Finn didn't know much about Paul, but talking to him was quite liberating, quite fun actually.
"So it was a lot of fun, right?" Paul asked.
"Hawaii? Oh yeah!" Finn was well aware that he was still trapped in a past that would never return. It was unhealthy. "People would stare at me while I patrolled the beach or rushed into action to save someone. There were even people pretending to be drowning, you know? Sometimes you have to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."
"Bro! Being a lifeguard must have been amazing!" Paul said, and both of them laughed.
"Maybe that's it?" Finn asked, "Maybe I am an attention seeker? Maybe that's what I really miss? Am I a narcissist? What if I am the one who's wrong? What if it's my perspective as a victim of circumstances that has me like this?"
"And you think you're a victim?"
"No! I just don't understand why I can't find a solution to indifference. And I've become a coward. I take fewer and fewer risks lately because I'm afraid to be unlikable, and that makes me unlikable."
"You are not." Paul reassured him, "You are just seeing everything black. Maybe you should look at the colours around you a little bit. I mean, this town is very colourful! Purple and orange and black here and there, you know... It's the official Halloween town!"
They shared another laugh.
"Since when have you lived here, Paul?"
"Since I was little," Paul replied, "I've heard there are more monsters here, hiding, but Mum and I lived with my dad near here. Mum and I still live in the same old house, but my dad... He was a monster, like, one time he left her so hurt that I thought 'this won't stop until mum dies' and I made a drastic decision. Now it's just mum and me." He sighed, holding back his tears, "But I'm very scared, you know? Because I know, very soon, it will just be me. I'm not with Anton just because of my dream. I'm with him because of the pay, but I would have liked to be in Monster Mash."
"That's awful. Are you..."
"I'm fine," he interrupted Finn, "Please don't ask questions about it. Let's just change the subject."
"Right, umm... You also went to the Monster Mash audition?"
"Yeah, I did, but I couldn't make it. You get used to it, you know? To be a failure, the one who will never achieve anything, the one who strives and gives everything of himself to get nothing in return. I've worked since I was little, and here, I once had a relatively well-paying job, but although the stage of this club is my home, my happy place, my dream was always to sing and not strip for money."
"What if I told you that now you can be a part of Monster Mash?" Finn asked, and Paul looked up hopefully.
"Do you want me to join you?"
"I want you to replace me," Finn said, looking straight into Paul's purple eyes. "I'll leave the band."
Paul's eyebrows furrowed. He shook his head.
"No, I can't. It'd be like I am taking your spot, and that's not what I want."
"I must leave, Paul," Finn stood up. "I have to find my true self. I don't belong here."
"Zeth rejected me for a reason and chose you for a reason. Maybe it wasn't because of your voice, maybe it was because of something else."
"Like what?" Finn asked, "Just accept my offer, replace me, and live your dream, the one I stole from you."
"Well... Let's just say I wouldn't feel comfortable replacing you," Paul stood up and walked towards Finn. "But if things work out, I'd definitely consider being a part of the group, but only if you also stay."
Finn sighed loudly, shaking his head and rolling his eyes.
"I thought you'd take the offer."
"Oh! Sure, I'll take it," Paul said, crossing his arms. "But I'm going to work hard for it, not take your place."
"Don't waste your energy," Finn said, turning away from Paul... Someone was watching them already. "Oh no! Since when have you been standing there, Big Guy?"
"It's time for show." Everett, expressionless as always, pointed back. "I heard everything, and I think you're stupid."
"That's what I was trying to tell you," Paul said, and Everett looked him up and down, "Not in those words, though."
"You have heart of Baby Yeti," Everett told Paul, "But you're enemy."
"I'm not," Paul shook his head. "I'm just an idiot with a dream."
"Whatever. You're not joining us," Everett replied. "I suspect you were sent to spy on us, Paul."
"You should be more concerned that one of your friends wants to leave the band than worry about me," Paul said.
"If Seamons wants to leave, he can." Zeth's voice behind Everett made the Yeti move aside a bit. Zeth was looking at Paul with doubtful eyes. "No one is in Monster Mash against their will. If you feel uncomfortable, you can leave." Zeth eyed Finn. "You're our friend, Seamons. And you are the one I trust the most to do a good job, but you also have emotions and feelings. I am not going to stop you. I only ask that, for tonight, you act professionally and shoot the video with us. After that, you are free to find your way."
"I'll stay for tomorrow's show too," Finn said. "Fifth Octave worries me."
"Sorry to say this," Zeth said, "But I'm not convinced that Fifth Octave are worth our worries. My team investigated each and every single one of them, and none of them except for Deadgar and Boomer has ever sung 'professionally' or at all."
"Anton's mother warned us that you had several Hunters on your side, Zeth," Paul gulped.
"Yes. And my chief bodyguard is one of the best, if not the best, and she knows everything about you," Zeth nodded, "You were in jail for a while, weren't you Paul? For murder."
"The charges were dropped because it was to defend my mother," Paul nodded, "But I'm not going to deny it. Yes, I was in prison."
"That's what my girl told me," Zeth cocked his head, "I know everything about your mother's illness, your past jobs, your loyalty. You don't seem like the kind of person who betrays the people he loves, but Fifth Octave will give you what you need to save who you love. You've had a hard life, boy. I understand your reasons, but I can't put my people at risk."
"And Anton and his mother are quite a risk for you," Paul said, "My band has a great marketing team and contacts, they are ready to take you down. Anton practically hates you for breaking his sister's heart. I admire you guys, so I'm worried that you'll attract the wrong kind of attention."
"Is Anton planning something to sabotage us tomorrow?" Zeth asked. "And don't lie to me, boy. I have lived more lifetimes than you or anyone in this place except for Draco. I know a lie when I hear one."
"The only thing I know is that our bodyguard is Anton's card up his sleeve, although I still don't know exactly what his plan is," Paul said, and Zeth nodded.
"Guys! Everything is ready for the surprise of the century!" Alex said, walking into the backstage area with a clipboard in hand. "Do you really believe... Why is this guy here?" Alex stared at Paul.
There was silence, and then Paul sighed deeply.
"I came to support Finn. I saw a post and decided to help. I was actually with my band, so I have to leave soon," Paul said, and Alex looked up at him with doubtful golden eyes.
"Why would you help us?" Alex cocked his head.
"Because I'm still the boy you met here, Alex. I've always been a Masher, and even more a singer inspired by Zeth and Draco."
"Really?" Finn asked, and Paul nodded. "Can you sing my high notes?"
"I could never sing your high notes, Finn, but I can sing Alex's parts without problems."
"Our speaking voices are similar," Alex turned to his friends, then back to Paul. "And yes, I heard you sing from time to time. You have talent, I can't deny that."
"Then that's it," Finn turned to Zeth, Alex, and Everett. "Guys, if we give Paul a spot in the band, not only will we destabilize Fifth Octave, but we'll also give him the success he deserves."
"And who the hell's gonna take your place, Finn?" Alex asked.
"I know none of you can sing my parts but..."
"Finn, I'm not talking about that," Alex interrupted.
"Just accept Paul into the band and that's it!"
"No. It is not right if you just give it to me on a silver platter," Paul insisted.
"Are you willing to abandon Anton?" Everett asked.
"In fact, I was going to tell him to fuck off in the morning, but my contract is more unfair to me than to anyone." Paul grunted. "You have no idea of what my true place in the band is, Finn. Do you think you are invisible? Wait until you see what Faltom had planned for me. I can't leave the band unless Faltom kicks me out."
"I have a good lawyer," Zeth explained. "Finn, I don't want to put you in a difficult position, so if after the show you decide to leave, we will respect your decision," Zeth nodded.
"Damnit, Finn. You know we'll miss you if you quit, right?" Alex pulled him close and messed his hair.
"I know, man. I will miss you all too." Finn looked up at Everett, "Even you, Big Guy." Everett patted him on the head twice. "There's one thing I want to ask for, Zeth," Finn said, looking over his shoulder at Paul. "This guy says he wants to earn his place in Monster Mash. I don't think it's too much of a bother to audition him, right?"
"Then he'll audition, right now," Zeth said, and Paul blushed, "Come on, Gheist. Sing whatever song you want."
"Oh, fine. I'll sing one of your songs."
"That won't get you any extra points," Everett grumbled.
"Just audition and that's it," Finn said and Paul, taking a long breath, closed his eyes and began to sing...
"I'm a! POL-TER-GEIST! Even though I'm STILL! A-LIVE! I make noises! And break stuff! To be seen! No one cares! Because no one can! See me! POL-TER-GEIST! Been living in a! HAU-NTED! HO-USE! All the horrors at home! Have me screaming! Your indifference! Has my heart bleeding!"
"I've heard enough," Zeth said and Paul opened his eyes.
"Was that any good?" Paul asked, hunching.
"Everything is perfect, vocally speaking." Zeth said, yet he didn't sound convinced, "But there is a problem. The reason I didn't accept you when you auditioned, because of course I remember you, was precisely because you sing with your eyes closed."
"I... I can fix that," Paul said.
"No. Your eyes are a window to your soul," Zeth said, "It's not something you fix just by opening your eyes. It's something you fix from within. And I think I now know what it is that has you living in such fear."
"M-My mum."
"I know, but I want you to take that weight off your shoulders and give it to me. I'll help you with that. Everything will be okay. Now, I want you to sing. Not just sing, but SING! Do it!" Zeth ordered. Paul, a little intimidated, nodded and then took a long breath.
"I want what I cannot have. Money, fame, is that so bad?" Paul sang with his eyes closed, perfectly imitating Finn's vibrato, with his arms stiff at his sides, "Running after clouds! Asking monsters for directions." He opened his eyes, staring at Zeth, as if this was a duel of gazes, "I've been fighting for a dream. Dreaming of a perfect spring. But then I look around! Everything's so dark! I can't find my strength again, please..." Paul took another deep breath and then began to sing like his life depended on it. "Help me! I'm trapped in here! Among! Crooked trees! Like a haunted! Forest! Like a haunted! Forest!" Paul doubled over, leaned back, and even a tear escaped from his eye, "Grey soil! Beneath my feet! Crows caw! They laugh at me! Like a haunted! Forest! Like a haunted! Forest!"
"Yeee! Yeah!" Finn helped Paul with the final whistle note, making for a beautiful and perfect performance that had Zeth clapping slowly, but with a smile on his face.
"That's what I was talking about," Zeth told a too emotional Paul, then turned to look at Finn, "Not having trouble with that Eb7 anymore, huh? Seamons?"
"That doesn't matter now," Finn said, "Tell me. Is Paul going to replace me or not? I mean, he's got talent. He deserves it."
"I'll consider it. It's hard to find a voice like yours and Paul isn't even close, no offense," Zeth nodded and pulled out his phone. "First, we need to check with my lawyer to see if he can safely quit Fifth Octave."
"You must have a good lawyer," Paul got a little nervous.
"He's the father of Sue Cubbus," Zeth said in a slightly mocking voice. "Demons are good with contracts."
"But for now, there's one last video to shoot together," Alex said, blinking hard to keep himself from crying. "Let's have some fun, okay?"
"Come on, Seamons," Zeth held out a hand. "There's something we need to show you before you decide to stay or leave."
"I have made my decision."
"Well, maybe what Alex, Draco and Frank did will change that," Zeth said, opening the curtains.
Finn was speechless when, after walking hesitantly towards the stage, he saw many signs with his name written on them.
There were a lot more people in here than when he left.
Draco and Frank were there too, doing jazz hands.
"Surprise!" The crowd and all the Monster Mash guys, even Jade at the foot of the stage, shouted in unison, and Finn couldn't help but smile widely.
When they started cheering for him, he felt overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed about it all because what exactly did he do to deserve that much attention?
"You were looking for your fandom in the wrong place, Finn!" said Jade, to whom Frank extended a hand to help her up onto the stage. "Finn, you're part of the band, and we don't want you to leave!"
"You're not invisible," Frank said.
"And you're safe to be yourself now!" Draco, still jumping around, told him. "Your fans have always been here! It's just that most of them are either introverts or have social anxiety or both!"
"No. Fucking. Way." Finn said, covering his mouth with both hands.
"You are a hero without a cape, Finn!" Said a Drag Queen in a pompous blue dress and yellow wig, "We love you! You are our favourite because of who you are! You are crucial part of Monster Mash!"
"There's no Monster Mash without you, Finn," Alex said, putting a hand on Draco to stop him from jumping.
"You are our friend, and we all love you. And I don't want you to leave." Everett said, and Finn looked at him with teary eyes.
"Really, Big Guy?"
"I'm serious. I don't lie." Everett replied.
"There's something I never told you, Seamons," Zeth said, standing next to Finn. "I chose you for a reason, and this is it. You are, and always have been, the voice that keeps the group grounded, the voice of thousands of people who feel like you, and the proof that things don't just happen, we make them happen."
"Really?"
"You seriously never noticed?" Alex asked.
"You're brave enough to accept every challenge," said Zeth, "You're strong enough to overcome everything, and you're not afraid to get your hands dirty. What I saw in you was not your voice or your talent..." Zeth held Finn's face in his hands, "I saw a force of nature."
"We don't want you to leave the band, Finn!" voices shouted in unison from the crowd.
Finn looked around at all these faces, some with a smile and others looking concerned or worried, maybe wondering if he would stay or leave.
"Guys..." Finn spread his arms wide, and all of Monster Mash reached out and hugged him. "This is the best day of my life," and Finn meant it. He pulled away from them and wiped tears off his cheeks. "Thank you."
The club erupted again with cheers, applause, and loud shouts, and Finn took a moment to breathe.
He had never heard people like this before... This enthusiasm, this acceptance, it had always been there and he had never noticed it.
It was finally the place where he wanted to be.
"Let's shoot a video!" Finn held up a hand like a champion.
Behind him, Paul clapped his hands and hung his head, walking backstage to exit through the back door, but...
"Hey!" Zeth snapped, and Paul turned. "Where are you going? Stay for the party. After all, maybe tomorrow you will already be part of our team."
"Paul, don't go," Finn said too. "Stay and let's see if there's anything we can do for..."
"I really have to go, my band must be waiting for me," Paul replied, nodding slightly. "I appreciate it, but..."
"I have a plan that maybe you should listen to," Zeth winked. "Go back to your band at dawn, don't act suspicious, do your thing. We'll see each other during the rehearsal once I have already spoken to my lawyer, and we'll fulfil your dream, okay?"
"Yeah, I..."
"I am not done yet," Zeth held up a hand, "I will send my Chief Bodyguard to your house tonight, she will give you a briefcase with an amulet that will delay your mother's illness for a while, just in case."
"W-What?"
"I have a pyramid shaped necklace at home that can cure her," Zeth continued, "But it only works when I am near because it is linked to the Golden Heart inside my chest. I'm a little busy right now, but I promise to help you. For now take the bracelet that my girl will give you and make sure your mum doesn't take it off, got it?"
"We're going to help you, Paul," Finn said, nodding.
"Thanks, guys," Paul muttered. His eyes lingered on Zeth's face for a moment, then he went out through the back door.
Once outside, Paul pulled out his phone, ready to call his mother and give her the good news but...
"Ouch!" He bumped into someone, and he gasped, "Anton?!"
"Did you know my mum used to be a Hunter?" Anton said, raising an eyebrow as the other members of Fifth Octave made a circle around Paul, "A retired hunter, married to a monster, but still a hunter. And I think this is mine," Anton said, removing a small disc from Paul's shirt, "A Hunter microphone, very good audio quality."
"Anton, please don't ruin the boys' night," Paul swallowed hard, "Don't do this to me. I haven't told you but my mum is..."
"Ring of fire," Anton said, nodding toward Damon.
"No."
"Damon, do it or I'll sue you."
"I don't care."
"Do it or I won't pay you!"
"Whatever." Damon's eyes glowed bright orange.
"Shit! Anton! Stop it!" Paul shouted as a ring of fire formed around him on the ground, closing and closing in, and Anton looked at him with irrefutable contempt in his eyes.
"Is your mum sick, Paul?" Kato asked, but Boomer elbowed him.
"It must be a cold," Anton said, crossing his arms.
There was a noise then, heels on concrete, a woman. Anton looked up, seeing a black-haired girl in stiletto boots walking towards them.
"That must be the infamous EV-13," Anton said, and the girl looked up.
"Hey... What... What's going on here?" Evie asked, approaching them. "Hey! Why the ring of fire? What's going on?!"
"VI-93, your ex is here," Anton said into a communication bracelet, "Come take out the trash, will you?"
"Hey... Damon... Put out that fire... Now!" Evie said, drawing her grapple gun.
"I think we'll have to be firmer with you, Paul." Anton said, ignoring Evie, who was already aiming at him, "I think prison didn't teach you that life gives second chances only once in a lifetime."
"And you better do a good job tomorrow," Deadgar hissed, "Because I want my revenge on Rubinstein for ruining my promising career."
"No one cares about your career, Deadgar," Anton said.
"Don't play deaf, Damon," Evie said, stepping forward with her grapple gun raised, ready to pull the trigger, "Put out that ring of fire now!"
"Whatever, this is so stupid." Damon vanished the ring of fire with a snap of his fingers.
"Anton, please!" Paul fell to his knees, defeated, his eyelashes burned.
"Paul, are you okay?" Evie ran to his side, kneeling beside him.
"I am not! My mother has cancer!" Paul let out desperately, and Anton seemed surprised to see him crying, "Anton, please, I need the money! I need Zeth's help!"
"Don't you have a heart, Operman?!" Evie yelled, helping Paul up, "Can't you see what's at stake? We're talking about a life!"
"Shut up, girl... And you? Paul... I'll make a deal with you," Anton said, circling him and Evie like a vulture, "I'll convince my parents to pay you a lot more if you make me look good tomorrow."
"Zeth has a better offer to help my mother," Paul said, wiping his tears with his forearm.
"Anton, just let Zeth work his magic," Evie said, almost pleading, looking at him with contempt, "Paul's mother doesn't have to become a bargaining chip."
"Yeah sure. Paul saves his mum and then what? He will leave. I heard everything." Anton chuckled, "No sir, you are a key player in Fifth Octave. I offer you all free hospital care in the best hospitals in the world for your mother, just because I am good and I understand you. But I must remind you that, if you leave the band, oh dear Paul, there will not be enough money to pay for violating the new contract you will sign. You'll go back to jail if you can't pay, and there won't be any free hospital, right?"
"I hate you," Paul whispered.
"It's not my fault you didn't read your contract," Anton said, "I'll meet you at my house in twenty minutes. Don't be late."
"That's enough," Evie put her arm around Paul and pulled him close to her body, then she raised her grapple gun, aiming for the roof of the club, "Paul. You and I are leaving right now!"
But the click of someone else's gun behind her head made her turn slowly.
"Sorry, Evie," Basil said, with his eyes half-shut, "It's nothing personal. I'm just doing my job like you say," and then he pulled a dart out of his leg holster, "Sweet dreams, sweetie."
There was pain, and Evie staggered, removing the dart from her neck.
"Girl!" Paul gasped when she collapsed in his arms.
"She has become so emotional," Basil replied as Evie fell unceremoniously into a deep slumber.