Under a Thunder Moon (2 page)

             
“Yeah later Jim,” Paul said closing his cell phone.

              “What’s the matter Paul?”

             
“Nothing Alyssa, I just got to clean this up and get going.”

             
“That was Jim on the phone wasn’t it?”

              “Yeah Alyssa it was Jim. The show at The Sundown Club is tonight. I have to get over to the Boat House and help get the gear loaded up and all, but first I have to clean up all this glass and blood.”

              “Oh Paul, I am so sorry about Poncho. Do you want me to help?”

             
“No Alyssa it would probably be better if you get going.” 

             
“Ok Paul I will go.”

             
“I’ll see you later at the show tonight Alyssa?”

             
“Yes I’ll be there.”

              Alyssa got her stuff together. Paul walked her out to her car.

              “Give some thought to what we talked about before Alyssa. I meant what I said. I want to be with you.”

             
“I will think about it Paul.” Alyssa reached up and kissed Paul. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

              Paul opened up the door for Alyssa and she got in. Alyssa started the car and rolled down the window. Paul leaned in for another kiss.

              “There is a good chance that you might get what you want Paul,” Alyssa said, and drove away.

             
Paul watched Alyssa’s car turn the corner. “Yeah I am gonna get it alright,” Paul said to himself. “I can’t believe Jim… that fucker killed my dog.”

“Now there’s only one way to put things right…”

1

             
Tyler Watts pounded the drums
like tribal thunder under Mike Vans dark cloud bass line. The power of this double trouble rhythm section intertwined together entrancing the crowd gathered in front of the stage at The Sundown Club. Long Island’s hottest Rock Club. This hypnotic blues groove fanned the flames that stirred the boiling humid and smoky air. The room was alive with the turbulent electric currents that make men and women want to fight or fuck.

              Jim Wolf let out an animalistic howl followed by quick flashes of lighting fast riffs off his black Fender guitar. The crowd like heated savages attending a human sacrifice howled back at Jim, as the groove built to an orgasmic climax, and fell to a barely audible hush. The Howlers had taken the stage like new reigning Gods prepared to leave awestruck followers in the wake of their sonic carnage.

              Jim approached the microphone with the cool confidence of a seasoned rock star, and sang the opening line to The Howlers new song
Satisfied
.

“You’ve done me wrong… now there is only one way to put things right.

You’ve done me wrong little girl… now there is only one way to put things right.”

             
Then Jim quickly searched through the audience and found who he was looking for; the inspiration for this new song. He locked eyes with his girlfriend Alyssa and held her there within his fiery glare, and growled the last line of the chorus.

“That’s with you dead and gone... That’s the only way I’ll be Satisfied.”

             
Alyssa shook with terror at the sadistic smirk on Jim’s face as his threat reverberated throughout her body sending chills down her spine. She wondered if he found out that she had been unfaithful, or was it her own guilt eating away at her. Jim’s words to this new song frightened her more and more as he continued to sing…

“I am going to take you to the Old Pine Barons, by the light of the thunder moon.

I’m gonna take you to the Ol’ Pine Barons baby, by the light of the thunder moon.

There’s no need to worry your pretty head lil’ girl, cause this will all be over soon….”

              Jim’s guitar screamed bloody murder as he bent the high E into a rapturous guitar solo. The crowd was driven by the pulse of the rhythm into a manic frenzy found in orgies or riots, with each note dictating the audience’s actions. Tyler threw in a wicked drum fill and broke it down making the next verse more demonically dramatic, as Jim described what he was going to do to his unfaithful lover.

“I got a .38 pistol and a bottle of gasoline.

I got a .38 pistol baby, and a bottle of gasoline.

I’m gonna shoot you down…
shoot you down lil’ girl.”

              Then the music stopped and Jim leered at Alyssa and pointed his fingers at her like a gun. As he pretended to pull the trigger he sang...

“I’m gonna shoot you down… and burn your remains.”

              Tyler’s drum fill led them back into the chorus bringing the song to an angrier stomp as Jim raged into the microphone.

“You’ve done me wrong… now there’s only one way to put things right.

You’ve done me wrong… now there’s only one way to put things right.

That’s with you dead and gone…”

             
The music stops and Jim sings the last line with low bluesy Morrison-esque growl.

             
“That’s the only way… I’ll be satisfied.”

              A sonic boom fills the club as The Howlers finish the song with a classic Rock-N-Roll ending, which leads into there next song of the set
Turn Away
.

2

             
Alyssa shoved her way
through the crowd of denim and leather clad Howlers fans. Her anxious feelings were swelling into a full blown panic attack. She needed air. She needed to get out of the damn club… now! She looked toward the stage as Jim sang the chorus to
Turn Away
.

“Don’t turn away… Don’t walk away… Got something I need to say… Don’t turn away… Don’t turn away…”

              Alyssa forced her way out the back exit and into the parking lot. She was shaking and gasping for air. She lit a cigarette to calm her nerves; she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a hand on her right shoulder. Screaming, she quickly turned around to see that it was Paul.

              “What the hell are you doing Paul?!”

             
“I saw you heading out here Alyssa, and you didn’t look to good. I wanted to see if you were alright.”

              “I am not alright Paul. I am far fucking from it.” Alyssa said, taking a deep drag from her cigarette and exhaling harshly.

              “What’s wrong?”

             
“Don’t be an ass Paul. Didn’t you hear that song?”

             
“Yeah it was chilling.”

              “Yeah chilling Paul, that’s one way to put it; it was more like a musical threat!”

             
“What do you mean Alyssa?”

             
“Paul didn’t you see him pretend to shoot me?”

             
“Yeah, but you know Jim. He is just messing around with you.”

             
“I think he knows Paul. I think he knows about us.”

              “Jim doesn’t know anything Alyssa. Everything is cool.”

             
“I am scared Paul. I am telling you Jim knows or suspects something. Didn’t you listen to the words of that song?!”

              Alyssa’s mascara ran black rivers down her cheeks. Paul took her by the hand and pulled her close to him. Comforting her, he told her everything will be alright.

              “Why don’t you go home Alyssa? I will tell Jim I saw you leave, and that you weren’t feeling good.”

             
“That is probably a good idea Paul.”

              Then Paul walked Alyssa to her car.

              “Why don’t you come over tomorrow Alyssa, and we can talk about this more once you have calmed down. “

              “I don’t think I should.”

             
“Come on Alyssa, I need to see you. I want to be with you.”

             
“I want to be with you too.”

             
“Then whatever it takes we will work this out Alyssa.”

             
“Ok Paul.”

              “Then you’ll come over tomorrow.”

             
“Yes Paul, I will.”

             
“I will see you then and relax everything will be fine.”

              Then Paul kissed Alyssa goodnight. Alyssa got in her car and drove away. As Paul headed back into the club he passed a few of the groupies that always came to The Howlers show.

              “Hey Trailer Park,” one of the groupies called out.

             
“Hey,” Paul said back.

             
“Got yourself a new lady friend Trailer Park?” one of the groupies said.

              Paul just ignored them and headed into The Sundown Club. He didn’t hear the rest of the groupie’s conversation, but he had an uneasy feeling in his gut that told him he was fucked.

3

             
Katrina, April, and Jenny
were late for The Howlers show. With high heels click-a-clacking on the asphalt, they rushed to get into The Sundown Club. Katrina stopped suddenly to look at something going on in the parking lot.

              “Hey April,” Katrina said, “is that… eww… is that who I think it is kissing Trailer Park?”

             
“Yeah Katrina,” April said, “he is kissing Alyssa.”

              “No freakin’ way! Jim’s girlfriend and Trailer Park… What a sluty freakin’ whore!

Ooh! I
am going to get their picture,” Katrina said. She took out her cell phone and took a shot.

              “Katrina did you get a picture of them kissing?”

             
“Hell yeah Jenny, you know I did.”

              Then Katrina showed her friends April and Jenny the picture on her cell phone of Paul and Alyssa kissing.

              “I got a good shot of them too,” Katrina said.

             
“Good thing we got here late, huh?”

             
“Yeah Jenny for once your slow ass driving paid off.”