LP’s POV

It was two days into tour and there was already a major panic that ran through the band.

Two days and five hours before, we had all gotten our stuff on the tour bus, ready to book it towards our first destination in Casper, Wyoming. Our departure date had been early so we could have plenty of time to reach our first stop on the tour.

“Rae, you’ll be okay?” I had asked her that evening. She was carrying baby Beth with her and Austin was the worrying father, as usual.

“Of course! Sara said that Oli was bringing over the band every day. Apparently, Jordan Fish is excellent with kids.” Behind my older sister’s smile, I saw the worry and fear in her eyes. It was something only a sibling could read and Aus dismissed it as something other than the terror she held.

Ever since we had found out it was James Rener, her life had been thrown into a frenzy. Sara stayed over with her when I wasn’t. There was always someone with her and the police said they were on the constant alert.

I still wasn’t so sure with this tour, but I couldn’t let the band or the fans down.

“You’ll call me every night, won’t you, dear?” Aus had asked her again and again. Every time he asked, she responded with the same answer.

“Of course, Aus.” She kissed him on the cheek as the bus driver waved them all aboard. I gave Rae a side hug as she clutched baby Beth to her. We all waved out the side windows as the bus had pulled away.

But that was two days ago.

It was eleven at night now. Tomorrow would be our first show. Tino, Phil, and Aaron were in their bunks, but not sleeping. Tino’s drum sticks could be heard tapping out pulsing rhythms from every corner of our enclosed environment. Aus and Alan were both sitting in the front with me. I was curled up in my ginger’s arms and Aus sat reading an Alternate Press magazine.

A knock at the door alerted us to someone coming up. Aus got up to the door and opened it. A security guard came in as the singer ushered him to the front. He looked pale and nervous.

“Hey, what’s up?” Alan asked. I sat up straighter, looking at the man.

“Are you Mrs. Lily-Pearl?” the man asked. I nodded.

“Please, follow me. We have an emergency meeting.” I nodded and took off out of the bus. What could have happened for an emergency meeting at eleven at night?

The security guard ushered me into a room in the building we were parked near. This would be the place we would play for tomorrow evening. Inside were more security guards….and the police.

“Mrs. Ashby.” An officer gestured me over. It still took me a while to remember what my last name was. I quickly scurried over to their little circle in the cramped room.

This couldn’t be good.

So when I came back to the bus twenty minutes later with a pale face and trembling arms, everyone immediately made me sit down and recount what had happened. I gathered myself and remained professional. Aaron swung out of his bunk to join the other four.

“LP, what was it?” Alan asked me calmly. I took a deep breath and stared at the floor. I didn’t want to meet any of their eyes.

“The police spotted James thirty miles west, right where we had come from.” I swallowed a shaky breath. Everyone seemed to collapse onto the floor, the couch, a chair, or whatever. No one said anything.

“What are the police going to do about it?” Tino asked numbly. In the little meeting, I had asked what they were going to do, what they have done, and how we would still go on for the performance tomorrow.

“They’re working on tracking him and they’ve also gotten more security for the venue. They’re doing the best they can to catch him.” Aaron unconsciously touched the place where he had been stabbed. The man sat cross legged on the floor.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be okay.” Alan rubbed my shoulder affectionately. I closed my eyes and shook the golden strands of my hair to dismiss it.

“I’m not worried about me, but about you guys.” I responded. Austin took out his phone and sent a quick message to Rae.

“Don’t fret about us, dear. We’ll be okay on stage. It’ll be easier to take you off of the side than to get us on stage.” Alan reassured. I nodded glumly. This could only mean things went from bad to worse with the situation.

At least James wasn’t anywhere near my sister.

Notes

Sorry I've not been updating recently! I have another story I've been writing and I had gotten a little sucked into that! If you haven't checked it out already, it's called Shattered! Read it!

Also, I'll be trying to post a little more frequently, but I do have two other stories I'm writing. Unfortunately, both have turned into pretty big projects, but I'll do my best! to update when I can.

Thanks for sticking with me!