Chapter 24

***

"WHY the fuck you didn't tell me?" Perth's face was irritated to know what had happened to the girl as she approached him while walking around the venue.

Ernaline bowed in shame and fear as well. "I don't know if I will tell you about that because I thought it was just a prank"

"Prank? Seriously? Death threat is not a prank, you already witnessed what happened last time," the young man was annoyed and he couldn't help but shout at the girl.

"I'm sorry if I get burst out. This thing is not a joke. What if what was sent to you was a bomb; will you still keep it a secret? I promised your brother- No I promised myself that no matter what happens I will protect you with my life," continued the tears in the girl's eyes. Perth felt something a pang of pain inside of him when he saw her tears again. It clung to the end of his leather jacket while suppressing the sobbing.

"I just want to share and introduce the talent I have. Is it really bad to dream and achieve it with my own efforts? Why do some people don't want me to rise even in this way? The pain is, maybe I can't I really deserve to be included in the high-society where there are the burdensome names of idols that I only see in the newspaper and on TV. Is it really impossible to include someone like me who is just dreaming?" Perth took her hand and turned to hug her, he understood what she felt. She also experienced what the girl is experiencing now when she was just starting out.

It hurts because he didn't do anything bad to make someone who doesn't like him look like that. It does not force people to like them. Her music will inspire others, music that everyone can enjoy, music that everyone will love. But the world is against her, against her music even her existence.

"Crying over that shit is not a good thing. Don't think too much about it, I'll do everything to catch that bastard who did this"

"Can they tell me face to face why would they torture me like this? Even the people around me are affected by the problem that should be mine. Why don't you just go back to the band?" The young man was silent at what she said before gently releasing the maiden from his embrace.

"Hey don't say that. Those people really love you, they don't mind if they involve their selves into a mess as long as they can give you a hand to pull you up from this shit. And drop that topic about me and the band, that's not concern me anymore” he said.

"Don't cry okay? Let's go I'll take you to your tent. Any minute from now you can sing. I want to hear your voice, loud and clear" he added, the girl nodded softly to him in response and made her way to the tent they were occupying.

***

Ernaline and Perth held hands as they crossed the dark part that was no longer covered by this venue. This man is staying in a restricted area, it's a good thing the security didn't notice them and they will probably both be in trouble. Just outside their tent, Ernaline heard Sav's struggle as if she was looking for her.

Perth looked at them in surprise. Did something happen again that she didn't know about?

It was Ernaline who dragged Perth into their tent and she was right that Sav wouldn't bother where to find her or what to do first. No one noticed the two of them because they all had their own tasks.

"Where is Ernaline? She's been out for a while. She doesn't have a cell phone to call. I don't want to take her place as singer and people might stone me because of my beautiful voice" she was humiliated out of nowhere in being overreacting of Sav.

"Sav" she called while Perth was behind her. But the witch didn't hear her and was just whispering to herself as if someone was really talking to her. She also saw Senri, Kyle, Jasper and Kaizen enter the tent with menacing eyes while looking at a creature next to her. She just ignored them and she was still catches Sav's attention.

Ernaline folded her arms.

"Maybe someone is still talking? Calm down" she said.

"That's how she ask a permission to me earlier I'm really nervous and maybe she was kidnapped again. Reiden babe will kill me when he finds out" Ernaline raised an eyebrow at what Saviel said. There seemed to be something wrong when she heard her older brother's name.

"It'll be back too--"

"She's not coming back-- You're just there!" Sav pulled Ernaline closer to her.

"Guess what happened to your make-up? Did you cry? Ernaline, your make-up isn't water proof. I don't have a budget for that," Sav shoved in front of her who made her suffer in the absence.

"Just fix it for me again. Our performance is coming up" she didn't want to say before the witch fell on the chair in case she noticed that the man who had been quiet behind her earlier was an idiot.

"Hey, Sav?" she called Saviel but the woman was nailed to the stand and covered her own mouth. They also grabbed the attention of other staff even Annika focused their attention to a certain person.

Astonished, Ernaline looked around. They are all idiots in Perth. Is it forbidden to bring non-staff here to their tent? She hadn't asked before.

"D? What are you doing here?" simultaneous shouts of the people around her except the two of them – Ernaline and Perth. But Sav is good at acting; you'd think she was innocent of what was happening.

"What? I'm on duty right now." Perth lazy answered them.

"What?" Kyle asked incredulously even the three opened their mouths. The man in front of them was none other than the vocalist slash band leader of BlackHand.

"Why?" Ernaline gasp as Perth landed on the floor from where he was standing and sprang from the chair where she was sitting so she caught him.

Ernaline stood up to support the man because of the force of Kyle's blow. "You left us asshole. You a thick face to show up here?" Kyle's mouth twitched in anger.

"I left because I have my own reason Kyle. I don't have to explain myself to all of you. You have her in your band to fulfill my duty as your vocalist and that's enough. You know me better than yourself, Kyle." all their attention was focused on Perth. What exactly was the reason why he left the band?

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