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None of us knew what would happen but we had all been warned that something was about to change. Something out of our reach, something entirely uncontrollable. Each one of us had received a gift. We were few and were told that we could choose only one person to share the gift with. Mine was a mask of black lace. I cut it in half and hid each half in two seperate places.
For a while nothing changed nor hinted of a change. Life continued as it had been since the migration to the underground cities. These cities grew once the ozone layer had completely disappeared and the air had become too toxic for one to breathe. Only those fortunate enough to afford a room in these underground cities the government had built survived. Each room was equipped with clean air to breathe, electricity provided by solar panels and rationed drinking water from recycled underground water sources.
To avoid contamination of any kind from spreading, each person or group of people were to stay locked inside their rooms at all times. The only way to communicate was a highly advanced computerized social network. Once a month we were medically examined to make sure we were strong and healthy enough to remain in the “Abled Ward”. Those who weren’t lucky were moved to the “Disabled Ward”, layers above. The disabled but fit to work were sent to labor overground for the government construction project of a huge protective translucide sphere to rebuild several overground cities. In other words, these workers were sent to die for the better of mankind and its future.
The absence of sunshine and natural light altered people’s moods. Some became aggressive while others depressed. To avoid these side effects, engineers and scientists had elaborated a digital simulation software each of us had to connect to during our sleep. The process being our unconscious walking, breathing and living as if we were in the overground world. We could live inside these artificial dreams day to day, starting off exactly where we had left off the night before. Our lives by night and our days in the dark artificial light…
1. ERASE THE SCARS
No more whispers in the wind
It’s gotten way too loud to hear
Loud, unclear
Twisted visions that we’ve sinned
Forever now have disappeared
Have no fear
OPEN YOUR EYES
ERASE THE SCARS
OPEN YOUR HEARTS
REACH FOR STARS
On and on this conversation has run dry
And I lay sleeplesslyRestlessly
Tying me inside my head
So many things that I left unsaid
Left unsaid
OPEN YOUR EYES
ERASE THE SCARS
OPEN YOUR HEARTS
REACH FOR STARS
These artificial dreams were so vivid you thought you were really in control of everything. It was through these dreams that they contacted us. They told us we were the “chosen ones”. We were given our gifts in these dreams, we all had different ones, but one thing we all had in common was a card, number XVI, better known as The Tower. I hid the card and the mask of black lace inside a wooden chest. I then hid the chest in a secret place inside what used to be my home.
One night, as we were all wired and dreaming, my software woke me up before sunrise. I tried to re-boot it without luck when I heard my door unlock. So I stepped out into the hallway to see if there had been a general security breakdown. This was when I noticed that only two other doors were unlocked and two people stepped out to see what was happening just like me. We carefully approached each other, not used to meeting in flesh and bone. We decided to walk towards our wards’ headquarters, so we followed the signs and we walked through the endless and empty concrete tunnels and corridors where we met three others like us. As we reached the main hall, deafening sirens went off and the doors leading to our tunnels shut down and a loud rumbling noise followed. As we looked behind us a huge wave of rapid water came gushing into the hall towards us. Before we knew it, we were swept away into the the belly of the raging waters for what seemed like forever. I took my last breath and slipped into darkness.
2. SURVIVOR
The violence seems to fade
As the dawn is drawing near
The silence has been betrayed
For all of us to fear
What I really am ?
Just a survivor
Not a lamb
Looking for a savior
In this strange land
All the prophecies have changed
Our beliefs have been deranged
What’s the Truth and where’s the proof ?
SO MANY NIGHTS HAUNTING YOU AND HAUNTING ME
SO MANY TIMES BLEEDING ME FOR ALL TO SEE
All the Gods have been destroyed
Shattered to pieces without a tear
All the prayers we enjoyed
Now forgotten and washed clear
Who I really am ?
Just a survivor
Not a lamb
Looking for a savior
In this strange land
SO MANY NIGHTS HAUNTING YOU AND HAUNTING ME
SO MANY TIMES BLEEDING ME FOR ALL TO SEE
SO MANY LIGHTS BLINDING ME WITH A FANTASY
SO MANY CRIMES TYING ME TO MY ENEMY
Calm and weightlessness had taken over me. Nothing could disturb the serenity I felt as I drifted away. I opened my eyes to see I was several feet underwater and as my eyes accommodated, they could see a source of light above. I swam up to the surface to discover I was overground. The sun burned my eyes and as things became clear I could make out the shore. I swam towards it as it seemed to be close. But it took me some time to finally reach the shore. There was nothing in sight except sand and desert land. I did not know what to do nor where I had come from to go back. So I walked and walked underneath the hot sun. My skin dried in a few minutes and the salt stuck to it.
After walking for miles through the deserted landscape, I could make out in the far distance what seemed to be the remains of a town. So I continued but never seemed to get any closer. My head started spinning and my legs weakened from the heat. My mouth was dry and I collapsed onto the sand as the sun began to set.
3. DIZZY
Tonight I’m feeling a little lazy
(give me more, give more, on the floor)
Some might say I’m just a little crazy
(one more time, one more time, give me more)
Lying aroung and looking at walls
Lying around and waiting for your calls
AND I’M (YOU KNOW I’M) LOSING
AND I’M (YOU SAY I’M) MOVING
AND I’M CRYING
AND I’M TRYING
Tonight I’m feeling a liitle dizzy
(it’s turning, turning, turning, turning, turning more)
Some might say that I’m taking it too easy
(Ttell me, tell me, tell me that I’ve got to do more
I sit around just waiting to get back
The life I had before I lost track
AND I’M (YOU KNOW I’M) LOSING
AND I’M (YOU SAY I’M) MOVING
AND I’M CRYING
AND I’M TRYING
And I TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT TAKE IT
From where I started
Nothing there, nothing there
Can tear me apart
ONE TWO THREE FOUR
Looking for something more
As the air cooled down I found the strength to get back on my feet. I had to reach that town whether it was really there or not, convincing myself it was not just my imagination. Maybe all this was part of my artificial dream, everything from the software waking me up to the sirens and rush of water. Was I still asleep? Would I wake up in a few hours? I could not tell the difference between Reality and Virtuality. My brain felt paralyzed and numb. I tricked my brain into continuing to walk even though I literally had no strength left. Who should I trust? Myself? Them? There was no one to be seen. No sign of life. The pain was so sharp I begged for the dream to end.
4. STOP
YOU ARE
YOU ARE
YOU ARE
YOU ARE
Stop doing what you’re doing to me
Stop draining all my energy
Holding me back
Holding me back
Stop and go one more time
YOU ARE
YOU ARE
YOU ARE
Mistake them all
The ones you say you adore
Take the blame as I feel no shame any more
Stop before it’s too late
Stop before it all turns to hate
YOU ARE
Stop doing what you’re doing
Stop and go one last time
The anger I had silently kept inside me throughout the years I was emprisoned in the massive underground cage suddenly took me over. Our generation was now unable to experience the world as our predecessors had. We could not see the sun and the sky, nor breathe the air and hear the sounds of nature. The closest we could get was in our artificial dreams. I despised what they had done to the Earth and knew it was now the punishment we were to bear for all their mistakes and carelessness. The world was ruled by greed and not by heart. Wars and races towards “Progress” and “Wealth” had led it all to ruin.
5. PROGRESS
Promises of Progress
Have run our rivers dry
Continual excess caused by our Denial
The Truth will kill us all
I can’t wait
WE’RE BUILDING, WE’RE BUILDING, WE’RE BUILDING OUR DEATH
WE’RE STRUGGLING, WE’RE STRUGGLING FREE
WE’RE KILLING, WE’RE KILLING, WE’RE KILLING OUR EARTH
WE’RE DROWNING, WE’RE DROWNING AT SEA
Freedom will be our Prison
The boundaries we’ve built
Will hang us high for Treason
We need to pay for our guilt
The truth will kill us all
WE’RE BUILDING, WE’RE BUILDING, WE’RE BUILDING OUR DEATH
WE’RE STRUGGLING, WE’RE STRUGGLING FREE
WE’RE KILLING, WE’RE KILLING, WE’RE KILLING OUR EARTH
WE’RE DROWNING, WE’RE DROWNING AT SEA
Deep down I knew they had not all done this on purpose. They had not all measured the impact of their acts and habits nor the comfort they had grown accustomed to. We are all Good and Bad. If we were to rebuild the Earth as it used to be, would we start the cycle of destruction all over again, maybe in a different way? Would we do better or worse? But now we know. We now know what they found out much too late. We know how important our actions are and the impact they have on every living cell.
6. THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE EVIL
Somewhere inside these broken hearts is a light waiting to shine
Somewhere inside these broken bones is strength enough to find
Something that’s new
Something that’s true
Something that time can’t undo
WE ARE THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE EVIL
WE ARE THE SAINTS, THE TRUANTS, THE DEVIL
WE ARE THE ANGELS WITH BROKEN WINGS
WE ARE THE VOICES THAT CRY OUT AND SING
Somewhere beyond our darkest dreams is a hope of Paradise
Somewhere between our silent screams lies the weight of Sacrifice
For somehing new
For something true
For something time won’t undo
WE ARE THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE EVIL
WE ARE THE SAINTS, THE TRUANTS, THE DEVIL
WE ARE THE ANGELS WITH BROKEN WINGS
WE ARE THE VOICES THAT CRY OUT AND SING
My weary feet managed to carry me to the town. By the time I reached the first broken house the sun started to rise in a bright orange glare over the horizon as I stood there in awe, before the completely abandoned, ghostly town. All the stores and houses I walked past had broken windows, torn down walls and half-opened doors. Some were partly burnt and plundered. Objects that had once belonged to people were broken and scattered upon the floors here and there. I could not set foot without cautiously inspecting the ground. It was as if time had stood still in complete panic. A warm wind started to blow as I reached a particular crossing I felt familiar with. The familiar feeling made me shiver.
7. HOLDING ON
I keep the records, you keep the rest
I’m not missing anything at all
I keep the car, you keep the house
We’ll just flip a coin for the kids
BUT I KEEP HOLDING ON
BUT I KEEP HOLDING ON
I KEEP HOLDING ON
YES I KEEP HOLDING ON
Open my eyes, heard some noise
Turn around cause I know you’re gone
Not gonna hear you anymore
Thousand miles from before
BUT I KEEP HOLDING ON
BUT I KEEP HOLDING ON
I KEEP HOLDING ON
YES I KEEP HOLDING ON
Scenes of panic and violence flashed before me as I approached a particular house. I crossed the yard and walked past the empty swimming pool towards the back door. As I passed the door, my heart stopped beating and slowly paced back up. I remembered the room, the light, the smell of my childhood years. I could hear my mother’s voice in the kitchen yelling at my brother through the window to be careful in the pool. I walked into the dingy, torn down living room towards my secret hiding place. A hole in the wall. I bent down to reach my arm into the hole and there it was. Intact. A powerful feeling of melancholy took over me as I continued through what used to be my home.
8. FALL TO PIECES
This cold heart burns
With every twist of your lips
And if it could tell you
How quickly the feeling slips
Every bone that yearns
Every beat of your heart
The aching returns
HOLD ME CLOSE
OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES NOW
HOLD ME CLOSE
OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES NOW
These broken arms still
Would die to hold you again
The pain so deep
Nothing calms but one’s will
With every bone that yearns
With every beat of your heart
The aching returns
PULL ME CLOSE
OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES NOW
PULL ME CLOSE
OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES NOW
DON’T GO AWAY
PULL ME CLOSE OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES FOR YOU NOW
PULL ME CLOSE OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES NOW
PULL ME CLOSE OR I’LL FALL TO PIECES FOR YOU NOW
As I was about to leave heavy-heartedly I saw my mother’s leather jacket on the sofa. It was burnt and melted from the sun’s rays. I remembered that jacket. I always wanted to wear it and she would not let me because she would leave her car keys in the pocket, afraid she would lose them. I grabbed the jacket and smelled it, it still smelled of my mother’s perfume. I felt the keys in the pocket. I walked out the front door to see the car was still there under its cover. I put the jacket on to protect my skin from the scorching sun and took the keys out. They were rusted but still worked.
9. NEAR OR FAR
I can’t help but think of you
Knowing you’re far away
I can’t help but think of you
And what you would have to say
I keep wondering where you are
I keep wondering, you’re all the same
I KEEP WONDERING
WHAT YOU’D BE DOING NOW
I KEEP THINKING
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF ME NOW
I never imagined I’d be moving in my life without you
I never thought I’d go all this way without you
Near or far knowing you’re somewhere unreal
Hold your tongue don’t tell me how you feel
I KEEP WONDERING
WHAT YOU’D BE DOING NOW
I KEEP THINKING
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF ME NOW
I keep wondering what you’ve become
I’ve been wondering for some time now
I went to see you all
You’re all the same
I KEEP WONDERING
WHAT YOU’D BE DOING NOW
I KEEP THINKING
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF ME NOW
I KEEP WONDERING
WHAT YOU’D BE DOING NOW
I KEEP THINKING
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF ME NOW
As I drove through the desert roads passing by empty houses, the loneliness I had felt in my room underground felt trivial compared to the loneliness I was now feeling. Was I going to wake up? Was this what I had been warned about? I was afraid to look into the wooden chest. Afraid that I would see the black lace. If I were to see the black lace would that mean I wasn’t dreaming? I felt lost and confused. I wished I had someone to talk. Someone I could feel sitting by my side and who felt my pain.
After hours of driving through the shattered emptiness, I saw a blurry silhouette in a distance. As I approached the sound of the engine made him look behind. He had trouble walking as I had. I recognized the piece of black lace sticking out of his jeans’ back pocket. We stared at each other without saying a word. I bent over to open the passenger door. He came inside and collapsed in the seat. I continued to drive now searching for a sign of others like us roaming. He opened his eyes as I stopped the car, exhausted and hopeless.
10. NEED YOUR TOUCH
If I could fall asleep between your arms
If I could open my eyes and see your face
How can I ask for more?
How can I feel so sore?
AND I NEED YOUR TOUCH
AND I NEED YOUR TOUCH
If I could feel your hands upon my skin
If I could let you go from within
How can you see in me?
How can we ever be?
AND I NEED YOUR TOUCH
AND I NEED YOUR TOUCH
A loud banging sound pulled us out of sleep. We looked around and saw nothing but desert and sun. He opened the car door to take a look around and I followed. There she lay behind the car, collapsed on the burning road. We picked her up and lay her down on the backseat. She was holding something in a tight grip with her left hand. As we unlocked her clutch we looked at each other. The Tower. He reached into his back pocket to look at his card. It was exactly the same card.
We drove for miles till we saw trees. As we approached we saw someone lying beside what seemed to be a small lake. We ran out of the car and shook him. He woke up startled and pointed to the water. We both drank until we could not drink anymore. We brought the girl near the water and made her drink. All four of us stayed there for the night debating whether we were dreaming or if this was what we had been warned about. One said he had dreamt of this before, the exact same dream. But something felt different. I asked him how his dream had ended. He remained silent and looked to the horizon.
“They came in the end.”
“Who?” I asked.
11. SILENT ALARM (WAR CRY)
Put down your ams
And raise your hands up to the sky
(they see you, they hear you)
Listen to the silent alarms
Staring you straight in the eye
(they feel you, they hear you)
It’s all a lie
A War Cry, war cry, it’s a war cry, a war cry
AND I DEFY YOU
TO BREAK THE RULES OF THIS GAME
AND I DENY YOU
TO BE A KING IN OUR NAME
TO BE A KING IN OUR NAME
Open up your arms
And embrace the broken and frail
(they feel you, they need you)
Protect them through the storms
Forsaken but not for sale
(they see you, they hear you)
It’s all a lie
A War Cry, war cry, i’s a war cry, a war cry
CHORUS
They’ll kill you in a heartbeat
‘til you crash and burn
And they’ll leave you crawling the streets
Cause there’s no return
A WAR CRY
THIS IS A WAR CRY
I woke to the warm wind caressing my skin. A feeling of peace and tranquility filled me once more as I lay there motionless on the tiny parcel of grass. My eyes glanced around to see all four of us were still there. It was so beautiful, now I knew I was not dreaming. It was the real sky and sun, the real air. It was not as beautiful in my dreams. How did they let all this fall to pieces? How could they not care enough to allow it to be destroyed?
11. STRIKE THE MATCH
If you were to lose everything you love
If you were to choose Hell or Above
Would you give everything up
For Salvation or Revenge?
Would you be willing to give up your Soul in exchange?
COULD YOU TAME THE FORE INSIDE
OR WOULD YOU STRIKE THE MATCH?
If you could clear out all of the Hate
If you could take control of Fate
Would you give everything up
For Adoration or Regret?
Would you be willing to give up your Soul for a change?
COULD YOU TAME THE FORE INSIDE
OR WOULD YOU STRIKE THE MATCH?
Oooohhhhh
What would you give up
To save a million lives?
What would you give up
To put our the Fires?
What would you give up
To trade disguise?
What would you give up
To feed the lies?
COULD YOU TAME THE FORE INSIDE
OR WOULD YOU STRIKE THE MATCH?
Could you tame the Fire inside (What would you give up?)
Or would you strike the match? (What would you give up?)
Could you tame the Fire inside (What would you give up?)
Or would you strike the match? (What would you give up?)
Now that we were given a second chance, now that we could learn from our selfishness and greed, we had a Mission. We decided to set out and find the rest of the “chosen ones”. We were not the only ones there, we could feel it. We drove for days and days and found others. We had all learnt and seen what our lives were without the benefits of the Earth, without the elements and the creatures treading it. We shall start anew.
13. RESISTANCE
Close to Death yet still Alive
I feel myself drifting away
I close my eyes and see the Sun rise
As my life flows away
THE SUN MAY SET AND WE WON’T DISAPPEAR
THE SUN MAY MELT AND WASH AWAY OUR FEAR
IT’S NOT OVER YET AS LONG AS WE’RE STILL HERE
IT’S NOT OVER YET AS LONG AS YOU’RE NEAR
I fall behind into a distance
I call the blind to seek Resistance
But I melt into the Darkness that surrounds me
Catching a glimpse of Eternity
THE SUN MAY SET AND WE WON’T DISAPPEAR
THE SUN MAY MELT AND WASH AWAY OUR FEAR
IT’S NOT OVER YET AS LONG AS WE’RE STILL HERE
IT’S NOT OVER YET AS LONG AS YOU’RE NEAR
It’s not over yet
CHORUS
It’s not over yet (x3)
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