FACADE by Kim Carmichael: Excerpt Reveal
A Modern Romance Inspired by The Phantom of the Opera
The world is nothing but one big façade, you have to be special to see the behind the mask.
Erik Renevant once lived in the spotlight. As lead singer for the wildly successful group Specter the world revered him like any superstar. When an accident destroyed his band and his face, he chose to live his life in the darkness, hiding away from the shadows of his former self and refusing to be seen again.
Christine Day longs to have her chance in the spotlight. Living her life flitting from one thing to the other and currently without a permanent residence, she sees her opportunity in becoming the backup singer for an unknown band and entering the Stage of Stars, the latest hit reality competition. When Christine wanders into Erik’s perfectly controlled world and he hears her voice, he knows she is destined for something more. However, he never dreamed she would be the one to help him break his own façade and lead him into the light.
Ten years ago…
THE STANDING OVATION.
Erik Renevant and the rest of his band, Spectre, stood off stage watching the standing ovation. The clapping continued until it took on a chant-like rhythm. Everyone there was waiting for one thing, the final song, the one that came after the standing ovation.
He glanced at his band mates. There was an exact moment when one gave in, returned to the stage and performed the song the fans came to hear. The time was now, and Upton, their drummer, grabbed his sticks and went first.
The crowd roared with excitement as Upton took the throne. Once seated, Phil, their bassist, went next. Though rock music seemed chaotic and random, there was a definite ritual to everything.
Nash, Erik’s best friend and Spectre’s lead guitarist, saluted him, and instrument in hand, jogged out to the stage.
Erik waited a minute more. Everyone waited for the lead singer, and when the exact right frenzy took over the audience and the band began to play the beginning notes of their penultimate song, Shadow Light, he came out, taking his time to let the crowd relax, take them in and let them take him in.
Perfectly timed pyrotechnics shot flames with each one of his footsteps and he made his way center stage.
The music he wrote throbbed in time with his heartbeat and at last he sang the rock ballad that made him a superstar.
His song spoke of love, loss and of saying goodbye. Every person in that stadium felt they owned those words.
At last, the song ended, leaving the thousands of people in silent awe. He and his bandmates took one final bow. Now they would disappear in a wall of fire, a perfect end for a band named after a ghost, a stunt he personally designed.
Erik never made it to his mark before his world exploded. The flames shot him in the face, heat raged through him, burning and melting him, and his bandmates screamed as the stage collapsed.
Kim Carmichael began writing eight years ago when her need for graphic sex scenes and love of happy endings inspired her to create her own. She has a weakness for bad boys and techno geeks, and married her own computer whiz after he proved he could keep her all her gadgets running. When not writing, she can usually be found slathered in sunscreen trolling Los Angeles and helping top doctors build their practices.
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