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(A/N: This chapter contains a song. However, I am not a singer. Please listen more to the words than tunes.)
Safe Zone 1.
A large makeshift stage had been erected in front of the mega four section base. Many chairs had been set up so that standard Invigorated could sit and enjoy the show.
A massive red double curtain was hanging from a sturdy platform, shielding what was going on behind the stage. The performance platform was made of sturdy and polished wood, which made the scene a little more presentable.
On both sides of the stage were massive speakers that looked to be extremely heavy and reinforced to ensure that they didn't accumulate too much damage.
The seats provided were made mainly out of wood or plastic. They were placed in such a way that enough distance was observed between the audience.
Naturally they couldn't cover every single person in the Safe Zone, however, at least a quarter could sit down with priority given to the old, women and children.
This was a recurring event usually done by the auxiliary Invigorated to help people calm down and be entertained.
The curtains slowly rose.
The crowd cheered, others whistling and others clapping their hands.
As the curtain full rose, music equipment was revealed along with several musicians manning them; drums, piano, guitars.
In the lead was a young man with long blonde hair and hazel coloured eyes. He wore a black shirt with the name 'Heart Strings' printed onto it.
He sat on a little stool while an electrical guitar was strapped around his shoulder.
He leaned into his mic and spoke with a smile.
"Good evening everybody! Who's ready to sing along with Heart Strings?!"
"YEEEEAAAAAAH" the crowd roared, others jumping up and down in excitement. Around the crowd on high platforms were six individuals who stood still while either closing their eyes or showing deep concentration.
They were the translators. Some had abilities like Camille, while others had similar but highly restrictive abilities that limited their efficiency. However, they would be sufficient for the current event.
"Before we move on, I'd like to welcome a legendary singer who has always been among us. He's usually busy but today, he's decided to sing alongside me. He's a friend, a brother and a teacher. Everybody, help me to welcome Aryan Ratoor!" said the young man.
Most of the crowd didn't know who this new entrant was, but they cheered nonetheless.
A young man wearing a Heart Strings shirt popped from behind the stage and waved with a dazzling smile before giving the young man with the guitar a hug.
He then went onto the mic by the side and spoke into it.
"Hello everyone. My name is Aryan. Singing has always been my passion. It has also been a passion for my friend here, Simon. We've written a new piece together that we hope you'll enjoy," he said.
The crowd cheered again, anticipating the song.
"However, allow me to say this," he said. "We've all lost something. People, pets, items. It hurts. I should know. I've lost a lot too. For three months we've been struggling to keep it together against this new reality, which is ....difficult. We wear brave faces for others but internally, we're breaking down."
The crowd quietened down. Aryan had gotten their attention in a way that they didn't expect. All he said was true. Everyone was carrying a burden.
"Tonight, however, is not a night to wear masks. It's a night to acknowledge that we have lost some things and live with it. Let's not avoid it. Break down crying if you have to, but don't keep it bottled up," he said. "The song we'll be singing is called.. Please just let me cry."
The crowd was silent, listening to his every word. Others were starting to frown, wondering what this guy was trying to pull.
Within the crowd were a certain mother and son who looked dazedly at the stage.
The band shifted and got into comfortable positions, Aryan holding the mic on the stand firmly, while Simon held his guitar and breathed deeply.
Simon strummed his guitar strings, producing low tones that were perfectly complemented moments later by the sound of keys from the piano. The drums were next, followed by the other guitars and then Aryan's sonorous voice.
As the wielder of the innate ability Angelic Music Demon, Aryan could perform any kind of music with the precise connotations attached to it and deliver any influence he wanted to those that heard.
However, his ability had the limitation that he had to do an impromptu song on the spot. Fortunately there was an Extension ability that he had which had little applicability but was perfect for this situation. It did catered for planned songs and could induce positive effects towards only one group of people. Those who were sad for various reasons.
Extension ability: Angelic Harmony.
"The world was lit on fire~,
Burning lands so far~,
It left more than a scar~,
Made us all who are aree~,
To my body to my heart,
My life just fell apart,
And we were forced to part,
I know tomorrow is here,
But in my gut there's still fear,
I just feel broken n' alone,
Because they're no longer here,
Ohh, please just let me cry,
Until my tears go dry,
A blessed future's ahead,
But my child is screaming in my head,
I know!"
With this, the once silent crowd started to shift and a few murmurs were head. Many were looking at the stage with their faces turning from confused to sorrowful.
They knew what the song was talking about.
"I know tomorrow is here,
But in my gut there's still fear,
I just feel broken n' alone,
Because they're no longer here,
Ohh, please just let me cry,
Until my tears go dry,
A blessed future's ahead,
But my wife was screaming in my hands,
I know~!"
At this point, one woman couldn't take it anymore. She had been seated on the chair, but with the last verse, she stumbled and kneeled on the ground. A memory surfaced in her mind. Her husband.
She screamed in pain as tears came from her eyes. All that she had hidden came gushing out.
All around, no one paid attention to her.
Everyone was either sobbing silently or bawling out with tears trickling down their faces.
The boy beside the woman didn't even ask why his mother was crying. He simply hugged her and cried alongside her.
"The air was so heavy,
I couldn't catch a breath~,
And when she said that she loved me,
I couldn't say it back,
I didn't know what to do,
But I wish the storm ate me too,
It's hard to live without you,
Cause I am truly missin' you,
I know tomorrow is here,
But in my gut there's still fear,
I just feel broken n' alone,
Because they're no longer here,
Ohh, please just let me cry,
Until my tears go dry,
A blessed future's ahead,
But my heart is feeling mighty sad,
I know!
I know!
I know that this is the time~!"
The band strummed their guitars and played their keys repeating the chorus, while looking over the millions who were all starting to raise their hands and sing along.
Shaurya and his mother were standing, crying as they remembered a father and a husband. They waved their hands, while embracing each other with the other hand.
That was right.
It was better to accept loss than cling to it, making it cloud your vision of the future.
The pain didn't go away just because you wanted it to, but the process would become better and better when you chose to cherish the memory of the dead instead of writhing in the desperation to have them back.
The night was spent with a weeping crowd, singing along to Heart Strings, cherishing the memories of the their loved ones.