Chapter Text
The carousel spun slowly, a bright beacon against the muddled colors of Hollywood land. The horses squeaked as they rose and fell with its movement. Their colors were worn and faded with chips of paint occasionally flaking off with the slow, constant movement. Their cold eyes stared ahead, yet also seemed to be focused on something to the side. A short figure just off to the side of the carousel, approaching with a tilted head and curious expression.
To him, this place was… Familiar. Like a place you visited in a dream, despite knowing it in real life…
The figure cast his eyes down to the area surrounding the carousel. A bright green ooze bubbled lazily, emitting its own soft glow that clashed with the bright color of the carousel.
The figure stopped his approach. This felt so familiar. It felt half real and half like a piece of his imagination come to life. He could have sworn he knew this place…
“Oh, still choosing to ignore your past I see?”
The figure was pushed forward, sending him toppling to the ground. He fell just in front of the ooze, his fingertips grazing the warm substance that continued to bubble in front of him. As he began to push himself up, he could see a reflection of his face in the green just out of the corner of his eye. His gaze shifted to look at it, brow furrowing.
The reflection was wrong. His cheeks were rosy while the rest of his face was pale. His top was a bright yellow suit jacket with a cocked yellow top hat to match. The reflection shared his confused expression as he remained still, staring at it.
Something suddenly grabbed hold of the figure’s hair, causing him to cry out as his face was forced up and away from his expression.
“Did you really think I would fade away so easy?” A voice hissed in his ear, “You can’t outrun your shadow.”
Before he could reply, the figure was shoved forward again, this time face first towards the bubbling ooze.
Patrick shot up with a start, chest rising and falling rapidly as he blinked in his new surroundings. He wasn’t at a carousel. He was in a bunker. Well, a faux bunker they were going to shoot scenes of a new music video in. The first big project since their comeback as a band.
Patrick shook his head, looking around the dimly lit room. The entire day was being spent in this place in order to film various scenes for multiple videos for their new album. He was sitting on an old bed, where he must have fallen asleep between shots.
He could see traces of his band mates around him. The book Joe had been reading sat with its pages down on the arm of a chair across the room. Andy’s drumsticks resting on a stool beside his drum pad. Pete’s handheld game sat on the floor, charging by the wall.
Patrick smiled, though his breathing wasn’t fully slowed quite yet. They were back as a band again. His friends were together and they were making music again.
He sat for a few minutes longer, trying to regain an even breathing pattern. It was okay. It was just a dream that was already a bit faded in his mind as he tried to look back on it. Eventually it was normal enough for him to drop his legs over the side of the bed and stand up. He wasn’t sure how long he had been asleep, or what time it even was, but he was sure another shot had to be happening soon. He pushed his fingers through his mousey hair and moved towards the room’s exit, his shadow promptly following along behind him.