The Puppet Master

*Emilie's POV*

"Ashley Purdy, I swear I'm going to kill you one of these days." I muttered to the silence of the dead space between realms. That blackness between dreams and waking which I found oddly peaceful as whispers danced around me in the darkness. Whispers of the other person's subconscious I assumed.
Where was Ashley!? I had to clue what to do now.
Slowly, swirling colours began to form as a dream took shape.
This shouldn't be able to happen, should it? I shouldn't be able to access another Flitter's mind.
I should go back. But something in my mind said no. What if this was just the boys toying with me after the pool thing? If I went back confused, CC especially wouldn't let me hear the end of it.
The discordant strains of music from the other person's mind settled it for me. No way was I missing this. Because this person was dreaming of a concert. Not just any concert though, a My Chemical Romance concert. And that was something I'd given up hoping to see.

The bodies pressed against mine, slicked in sweat and cigarette smoke, tattooed skin shimmering sparkles of moisture refracting the coloured ink in the twisting electric lights that filled the atmosphere.
I grinned as Planetary Go! began and joined the crowd as they started jumping in time to the beat.
My head pounded. The pounding beat combined with the power I used to get here made me feel drained, but at the same time the electric atmosphere made my very nerves crackle unfamiliar fire. Not the fire of pain or Ashley's fires of passion. This fire was new. It was a fire that fueled me to dance all night long, a fire that made me wild. The kind of fire that results in one night stands that last a week and jumping off waterfalls. The kind of fire I had only read in books.

I glanced about for anything unusual. Anything to tell me who's head I was in.
Nothing much.
There was a girl moshing like crazy and earning a slight smile from Gerard as he whispered to Frank and pointed her out.
There was a boy smoking a cigarette behind the bar.
Another, rather tall girl looked as if this was the worst night of her life and cluched her ears as if this caused her immense physical pain.
There was one person who was in a full Party Poison cosplay.
But nobody else really suspicious.
I took a deep breath and visualised it blowing the distractions away as I breathed out.
"Bye bye, Gerard." I whispered as he disappeared with the crowd.
I glanced around at who was left, my head feeling like an axe had been put in it.
"Thank God that racket is over." The tall girl sighed, peeling her hands off her ears. She had a Welsh accent with a slightly American twang.
"What?" I groaned, my brain cursing me.
"I hate MCR." She hissed.
I already had a dislike for her.
"What's your name?" I skipped over her comment about the band I adored.
"Anwen." She replied.
"You're Welsh." I pointed out.
"You're English." She remarked in the same tone.
"That I am." I replied frigedly. To sum up, all the other UK countries hate England. And England hates them back.
Anwen took me by surprise when she smiled. "I hate Wales. Nothing but sheep and leeks. I much prefer the USA."
I smile back. "Same in Scotland. But Haggis instead of leeks. And rain. Only ever rain."
She nodded in agreement.
How do I explain the situation? Better leave it to Andy.
"Anwen, I know we just met, but do you trust me?" Wow, Em, tactful. Not.
She flashed a bemused smirk. "Sure. Complete stranger like."
I grabbed her arm. "Good." I whispered and dragged her into the dark with me.

I collapsed on the home dimension floor, Anwen in tow. Ashley was on me immediately.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. Where's Jen? What happened? Where were you?" All the questions pour out at once.
"Shh." He purred softly and pulled my head into his lap. "I couldn't get in with you. You got inside another Flitter's mind Em. How did you even-?" He shook his head in admiration.
"Easy as 3.14." I told him with a smile.
"Easy as pi?" He laughed, understanding my play on words.
Anwen stood there gobsmacked.
He looked up at her as if he had only now noticed another woman in the room.
"Hello. I'm Ashley Purdy. I play bass for Black Veil Brides by day. By night, I'm a heartthrob superhero genie granting wishes to terminally ill children. How may I help you?" He mocked in a n official tone.
I laughed, not having the energy to protest him still cradling me in his lap.
I looked up at him, slowly falling for his dimpled smile again.
"You can help me by reminding me not to eat cheese before bed again!" Anwen sassed and walked away.
"I should go after her." he muttered.
Maybe it was my head, but I kissed him.
And I probably wouldn't have if I knew Andy was watching.

Notes