We're Setting Worlds On Fire

Andy was pacing back and forth over the small space at the back of the makeshift stage and as Lily watched him she felt herself growing dizzy. It had been a day and a half since they had placed a force field around the Strip and thankfully everything seemed to be holding. The guys had made it home that night, hugs and kisses going around as everyone realized that they had made it back in one piece.

Then the chaos set in with the two Angels running around, trying to get weapons settled, create more weapons and to figure out just how many people they were going to have to back them up. Andy and Lily had not had much time together, but that was okay because they both knew that it would only be worse in the end if they’d had some private time.

Now they were in the parking lot of a local art gallery that was willing to let them set up a small stage where everyone could meet and go over the game plans. Andy hadn’t looked out over the audience yet, but from what Lily had told him there were a lot more kids than they had expected. Over two thousand members of the Army had made it and word was that even more were still on their way. Andy felt grateful to these kids because he knew what they were walking in to and yet they had no idea. Now the time was almost here for Andy to get out there and wax poetic about what they were all fighting for and he wasn’t sure how he was going to do that exactly.

How do you tell a bunch of kids that they’re getting ready to walk towards their possible death and that they were going to see things that had only ever haunted their nightmares at night? Not only that but they were going to play two songs-Fallen Angels and a song no one-not even Lily-had heard yet called Set The World On Fire. That song was Andy’s pride and joy-it would be their album name and it meant a lot to him and the guys. As he paced, Andy looked down at himself and he couldn’t help but smirk. The paint-War Paint-black against his pale skin, made him look like a warrior and he knew that the paint on his face and neck added to the effect.

He was dressed for battle in his leather vest and jacket, tight skinny jeans that ended in his best boots and a pair of thick leather fingerless gloves that would help him keep a hold of his sword. His hair, long and straight and getting in his eyes, was held back by a BVB bandana and he knew that this could possibly be what he died in. Lily and Michael couldn’t die, but Andy could-although it would take a lot for him to be killed and of course the guys and the rest of the Army could die as well-this could be the last time any of them played together and that thought made Andy’s heart ache.

These guys-these human guys-had stuck by him in the worst of times and yet they had never faltered in their support of Andy and his goals. He wanted to take over the world one kid at a time and CC, Jake, Jinxx and Ashley had helped him get to that point. They now had one of the fastest growing fanbases out there and Andy knew it was largely in part to his bandmates and their devotion.

Even when times had gotten hard and there was talk of throwing in the towel, Andy knew that these guys would never give up. They had all worked tirelessly on this new record and with it coming out in less than a month Andy knew that it would be the best thing they would do for a long time.

Lily, tired of watching him pace, was finally walking towards him and as Andy looked up he couldn’t help but smirk. Lily-his Angel-was ready for battle herself in a leather jacket, pants and boots that zipped up to her knees. Her long blonde hair was pulled back tightly and Andy was suddenly reminded of the first battle they had ever fought together. She had looked just as she did now, except now she held a gleaming pearl handled sword in her hands and any fear that had been in her eyes back then was replaced with nothing but hatred and determination now. Lily looked like a badass and Andy knew that they were much better off with her on their side.


“You’re making me feel like I’m in a shooting range…” Lily laughed as she walked up to him and Andy only blushed as he rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. The time had come and he knew-he was going to have to make all of these kids believe that what they were fighting for was worth their lives.

“Sorry. Just a little nervous. What’s the plan again?” He asked as Lily just smiled at him and wrapped an arm around his waist. All of the other guys were getting their instruments together and as they got close to the side of the stage Andy could hear the chanting.

“Black Veil Brides! Black Veil Brides!” They were shouting and Andy suddenly felt pumped. He began to jump in place and Lily only laughed as she moved around him, brushing his arms with more paint and dust.

“You’re going to get out there and jump right in to Fallen Angels, then your speech. End with Set The World On Fire and we should be ready to head out after that.” Lily explained and Andy knew this was it-this would be the last private moment that he was going to have with her.

“Okay and you’re going to be where?” Andy asked as the audience grew quiet. CC had walked out on stage and everyone began to scream as the drummer revved the crowd up in his usual fashion.

“On the side of the stage…just like we agreed.” Lily smiled at him as they both turned to watch Jake and then Jinxx run out to the small stage. Andy said nothing as he bent down and pressed his lips against hers softly.

“I love you Lily and if we make it out of this thing alive…I want you to stay on Earth with me. I’ll make you happy…I swear.” Andy said, his blue eyes shining with his promise and Lily said nothing as she wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed her lips against his.

“I love you too…now get out there.” Lily smiled as she pulled away from Andy and placed a hand against his shoulder and began to push him towards the stage.


The kids screamed as Andy stumbled out on to the small stage and he smirked at the crowd, pushing his bangs out of his face as he just looked out at all of them. They were all there-the Army-and they looked fantastic and ready to fight. Black Veil Brides shirts and bandanas were being whipped in the air and as he looked out in to the crowd Andy could see his own face looking back at him. The kids that were in front of him, raising their fists in the air and chanting his name were rocking some serious War Paint. He could spot his own, along with Ashley’s, CC’s, Jinxx’s and Jake’s and it made him feel amazing.

These kids were here because they cared and supported the band and that was the best feeling in the world to Andy. They knew what was coming-for the most part-and they knew that they may not make it home after today, but here they all were. Some were crying, reaching their hands up for him to take and as Andy picked up the mic from its stand and moved to the edge of the stage he reached out to the people in the front. An unspoken moment happened between him and the fans and as Andy stood up and looked over his shoulder he could see his brothers in arms were feeling the same thing. This was their life-these kids were their family and there was nothing better than that.


“Scream! Shout! Scream! Shout!” Andy and Ashley said over and over until finally the crowd picked it up and all Andy could so was smile.


The guitars were heavy and as Andy ran around the stage singing his heart out he could see the motivation in the crowd growing. There was something about this song that spoke of unity and he knew with every guitar lick and symbol hit that these kids would follow him and the guys to the end of the world. He sang, he sang as hard as he could and everything seemed to just fall into place as he stood there and listened to his fans, his Army and his family sing every word back to him. He wouldn’t trade this for the world and as the song came to an end and Andy looked over his shoulder at Lily, he noticed that she had tears in her eyes. This was it-this was their moment.


“How’s it going everyone?!” Andy asked the crowd and the ground almost seemed to shake with their response. The singer smirked as all of the guys, even CC, came up to the edge of the stage and joined him.

“We all know why we’re here-Satan has finally come to the surface in a cowardice act. Thousands of people have already died-some of your brothers and sisters included in that! We are coming together today to rally you all in the fight to end all fights!” Andy said and the crowd grew quiet as he addressed them all. This was it-this was his moment to get everyone ready to fight for their lives…and their freedom.

“Satan claims to be a legion-We are a legion as well! We are an Army and a family and we will not stop-cannot stop-until Satan himself is thrown back down in to Hell!” There was a chorus of agreement in the crowd and Andy knew that they were all with him.

“Some of you will perish-some of you may not stay around till the very end and that’s okay! We are happy you’re here-we are happy to have your support!” Ashley spoke into Andy’s mic and the crowd grew near silent. The thought of dying had probably never crossed their minds, but that reality was on the table and there was nothing left to do but to face it.

“We love you guys!” CC added and some of the girls in the crowd screamed, throwing their arms up in the air. Andy noticed that Lily and Michael-battle ready in their leather-had come on to the stage and were flanking the guys on either side.

“You will see things that you never thought were possible-things from the worst part of your nightmares, but know that we are fighting for you! We are fighting for the freedoms that we all take for granted and now those freedoms are being threatened!” Andy said and he noticed that the crowd had begun to make noise again. Slowly one lone girl, probably still in her teens, raised her hand in the air and the rock’ n roll horns began to pop up all around.

“We are the wretched! We are the forgotten! We are the Legion and we will fight until the end! Follow us in to battle and fight the Demons that plague us all! Fight the forces that have haunted you in your dreams and know this-we will always be there for you, we will carry you into battle and we will carry you through life!” Andy shouted and the kids in front of him cried a battle cry so loud and fierce that it gave him chills. Now it was time-their battle song that would lead them all into the fight for their lives…for their existence.

“This last song is one that no one has heard before! It is the title track to our new album and we wanted all of you to hear it-a battle song to end all battle songs. This is Set The World On Fire!” Andy said and as Jinxx and Jake went into playing, Andy felt the guitars swell in his heart. His bones throbbed with the drums and his mind was filled with Ash’s bass. This was it-this was their time and they would now all band together to fight a War to end save the world.


Saints born together to fight against their holy fables
The streets are where we pray
Hymns for the lonely, wretched and forgotten
The feeling in our hearts won't ever fade away

We stand tall-united
Watch them fall-divided
Break the chains and now we'll show them all-fight

Fight for all you know
When your backs against the wall
Stand against the liars
Stronger than before
When your life becomes a war
Set the world on fire

Sing out united against the ones you left in hatred
Our message of today
Like children crying when all they knew was dying
And we will raise our flags up
It's time for them to pay

We stand tall-united
Watch them fall-divided
Break the chains and now we'll show them all-fight

Fight for all you know
When your backs against the wall
Stand against the liars
Stronger than before
When your life becomes a war
Set the world on fire

Woahh ohhh
So sing it loud you hold the key-woahh ohhh
We're the rebels and we're free

Woahh ohhh
It's time to burn all that you see -woahh ohhh
Now the world belongs to me

Fight for all you know
When your backs against the wall
Stand against the liars
Stronger than before
When your life becomes a war
Set the world on fire

Proud in all you are
Showing every scar
As your badge of honor
When you can't take anymore
Of what they're living for

Set the world on fire

Notes

Let the battle begin...

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