He Dreams Often
Zacky dreams often, about irregular things. Things like jacking off to a good song, or about the zombie apocalypse, or even unicorns frolicking in a pasture (those he tends to try and forget) but yes; irregular things. So when he started dreaming about a bruised and bloody Johnny he was not sure what to make of it. He didn’t think it was anything at first seeing as how Johnny keep showing up, bashing on their bassist at the time and stealing smokes from Jimmy, but every night, Johnny’s rasped voice would call out for help. Jimmy had been the first to approach Zack about the growing dark circles under his eyes and Zack had simply replied that he was fine, then before they left for the night Zacky asked Jimmy to use his “all-knowing observance” and watch Johnny. The day after the next band practice Jimmy confided that he had a nightmare about the boy.
When Johnny didn’t make his usual appearance the dreams grew darker. Zacky and Jimmy both felt the screams through their bones at night. After a brutal one Brain showed up, visibly shaken and Zacky prodded at the guitarist until Brain confessed about the nightmare. That was when Zacky began drawing his nightmare. hIs mother was disturbed but Johnny had become some sort of fantasy model for him and he sold a lot of those pictures to magazines, unable to handle them just sitting in his bedroom, afraid of them like he used to be of the buggyman. He only stopped when he started drawing Johnny outside of the nightmares. (One of the most notable is still attached to his wall: it’s of Johnny sitting on the couch, a cigarette hanging from his lips and a smug grin wrapped around it.)
Zack was sure he, Brian, and Jimmy would never get anymore sleep when Matt decided that the current bassist wasn’t working out. Johnny was there the moment he got wind of it and played with them though none of them were concerned, it sounded good. The agonizing sobs in their dreams did not however. (There’s another picture drawn on canvas held up by the wall, it’s of Johnny’s body curled, framed by two legs, of whom the owner is unknown.) Matt had come over one day and stopped dead at the sight of the picture; Zack had tried to explain but only got a “You too?” from the boy.
The next day they called a meeting and without giving Johnny heads up and discussed the issue of keeping Johnny around. They agreed and by the end of the week they were on tour. The nightmares came to a screeching halt when they began touring and everyone but Zacky feel into an uneasy peace; Zack went into a artist block. No more where their drawings of their bassist frail body. No more were there dreams until Brain broke Johnny’s nose. Zacky dreamed of the surgery out in the waiting room and woke up vomiting. He laid Brain out with little remorse and neither Matt nor Jim moved to take sides.
Zack went back to dreaming about irregular things after that.
When Johnny didn’t make his usual appearance the dreams grew darker. Zacky and Jimmy both felt the screams through their bones at night. After a brutal one Brain showed up, visibly shaken and Zacky prodded at the guitarist until Brain confessed about the nightmare. That was when Zacky began drawing his nightmare. hIs mother was disturbed but Johnny had become some sort of fantasy model for him and he sold a lot of those pictures to magazines, unable to handle them just sitting in his bedroom, afraid of them like he used to be of the buggyman. He only stopped when he started drawing Johnny outside of the nightmares. (One of the most notable is still attached to his wall: it’s of Johnny sitting on the couch, a cigarette hanging from his lips and a smug grin wrapped around it.)
Zack was sure he, Brian, and Jimmy would never get anymore sleep when Matt decided that the current bassist wasn’t working out. Johnny was there the moment he got wind of it and played with them though none of them were concerned, it sounded good. The agonizing sobs in their dreams did not however. (There’s another picture drawn on canvas held up by the wall, it’s of Johnny’s body curled, framed by two legs, of whom the owner is unknown.) Matt had come over one day and stopped dead at the sight of the picture; Zack had tried to explain but only got a “You too?” from the boy.
The next day they called a meeting and without giving Johnny heads up and discussed the issue of keeping Johnny around. They agreed and by the end of the week they were on tour. The nightmares came to a screeching halt when they began touring and everyone but Zacky feel into an uneasy peace; Zack went into a artist block. No more where their drawings of their bassist frail body. No more were there dreams until Brain broke Johnny’s nose. Zacky dreamed of the surgery out in the waiting room and woke up vomiting. He laid Brain out with little remorse and neither Matt nor Jim moved to take sides.
Zack went back to dreaming about irregular things after that.