through sheer necessity, but that didn’t mean he liked it.
Brian felt the bump of the
steel railing as AJ leaped over the side, hearing him scream enthusiastically
at the crowd below. Grabbing the steel rods on either side of him with gloved
hands, he hefted his legs over the railing, sitting on the bar. Watching
carefully as AJ descended, he began to gauge the distance and time necessary
for his drop. Brian’s attention was sidetracked as he felt rather than saw the
taunt rope that was holding AJ scrape against his own. Perplexed, Brian reached
to push the swaying line away from his, annoyed that the offending cable was
rubbing along his. Grabbing the line, he began to shove it away, only to feel
shock as the taut cord jerked then slacken as it slip through his fingers.
Frightened, Brian leaned down to see AJ freefall, his body turned upside down
as the cord again tightened itself. Brian gasped as he watched AJ try
unsuccessfully to straighten himself, hearing the roar of the crowd as they
screamed their delight at AJ’s comical antics. Only there was nothing comical
about it. The rope slipped again another few feet, this time twisting AJ on his
side, tangled up from the slackened cable and his own harness. Horrified, Brian
tore his eyes away from the sight, seeking Kevin, Howie and Nick who were
watching from below. Their faces were enough to let Brian know the seriousness
of the situation. He brought up his right hand to his mouth and tore off his
bulky glove, his left hand wrapped around the bar to hold him steady. He
repeated the process with his left hand, screaming at himself to hurry. A
surprised yell of fear floated up to Brian and he froze a moment as he watched
AJ drop again, twirling sickeningly high above the crowd. Heart racing, Brian
took a deep breath and jumped off the ledge, repelling himself towards AJ,
terrified that he would not reach him in time.
"AJ!" he
screamed over the crowd, hoping his disoriented friend could hear him. Brian
slid down faster, feeling the stinging burn of the rope. AJ looked up, his face
contorted in fear as he watched Brian skim down until he was even with him,
stretching an extended arm out. He copied Brian’s tactic and ripped off his own
glove, his other hand clinging fiercely to his harness as he dangled wildly
back and forth. Timing his lunge for AJ’s hand Brian dived as AJ came close,
their fingers interlocking for a brief second only to be ripped away as AJ’s
rope again jerked then plunged another few yards. Furious that he was so close
to catching his friend, Brian repelled further down, raw determination etched
in his face.
"AJ, get ready, get
ready to grab!" he screamed, fear now taking control as he realized this
might be his last chance to save AJ before the rope broke. He reached out for
AJ once more, felt the reassuring grasp of AJ’s fingers clasp his, and pulled
as hard as he could.
"Grab on, Bone! Let
go of your rope and grab me! Hurry!" Brian gasped, trying to close the gab
between them. Both felt AJ’s rope slip once more, and they lunged frantically
at one another, both connecting just seconds before the rope snapped. Brian’s
yell of pain fell to deaf ears as the crowd erupted into applause, screaming
their delight at the "show" orchestrated above them.
Beads of sweat sprung from
Brian’s brow as the weight of AJ’s dangling body strained his shoulders and
arms, sharp stabs of laser hot pain racing through his back as he fought to
hold onto AJ, both of AJ’s hands firmly clamped onto Brian’s right wrist. The
combined weight of the two made them sway a little and Brian saw the panic in
his friend’s face.
"Bone! I’ve got you.
I’m not going to drop you!" Brian promised fiercely, determined they would
both fall to their deaths before he ever let go of AJ. Still high in the air,
Brian realized he needed both of his hands to repel them down. Slowly,
agonizingly, he pulled AJ up, heaving with all his strength. AJ managed to wrap
himself around Brian’s waist and legs, leaving Brian’s hands free to maneuver
the rope. "Hang on, hang on, we’re almost there!" he yelled to AJ,
not sure if his friend heard him over the noise of the fans. Ignoring the
excruciating pain in his back, Brian descended as fast as he dared, frantically
looking down for help below. He felt AJ unexpectedly release his hold and Brian
gasped in shock as AJ fell, only to sigh in relief when he realized they were
only a few feet above the stage.
He touched the ground and
collapsed in agony as the pain took over, curling up into a ball. He sensed a
swarm of people surrounding him shouting questions that he couldn’t understand,
felt Nick and Kevin picking him up as he yelled in pain, saw the stage go dark
as they carried him and AJ off the stage. The noise was deafening, the
musicians were playing, and the excited yells of the clapping fans made Brian
realize that the show was still continuing.
Nick tried to place Brian
down as gently as he could, cringing as Brian cried out in pain.
He glanced over to Howie
who, with another stagehand, was helping AJ out of his wiring harness and
costume. Nick caught AJ’s attention. "Are you okay?" he asked,
worried. AJ gave a shaky thumb’s up as he kicked off the last of the superhero’s
costume, then ran over to Brian, who was crouched in a hunched-over position.
Kneeling to get eye level with Brian, AJ looked questioningly at Nick who shook
his head.
"Where’s a goddamn
doctor?" shrieked AJ, glancing around. "We need a doctor, now!"
AJ gazed worriedly at Kevin, then at Howie who was talking, of all things, to
Xavier. The large bodyguard came over and knelt down next to Brian, ignoring
AJ’s heated stare.
"Brian! Brian! Look
at me. How do you feel?"
Brian shook his head,
unable to speak. "How the hell do you think he feels?" screamed AJ,
incensed. Xavier turned from Brian to roughly shoved AJ away from the kneeling
singer. He then began to eased the injured singer’s costume off, all the while
talking quietly into his ear. AJ watched stunned as Brian, now on his hands and
knees, began struggling to stand up. Ignoring Xavier, AJ grabbed Brian’s arm to
help steady him, viewing Brian’s face closely. "Brian, no. Don’t get up.
Wait for a doctor, man."
"I’ll be okay, Bone.
I can make it through the concert. Help me up."
"No, man. No
way."
"I can do it. Let me
do it," Brian pleaded, resting on his knees. AJ frowned then looked at the
other guys for advice.
"Kevin?"
"Brian, no. You need
to be checked out. We can cover for you." Kevin had to shout to be heard
over the impatient pounding of feet now coming from the fans. The musicians
played on, returning to the same chords over and over.
"Shit!" yelled
Nick, edgy from the restless crowd. He glanced at Brian, then back to the
stage. "Bri, you think you can do it?" Brian nodded, biting back the
pain he felt radiating from his lower back. Brian opened his hand to show the
guys two small white pills. "Xavier gave these to me. Pain killers. I’ll
take them, do the concert, then I’ll have a doctor check me out later,
okay?"
"No!" argued AJ,
upset. He reached angrily for the pills but Brian beat him, shoving the two
into his mouth. "B-Rok!"
Brian shook his head in
reply. "I’m okay, really. Come on. Give me a few minutes for these to
work, then I’ll be alright."
Nick glanced at his
friends, saw the indecision in their faces, and decided to take control.
"Okay, listen up guys. I’m gonna go out there and talk to the audience,
stall a little until Brian’s painkiller kicks in. Give me a signal when Bri is
ready." Giving his friend an encouraging smile, he strode out onto the
stage, the crowd erupting into shrieks and cheers. The music died away and
Brian heard him laughing and joking to the audience, the crowd loving every
minute of this unplanned event.
AJ, uneasy about the pills
Brian took, surveyed Brian critically. "Man, are you sure about this,
those pills?"
"Bone, they’re
working already," Brian lied, trying to give him his most relaxed smile.
AJ shook his head skeptically, unsure. He locked his own brown eyes onto
Brian’s bright blue eyes for a long moment, desperately wanting to apologize
for his behavior, to thank him for saving his ass. He opened his mouth to
speak, but Brian shook his head, already aware of AJ’s feelings. "Don’t.
It’s okay," he said simply, understanding.
AJ tried hard not to look
at Xavier who was standing nearby, quietly watching. He bent down along with
Howie and Kevin to gingerly help Brian into a standing position. They listened
in amazement as Nick carried on, obviously enjoying the moment. Brian had to
laugh, as much as it hurt him. "What a ham!" he commented.
AJ, determined to help,
gave a lop-sided grin to Brian, Kevin and Howie. "Hey," he boasted,
"you think Nick is a ham? Watch this!" AJ ran out onto the stage,
playfully sneaking up from behind and jumping onto Nick’s back. The crowd
roared their approval as AJ began to tease Nick, telling little untrue rumors
about Nick that almost left the blond singer speechless. Almost. Nick began his
own false stories, exaggerating with each one.
Howie laughed, ready to
join the group. He tapped Brian lightly on the shoulder. "Hanging in
there?" Brian nodded, gesturing for his friend to go onto the stage. Howie
left with one last parting glance and the screams once more rose to an
ear-splitting level.
Kevin shook his head, his
hand wrapped firmly around his cousin’s arm for support.
"I think we’ve
started a whole new thing. No singing, just horsing around!"
Brian nodded in agreement,
unable to smile. He felt a trickle of sweat trail down his back as he fought
for control, afraid of the unknown painkillers he swallowed, afraid of knowing
he couldn’t continue without them, afraid that they weren’t working fast
enough. Forcing himself not to think about the consequences, he stared at
Xavier who was watching Brian closely. It took all of his willpower not to turn
away from his intense gaze but Brian locked eyes with his bodyguard, determined
not to let Xavier see the agony his was in, the torture that Xavier’s whispered
words produced. The pain that shot through his arm and back was nothing
compared to the shock of what Xavier had whispered into his ear.
Too bad you saved him.
Brian finally broke eye
contact with his tormentor, turning to view the antics of Nick, Howie and AJ on
stage. His mind burned with revenge as he wondered how he could stop Xavier,
how he could stop all this madness. Somehow, someway he promised himself, he
would kill the one who had nearly caused the death of his friend.
***
