Chapter 9

 

 

 

“Are you ready?” Wayne asked his band mates. They gave him a sign and the guitarist played out several chords to signal the beginning of Masters of the Dark’s live concert. The drummer joined and began playing, following the melody. Wayne took the microphone to greet the people present.

“Good evening, everyone, how are you tonight?”

Some exclamation and clapping were heard from separate directions inside the club.

“Tonight is a party time, let go of your inhibitions and… have fun!” Wayne said to the audience. This time the cheering was much more enthusiastic. Wayne nodded at the other guitarist and the band began to play one of their latest tracks. The vocalist had a nice, melodious voice. The song was a good piece of rock with some pop elements in it. Wayne loved to write more commercial songs. At the same time, Ashley, accompanied by Chad and Craig, entered Mr. T’s Bowl. They sat at the table they had reserved beforehand and concentrated on the song.

“Give me a little time, I like you girl

I wanna rock your world…”

Ashley thought it was odd for a woman to sing such lyrics, but then she realized that the song had most probably been written by Wayne. He knew they were in the club; she had warned him earlier that day. During the break, Wayne joined them.

“What’s up? Are you having fun?”

“Yes, this club is pretty nice,” Craig agreed.

“I don’t get how I’ve earned your attention. You’ve never been interested in Masters of the Dark or our shows. I always invite you, but you never come.”

“It’s true, but when we last saw one another I felt nostalgic about when we used to play live. I want more and more to sing onstage again,” Chad said.

“Would you like to replace Jill, our lead singer?” Wayne winked at him. “Come on, it will be fun!”

“Uhh, Wayne, we actually came here to talk to you about something very important,” Craig interfered.

“You sound like we are going to make a super important deal!” Wayne exclaimed. “Leave your corporate life at the office, pal! It’s party time!” He downed the tequila shot he was holding in his hand.

Craig ignored that and went on:

“Look, it’s about a discovery by… uhh, a chemical scientist, a friend of Ashley’s.”

“And what about it?” Wayne asked indifferently, still swallowing the tequila he’d just drunk.

“Well, that guy has found a way for the consciousness to travel in time,” Craig said firmly.

This immediately attracted Wayne’s attention.

“Is that supposed to be funny?” He left the empty glass on the table.

“Wayne, I know it sounds unbelievable, but the three of us already tested Harry’s invention,” Ashley said. “He’s discovered a chemical compound that, on injection, lets the consciousness travel back in time to a moment of your choosing.”

“What are you trying to tell me?” Wayne lost his cheerful expression and became cautious.

“We’ve decided to go back to The Viper Room in 2005 during our live showcase. This time, however, we’re planning to play a song that’s famous now, for example, the one by The Dragon’s Circle that was playing at the restaurant where we met. It’s not an accident that we heard it that evening.”

“Jesus, Ash, you’re out of your mind!” Wayne drew a little back from her.

“No, buddy,” Craig added, “all three of us want to get rid of that feeling of failure and broken dreams. That trip lasts just a few minutes, but it will give us peace of mind.”

Wayne was looking at his friends uneasily. At first, he thought they were all crazy, and he felt like running away from them. Then, however, he considered what they’d said. Going back in time? Even if it was possible, would it be of any use?

“It’s obvious you’ve already made a decision, but what do I have to do with it?” Wayne said in the end and leaned on his chair. “What difference would it make if I joined you or not?”

“A big one! When I went back in time to our first rehearsal, I remembered what a perfectionist you were. We can’t do it without you; we won’t be able to perform the song in such a way as to attract the producer’s attention, and we’ll risk getting rejected again,” Ashley explained determinedly.

“All right, so what does that experiment look like?” Wayne was beginning to have fun.

“It’s very simple,” Ashley went on. “The whole time, your body will be lying relaxed in the lab while your consciousness will transfer itself to a time and space chosen by you. All of this happens very quickly. You could spend several hours there, while here it’ll have been just a few minutes. Isn’t that great? Please, Wayne, say ‘yes!’”

“Okay, let me think about it.”

At that moment, one of the members of Masters of the Dark called Wayne; their break was over. He rose and soon after that, the club was once again resounding with the music of his rock band. They were performing “Never Say No” – one of The Jackal’s old songs.

“Guys, this song seems to be performed especially for us. And tonight, too, when we’ve all gathered to make an important decision,” noted Ashley, who was listening to the lyrics carefully.

“I hope Wayne gets the symbolic meaning of this coincidence, too,” Chad said.

“Whatever he decides, at least we tried,” Ashley replied.

When the concert finished, Wayne joined his friends again. He was in a good mood – the people at the bar had twice called for an encore.

“You’re still here? Craig, what would your wife say if she found out you were in LA all this time?”

“Argh, I knew we were just wasting our time with you!” Craig rose and was just about to leave when Wayne stopped him with his hand.

“Hold on!” He paused. “All right, let’s do it! Let’s go back to that showcase! If the trip really only lasts several minutes, as you said, then I agree.”

Ashley shrieked and spontaneously hugged Wayne.

Several people turned around, curious to see what was going on.