Espresso-Flavored Horror: The Bubblegum Curse
Mara snapped to consciousness under a blinding flash of pink stage lights. The roar of twenty thousand screaming fans hit her like a freight train, but it was the sheer lack of heavy distortion and leather that caused her absolute, visceral horror.
Looking down, her soul left her body. She wasn't holding her usual battle-tested electric guitar. Instead, she was clutching a bedazzled microphone, draped in a glittering pink halter top, a sequined mini skirt, and five-inch platform sequined boots—looking straight out of a Sabrina Carpenter concert. Behind her, a massive neon sign spelled out her ultimate pop-star nightmare in bright bubblegum pink lights.
"What in the synthetic pop hell..." Mara gasped into the mic, her voice instantly autotuned into a flawless, sweet melody. The crowd went utterly wild.
She tried to hit a heavy metal scream, but out came the breathy, ultra-catchy chorus of "Juno." Her body was moving on pure choreography autopilot, striking sultry pop-idol poses while her brain screamed in rockstar agony. Where is the bass? Where are my combat boots?!
Suddenly, the blinding lights began to melt into trailing wicks of green smoke.
Mara jolted upright in her own bed, gasping for air, drenched in sweat. Sitting on the nightstand right beside her was a half-burnt, glowing green candle labeled "Byte’s Midnight Aromatherapy: Bubblegum Pop Scent."
Standing in the doorway, Byte was cheerfully licking a lollipop. "Morning, superstar! Did you sing the Juno song in your sleep, or were you just screaming?"
Mara grabbed a pillow and launched it at her with full force.
((I saw an image of Sabrina Carpenter with this sign on stage and I HAD to use it. No regrets))