Tour Stories

Jinxx watched the speaker stacks sway. Ending his run of notes with a neck squeeze he felt the stage rumble under his feet as if CC’s now silent double kicks were echoing.

“Just an earthquake,” the Japanese sound tech said waving off the rumble and shudder of the building. “Happens all the time.” His heavily accented words weren’t much consolation as the structure began to groan quietly. Jinxx glanced at Jake and Andy, the two were watching the ceiling lights flicker with the same unease he felt. A ceiling tile shook loose, crashing to the rocking floor.

The stage lurched, knocking Jinxx to his knees. The indifferent stage crew looked around in alarm. “Outside!” they yelled in English and Japanese. “This is a big one.” The sound tech ran for the door stumbling as the floor bucked and rolled under his feet. Jinxx did his best to follow, staggering to his feet again as a ceiling light came loose and shattered on the stage next to him. Yelping, he tripped to the edge of the stage and got an eyeful of an eight foot drop. Another ceiling light and a panel fell in an explosion of glass and plaster. The building’s groans turned to screams as metal joists were twisted and loosened.

“Jinxx!” Ashley grabbed his arm and hauled him up. “Come on, we gotta get the fuck out of here.” Jinxx stumbled after him with the coppery taste of fear heavy on his tongue and his heart ricocheting in his chest. Ahead of them, CC tripped and rolled into the wall separating front of stage from back. Andy stopped and dragged him further backstage as the building shrieked and groaned. Plaster dropped from the ceiling coating the stage in fine white powder and filling the air with eye-burning, suffocating particles.

Cords and plaster and glass slammed into his shoulder. He fell face first, his chin smashed against the stage. Starbursts of light blinded him and his hearing cut out for a moment, he wasn’t even aware of Ashley dragging him to his feet again. He staggered half-blind and uncoordinated but Ashley’s iron grip on his arm didn’t let him fall again.

Sunlight blinded him as they charged outside. Screams filled his head people blurred past him as they ran circles, terrified and confused. Ashley’s grip loosened and then it was gone and he was pushed by the mass of people like a leaf in the tide.

In the light, in the air, even with the earth bucking and splitting and roiling under him, his head began to clear. Buildings a hundred stories tall groaned and screamed and they swayed like wheat in a field. Their shadows blocked the sun as they threatened to topple. People continued to push and shove but Jinxx became rooted to the unstable earth as he watched them move. Terror stopped his breath, his sore jaw trembled and tears blurred his eyes. He was certain his heart was going to break his ribs as it hammered.

A building broke. A weak stalk in the urban field; metal screamed and cried out as it was ripped apart. Concrete slammed into the ground like raindrops on an anthill. People scattered as the pieces maimed others, their screams adding a new timbre to the cacophony around him. A wall of debris rushed him, surrounded him, choked him, burned his skin and eyes. He dropped to his knees gasping, coughing. People tripped over him, kicking his ribs and knocking him to the side. Crawling out of the heart of the dust cloud he grabbed onto a shaking building and pulled himself to his feet.

Coughing and rubbing his eyes, he still couldn’t breathe, he staggered with the mass of people screaming around him. He started screaming too. He didn’t know what to do. He spun in a circle trying to find his friends but there was nothing but a blur of faces. “Ashley!” he screamed, it was lost in the thousands of other voices. A building’s shadow loomed over him and he ran from it, terror carrying his feet over the broken ground.

Ahead of him a rift tore the earth apart, people stumbled and fell in. He slid to a stop already screaming. Body tremors dropped him to his knees as the flood of people tripped and stepped over him. He couldn’t move. He didn’t know what to do. Another building toppled. The concussive blast bounced the earth again and he couldn’t stop screaming.

Aftershocks strong enough to knock him to his aching knees still shook the earth as he wandered the decimated streets. Sunset blazed blood red and orange around him reflecting off broken glass and broken buildings and broken bodies. People brushed against him without noticing, hollowed eyed zombies. He scanned their faces hoping to see someone familiar. He didn’t look at the bodies. He didn’t look at the pieces.

Throat raw from screaming, stomach empty from vomiting, and his body cut and bruised he wound his way around the city hoping for something familiar. The buildings bent over him creaking like old men. Sirens wailed and flashed in the gathering darkness. He was so cold he was sick from shaking. And he was tired. It was so hard to move, to keep one foot following the other. He didn’t know where he was, he didn’t know where he was going. The streets were alien, even when they had been whole he had gotten lost, and now they were ripped and torn and blocked and he didn’t know where to go.

“Jinxx!”

His name pulled him out of his head. He realized he had stopped moving and stood in the shadow of a collapsed building. It was so hard to lift his head. He was so tired. And he was still cold. A warm body pressed against his, strong arms crushed him against the warmth.

“Jinxx, God, Jinxx,” CC’s teary voice slowed his shaking. It didn’t stop, but he didn’t feel as sick and CC was warm and solid. His arms wrapped around the drummer’s thin waist and he breathed in the familiar scent.

“CC,” he whispered afraid he was dreaming, or dead; smashed under a slab of concrete, nothing but runny pulp on the streets.

“I found him! Ashley, he’s over here,” CC yelled, his voice loud as always. Jinxx melted against him finally believing the drummer was there, solid and warm. And then the others were there. Andy’s deep voice called his name, Ashley’s cologne was strong, and Jake’s hair tickled his cheek as he crushed him against him. And he was safe. The ground shuddered again and he whimpered waiting for the earth to open under his feet and swallow him or the remaining buildings to crash down on top of them.

“It’s okay, Jinxx,” Jake whispered. “It’s okay.”

“Christ, Jinxx,” Andy murmured rubbing his arm. Jinxx opened his eyes to darkness. The sun was gone, leaving a graveyard for them to pick their way through. Andy pressed his forehead against Jinxx’s temple. “Let’s go back to the hotel.” His warm breath brushed Jinxx’s cheek. Jinxx pressed closer to CC; he was safe here. If they moved, he could lose them again. A hard shiver brought the cold back and the exhaustion.

“Come on,” Andy whispered. “Let’s get out of here.” They started to pull away and Jinxx bit his tongue to keep the tears away. What if he lost them again? What if the earth started to shake again? CC was the last to leave and when he pulled back a cold draft of air stole his warmth in a second. Ashley’s hand slipped into his and pulled him into the ravaged maze of buildings.

They got to the hotel, the steady glow of the lights a siren song to the people roaming the streets. People gathered in front of the doors huddled in blankets, passing water canteens, and food. Jinxx followed his friends into the warm light.

Despite the lights, the foyer was a construction zone. Plaster lay in chunks on the forest green carpet, jagged lines tore up the wall where the building was fractured. The earth trembled and he froze waiting for the building to scream and tumble.

“It’s okay, Jinxx,” Jake whispered taking his bone white hand. “It’s already been checked out; the damage is superficial, not structural. It’s safe.” He gave him a gentle pull and Jinxx willing followed hoping his warm hand would stay in his. But when he started moving Jake let go and followed Andy up the stairs. Caution tape barred the elevators and his exhausted, cold, trembling body almost gave in right there. Twelve flights of stairs. A soft groan left him. Jake looked back again and held out his hand. “Come on Jinxxy.”

He took the offered hand and forced his body to move.

They reached their floor and Jinxx was almost asleep on his feet. Every breath pulled on his cut up shoulder, he could feel the bruises on his face and shins, his knees ached and ached and ached. The building swayed. He couldn’t feel the tremor but it was worse to hear the creak of steel, feel the floor rock like a boat. He froze, breath gone and adrenaline spiking through him. He didn’t want to move, he wanted to run all the way back downstairs and hug the floor; solid rock that could split open and swallow him in a moment. He couldn’t stop shaking, couldn’t stop the short panicked breaths, couldn’t stop the terrifying memories of vertigo and buildings falling and the earth ripping and splitting.

“Jinxx.” Ashley hugged him, his body warm enough to slow the shakes and break up the memories. Warm bodies pressed around him and he was safe again against the solid muscle of Ashley’s body. Ashley smoothed his hair back. “We’re almost to our room.” Their cheeks brushed and Jinxx tried to hide his trembling. He didn’t want to let go.

They pulled away again and continued down the hall. Jinxx stepped over the broken bits of ceiling and stood trembling behind Ashley as he keyed their door open. He walked in and flipped the lights revealing more broken bits of ceiling and fractured walls. Jinxx followed, softly shutting the door behind him. The room didn’t feel any safer. It felt like a trap. What if the building broke? They couldn’t get out fast enough; they were twelve floors up and locked in. They would crash to the street and be crushed under the concrete. He shivered and his shoulder ached.

Ashley sat down on his bed and rubbed his eyes, “I don’t think there’s any water for a shower, the streets were flooded earlier.” He got up and wandered over to the window while Jinxx lay down on the other bed and closed his eyes. His body throbbed, his throat was raw, and he was still tense waiting for the building to collapse.

“Christ,” Ashley whispered, “it’s like a fucking war zone.” The bed moved when he sat down. Ashley rubbed the side of his neck and moved down to his injured shoulder. With a hoarse yelp, Jinxx rolled over and curled into a ball on the duvet. Ashley jerked back as well and then he was pushing Jinxx’s hair out of his face looking him over with worried brown eyes. “Jeremy? Are you okay? What hurts?”

Jinxx shook his head. “I’m fine, something fell on me. A light or something, plaster, maybe. It’s just sore.” His voice was hoarse and faded in and out like a bad radio signal. Worry still etched lines in Ashley’s face and he coaxed the guitarist to a sitting position.

“I’m fine, Ash,” he rasped. Ashley didn’t answer while he pulled Jinxx’s shirt from his skin. Dried blood glued fabric and skin together and Jinxx did his best to hide a wince.

“Jesus,” Ashley whispered. “We should’ve taken you to the hospital. Why didn’t you say anything?” He got up and rummaged through his bag until he found a bottle of water and then disappeared into the bathroom. When he came back he had a damp washcloth.

“Off,” he said. Jinxx sighed but wrestled his shirt off and shivered in the cool room. Ashley sat down next to him again and ran the washcloth over the gash and Jinxx flinched away.

“The hospital doesn’t have room for me,” he said as he watched Ashley’s face becoming increasingly concerned. His raw throat tasted like blood and stretched painfully over the words.

Ashley went back to the bathroom to rinse the towel. When he came back he stood in front of Jinxx. “Okay, I’m trying to be careful, but,” he brushed Jinxx’s hair out of the way, “this is probably going to hurt.” Jinxx nodded and closed his eyes. A warm hand squeezed his other shoulder as the washcloth ran over the wound again. It stung like fire ants and burned until all he could manage were short, shallow breaths. Ashley’s hand left his shoulder and instead cupped his cheek holding him against the bassist.

“I’m sorry Jinxx,” Ashley murmured. “I didn’t mean to let go.” He paused with the washcloth and Jinxx took a deep breath. “I just—when we got outside, I guess it was shock. I didn’t mean to lose you.” He kissed Jinxx’s temple and the guitarist leaned against his warm body.

“It’s okay, Ash.” The building shuddered and his body tensed up waiting for the scream of metal or the pop of glass shattering.

Ashley rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s okay, it’s almost over,” he whispered. Jinxx shivered with the building and Ashley wrapped his other arm around him. “It’s almost over.” The tremors began to slow and soon the building was still again.

Jinxx lifted his head and put it on Ashley’s shoulder still shivering. Ashley brushed his fingers through his hair. “Here, I’ll get you a new shirt,” Ashley said softly when Jinxx was calm. Jinxx held onto him a second longer before forcing his fingers to release the bassist. Ashley pressed his lips against his temple before getting up.

He handed Jinxx a black button up shirt a moment later and helped him shrug it on over his stiff shoulder. As he was buttoning it up there was a soft knock on the door. Ashley left his side again and a shiver ran through him when the bassist was out of sight but when Ashley came back the rest of the band trailed him.

“Nice costume change.” CC smirked, plopping down next to him. Jinxx leaned against the drummer with a tired sigh, beginning to relax again.

“Watch his shoulder, CC,” Ashley warned with a frown. CC looked down at Jinxx with raised eyebrows. Jinxx didn’t bother to explain, too tired and his throat already on fire from the short conversation he’d had with Ashley. “Something fell on him, it’s cut up pretty bad and bruised.” Ashley sat down on Jinxx’s other side and lay down with an exhausted groan.

“How bad are you hurt, Jinxx? Do we need to get you to a hospital?” Andy asked, pulling Ashley’s legs on his lap so he could sit down. Jake sat next to CC and brushed his hand down Jinxx’s arm. Jinxx shook his head and rolled his head so his cheek was on CC’s shoulder. Exhaustion hit him again, worse than before and he didn’t have the strength to keep his eyes open.

The building trembled and Jinxx jerked awake with a ragged gasp. Screams and popping glass and tearing metal still echoed in his ears. He could feel gravel pinging off him, feel the waves of dust choking him, burning his throat and eyes.

“Jinxx,” Ashley’s soft voice pushed away the nightmare, his warm arm wrapped around his stomach. “It’s just a dream, Jinxx. You’re safe.” CC sat up when a second aftershock rattled the hotel. “It’s okay, CC,” Ashley murmured resting his chin on Jinxx’s uninjured shoulder.

“It’s been doing that all night,” Andy’s low voice settled Jinxx’s nerves a little more. “Go back to sleep guys, a couple more hours and then we’re heading to the airport.” Ashley nodded and with a tired sigh CC flopped down again but Jinxx’s mind was still too full of destruction for him to drift off again.

Ashley coaxed him onto his side and ran his hand up and down his side until his stiff body began to relax between him and CC. The drummer twisted around until Jinxx could rest his head on his shoulder again. Jinxx sighed and listened to the distant beat of CC’s heart instead of the screams in his head and felt the gentle strokes down his side instead of the world shaking apart.

“It’s okay, Jinxx,” Ashley whispered, “I won’t let you go this time.” His arm wrapped completely around Jinxx’s waist.