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eye contact. My attention turned to Hayley to find she was, already, all over it as she winked at the lead
    guitarist. I doubt he noticed, but there was always a possibility.
    The sharp chords of the electric guitar cut into the beat of the drums and created its own thrilling sound that overlapped the drums. I
    began to jump up and down. Both of my hands in the air, listening to the three gods on stage create a beautiful sound. I hardly noticed Hayley's hand tapping my shoulder incessantly.
    When I finally turned my attention to her, she grabbed my
    arm, and pulled me forward. I barely had enough time to snag Shiloh's hand and drag her with us. I looked over my shoulder and realized the two brick walls fled to brawl with two other guys on the side of the crowd, leaving an opening
    for us. A sense of relief washed over me. Now that we were in second row, we were much closer to the stage with a better view of our role models.
    My heart skipped a beat when I noticed the bass player
    entered the stage. He strode across the floor with such power and grace, my breath caught in my throat at the sight. Jesse stopped directly in front of the microphone stand, which was placed before the area we faced. Hayley cheered like a silly fan girl sharing similar thoughts. The bass player of The
    Masquerade was less than a few feet away from us.
    Jesse's eyes wandered over the crowd for a split second before his attention dropped to his guitar. He struck his hand across the strings again, darkening the melody that the other three members carried out.
    The crowd around us roared and waved their hands forward to the beat that was mind blowing...and panty dropping.
    Suddenly, the music stopped all together. The lights went
    out and the four guys on stage stood motionless with their heads drawn down. The darkness almost consumed them, but dim lights shone above each player, pulling the outlines of their shadows out of the dark. A few obscene shouts bounced around the bar in anticipation for the lead singer to appear on stage.
    A short moment passed before the stage was lit again. The strobe lights caught each of the player's movements in one still, followed by the next. It was like we were stuck in the middle of the fun house at a
    carnival. The stunning light show matched each new, sinister beat perfectly.
    Suddenly, he was on stage. He simply appeared. The crowd nearly went into shock. Girls screamed and guys hollered obnoxiously. His tall
    figure bent backwards while he pulled the microphone to his mouth. He emitted a dark, raspy scream that came from the depths of his throat. He paused for only a moment, but it seemed to last a lifetime. His eyes sank into the crowd, watching us like a sickness he couldn't wait to embrace. His violent blue eyes
    hooked everyone's attention immediately.
    He stepped forward, standing in the center of the stage. He threw his hair back before singing the lyrics to the first song, a song I could
    recite by heart. I watched him lean over the edge of the platform, smiling darkly.
    "In darkness, they had taught us, to be one with the crowd." Ben leaned his head to the side and mocked a smile for a few
    girls in front of him. I could have sworn I saw one faint. "Obey our sacred orders, you will leave us now." I wiped a few beads of sweat away from my forehead and continued to jump up and down watching Ben move to the left side of the stage. "We fought to live in silence, but then our
    world fell down. We held the greatest glory in our growing sound." He threw his head back and forth twice before finishing the verse. " We were young, but we wanted the world. Now they wait for us to slip in silence as
    we build our names and wear their bleeding crowns."
    With my best friends by my side, we danced and sang along to the lyrics as if it was our last night alive on Earth. Ben finished the first
    song and the band played another, pulling him into the new verse. While waiting for his cue to begin the chorus, Ben did a