Band Imagine one-shots

The request was fantasy with Andy, and she said that I could choose the song. I was going to do a BVB song, but I would need to plan out another imagine, so I used the song "Covered by Roses" by Within Temptation because I already had a clear plan for it. You should look it up on youtube if you haven't heard it, it's a really good song! When it says (S/N), insert a name for the little sister.

"Rest in peace," the priest mumbled as he shut the coffin holding my little sister's body, cold and lifeless. I gripped Andy's hand tighter as I recalled the memories of her before and after the illness, once active and joyful, bursting with energy like any eight year old. Then weakened, bound to her bed and fading with each of her numbered breathes. It was strange to think that she wasn’t actually my biological sister. She was my cousin, but my aunt and uncle had both died in a car crash when she was a baby, and my family had taken care of her ever since. To me, she was my sister whether we had the same mother or not. Tears welled in my eyes, and I didn't bother holding them back. They spilled down my cheeks, wordless grief dripping down my face in an uncontrollable river that no amount of comfort or time could ever still, or so I thought. No one, not even Andy, spoke to me until the Choosing Ceremony three days later, and I was grateful for the unexpected silence.

The Choosing Ceremony was held three days later, because three days after burial, a spirit was both strong enough and faded enough to leave this world. However, (S/N) was only eight when she died, still a child. A child could not cross over into the afterlife alone; they needed a guardian that they trusted to guide them there. That was what the Choosing Ceremony was for. The ghost of (S/N) would be summoned and decide who was to lead her away. The soul of the chosen one departs from their body to complete that task, while the body remains alive for 24 hours. Once they finish and if they can fight their way back through death, life is theirs again. If not, both body and soul die together. The Choosing Ceremony, though held mere days after a funeral, was also used by many to assist with the grieving process after they knew for sure that someone really was in a better place. Well, maybe not better, but they were gone and nothing could ever change that. I brushed my hands across my face with the intention of wiping away tears, but found that my eyes were dry. I had no more tears left to shed. Despite my aching heart, I pushed away the pain enough to embrace Andy, who was waiting for me underneath an oak tree.
"I'm not going to ask if you're ok, because I know you're not," he told me as I approached him. "To be honest, I'm not fine, either."
"I'm not surprised," I whispered softly as our fingers interlocked. "You were like a brother to her." By the look of his glassy eyes, I could tell that he had felt like a big brother to her, as well.
"Shall we go to the Summoning?" He asked me. I shook my head.
"No. I don't want to leave this little private spot until the final dance."
"Anything you wish," he said softly before kissing me slowly and deeply. And so, we sat underneath the oak tree together for a few hours, just Andy and I lost within ourselves, yet bound to each other at the same time. No one came to find us, and that was just how we liked it. It was clear that Andy had been relieved when I said I preferred to stay here with him, we both would have been uncomfortable standing amongst a crowd of (S/N)'s family and friends, wondering who she would choose to accompany her. Finally, Andy stood up.
"Darling, it's time." I followed him through the small patch of forest separating us from everyone else, towards the pavilion where the dance was about to begin.

The haunting melody of the song of death wove its way out of the speakers, through my ears, and into my heart, and it lay there piercing my soul with every beat. I danced with Andy slowly, it wasn’t an upbeat, positive event, it was a dance of patience. Near midnight, (S/N)’s choice would become clear. I began to feel weak five minutes before her time was up, and all of a sudden, I knew she had chosen me.
“(Y/N), what’s wrong?” Andy asked, sensing my change. Concern overpowered every other emotion.
“I-I don’t feel so well,“ I tried to say without drawing attention to myself.
“Do you want to sit down?” I shook my head.
“N-No, I’m fine,” I assured him falsely. He frowned.
“You’re obviously not. Are you sure you don’t want to take a quick break from the dance, love? No one will notice,” he said, and as he took my hand, he felt a difference and gasped. “You’ve been chosen,” he whispered in shock, and I nodded, a single tear leaking from my eye. Both the tear and his words seemed to trigger some kind of response, or maybe it was nearer to midnight than I thought. My hand began to crack, jagged lines racing up my arm, consuming my whole body as if I was a shattering mirror. The ghost of (S/N) appeared at my side.
“Come on, (Y/N),” she said, tugging at my shoulder. “We have to go now.” I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Andy was shaking.
“No, no, no,” he begged. “Please. You can’t take her. Anyone but (Y/N). In fact, take me. I’ll guide you to the other side. Please, I’m begging you.” (S/N) shook her head.
“No. I’m sorry, Andy, but it’s too late. I chose (Y/N) because I watched you two sitting together under the tree. She loves you so much that I know for positive that she is strong enough to come back for you. Anyone else wouldn’t be able to make it back to life, but I know she could survive anything for you. Goodbye,” she called to everyone as she drifted up into the air, waving farewell. Somehow, I found my voice again.
“I’ll be back. I promise you,” I told Andy. I meant to kiss him one last time before I left, but my soul floated up, out of my body, following my little sister into the sky. All I could do was watch him sob by my collapsed body’s side.

“It’s so dark,” (S/N) complained as we approached the final door at last. She stopped all of a sudden. “Do you think we’ll have to cross another river?” She asked me.
“Nope. This is it. Your afterlife. It was made for you with every action you took while alive, and you were such a good person in life that I don’t think you’ll have to cross any more rivers. But who knows, maybe you’ll be able to breathe underwater.” (S/N) grinned at that thought before asking me one more question.
“Will you stay with me?”
“I’m sorry, (S/N), but I can’t. Andy is waiting for me.”
“What if he wasn’t there and you didn’t have a boyfriend? Then would you stay?”
“Not even then. I’m only nineteen; I haven’t even begun to really live yet. I had so much prepared for both of our futures; I can’t believe yours will never happen, though perhaps it’s behind that door.”
“Will you miss me?” I hugged her.
“Of course I’m going to miss you! I already do. It’s hard to imagine living without you, but I know I’ll see you again. Are you ready to go?” She nodded, and I closed my eyes and kissed her forehead one last time.

When I opened my eyes, I was back in my body and lying in the pavilion.
“Oh my god, (Y/N)!” Andy cried. “Are you alright? How did it go?” I coughed and sat up, and he wrapped both a blanket and his arms around me.
“Question for a question,” I managed to say. “How long have you waited here by my side? And how much time until midnight?”
“Ever since you left, and there’s two minutes remaining.”
“Really?”
“Of course, honey. You sound surprised that I stayed.”
“No one else bothered to.”
“Well, no,” he admitted. “But now you have to answer my questions,” and I told him the story of our journey.

“You know what (S/N) once said to me?” He asked after I finished.
“What?”
“She said ‘I like you. You’re a good boyfriend, and (Y/N) really loves you. If you want to marry her someday, I give my approval, because you passed the test I was giving you in my mind. Do you think you will someday?’ and I said ‘It’s quite a possibility. Maybe I will propose to her.’”
Three years later, he did just that.

Notes