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» CHAPTER ONE «

Howie sat in the studio, enjoying his moment of solitude. No fans, no reporters, no photographers, even his friends were still asleep. Silence was a rare thing in his life and he was relishing it. He closed his eyes and breathed in, stretching his arms above his head.

Smiling, he walked into the control room and looked down at the board. He grabbed a tape marked with the date and Brian's name, and wound it onto the reel. After double-checking to make sure it was in correctly, looked at the panel again.

Which one was it again? he asked himself. Then he laughed. "You'd think after 6 years I'd know how to work this thing," he said to his reflection in the glass. He shrugged.

Randomly, he pushed a button, and waited. When that had no result, he pressed another. After about five minutes of aimless picking, he smashed his hand on the board.

"Yes!" he exclaimed when static was heard over the speakers. When no music followed, however, his forehead wrinkled into a frown. Where was the track they'd laid down yesterday? "That's weird," he muttered. The panel was alive with lights, and Howie didn't have a clue as to which button he'd pressed.

"Help!"

Howie jumped out of his chair and whirled around. There was no one else in the studio. "What the hell?" he yelled. That scream had to have come from somewhere, he thought. "Who's there?" he called nervously. When there was no response, he took a final look behind him and sat back down, scanning the room cautiously.

The static was still playing over the speakers and Howie reached to turn it off.

"Help me!" The scream was louder and sounded more frightened this time. Howie hit the power button and ran upstairs without a second look.

Howie banged on Kevin's door. "Get up!" he yelled through the wood. He continued to pound on the door until Kevin opened it and stared at him groggily.

"What?" he asked.

"You gotta come to the studio!" Howie said rapidly.

Kevin grabbed Howie's wrist and looked at his watch. "I don't have to do anything for another 20 minutes. Except sleep," he added.

"Kev, PLEASE!" Howie begged. "There is somethin' down there!"

Kevin raised his eyebrow and sighed. "Alright. Might as well get the others up, too. We can finish that song."

¤ Chapter 2 ¤
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