Victory RUN: Collected Victory RUN 1, 2, 3

by Devon Hartford

  Julian shakes his head, “No, she’s there from the beginning. She throws out ideas which Max and I organize and shape into a poetic form.”

  “Poetic? What, does she blurt random thoughts and you and Max turn it into poetic lyrics?”

  “No, it’s not like that,” Julian says seriously. He seems so defensive, I bet he does way more than he’s letting on.

  “But who writes the lyrics? You know, the finished poetry?”

  An uncomfortable grin stretches across his mouth.

  “It’s you!” I gasp. “You write those amazing lyrics! Did you write the lyrics for ‘I Rise’? The lyrics I’ve been listening to on the soundstage all morning?”

  Julian looks at me but says nothing.

  “You did!”

  He doesn’t deny it.

  “And you wrote the music too, didn’t you?”

  Now he nods reluctantly, “Well, yes. I suppose. With a lot of help from Max.”

  I blurt, “Layce really doesn’t do anything, does she?!”

  Julian’s brows furrow, “You have to understand, Layce is the person who ties everything together. Without her voice and her face, Max and I would be nothing more than a couple of brothers writing music for teenage girls and looking for a vocalist to deliver it to them in a relatable format.” He grins, “Can you imagine if Max or I tried to sing ‘I Rise’?” He laughs. “How well would that go over?”

  “Max I can imagine,” I quip.

  Julian rolls his eyes.

  Although I’ve never heard either of them sing, I can’t imagine Julian as a pop idol like Justin Timberlake. He’s too uptight. The idea of Julian singing to teenage girls about their broken boyfriends and female empowerment is nearly comical.

  Despite all that, this revelation from Julian is incredible. Julian is the mastermind behind the moving music of the song ‘I Rise’. I know Max helped, but I doubt Layce did much. She seems too kooky and bitchy. I just can’t picture her having the creative depth to deliver any of what I’ve heard today. It’s Julian. I know it.

  I’m stunned.

  I knew Julian was hot, and smart, but he’s a creative genius too?

  Holy shit.

  I didn’t think it was possible to underestimate him, but I did.

  This is incredible.

  Just like his fucking finger.

  Yeah, the one that gave me a orgasm the other day.

  I blurt, “I bet the music video was your idea too! It goes so perfectly with the lyrics!”

  Julian shakes his head, “I may have suggested the concept of the Princess of Light and the Prince of Shadows to Layce, but I assure you, all that work you see inside is the product of thousands of man hours and a collaboration between many talented creative people. I just planted a few seeds.”

  “But they’re your ideas!”

  Julian checks his wristwatch, which is big and gold and expensive. Probably a Rolex, but I wouldn’t know a Rolex from a Timex. “I should go,” he says, “or I’ll be late for my meeting.”

  “What?! You have to stay! Watch it with me! Don’t you want to see your ideas come to life?”

  Julian laughs, “I wish I could. But Sony has been after me for a year to groom their next pop star, whoever it may turn out to be…” He arches an evocative eyebrow.

  “I get it,” I grin, “And thank you again for getting me in here to watch. This is mind blowing. I’ve never been on a real studio set before. The closest thing I’ve seen is the low budget videos my friends have filmed. But this is amazing. It’s like a big budget movie or something.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself,” he smiles. “And now, I must be off.”

  “If you must,” I quip.

  “I must,” he grins and spontaneously leans over and kisses me on the mouth.

  I blush but I kiss back.

  It’s quick, but soft, inviting, and I want it to last longer than it does.

  He smiles, “You know…” he grins suggestively.

  He’s going to say something about sex, I know it, and I’m grinning against my will. I’m entirely entranced by Julian after everything I’ve seen and heard today. He’s some kind of modern day Leonardo da Vinci as far as I’m concerned.

  Julian’s emerald eyes sparkle in the bright sunlight, “…when it turns out the girl Sony is showing me today isn’t right for the job, maybe I should have you sing for them. Show them what a real musician can do…”

  BLAM!

  (don’t sing)

  I think I just had a stroke or a heart attack or someone shot me through the head. In a bad way.

  (don’t sing)

  I can’t deal. I’m going to crack into a billion pieces.

  (never ever sing)

  Between everything that happened to me

  (never ever ever sing)

  back then, and all the amazing excitement I’ve seen surrounding Layce and her video and Julian’s musical genius, I’m on overload.

  I can’t deal.

  (never ever never ever sing)

  I’m torn in half.

  (Vict—)

  Concern darkens Julian’s brow, “I’m sorry. I forgot. We went through this before. On our dinner date, after we left Trois Mec.” His face hardens, and he hisses, “I should’ve remembered. Damn it, Victory, I’m sorry.” He impulsively reaches out and hugs me.

  I fall into his arms and he holds me close, enveloping me.

  He strokes the top of my head, smoothing my long hair.

  I want to punch him and run away, but I can’t.

  (Victor—)

  My strength is gone.

  (Victory!!!)

  I’m crumbling in Julian’s arms.

  I’m starting to hyperventilate.

  (singsingsingsingsingsing)

  “Shh, shh, shh,” Julian whispers, kissing the top of my head.

  His comforting warmth washes over me, but I need to do this myself. I hitch once, but hold everything in, closing the doors of my heart. I’m not ready to cry about it in front of Julian.

  “Victory, I’m so very sorry. I should’ve thought before I spoke.”

  I barely hear his words, because it takes all my concentration to bury my emotional misery underneath layers of denial.

  I stand in Julian’s arms for I don’t know how long.

  When I finally regain control, I say in a small voice, “You should go to your meeting.”

  I can’t bring myself to look him in the eyes.

  Not right now.

  Maybe a month from now.

  “I can cancel,” he says.

  “No, don’t do that.”

  “It’s not that important.” He gently lifts my chin and gazes into my eyes. “But you are.”

  Okay, for the first time in my life, I’m about to just up and run away like a baby. But my broken heart is suddenly melting, which is way too confusing.

  This is too much.

  I dig deep and say, “I’m okay. Really.”

  I wipe tears from my cheeks.

  When Julian sees my tears, he kisses them.

  I’m going to start blubbering.

  He needs to stop.

  I push myself gently away from him, “I’ll be okay, Julian.”

  Julian drops his hands to his sides. “I understand,” he says calmly. “But if you need me, call me.” He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone, and dials a number.

  My phone rings in my pocket.

  “It’s me,” he says.

  I pull my phone out and look at it like it’s some strange alien technology. I’m still not completely back to earth yet and my heart and mind are scattered across the galaxy like broken stars.

  “This is my direct number,” he says. “It doesn’t route through Colette. You can reach me any time of day or night on this number and I will always answer it. I don’t know why I didn’t give it to you before.”

  “Okay,” I say absently.

  “Call me if you need me. I will drop everything, including this pointless Son
y meeting, and come for you.”

  I’m shocked.

  He asks, “Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yeah,” I sigh, “I can deal.”

  “Very well. I’m off.” He walks four steps, stops, and turns. “Call me if you need anything. Agreed?”

  That sounds so weird, I chuckle, “Agreed. Yes, sir.” I give him a military salute and click my heels together.

  He grins and shakes his head, “You are strange indeed, Victory Payne.”

  “Takes one to know one, sir,” I quip.

  He turns and walks away with a smile on his face.

  Chapter 100

  VICTORY

  After Julian left, it only took me a few minutes to recover and piece myself back together before walking inside the soundstage.

  While the stagehands inside wait for Layce to return from her makeup trailer, the stunt crew wires up a number of the dancers who all wear the bleak black costumes of the Prince’s loyal subjects. When they’re strapped in, they practice wire lifts with the help of the stunt team behind the scenes, simulating flight.

  The costumed dancers are all experienced aerial performers and watching them rehearse their routine is like watching a Cirque du Soleil show. The dancers on the ground are equally gymnastic and practice their tumbling maneuvers on the stage floor. The stunt coordinator is constantly offering comments and reminding everyone to keep their eyes open and keep safety first.

  Twenty minutes later Layce returns through the main doors like a Queen entering her castle.

  I make a beeline for the director’s area, which is out of the way. I don’t want Layce to notice me and have security boot me out. Who knows if she’ll remember me, but I want to watch the rest of the shoot.

  The tall stage doors close slowly behind Layce, cutting out the bright sunlight. It takes awhile for my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

  Layce walks to the ballroom set, which sits on the back side of the castle exterior set.

  The ballroom is also gothic and black, filled with towering jagged spires and serrated archways, almost like the interior of a razored black cathedral. The Prince’s domain is bleaker on the inside than it was on the outside.

  I wonder how much of this was Julian’s idea? It’s breathtakingly beautiful.

  I watch while the stunt crew attaches wires to Layce’s harness and her white lace wedding gown.

  When Layce is fully strapped in, the director walks into the middle of the set. Wearing a red print Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals, he looks totally out of place in the fantastical black and white ballroom. He addresses everyone in a loud voice, “All right, everybody. We’re shooting the final sequence next. You all know your places and your cues, and I trust that everyone’s head is in the game. No one is going to get hurt, right?”

  There are general nods from all the dancers, all of whom look very focused.

  The director continues, “I just want to take a minute to remind you of the context of the scene. Layce, the Princess of Light, has spent the evening being courted and wooed by the Prince of Shadows. She has fallen for his charms, seduced by his beauty and the promise of true love. But when he reveals his true nature, when the Princess sees him for what he is, she refuses to be pulled into his darkness. Her inner spirit, her inner light, is what lifts her out of darkness. You, my amazing dancers,” the directors smiles around at all of them, “are the darkness. Remember, when the wind fans start to blow, that signals the Princess’ transformation into an angel. We’ll be adding the wings as a CG element in post, but you should react as if you are seeing an actual angel before your eyes.” He looks around at the dancers.

  Many of the dancers nod understanding. There must be more than fifty of them. I hear some of them murmuring to each other, echoing some of the director’s words.

  The director says, “I know you’ve rehearsed the moves, and what I’ve seen is amazing, but just take a moment to remind yourself of the emotional story. You are darkness. You want to steal all light from the Princess. You are greedy for what she has. You’re starving for her lightness. You are willing to eat her alive to take what she has, to fill the gaping hole in your own hearts with what she has. Does that make sense?”

  I wonder how much of the director’s speech was Julian’s idea? It sounds so tragically romantic.

  “All right!” The director claps his hands together and says cheerfully, “Let’s make it happen!” He strolls off the set to where I stand near all the camera monitors and his awaiting assistants.

  The dancers take their positions.

  The work lights fade to blackness, and the gloomy mood lights come on, transforming the ballroom set back into an eerily believable pit of darkness.

  I hear the familiar music for ‘I Rise’ play over the P.A.

  The dancers start to move, writhing in the darkness, and the lights start to flash.

  Layce walks regally into the ballroom. The dark prince stands in the center of the room, holding out his hand to her. He looks vulnerable and commanding at the same time.

  Layce’s character, the Princess of Light, can’t resist his tragic appeal. She walks toward the Prince of Shadows, but the lyrics she lip syncs from the recording pumping out of the P.A. tell a different story:

  “Dragged down by you

  I pulled us up

  My last stand for a broken man”

  The dancers and gymnasts, who until now have been hidden in the shadows on the outskirts of the ballroom set, creep evilly into the light, skulking and circling and swirling around Layce. It’s like the dancers symbolize the damage inside the poor Prince of Shadows.

  Layce, the Princess of Light, acts as if she doesn’t notice them. She sings with all her broken heart,

  “I should’ve known

  It wouldn’t last

  There’s no way I could fix your broken past”

  A column of light beams down on the dark Prince and strobes on and off like lightning, illuminating the boiling black mass of costumed dancers.

  Now the Princess takes notice of the dancing demons.

  The Steadicam operators are on the floor, shooting close ups of the Princess of Light and the Prince of Shadows. I can see their tortured faces on the director’s monitors.

  Layce does a great job of looking lost in love for the Prince of Shadows. The Prince aches with sadness and his eyes cry out for the Princess’s love. She is uncertain whether to go to her sad Prince, or defend herself from his inner demons which circle around her dangerously.

  Layce lip syncs the pre-chorus:

  “I tried so hard

  It’s over now

  Won’t sink into your meltdown

  I’ve had enough

  I gave my all

  I will not live within your fall”

  Layce stands regally, resolutely, holding her ground. She will not go to the Prince. He must come to her. But he doesn’t.

  His minions do.

  The dancers swirl around Layce, getting closer, making threatening gestures, snarling, growling, flashing their claws, licking their chops. They’re going to tear Layce apart. Her eyes glare at them. She’s ready to fight back.

  The Princess of Light casts a final pleading glance at the Prince of Shadows.

  The faintest sneer curls his lips. He’s not going to budge from his throne of darkness.

  The dancers pounce, converging on Layce, burying her in blackness. She’s gone, her white dress completely hidden in boiling shadows.

  The song’s chorus starts:

  “The beat of my heart,

  my angel wings, and finally,

  I rise

  Soaring above it all

  I fly”

  Layce begins to emerge from the writhing mass, rising on the stunt wires, escaping the clutches of the Prince’s inner demons.

  But his minions rise with her, pulling her back down.

  She sings with strength and power:

  “My heart beat, dreams and desires

  Finally, I
rise

  I fly”

  Layce is lifted toward the light that now shines down on her as she chants the stuttering melody:

  “Soaring above it all

  Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-all

  All”

  The dark demons spin around her like an inverted vortex of jagged anger, a cone of shadows from which she’ll never escape. The Prince doesn’t want her to leave his darkly gothic abode.

  But she does.

  The Princess of Light floats higher and higher.

  I hear the roar of the wind fans power up and Layce’s wedding dress flutters up around her, signaling the beating of her immense white wings.

  The demons of darkness shrink back in terror.

  Strobe lights intensify and flicker. I hear air guns blowing puffs of smokey debris into the wind, swirling foggy wisps around Layce in her harness. She must be thirty feet above the stage. Many of the dancers hung from wires fly around Layce, circling her like demonic predators.

  The chorus repeats as Layce is lifted to the heavens:

  “Soaring above it all

  Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-all

  Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-aa-all

  All, all

  Soaring above it all”

  To my total surprise, pieces of the gothic ballroom set begin to crumble and fall to the floor. Many of them are attached to wires controlled by stage hands. Others bounce into the corners, obviously made of foam rubber or whatever.

  The Prince’s kingdom is collapsing as the Princess leaves him forever. His darkness was not enough to cage her light.

  I’m so moved by the music and the visuals, I’m literally weeping. It’s too beautiful for words. I half consider running off set to cry my eyes out in private, but the cameras are still rolling. And I’m literally rapt with fascination as the Princess of Light floats into eternity.

  This is the most amazing musical spectacle I’ve ever seen. Even if Layce is a huge rich bitch.