Hellbent
Chapter 4
Crossroads
It was the night of the ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ gig. Ashley excitedly burst into Maxx’s bedroom. He was dressed in bell-bottom jeans with a cat-print shirt under his faux fur coat.
Ashley: “I’m ready meow!”
He beamed excitedly. His face twisted with disgust when he caught the sights and smells of the bedroom. The potent concoction of cheap body spray, goon, cigarettes, and body odor assaulted his nostrils.
Maxx’s bedroom was now painted a bright shade of neon pink. His entire wardrobe was spread out across the floor accompanied by empty goon sacks and empty food wrappers. His bed was a mattress on the floor with a pink satin sheet draped over it.
Ashley: “Uhh, you know you have a closet, right?”
He chuckled, opening up the closet doors.
Maxx: “Pfft, but then no one will see my rockin’ clothes! This way they’re on full display for all to see!”
He grinned at his floordrobe.
Ashley: “Uhhh… aren’t they going to get dirty on the floor? isn’t that going to attract spiders and mold?”
He scratched his head.
Maxx: “Pfft, nah-ah! Dat’s just an old wive’s tale, A-Rad, that doesn’t happen in real life! You’ve been watching too many cartoons!”
He shook his head.
Ashley: “Oh? My mum told me that…”
He said slowly. Maxx chuckled and patted his back.
Maxx: “She was lyin’ to you, A-Rad!”
Ashley frowned.
Ashley: “No, she would never lie to me!”
He shook his head.
Maxx: “And neither would I, A-Rad!”
He countered.
Maxx: “Maxxy will give it to you straight ‘n tell you how it is! And dat shirt ain’t it!”
He pointed at his cat shirt.
Ashley: “What's wrong with my shirt?”
He knit his eyebrows.
Maxx: “It’s NOT rock ‘n roll!”
He pouted. Ashley frowned.
Maxx: “But don’t worry, Maxxy’s got ya covered!”
He grinned with a finger bang, scurrying over to a cardboard box in the corner of his room.
He opened the box, containing various merchandise items. There were T-shirts, cassette tapes, and bobbleheads, all of which looked cheaply made.
Maxx: “For bein’ a good friend! I wanted to give you a FREE Sex Beest shirt on da house!”
He grinned, presenting Ashley with a T-shirt with his pouting face on it with the misprinted ‘Sex Bees’ logo with a ‘T’ scrawled at the end of it. Ashley’s cerulean eyes sparkled.
Ashley: “Oh wow?! On da house?!”
He beamed, holding it up against his chest.
Ashley: “Uhh, did you have anything larger than a medium size?”
He laughed awkwardly.
Maxx: “Nah, A-rad! M for Maxxy is da largest size we got! ‘Cause Maxxy is larger than life! I only want sexy cool cats wearin’ my merch ‘n don’t wanna encourage obesity! You wanna be a sexy cool cat, right?”
Ashley pulled a face and laughed awkwardly.
Ashley: “...Oh, haha, donut worry! I can fit into it!"
He chuckled awkwardly and attempted to get the T-shirt over his body. Maxx laughed as he struggled to get it over his chubby arms and tummy. His tummy peeked out from the bottom and caused the print of Maxx to distort into a horrifying and hilarious monstrosity. Ashley gasped as he was startled by the tearing of the cheap fabric around his arms.
Ashley: “Oh no! I’m sorry, dude!”
He cupped his mouth and reddened with embarrassment. Maxx’s eyes widened.
Maxx: “...Hang on, A-Rad! Maxxy’s got a genius idea!”
He grinned, grabbing a pair of scissors and cutting off the sleeves entirely.
Maxx: “OWWH! ROCKIN’! You almost look like a rebel rocker, A-rad! Just gotta lay off da cakes n’ pizza, buddy!”
He teased, poking his belly with his boney finger.
Ashley: “Oh… uh, right?”
He laughed awkwardly, gazing at his reflection in the mirror with a discomfort he couldn’t place. Maxx stood beside him, throwing on a pink fishnet shirt, neon green leopard print spandex, and silver cowboy boots.
Maxx: “Ready ‘n Rockin’ A-Rad!”
He grinned.
Ashley: “Oh wow! I admire your confidence to wear something like… that! That’s so cool how you can just be free to express yourself and not care if it looks good together!”
He smiled at him with a thumbs up. Maxx grinned smugly.
Maxx: “Pfft, it DOES look good, A-rad!”
He countered.
Ashley: “Uhh, sure… You do you!”
He forced a smile and scratched his head. He didn’t want to discourage his freedom of expression.
~
They pulled up at an aubergine-colored warehouse with big red neon letters beaming ‘HELLBENT’ out the front of it. Posters for tonight’s gig were plastered on the walls and people stood outside smoking and chatting. Thumping bass and shredding guitars pulsed from inside the club.
The volume of the music grew louder and smacked them right in the face as they entered the establishment. They entered a bar area adorned with leopard-print carpet, red couches, and band posters covering the walls. The club was dimly lit up with hues of reds and purples. The venue was packed to the brim with a large turnout for tonight’s show.
Ashley looked around for Makayla and his heart hammered in his chest when he saw her behind the bar. She smiled at him and glowed under the beams of the fuschia lights.
Ashley: “Makayla? You work here?”
He stammered, glancing down at her tank top that read ‘Hellbent’ across her chest.
Makayla: “Ashley? You came?”
She chirped, greeting him with a hug. Ashley froze and reddened, hugging her back. Maxx pouted and tapped his foot.
Maxx: “Maxxy came too, baby!”
He thrust his pelvis. Makayla rolled her eyes at him and looked over at Craig across the club, mouthing to him that Maxx was here now. Craig smirked and nodded at her.
Makayla swung her gaze back to Ashley and laughed when she noticed Maxx’s distorted face across his tight t-shirt.
Makayla: “Isn’t that shirt a little small for you, Ashley?”
She teased and poked his tummy. Ashley shivered to her touch and blushed with laughter.
Ashley: “Hehe, O-oh, nah, I just gotta lay off ‘da cake and pizza’ haha…”
He chuckled awkwardly, shifting his eyes over to Maxx. Maxx grinned at him and gave him a thumbs-up of approval. Makayla frowned and glared at Maxx.
Makayla: “NONSENSE! Why don’t you wear a shirt that fits you instead?”
She smiled at him, pulling out a box of Nuklear Intoxikation shirts from under the bar.
Makayla: “Hmm, you look like you’re a 1XL! What color do you want? We have green, red, or purple!”
She beamed, presenting larger sizes with various logo-color options to choose from.
Ashley: “...Y-Yes. Ooh, I like the purple one… it’s like your hair…”
He nodded and smiled at her. Makayla blushed.
Makayla: “Hehe, you flatterer, you… Shh! This one’s on the house.”
She leaned in and whispered in his ear. Ashley blushed and chuckled, shivering all over as she tickled his ear.
Ashley: “Hehehe, O-oh wow, really?! T-thank you, Makayla!”
He beamed, pulling the shirt over his ‘Sex Bees’ shirt.
Maxx: “W-wha?! HEY! What about MY shirt?!”
He pouted, stamping his feet. Makayla rolled her eyes at Maxx. A large hand grabbed Maxx on the shoulder and a gruff voice spoke.
“Well, well, well, if it ain’t Maxxy Malone of Sex Bees!”
They turned around to see Craig towering over him.
Craig: “So, ya thought you could get away with gatecrashin’ my thrash bash with this chungo druggo to rob from me, huh?”
He pressed him, gesturing to Ashley who greeted him with a polite wave.
Ashley: “Hello!”
Maxx: “Nah-ah! Dat’s MY portrait! You stole it from ME!”
He shrieked.
Ashley: “That’s right, it’s got his face on it!”
He countered. Craig paused to gape at him in his ‘Nuklear Intoxikation’ shirt.
Craig: “The fuck are you wearin’ that for?!”
He tugged at his shirt.
Ashley: “To show my support! Don’t break a leg!”
He beamed. Craig gave him an incredulous look.
Craig: “What’s your deal? Who’s side are ya on?”
He pressed him, towering over him.
The announcer came over the speaker system.
Announcer: “And now for our headlining act for tonight–NUKLEAR INTOXIKATION!”
The crowd went wild, cheering their name.
Craig: “Catch ya later Sex Bees! Watch a REAL metal band play!”
He said smugly in his face. Maxx pouted.
Craig: “You’ll get what’s comin’ for ya soon enough! Sleep with one eye open!”
He waved his finger at him and left.
~
Craig, Makayla, and Kurt rocked out on the stage, surrounded by Fuschia lights and wild cheers from the crowd. The entire band room flooded with a moshpit. Veronika entered the club. She hovered around the side of the stage, pouting and sneering when she overheard people complimenting Makayla’s guitar skills… and breasts. She groaned when she saw Ashley and Maxx sitting at the bar together, watching the show.
Ashley: “She’s so amazing!”
He sighed dreamily at Makayla, resting his head on the palm of his hand.
Maxx: “Yeah, amazingly HOT! Owwh! Look at dem boobies jiggle, A-Rad!”
Ashley gaped at him and reddened.
Ashley: “Dude!”
Veronika cut in on their conversation, hovering over them.
Veronika: “What are YOU losers doing here?! Last I checked this wasn’t the circus… or the buffet.”
She scoffed at Ashley, munching on his potato wedges. Ashley swiveled around on his chair, startled to see Veronika, leaning against the bar.
Ashley: “...Oh, you’re still not in the band? I’m sorry… maybe you need more practice?”
He offered, thinking of the conversations he heard at the party. Veronika glared at him with his purple cocktail and spiral straw.
Veronika: “Don’t fucking patronize me with your girly drink, fatty!”
She hissed, glaring at him.
Ashley: “What’s wrong with being girly? You’re a girl?”
Veronika: “PFFT! You’re a guy! You’re not supposed to be girly! And I am NOT like other girls! I’m more of a man than you are!”
She laughed at him, flicking his chest. Ashley flinched and gaped owlishly at her. He felt that discomfort he couldn’t place again and he was lost for words.
Ashley: “Uhh…?”
Maxx patted his back.
Maxx: “Pfft, forget her, A-rad, your boobs are bigger than hers! Let’s try pickin’ up hot chicks over there!”
He gestured to the crowd area. Ashley chuckled a bit, not knowing how to feel or what to say.
Veronika: “...What did you just say, you filthy cockroach?!”
She snapped at Maxx, grabbing his mesh shirt and ripping it in her grasp.
Maxx: “Ohoho, you wanna go Maxxy ey, baby?”
He purred and winked at her.
Veronika: “Oh, let’s fucking go, clown asshole!”
She cackled and punched him into the mosh pit, where he stirred up some angry metalheads, wailing on him and shoving him around in the mosh pit.
Maxx: “OWWWWWWWHHH, NOOOAWW! NOOOO!”
Ashley: “Oh no! Maxx!”
He wailed, rushing over to him, getting swallowed in the pit with him. Veronika cackled wickedly and sighed happily.
Veronika: “I needed that.”
Veronika turned her attention back to the stage as the band wrapped up their set.
Craig: “Until next time, Hellbent, ya mad cunts!”
He exclaimed, holding his fist up high in the air. The crowd wailed and cheered with exuberance.
~
After the set, Veronika approached Craig and Kurt as they carried their instruments outside to Kurt’s van.
Veronika: “Hey guys, check this out!”
She gloated, crouching down and lifting a bass drum above her head.
Craig: “Wicked sick, V!”
He grinned and applauded her. Kurt looked unimpressed and annoyed.
Kurt: “Where did Makayla go?”
He asked, looking around for her. Veronika scoffed.
Veronika: “Pfffft, she’s probably fucking one of her pathetic fanboys in a toilet stall!”
She huffed bitterly. Craig twisted his mouth.
Craig: “W-what?! Is some scumbag hitting on my sister?!”
He growled. Veronika groaned and scoffed.
Veronika: “Pfft, she’s asking for it with the way she dresses and puts herself out there, Craig! She's trying to steal the spotlight from you!”
Craig: "...She is?"
Veronika: "Isn’t it obvious, Craig? Why else would she wear those skimpy outfits and flirt with all those men?”
Craig: “Alright, I’ll put her in her place! I’M the leader of this band, ‘n I don’t want no scumbags hitting on my sister!”
He said firmly, folding his arms across his chest.
Veronika: “Why don’t you put her in her place by replacing her, Craig?!”
She smirked. Craig froze and dropped his arms to his sides.
Craig: “I told you, I ain’t kickin’ Makayla out, V!”
Veronika gaped at him and her face flared crimson with rage.
Veronika: “THAT’S IT! I’ve had it, Craig! I’m your GIRLFRIEND! It should be ME in the band, not her! I’m not your fucking groupie! I’m a REAL metal chick, not some Barbie poser! She’s turning this band into a strip club spectacle with pathetic horn dogs ogling over her! This is thrash metal, not Boobers!”
She screamed and threw her arms up in frustration.
Suddenly, the steel door swung open and Makayla emerged out of the venue, carrying the box of merch. Veronika sneered at Makayla.
Makayla: “...What’s going on? Are you guys breaking up again? Cool.”
She said non-committedly.
Veronika: “Oh no, this is the FINAL straw, Craig! If you’re not gonna make me the guitarist, then, I’m not making you my boyfriend anymore! It’s ME or HER, Craig!”
She huffed firmly, folding her arms. Makayla gaped at her and laughed bitterly.
Makayla: “...What?!”
So, Ashley was right? She is jealous of me and trying to get rid of me? She thought to herself. Craig froze and gaped at them both.
Craig: “WHAT?! You can’t fuckin’ do this, V!”
He pleaded. Veronika glared at him and snarled.
Veronika: “Fuck you, Craig! It shouldn’t be a difficult decision! If you really loved me, you’d choose me in a heartbeat without thinking! IT’S OVER!”
She snapped, getting up in Craig’s face.
Craig: “WAIT! No, V, please don’t leave me!”
He pleaded beseechingly, grabbing her arm. Veronika yanked her arm away from him.
Veronika: “I’m done with you, Craig! I need a real man with strong convictions who puts me first! You’re all talk and no show! YOU’RE WEAK!”
She huffed, shoving him against the van. Makayla jumped in, shoving Veronika away from Craig.
Makayla: “HEY! Back off! You’re done, now, go away, Veronika! Bye-bye!”
She said firmly. Veronika scoffed and cackled at Craig.
Veronika: “HA! Need your little sister to fight your battles, huh? YOU’RE SO WEAK! It’s OVER loser!”
She huffed and stormed off.
Craig: “Wait! Don’t go!”
He pleaded and fell to his knees.
Makayla: “Forget her, Craig!
She huffed as Veronika slithered back inside, slamming the door behind her. Craig bowed his head and turned to Makayla.
Craig: “What did you do that for, Makayla?! You made me look weak! I don’t need you to fight my battles for me! I don’t need your help! STAY OUT OF IT!”
He snapped at her. Makayla threw her arms up and huffed.
Makayla: “Whatever Craig, you’re better off without her!”
~
The next day, Craig lay on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling. His bedroom was disorderly with random items of clothing scattered around the room. The only thing orderly and tidy was his collection of vinyl records, stacked on the shelves. His surfboard leaned against the wall of thrash metal posters, and his black Warlock bass guitar sat in the corner of the room.
Craig rose from the bed and picked up a vinyl record that read ‘Killer’ in sharp red lettering with a giant pentagram. He pulled it out of its sleeve and put it on the record player. Fast and heavy guitars blared through the speakers at full volume, fading into a flashback.
~
We cut to a flashback of Craig, Makayla, and Kurt standing around the parking lot, having a smoke and chatting among themselves as ‘Killer’ played in the background, pulsing from inside the nightclub.
Craig was discreetly looking at a Polaroid photo of him and Andreas together with a heartbroken sigh. Makayla peered over his shoulder and knit her eyebrows.
Makayla: “...How about we call it a night and head home, Craig?”
She offered gently, patting his back. Craig frowned and bowed his head.
The revving engine of a sports car rumbled down the street, pulling up at the venue and snapping him out of his daze. He glanced up to see a tall, muscular woman with dark hair emerging from a black Lamborghini Countach.
The woman paused when she saw Craig and smiled widely.
Veronika: “Holy shit! Are you Craig from Nuklear Intoxikation?!”
Craig’s eyebrows rose surprisingly at her.
Craig: “...Yeah, that’s me?”
Veronika: “I’m Veronika Wood! I’m a HUGE fan!”
She grinned, leaning in close to him. Craig swallowed hard.
Craig: “Shit?! Really?!”
Veronika: “Wanna come for a ride with me?”
She said breathlessly, gesturing to the Lamborghini and winking at him.
Craig: “OH, FUCK YEAH! Catch ya later, guys!”
He grinned excitedly, sliding the Polaroid photo of him and Andreas away and following her over to the car. Makayla had a look of concern on her face as he took off with the strange woman.
Craig and Veronika zoomed through the dark streets of Selene Valley and he felt alive again.
Craig: "HOLY SHIT! YOU'RE A WICKED SICK CHICK!"
Veronika grinned at him and pulled up at the moonlit shore. She leaned in and kissed him and he felt an electric pulse charge through his body.
~
We cut back to the present to Makayla tapping on the door, snapping Craig out of his daze.
Makayla: “Craig?”
Craig: “Huh? Yeah, Kayla?”
He groggily replied.
Makayla: “Did you need to talk?”
Craig: “Nope.”
Makayla: “I think you do… Why don’t you go talk to someone, Craig?”
She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. Craig paused and glanced out his window.
Makayla: “Please, NOT Veronika.”
She added and pleaded with him. Craig sighed and slouched.
Craig: “...Alright.”
~
Later that afternoon, Craig crept up to the doorstep of a white weatherboard house. It was a small and modest home with a cement driveway and maintained lawn. Hedges surrounded the property, giving it some privacy and greenery.
Craig swallowed hard and rang the doorbell. Footsteps drew nearer from inside and the door creaked open. Craig’s expression brightened.
Craig: “...Hey, can we talk?”
A bewildered Andreas stood at the door.
Andreas: “What are you doing here, Craig?”
He asked with strain.
Craig: “Please! Just gimmie five minutes!”
He pleaded with him. Andreas drew a breath and relented.
Andreas: “Five minutes.”
He reiterated firmly, holding up five fingers.
~
Craig and Andreas sat across from each other at the table, crammed into Andreas’ tiny kitchen. It was nothing remarkable, but Andreas kept it in pristine condition. Everything was labeled and neatly organized in its place and there was not a speck of dust in sight.
Andreas: “What do you want, Craig?”
He pressed him.
Craig: “Oh, just a beer is fine!”
Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “I don’t drink. All I have is tea and coffee. You know this and I know you don’t drink what I have.”
He replied.
Andreas: “What I meant was–why are you here? If you wanted a beer, you would go to Hellbent, so cut to the chase.”
He said tersely. Craig held his hands up.
Craig: “Alright, alright! I’ll cut to the point!”
He exclaimed.
Craig: “I wanted to ask ya somethin’ important…”
Andreas sighed and fiddled with his bare ring finger.
Andreas: “No.”
He bowed his head.
Craig: “What?! I didn’t even ask you anythin’?!”
He pouted.
Andreas: “I already know what you’re going to ask me.”
He replied.
Craig: “...No you don’t!”
He pouted.
Andreas: “I’m a psychic, Craig.”
He rolled his eyes at him, gesturing to the various bones, crystals, and feathers around his home. There were various moon symbols and raven artwork on his walls.
Andreas: “But I don’t have to be to know that because you’re predictable and repeat the same patterns over and over again. You’re like a hamster trapped in an infinite wheel.”
He added, sipping on his ginger tea.
Craig: “I’m not a hamster!”
He pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
Andreas: “You’re here because you haven’t moved on from me and you’re unhappy with Veronika… you broke up again, didn’t you?”
He said exasperatedly, sipping on his ginger tea.
Craig: “W-WHAT?! NO!”
He pouted, shifting his eyes.
Craig: “I was gonna ask you about THE BAND! I asked ya the other night, but I never got your answer!”
He exclaimed. Andreas sighed and shook his head.
Andreas: “This isn’t about the band. You want a relationship, not a bandmate from me.”
He replied.
Craig: “...Well, maybe I want both?!”
He blurted and locked his gaze onto Andreas. Andreas heaved a sigh.
Andreas: “Well you can’t always get what you want... We can't be together, Craig. Not in a band, not in a house, and especially not in a relationship…”
He said firmly.
Craig: “W-Why not?! I thought you loved me…”
His bottom lip trembled. Andreas sighed.
Andreas: “...When I look at you, I still see the same 18-year-old man I loved all those years ago… you’re still the same man you were back then as you are now…”
Craig beamed widely as he took this as a compliment.
Andreas: “...But I don’t love him anymore. I’m not the same man I was when I fell in love with him anymore…”
He confessed. Craig’s smile died on his lips and his bottom lip trembled.
Andreas: “We’re different people, traveling down different paths, Craig. What do we have in common?”
He challenged.
Craig: “We’re wicked sick musos ‘n play metal!”
He grinned.
Andreas: “And?”
He pressed him. Craig paused, gazing up at the ceiling.
Craig: “...We both like… green?”
He grinned, picking up a sage stick and pointing at it.
Andreas: “That’s your favorite color. My favorite color is black…”
He drolled.
Andreas: “You’re always thinking of yourself. Did you know me at all?”
He challenged.
Craig: “Of course, I know you!”
He countered.
Andreas: “No you don’t. How could you know others when you don’t know yourself? You never spend any time alone to know yourself. You still hide who you truly are from the world.”
Craig blinked mutely as his head spun with confusion.
Craig: “...I don’t understand?!”
Andreas: “That’s the problem.”
He sighed and shook his head.
Andreas: "...and you never will understand yourself with Veronika. She's poison and brings out the worst in you."
Craig: "Well, me n' her are through now, so you don't gotta worry about that."
He pouted and bowed his head. Andreas pulled his tarot deck out and started shuffling them.
Andreas: “If you say so…”
He shook his head as a ‘Tower’ card fell out of his hands and onto the table in front of Craig in reverse. Craig’s eyebrows rose.
Craig: “Oh fuck yeah, that’s so metal!”
He grinned at the artwork that featured people falling from a burning tower with a crown being struck by lightning. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “You’re resistant to change and you’re avoiding the inevitable...”
He began and flipped the card the right way up.
Andreas: “If you continue on this path… your pride will be broken and you will be stripped of your crown.”
He began, pointing at the crown being struck by lighting. Craig frowned.
Craig: “What crown? I don’t wear a crown!”
He scoffed and laughed.
Andreas: “This tower you’ve built is on unsteady ground. It’s about to come crashing down and there will be chaos and loss…”
He added, running his finger down the collapsing tower with people falling out of it.
Craig: “I don’t build towers, Andreas! I build houses… and look hot doing it in my construction gear!”
He grinned, flexing his arms. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “...Do you ever read beneath the surface, Craig? Do I need to spell this out for you?”
He sighed exasperatedly.
Craig: “Spell as in spelling or castin’ a spell on me? Can ya cast a spell on yourself to love me?”
He shifted his eyes. Andreas rolled his eyes.
Andreas: “You call yourself the “king of the thrash metal jungle” because your hair is like a lion’s mane and you’re the biggest metal band in Selene Valley, so obviously you’re the crown. The tower is your band and Veronika is the storm that will destroy it! It will come crashing down and you will all fall out.”
He threw his arms up with frustration. Craig froze and went pale.
Craig: “Ha… ha, yeah right, like a piece of cardboard can predict my future!”
He scoffed and shifted his eyes. Andreas sighed and rose to his feet.
Andreas: “...You always insulted my interests and never believed in me.”
He shook his head and closed his eyes.
Andreas: “Your five minutes were up thirty minutes ago. You’ve far overstayed you’re welcome and you should go now, Craig…”
He said in a low voice, pointing to the door. Craig knit his eyebrows.
Craig: “W-wait, I’m sorry! Please give me a chance!”
Andreas: “I already gave you enough chances, but the damage is too far done now. I don’t want to be swept up into another one of your storms again…”
He folded his arms across his chest.
Craig: “Please, Andreas, I don’t want to lose you! I want to change! How do I stop this storm from happening?!”
He pleaded with him and groveled to his knees. Andreas drew a long breath.
Andreas: "End this cycle. End it with her and never look back!”
He pleaded with him, placing his hands on his shoulders and locking his eyes on him. Craig pursed his lips and nodded.
Craig: "...Anything for you."
He sighed and leaned in, kissing his cheek. Andreas pulled away from him.
Andreas: "NO, Craig! You have to do this for you.”
He said firmly, turning his back on him.
Andreas: “You’ve already started the storm. It’s inevitable. You are who you are and you’re not going to change. Just… leave me alone.”
His words slashed at Craig like a sword across the chest. He slid on his sunglasses to hide his tears and stormed out of his house.
~
Craig dragged his feet through the park, hanging his head down low. The tall pine trees towered over him, emphasizing how small he felt.
Suddenly, he heard that familiar cackling in the distance. Craig froze in his tracks and turned to see Veronika in her jogging gear… with another man. Craig gritted his teeth and seethed, marching in their direction.
Veronika: “Hey handsome, haven’t seen you around before.”
She grinned at Blake as he was sitting in the park with a book. Before he could respond, Craig cut in like a barking dog.
Craig: “OI! Back off, mate! She’s mine!”
Blake rolled his eyes and shrugged.
Blake: “Ok. Take her away.”
Veronika: “Fuck off, Craig! It’s over! I found a real man now!”
Craig: “What?! HIM?! With his fuckin’ book?! PFFT!”
Blake rolled his eyes and heaved an exasperated sigh, walking away from them.
Craig: “HA! What, you runnin’ away from me, mate?! Come face me like a man!”
He growled at him, flexing his chest and arms. Blake kept walking, not looking back. Veronika shook her head.
Veronika: “Pfft, he’s above fighting a wimp like you, Craig! And I’m above dating a wimp like you! Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
She scoffed at Craig and turned her back to him. Craig looked crestfallen.
Veronika: “Wait up, hot stuff!”
She hollered at Blake, going to chase after him when Craig grabbed her arm.
Craig: “WAIT! Please, gimme another chance, V! I fucked up! Come jam with me… n’ Nuklear… as partners n’ bandmates!”
He blurted and pleaded with her. Veronika paused in her tracks and turned to him.
Veronika: “...Really? You mean it?! I can play guitar in Nuklear?!”
She grinned from ear to ear. Craig nodded his head.
Craig: “Yeah… what do ya say?”
Veronika: “I say fuck yes! I’m so glad you finally came to your senses, Craig! You made the right choice! Big changes are coming to Nuklear! We’re gonna be badder than ever now!”
She grinned and kissed him.
~
Later that night, Makayla and Kurt were sitting in the dressing room, preparing for their set, when Craig barged into the room with a wide grin spread across his face.
Craig: “Got some wicked sick news, fellas… Me n' V are back together...”
Veronika: "And, I'm the guitarist now!"
She grinned, stepping out from behind him. Makayla gaped at Veronika and laughed bitterly.
Makayla: “...You're fucking joking, right? I’m the guitarist.”
She gaped at Craig.
Veronika: "Pfft, the only joke is having a bimbo in a thrash metal band! Vamoose your fat caboose outta here! Now people will take us seriously as a REAL thrash metal band!"
Kurt: “Craig, what the hell is going on?! You can’t just make big decisions without us TWENTY minutes before a set!”
He snapped.
Makayla: "I’d like to know that myself, Craig.”
She glared at Craig, folding her arms across her chest.
Craig: “Chill guys! It only just happened an hour ago, and I’m tellin’ ya now! Yes, I DID say Veronika can play guitar in the band, but… I never said I was kickin’ Makayla out!”
He said firmly. Veronika's face twisted into a frown.
Veronika: “WHAT?!”
Craig: “We had both Makayla n’ Andreas on guitars, so now Veronika will be… taking Andreas' place… on rhythm guitar.”
He cleared his throat.
Veronika: “...Rhythm guitar?! No, Craig, I want to be lead!”
She huffed, rising from her seat. Craig froze and pulled a face.
Makayla: “HAHAHAHAHA! Ah, that’s the best joke yet.”
She laughed bitterly.
Veronika: “What’s so fucking funny?! Jealous?”
She sneered at her.
Makayla: “You’ve been playing guitar for what? Three months? Do you even know how to play any of our songs?”
Veronika: “YES, I DO! BETTER THAN YOU!”
Craig winced and didn't respond.
Makayla shifted her eyes over to Craig and narrowed her eyes into slits.
Makayla: “...Ok, Veronika, if you say so. You can be the lead guitarist!”
She smiled impishly, locking her eyes onto Veronika’s.
They were all taken aback by Makayla’s response and gaped at her. Craig swallowed hard and went pale as a sheet.
Craig: "...Y-you sure you're cool with that, Kayla?"
He stammered.
Makayla: "Oh, I'm cool as a cucumber. Veronika knows her shit more than me, and she is your girlfriend after all."
She chuckled sardonically. Veronika’s gape slowly turned into a grin and she locked her eyes back onto Makayla’s.
Veronika: "Then it's settled then."
She smirked. Suddenly, the tension between them was broken by the announcer over the speakers.
Announcer: “And coming up next is… NUKLEAR INTOXIKATION!”
~
Craig, Makayla, Veronika, and Kurt walked out onto the stage together. Craig approached the microphone at the center of the stage nervously.
Craig: "G'day kents, give us a big cheers for our new guitarist… my girlfriend, Veronika Wood!"
He exclaimed, gesturing his arm out to Veronika through a strained smile. The spotlight shone down on her as she grinned smugly.
Veronika: "C'mon, Hellbent, let's melt ya faces off with some real fuckin' metal!"
She exclaimed, doing a backflip. The crowd cheered and applauded her. Bobby was among the crowd, wailing his T-shirt above his head, cheering loudly for them.
Bobby: "WHEEEEW! METAAAHL! HORNS UP, HEAD BANGERS!"
Ashley and Maxx were standing among the crowd. Ashley looked dumbfounded, glancing up at Makayla, standing to the side of the stage in the darkness while Veronika was now in the spotlight.
Ashley: “...I have a bad feeling about this.”
Ashley knit his eyebrows and turned to Maxx. Suddenly, Kurt kicked in with the drums, blast-beating as Craig strummed along on his bass guitar and began singing. Makayla strummed the rhythm guitar chords as Veronika looked over to her, trying to keep up, missing notes and hitting the wrong ones.
Craig awkwardly fumbled over his lyrics as he looked over to Veronika nervously. Kurt beat on his drums harder and faster, trying to drown out Veronika’s mistakes as she attempted the guitar solo, playing random notes on the spot with a smug look on her face. Makayla heaved an exasperated sigh and stopped playing, folding her arms across her chest, as the band continued to play.
Like a domino effect, the whole performance crumbled and the entire mood of the room shifted. The cheers died down and turned to boo-ing with people breaking away from the crowd and making their exit.
As the crowd began to dissolve, Craig spotted a familiar face in the room. He froze up like a deer in headlights when he saw it was Andreas. Time stood still and he had completely lost focus on the performance and his surroundings. His heart sank when he saw the look on Andreas’ face. It was a look of disappointment and sorrow he knew all too well. The two locked eyes on each other for one last moment, until Andreas shook his head and exited Hellbent.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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