It wasn’t, however, how I’d heard of Feral Silence. It seemed like one day everyone on the internet was talking about them. I’d had to check them out for myself. One music video was all it took. I went out and bought a physical copy of their debut album immediately. I attended every concert I could. I followed their every move online.
I’d never seen Feral Silence at this venue, though. It was a two-story converted Victorian-style house. It was a novelty, walking straight up to the front door without waiting in line behind a hundred fans.
“Name?”
The intimidating security guard at the front door held a clipboard and wore a headset over one ear. He made me nervous even though I had every right to be there.
“Ailey. No, sorry, Aimee Lee. A-I-M-E-E,” I spelled it out. They’d be using my real name on their list, not my online pseudonym.
“Sign here.”
I scribbled my signature and received a staff badge in return. The beefy security guard moved aside so I could walk around him, but ignored me after that. Music blasted through the front doors the moment I opened them, a band no doubt practicing for a show that night.
I had no idea what I was doing, and there was no one to greet me. Was this some sort of test? I already knew my way around, so I walked through the front foyer, passed coat check, and took the side stairs down toward the pit.
There were two spots I might have been able to find a member of staff: either backstage or right in front of the stage. Hopefully I’d find someone who could introduce me to Deena Malik, the band’s manager and my soon-to-be-boss.
The stage was closer, so I headed down. At least this way I could get a glimpse of whichever band was practicing. I couldn’t think of any Dark Sound Studios’ bands scheduled for a show that night. I’d done research on all their acts, from the newest and smallest to the most established and popular. Maybe I’d impress my new boss if I showed her I’d come prepared.
I opened another set of doors and came out on the ground floor, in the general admission standing area, right in front of the stage.
My heart stopped in my chest. If ever I was going to die from a heart attack, that moment was it.
The band on stage was Feral Silence.
