REMEMBER to send feedback to the author, Meghann

» CHAPTER TWO «

"What's the big deal?" AJ asked as they stood in front of the door leading to Kevin's basement. They had all crashed there after a recording session in his studio the night before.

"Is somethin' wrong with the song?" Brian asked anxiously. It was his newest piece and he was exceptionally proud of it.

"No…well, kinda," Howie responded. "It's weird. Just listen," he ordered.

Kevin shrugged and reached around Howie and pressed a few buttons. A recording of Back In Time began to play.

"What's so weird about that?" Nick demanded.

"That's not what I heard!" Howie exclaimed. He frowned. "It was some girl screaming…" Everyone turned to look at Kevin.

"Girl?" AJ asked. "You sign somebody and not tellin' us? Or is that some other kind of recording?" he joked.

"The only female that's been down here is…" Kevin trailed off, thinking. "Hell, I haven't brought anybody down here."

"Guys, I swear," Howie protested. "I heard somebody screaming!"

"You sure, D?" Brian asked as Howie once again began pressing buttons. "I mean, you could've misheard, or played the wrong tape, or…"

"I know what I heard," Howie snapped. "I'm not stupid." He pounded his hands on the control board, and Kevin flinched.

"Howie, that's expensive…" he objected, but stopped as Nick's voice cut off in mid note and was replaced by static. Howie nodded smugly. The look he gave the others said I told you so clearly. Through the static, they could hear a muffled sobbing.

"What the hell?" Nick yelled.

"Shhh!" the others snapped.

"Kev, can you filter that static out?" AJ asked.

"MM-hmmm" Kev nodded, and soon the group was clustered around the panel, trying to clarify the sound.

"That's not what it was earlier," Howie said once the sound was clearer. "She was screaming 'help!' Now she's just crying."

"How do you know it's a girl?" AJ asked.

"Cause it sounds like a girl," Nick answered. "Duh"

"At any rate," Brian broke in. "Why is it on our tape?"

"I didn't do anything!" Howie assured the group. "I swear!"

Kevin turned the machine off. "Look guys," he began. "I don't know who this is, or why she's on our demo…but that will have to wait until later. Right now, we have to finish the thing so we can give it to the execs to look at."

¤ Chapter 3 ¤
REMEMBER to send feedback to the author, Meghann