Page 60 of Electric Wounds
More security personnel rush out from backstage, their expressions grim. A burly man with a walkie-talkie approaches us, looking frantic. “You’re making things worse,” he says urgently. “We need to get you off the stage now.”
Enzo grabs my hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “Come on,” he says, voice tight with tension. “Let’s go.”
We’re ushered off the stage, but in the mad rush to get to the van, the rest of the band gets separated. The roar of the crowd is deafening, and the press of bodies around us is suffocating. Panic rises again as I lose sight of Jax and Marcus in the sea of people. The security team forms a tight circle around us, forcing their way through the venue, barreling down anyone in their path. The backstage corridors blur with movement and noise. Crew members shout at each other, trying to manage the chaos. The walls seem to vibrate with the residual energy of the crowd, and the air is thick with the smell of sweat and panic.
When we finally make it to the van, I look around frantically. Dylan and Enzo stand behind me, while my eyes scan the faces of every person milling about. I stand on my tiptoes and crane my neck to see around the mass of security around us. Marcus andJax are nowhere to be seen. My heart races as I scan the area a second time, praying for any sign of them.
“Where are Marcus and Jax?” I ask, my voice shaky with fear. My legs feel like they are going to give out from underneath me. The reaction of the security guards is amplifying my panic and it’s becoming harder to breathe.
One of the security guards steps forward. “There’s a second vehicle. We need to get you out of here now. They’ll be right behind us.”
Reluctantly, I nod, and I climb into the van, my mind whirling with worry and my breaths coming in short pants. Enzo follows right behind me, his hand still gripping mine tightly. Dylan and some of the crew pile in next, tension filling the air like a thick fog.
As the van speeds away from the venue, the weight of what just happened sinks in. The intensity of the crowd, the desperate screams, the chaos—it’s a stark reminder of how fragile everything is. The city lights outside blur past, streaking across the windows in dizzying flashes that do nothing to calm my racing heart.
Dylan tries to fill the silence, his voice strained. “Well, that was one hell of a show, huh?”
Enzo shoots him a sharp look. “Not the time, Dylan.”
Dylan sighs and leans back, drumming his fingers nervously on his thigh. “Just trying to keep things from getting too heavy, man.”
The van hits a bump, jolting us all, and I nearly shriek. Enzo’s tight grip on my hand is the only thing keeping me grounded as I take several deep inhales to calm my racing heart.
I lean my head against the cold window, trying to steady the storm of emotions inside me. The hum of the tires against the road becomes a background noise, blending with the muffled sounds of the city as I fight to keep it together.
“Are you okay?” Enzo asks softly, his hand giving mine a gentle squeeze.
I nod, though I’m far from okay. The fear and anxiety are almost too much to handle, but I know I have to stay strong. Jax and Marcus are going to be okay.
The silence in the van is oppressive, but I don’t have anything to say to break it. Instead, I stare intently out the window, waiting to reach the secured lot holding the bus. I watch the passing neon signs and streetlights cast eerie glows on the dark buildings.
The van’s headlights cut through the night, illuminating the road ahead, but the anxiety inside me only deepens with every passing minute. I try to focus on the positive and decide I’m endlessly grateful that today was not a day we parked the bus behind the venue.
We finally get to the road outside the lot, and worry gnaws at me. I can’t stop thinking about Marcus and Jax. The thought of them being lost—or worse—consumes me. The van ride feels endless, each stoplight and traffic delay dragging out my fear.
The security guard in the front seat turns around, his expression serious. “We’ll be there soon. Just hang tight.”
I nod again, trying to keep my nerves in check. Enzo stares out the window, jaw clenched, while Dylan’s fingers drum faster against his leg, a nervous rhythm that betrays his usual calm demeanor. “You think they’re okay?” He asks, breaking the heavy silence.
“They have to be,” Enzo replies, but there’s an edge of doubt in his voice. “Those guys know how to handle themselves.”
“Yeah,” I add, trying to infuse my words with hope. “They’ll be fine.”
When we finally pull up to the bus, a sigh of relief escapes me. We tumble out of the van, and my eyes immediately scan the area, desperate for any sign of Marcus and Jax.
FORTY
BREAKING POINT
Enzo
The ride back to the bus is a tense blur. Tension hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. I follow Lily out of the van, releasing her hand as she scrambles in front of me, her panic palpable. I immediately scan the area for any sign of Marcus and Jax.
Within seconds, another vehicle pulls up behind us, and relief washes over me when Marcus steps out, tired but otherwise okay. My eyes remain fixed on the van, waiting for the fourth member of our band and feeling a growing sense of unease deep in the pit of my stomach.
"Hey, you made it," Lily says, her voice shaky with relief.
Marcus gives a weary smile. "Yeah, I’m here."
