Page 154 of On The Edge
The crowd roars. I pull one of my in-ear monitors out to hear the cheers even louder and sit up taller on my stool. Reis pulls off his mask, throwing it to the side, before smiling to the crowd and holding the microphone in both hands.
“Reverb, there’s been a monumental mistake. It’s taken you from us when that wasn’t what we wanted. We want you, andonly you. I don’t care what it costs, but I know that I need you in my life more than any fame. I won’t abandon you, just like I know you never abandoned me. Please, baby.” Reis' voice breaks at the end and the crowd screams for him.
Markus steps forward, pulling his mask off and throwing it to the side like he does every concert before stepping up to his microphone.
“Songbird, please hear us. We love you, we miss you, we want you with us and never wanted you to leave. I want you. I want you forever. Please, Songbird,” he says brokenly and everyone can hear the emotion in his voice. He’s sober for this one. The fight to get her back seems to be taking over his need to numb himself.
The crowd cheers and Paul steps back from Markus, just as Kai clears his throat and walks over to Reis' microphone. He pulls his mask off, tossing it behind him and I hear the crowd go wild so he must be flashing them that signature smirk.
“Sync, we want you to come home. We know what happened to you, to us, and we’re never going to stop fighting for you. Not now, not ever. We won’t walk away from you, please don’t walk away from us.”
The crowd roars, cheering and swooning as Paul runs around the stage to get to me. I stand up, and when I do, the fans clap and yell even louder when I pull my mask off and whip it to the side.
There’s a microphone next to me, not something there for me to talk into, normally, but today I’m doing it.
“Echo, I know this is scary. But you… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened tous. And we need you here with us. Please, forgive us.”
I look at Paul at my feet, who’s looking at me through his camera lens and gives me a thumbs up.
Was it enough?
Only time will tell. If anything, it gives her a heads up that we’re coming for her.
And we are coming for her.
My sticks crash downon the last note for the last song of the tour.
Finally.
The song plays out softly, coming to a close, and the crowd loses their shit. We stand, bow, throw our hearts out to the crowd, and stand with our backs to the crowd while we take a picture. Our ‘end of tour’ tradition.
We’re all smiles and radiate grateful energy, but I’m vibrating with the need to get to the airport. I’m so fucking ready to get on that plane. And get one step closer to her.
The curtain closes and wesprint. It’s kind of funny, because we grab our bags on the way out the door, sliding into the already-running SUV to take us to the airfield.
“Sixteen hours, and counting,” Markus says quickly, and I can hear the excitement in his voice.
“I’ve got her old address from Paul, so that’s where we’re headed to immediately after we land. Get some sleep and shower, because there’s no fucking way I’m stopping anywhere but on her doorstep. Got it?” Reis barks, strapping into the first chair quickly.
“Not a problem.” Markus sits and straps himself in as well.
George comes out from the cockpit and smiles. “I understand that we need to hurry up and get home, yeah?” He looks around. “Where’s Miss Melody?”
I click my seatbelt on and look at him.
“We’re trying to get home to her.”
FORTY-SEVEN
There’s a fly in here,I think as I stare blankly up at the ceiling. The buzz of the annoying insect flying over me. My eyes crack open as I try to find the bug that I want to smash with all the anger I wish I was feeling.
I see it land on the empty coffee table and… I just don’t care.
I know I smell. I haven’t showered since I was let into my old apartment.
I know I’m hungry. I don’t remember eating… ever. I know I must have, I’m still alive.
I know I’m in gross clothes; I haven’t changed and don’t have the energy to.
