Snippet #2352466

Standing on the wing of the stage Barney’s ear was being bent by one of the many ‘Event Security’ labelled guards, the younger man around ten years his junior shouted in Barney’s ear ‘How long you been with the Byrons man?’ Armed crossed Barney outstretched all his digits ‘Ten years? Holy fuck man, they pay well?’ Barney nodded keeping his eyes on Delaney. ‘Bet they do. Rockin’ a fine ass watch like that. How much did that set you back, five gees?’ Barney rasped out in his deep tone ‘Who are you here with?’ trying to change the subject, money talk was for the celebrities not working men, it just seemed crass to him.

The beginning notes of the Rolling Stones classic would bring a thin smile to Barney’s expression. One of the select few covers of hers he actually liked.

Wah-arrr, childreh, jus' a shot away, jus' a shot away

‘Stage security is all, trying to snag myself a sweet gig like yours.’ Barney nodded disinterested as he kept an eye on Delaney, partly enjoying the music. Normally he would be minding her father’s current wife but they wanted Marty and Barney to swap. God knows why, Barney wasn’t the biggest fan of Delaney’s personality or of her generally for that matter. He assumed it must have had something to do with the drug rumours and that nut job who bashed some heads open with a hammer, Marty was a good man but didn’t hold a candle to Barney’s physical stature.

‘Hey man you think you could put in a good word for me? Tell that Byron dude or some shit?’ The screams were lost on Barney as the music blared in one ear, the guard in the other.

Rayyyyy... muhdahhh... jus' shot awah, jus' a shoh away-ay-ayyy... Uhhh!

Barney arched an eyebrow at the lacklustre crowd, darting his gaze back to Delaney he couldn’t help but sigh faintly to himself at her behaviour. He couldn’t hear the bassist but he knew when the Delaney was insulting someone by the sinister turn in her expression.

Barney didn’t usually pay much heed to the crowd in his peripheral vision while working stages with Delaney; however within a short time things had stepped up a gear considerably quicker than usual. Turning his attention fully to the crowd Barney widened his eyes a particular sight far in the distance. Unknowingly to Delaney’s attention one sickly man at the back end of the crowd yanked his teeth from a young woman’s cheek, her blood spurting over the man’s face before they both fell to the ground out of sight. Tensing his footing Barney darted his gaze around the crowd to see similar acts of violence explode into some sick twisted wave, working its way to the front.

Gimme, gimme shelter, oh, or I gonna fade away

Onstage Barney noticed a commotion in the opposite wing; his new friend had already dashed over to a crowd of frantic security guards. Looking over his shoulder Barney saw a similar display behind him, grabbing the nearest person by the shoulder ‘What the hell is going on!?’ he shouted. ‘We need to get them offstage right now’ the young man shouted back, yanking himself out of Barney’s grip as he ran out of sight.

Barney paused as the young boy reached out to Delaney, sprinting over he attempted to grab the boy’s wrist only to see him fall into the violent abyss below. One of the sickly looking people managed to press a hand on the lip, gripping their wrist Barney raised them up to be met with a grey rotten face, lower jaw missing. Snapping his hand open wide the woman fell back down into the crowd, standing upright Barney grabbed Delaney’s arm from behind ‘We’ve got to go, now!’ His words seemed lost on her stunned form, he had to start physically dragged her from the stage.