*NSYNC's Nightmare Hollowing Halloween

Trailer below:

Chapter 1 - The Nightmare Begins:


"You're deaf," the doctor tries to explain , by writing on a piece of paper, as a very groggy Justin lies still on the hospital bed.

Closing his eyes, tears stream down his bruised face.
A soft grunt comes from his mouth. More tears slips over his cheekbone's, as an unusual pressure builds in his ears. The sensation fades, and he grows drowsy.

Justin remains in his own little world, until his hearing devices are turned on.

Chapter 2: Goodbye

Bobbing his head of curls, he walks past many plots, finding himself with a small gathering of people. They have come to bid farewell to a girl he gave a ride home too.
She had been drinking, and he couldn't have been more sober, but something went horribly wrong, and Justin suffers greatly.

Chapter 3: An Unlikely invitation

Being deaf, Justin never expected an invitation to a party!
He did not feel like celebrating Halloween, or anything, but the invation always pops into his head, nearly plaguing him to answer "yes."

Yawning, he places the invite on his nightstand, before closing his eyes.
"Carolina," he mumbles sleepily, "I really don't want to go."
"You must," she replies, "It is part of your destiny."
He stares at the unearthly light, perplexed, as his eyelids droop close.

He crumples the invitation angrily tossing it into the wastebasket, exiting his room for breakfast.

"Morning Sugar," his mom smiles, and pours him some tea.
"Momma," he sighs cautiously..."I had a dream," he manages slurring his words.
Lynn gazes into his fearful eyes, "Was it about the accident?"
He shrugs his shoulders, "Carolina," he pauses, "wants me to go the party."
"It would be a great opportunity for you to attend," his mom grins, "you've been so down lately. What happened wasn't your fault. Its time to start letting go."
"I....."he stumbles, "she.....just... I don't know."
Lynn laughs, "Justin, Carolina was always good at knowing things. Maybe, this is something amazing for you."
"I think otherwise," Justin breathes deeply, and takes a sip of his tea.
Placing the cup on the table, he glances in her direction to speak, when his friend enters through the door.

"Justin," Trace says apathetically, "I received an invite to that party, and...," he stops studying his friend's features.
"I'm not ready," Justin admits sadly, "no matter what my dreams tell me."
"I don't know anything about your dreams, Just, but Jive throws the best parties! It wouldn't be right for me to attend, and leave you behind to sulk. You're going to go, if I have to drag you there myself, and that's final."
Laughing, Justin stands, "You always were so persistent, but we'll see man!"

Surveying his bedroom, after his shower, he discovers a piece of paper lying on his bed. Moving closer he examines the sheet horrified, "How'd this get here?"
A womanly voice replies, "It is your destiny, Justin," as his blood runs cold.

Chapter 4: Soul Searching

The drive to the old mansion, on a large hill, labors his breathing thinking what lies ahead for him.
Crashes of thunder pulsate through his trembling form, as his knuckles turn a ghostly white. The wind howls furiously, and the sound of rushing wind rustles through his ears. Chills travel down his neck to his spinal collum.
Quickly, his head jerks to the side, hearing cries for help, but no person insight.

Knock, knock, on the hard wood door frame.
"Good evening you must be Justin! I will be your Butler for the evening my name is Jeeves."
Studying the man, Justin breathes heavily, "I.. I would like to hold onto my coat. Is that okay with you? I'm sorry I have not gotten into costume yet."
"No worries, kind Sir. You can change when you are ready. Not all the guests have arrived yet."
Breathing a sigh of relief, Justin makes his way inside the candle lit mansion, gazing at the worn interior, as his heart skips a beat.
The touch of someones hand resting on his shoulder, causes Justin to turn his head nervously."
"It's okay, J. It's just me, Lance. Why are you so on edge?"
"I.I..I do not like this place. Its very creepy. You know how I feel about Halloween."
Lance pats Justin's back, "Chill! It'll be okay. You are going to have lots of fun. What Star Wars character are you?"
" I'm Yoda," Justin says slightly grinning, "The intellectual one."
"Funny J, and you're so green too."
"No, I am not," Justin groans. turning his head toward the casket display, "Whaaa...... in there?"
Lance laughs, "Go find out for yourself. I'm not spoiling surprises." He pushes his unsure friend toward a cauldron of candy, "Dig in."
Justin shakes his head,"Ew, no way, am I putting my hand in there. I am going to go change. Where do I go?"
Pointing Justin toward a door marked with a red "X", he watches as his friend makes his way there, waiting patiently for Justin's return.

It is a quiet little bathroom, with a dusty mirror covered in cobwebs, as Justin unpacks his costume, listening to the Halloween music blaring.
Undressing until he is only in his boxers and a tee-shirt he grabs onto the costume, slowly slipping it on over his thin legs, and over his waist line up to his shoulders. Carefully, he places the Yoda costume over his head of wet curls. and adjusts it to feel right with his new hearing aides.
Picking up his clothes, he folds them putting the articles in his blue duffel bag. He taps the floor, getting his Halloween shoes just right, as he feels the floor give, "A trap door, but why?" he muses.

Not willing to check out his findings, he slips out the door, duffel bag in hand and heads toward the large coat rack.
Grabbing some punch, he gazes around the room, finding Lance who is dressed like R2 D2 in the corner talking to a woman in a witch costume. A tear slides down his cheek, recognizing the familiar face, even underneath the make up.
Reaching for his light saber, he pretends to battle Darth Mal, ignoring everyone else. Closing his eyes, he softly smiles. Bump!
Opening his eyes, Justin blushes, "Sorry, I was just in my own space."
She chuckles, "It's okay. I saw you standing over here, and wanted to come join you. Usually Jive throws good parties, but this one seems out of place."
"I have that feeling too," Justin admits. "I just want to get out of here. Halloween isn't for me. I........" He pauses, "Where'd she go?" He moans, being alone with his thoughts once more. Tired, he sits in a chair, next to a prop corpse.
He reasons with himself, "I could just sneak out. They'd never notice, and I'd feel a whole lot better."
"You're not going anywhere tonight, or eternity," a creepy voice whispers, leaving Justin frightened.
"We'll see," Justin mummers, searching through the sea of faces.

Chapter 5: Glowing Pumpkins

He makes his way toward his pal, Trace, hoping he can help.
Trace is dressed in a repulsive wig harboring over the candy corn. Justin catches a glimpse of Trace's designer jeans, "William Rast," and grabs onto them. "Trace, can we trade costumes?"
"Yoda, J? You want me to be Yoda? He is not even scary!"
" I.I. Don't want to stay, Trace. Strange things are happening. I think something wants me."
" Every girl in practically America and the world wants you, and has for awhile. What's the big deal?"
"The big idea Trace is it is Halloween, and I can't see these people's faces."
"Get a grip J! It will be okay! Look at that weird spinning thing, crazy!"
Justin stares at the spinning object, going into a hypnotic stance, "Glowing Pumpkins?"
Trace laughs, "Yes, go see them! They are in the crypt, below the bathroom. All your friends have seen them."

Justin staggers toward the bathroom, going inside, sitting on the floor confused, "Why am I here?"
He glances around trying to remember, seeing a pumpkin on the counter top, "Must find the glowing pumpkins," he reminds himself.
He taps the ground for several minutes, finding the trapdoor, lowering himself into the darkness.
A candle is at his side, and Justin reaches for the brightly glowing light confused, "Where are the glowing pumpkins?"
A hissing voice exclaims, "Follow the lighted path to the pumpkins."

Justin loses his balance tripping over his shoelace, and out of his trance like state. Shaking his head, he stands slowly, hearing a voice command.
"Follow me, and you will find your glowing pumpkins!"
"Trace," Justin questions, but gets no answer. "I am getting tired, and want to go home." Still no response. "Trace, I..I..I.. mean it. I know I have played some tricks on you, and I am sorry, but I want this night to end."
"Going home is not an option. It is going to be a long, long night, and so you must conserve your energy. We would not want you falling asleep, in the midst of this nightmare. You may never wake up," the Ghoul taunts. "Look at the candle in the corner. I know you want too. You need to see the glowing pumpkins, Justin."
Justin keeps his head down, "No way! Give me my friends!"
The ghoul snickers, "They are your friends, and are all waiting for you to join them! Do not disappoint them."
Refusing to adhere to the creature, Justin stands still, feeling a cold chill run through his body, as he hears a voice inside his head, "You will go see the pumpkins. You must listen to this voice, and do as I say. LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CANDLE! THE CANDLE WILL GUIDE YOU TO YOUR FRIENDS, JUSTIN."

Like a Zombie, Justin drifts through the crypt, heavily in a deep hypnotic state.
Stopping in front of the glowing pumpkins, He sits down on the ground, waiting patiently for his next cue. His arms fall at his sides, making contact with a grave.

He stares blankly at a spinning circle, going deeper into trance. He repeats what the evil voice tells him, "I am your pumpkin," as his eyelids become droopy. "I am from your pumpkin patch," he mumbles.
His mind wanders, as sleep overcomes him. The ghoul places him into a wagon.

A figure steps in front of him. She is dressed all in black, with a veil over her eyes."I am here repaying a favor."
"For what?" he asks.
"You risked your life for me." it explains." Taking his clammy hands she whispers, "We are running out of time. The transformation has started."
Stiffening of his joints cause him to move slowly through the burial ground. Extending his arms he moans at the prickly sensations running through them.
His cries turn to mumbles, disappearing into the night.
Stopping at the pumpkin patch he plops to the ground, feeling heavy, and stuffed. Rolling to the warmest side he attempts to run his hands along his frame, but his arms will not seem to allow it. He grumbles having the urge to move his hands in an upright position, and there is some sort of pressure on his head.
The few colors he can make out are blending together, getting lighter, but he can still roll, and with that maybe he can escape this creature's clutches.
He believes, he can break the spell, if he can get away. The touch of cold hands against his frame, causes him chill bumps. A weird sensation runs through him, as he is cut from the pumpkin patch, and the creeper brings him to be with his friends.

The glowing pumpkins scare him, though he cannot make out their faces. Everything is confusing, as thoughts run through his mind, and he hears the pumpkins talking, but cannot quite understand them.
He seems to be in a transiting stage, stuck between two different forms. The ghoul shows him a glowing pumpkin. It is blurry, and warm against him. It makes him feel strange, and he is able to see things again, but not like before. Everything is bright, and something cold is underneath him, some sort of table, as he rolls to the side, noting he has gained weight, making movement difficult.
Something pokes him, and he sighs, as the creature pulls at his stem, and vine. He smiles thrilled that he has not been fully disconnected from the vines. He communicates to the limb to get away from the ghoul's clutches, but she will not allow it.
She rubs his surface with her cold hands, and he begins to think of a long sleep, turning a deeper orange.
With his world getting fuzzier, and an odd sensation in his side arouses him to roll on his side onto a cool rubbery smooth surface.
Chanting voices yell, "You must save us, and she shall help you for your good deeds."
A soft moan escapes from him at the sudden tingly wet feeling.
"He is ready for display," he hears the ghoulish creature snicker, as he argues with the female.
"He is still moving," she points out.
"It is just a reaction to the spray. His exterior is stiff, and his breathing has slowed dramatically, as he goes into a deep sleep. He will awake, and it will be too late. Maybe next year somebody will figure how to stop me from living off these foolish individuals."

Chapter 6: A Soft Spot

On display, Justin sighs helplessly, as he feels the touch of human hands, "A soft spot," he listens to the human tell their friends, "he's no good with that marking."
Warmness surrounds his inner core, as slight pressure on his insides occur, and he finds a way to roll on his side, as fingers grasp his plump frame. "I'll get you down, before you cause more trouble," she tells him. "The ghoul must be tricked, by looking into his glowing pumpkins, which will reverse, and release all the lost souls. You have not given up, so he may not have your soul, only your body is in his possession."
He wonders how his soul is captured, as the candle burns inside of him, and his eyes flicker in the darkness. Being in the middle of all the pumpkins fear sets into him. He is much larger than the others, stronger willed, and the only jack-o-lantern with a soft spot.

With the dimming of the candle inside, he grows weary, awaiting the ghoul.
The sound of a lighter sends a shiver through his core, and his eyes lighten with fiery glow, as if the Devil has control of him.
"Look at me," he shouts angrily, but the ghoul refuses Justin's proposal. Feeling a strength surge through him, he lunges forward, knocking the ghoul to his knees.
"This has never happened before," he stammers. "This boy is different, and must be stopped."
He is no match for Justin, as he watches the young man bounce about like a crazed basketball.
He falls victim to the burning light, as silence, and a sense of peace fill the air.
"Their souls are free," The good Spirit informs him.
"But what about our bodies?" he questions.
"Some will return others will not," she replies.
"And mine?" he asks.
"Oh your day shall come to be human, after your much needed sleep," she says rubbing his outer layer with lubricant to protect it from rotting. "You're going to start to feel nice and cozy," she says.
He falls asleep waking in human form, but with the mind set of a plant temporarily, or maybe not!? You never really can tell whose being a good ghoul and whose being a bad ghoul, and perhaps there was only one to begin with!?

Memphis Ties

WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS SEXUAL REFERENCES/ALCHOOL AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES!
View trailer below:

Tag line: Even famous people must sometimes find out the hard way how life can be unfair.

His vision blurs sitting on the hardwood flooring, holding a glass clumsily in his hands.
The pregnant woman beside him laughs,"I got the hottest guy in music drunk."
His eyes are red with pain, and his cheeks are stained with tears,"No more pain," he slurrs, "noregrets." Justin attempts standing, and looks around the room,once on his feet, "This is like that sh** boat. Everything is spinning or coming in some direction."
She reaches for his arm,"Keep it down. The landlord already hates my pregnant a**."
"But, I'm on a tilt-a-whirl," he manages, stumbling over his feet.
"You are going sit back on the d*** floor," she half demands, pushing him onto the ground.
He whimpers momentarily, unable to control his actions,"I'm still spinning, but everything's getting dark, and I'm feeling sleepy."

He groans, waking to complete darkness, as the inside of his head pounds, like a drum.
Slowly, his fingers move along the dirty floor searching for his keys. Grasping onto the cold metal, he lets out a relieved sigh.
"You're a** is going nowhere, Timberlake," a woman whispers grabbing the keys from his hand easily.
"But they need me," he whines, attempting to stand, failing miserably,"My legs why won't they work for me?"
"Because, you're drunk. You're brain aint getting the signals."
Signals?" he questions with confusion. He reaches for her hand, missing,"Sh**signals." He mumbles, feeling the need to lean against the wall, before vomiting onto himself, "allreadyforhome."
She pulls off his top,"Come with me, Justin," she says barely above a whisper, getting him on his unsteady feet, and ushering him to a room.

His body is wet with sweat, as he finds his way to the unfamiliar bed, and feels her hands against his skin. She works her way over his body with delicacy, something he hasn't felt in a long time.
An amused sigh escaped his lips, when she presses around his special spot. He feels it bulge, and stiffen, as she throws his jeans into a Conner of the room.
His mind wanders.
He attempts to get up, but his body is too weak from the alchool, "Gottogethome," he cries.
"You are, so just relax." Her hand moves along his waistline. She half giggles,listening to his grunts growing fainter, "Time for sleep J."

Waking, his eyes can't seem to quite focus on the surroundings, and his head hurts to the point of crying, and his body,"Why am I naked? he asks coldly.

"You like to sleep that way," the woman from last night answers, as she walks into the room, pulling her hair back into a scrunchies. "It really doesn't matter Just. All that matters is you're OK."
"I don't feel okay," he croaks, pulling the blanket over his lower body. "I want to be home."
"What exactly would you call home?" She smiles sitting next to him.
"Home is where I feel safe, or so I thought up until those creeps robbed me." He closes his eyes, "I just needed some time to breathe, after all that sh**! Things should be normal, so I won't be forced into some physacatric home."
"I doubt it'll come down to that."

His home is a mess, as he slumps onto the hardwood distraught and angry. He wraps his arms around his legs protectively, "Better soon,"he slurs, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.

His mother moves his limp body to his bed,"Justin," she says, but he makes no movement or sound.
He hears a faint voice calling his name, and slowly comes too.
"Are you okay Justin?" His mother asks with concern.
He blinks at the tears stinging his eyes,"Trying to be." He pauses, and looks toward the window,"Who is the pretty lady outside Mom?"
Lynn shrugs,and gazes out the frame,"Nobody is out there, love."
"She is such a pretty person Mom. I wish you could see her."
Lynn smiles,"I wish I could." Her fingers run through his curls, as he drifts to sleep.

"You like it here," the pregnant woman chuckles, pulling the door open.
"This place is like a crack house," he admits."When my doctor told me it'd be good to see something worse than than the hell I'd been living I laughed. Nobody would expect a pop star in his prime to be hanging around a hole like this. Somehow I've become addicted to this joint. I thought about doing handyman work."
"You?" She raises her eyebrows,"What exactly can a boy like you do, other than sit on my floor and sulk?"
"I was thinking of fixing the floorboards. They left me with some nasty bruises, being all jagged."

After fixing the boards, he sits on the floor. His tired expression meets the woman who took his keys last night.
Her eyes search his looking for anything positive, but he is lost in himself.
"How's it been?" she asks knowingly.
"Oh, it's been you know kinda crazy, and I haven't felt too well."
"You're going back out on the road soon. That ought to be special......"
Sniffling he turns his head in the other direction, "I suppose. I'm going to miss it here."
"You can always come and visit," she smiles sitting on the floor next to him.
"This place won't be here when I come back. It has nothing anybody, but you and I would want. This place is sh**, when it comes to looks. I've seen places in third world countries with more light. You come here, and it is like I'm sucked into a fu'**in hole of darkn ess. I half like, but the other part of me hates this place, warning me that the devil plays hard here. He wants me to fall into this hell hole, and be damned, because my life seemed so heavenly before, and now I live as if I have no life. Those men took away my soul, and spitted it back at me in a million pieces. I don't ever think my life will be the same. I don't even know if I can look past it all."
Kissing his forehead, she whispers, "You will. Close your eyes."
"I'm not in the mood," he whimpers, as her hands run down his sweaty undershirt,"Come on Just," she encourages, pulling his shirt down over his bruised abdomen,"you and I need to talk in the bedroom."
"No," he yells jerking his head to the side.
"Shh," he hears closing his eyelids tightly, but something inside of him is telling him to obey.

Giving in, she drags him to the bedroom. His head of curls rests against her shoulder, "Justin look at me," she demands. His blue eyes focus on her blurry face. "Don't be afraid. I know you are starting to remember the girl that only you could see..."
"What girl?" he questions. "You're talking crazy."
"No Just, my twin sister came to you. She told me."
"You have a twin Val?" He blinks at the tears stinging his eyes.
"Yes, but she is no longer here at least not physically. She thinks you are a very special guy."
"No, I'm just a dude trying to make life work," he manages, and I think it is insane to fathom that those that have gone before us have come back......" He pauses suddenly feeling cold.
"She's working her magic right now, JMan, by making your non-believing a** chilled.
"More so y'all didn't pay the electric bill and the company aint too pleased. I can afford it, if you want me to pay."
"That isn't it! Now listen to your heart! You can be so difficult at times," she yaps.
"I can't deal with made up sh**! Next you'll tell me about a lovely little fairy who can grant my every wish. This is the real world, crackhead or not. You have too see the difference."
"I'm not going to tell you about a fu'**in fairy, or that Santa is going to come down your fancy a** chimney. What I'm telling you is the God's honest truth Timberlake. You're going to see that one way or another, eventually."
What is that some effed up threat?" he grumbles distancing himself from her.
"I am not about making threats. You'll see soon enough."
"I am tired of all this," he sobs walking toward the door."I want out."
She grabs at his hands,"Stay, you're a mess."
"Because of you," he groans
"You wanted to live the idol life! I wasn't the one who broke into your classy home. You put yourself out there. You cannot blame me for that," she states grabbing his chin harshly, "Look at me."
"I can't," he moans, taking a deep breath,"I just need out. No more commitments."
Her hand creases his peachy face,as her free hand wraps around his body,"You aren't thinking. Just relax," but he moves out of her grasp, taking off out the door.

Two a.m., Justin coughs shuttering at the terrible sensation running through his head,"Momma?" he chatters hoarsely in the darkness.
Silence surrounds his achy frame. Lifting his head from the hard surface, he winces at the shooting pain through his skull.
"Fu**," he mummers as his eyes focus on the red sticky substance covering his hands. Reaching for napkins in the glove compartment, he wipes away the blood, leaning his head against the leather interior of his Chevy.
His body shakes violently,as he eyes the river, inches from him,"I shouldn't be here."
"You have a purpose for being here tonight," a voice calls out, "hang in there. You're going to make it through this."
"I'm so tired,and cold, and my head......" He grabs his scalp,"Hurts."
A bright blinding light surrounds his motionless frame. He senses it enveloping him, sucking him into an unknown universe. Justin opens his mouth to speak, but no words he can utter, as his eyelids grow heavy, and he drifts into a deep sleep.

Six-forty-three a.m.,His eyes flutter in the dim lit room,"Momma?" he questions nervously receiving no answer he sighs.
"Shh," a womanly voice whispers.
"I need to see Momma," he tries weakly.
"In time Justin. You're not doing too well right now, and need your rest." She gently pats his hand,"Tell me about what happened last night?"
"I lost my balance on a stupid rock," he shrugs.
"You're not telling me everything, and I need to know to help you."
"I'm too damn tired for this." His eyelids droop,"So sleepy."
Covering his body with a heated blanket, she glances at the numerous monitors,"Do you want me to call Val, and tell her to come down?"
Val?" He ponders the thought, racking his brain, remembering who Val is,"sure."

Eleven-thirty a.m.,"What were you thinking?"
"I had no idea what I was getting myself into," he sobs."I'm so sorry. You can leave, if you want too."
"I have no plans to go anywhere," Val declares.
"You really care about me," he shutters,"and I'm so stupid for not letting you in."
"Let's not worry about this right here. You have a nasty bump on your head. I'll take you home with me...."
"I want to be alone, my own home, even if it is broken."
"No, you're not stable, and I can't even think how your mother will react to all this," she grimaces.
He slowly sits dizzily,"My real home is where I need to be," he pleads."
"Fine, I'll drive you there, but were not staying. Grab some personal items, and then were heading back to the apartments."
"Whatever," he sighs, as his breathing begins to slow.

This is the room that still has the warmth and compassion he loves most. A baby grand piano is the centerpiece of the empty living room: Justin's heart and sole linger within the ivroy keys. Whether he pounces or delicately tackles the keys he finds great comforter.
The sun bounces of his dull color face,as his fingers move into place. He cringes at the growing nauseated feelings running through his body.
They wash away. The music whisks him from the trouble suffocating his mind, body and soul, as Val watches him in utter amazement.
He pulls himself from the keys, gazing at his bag of personal items,"I guess I'm ready."
"Good," she says linking her arm around his waistline for support.

"You don't pack lightly do you?" she chuckles,"If I didn't know better I'd think you were Santa."
"Santa doesn't exist, so there's no comparison. It really isn't much, or at least I don't think it is." He rests his head against the interior,"I'll put something back if you think should."
"I'm not letting you step foot in that house of horrors for a long time," she dishearteningly admits.
"But Momma is going to wonder...."He pauses shakily, "I'm going to have to at least talk to Momma."
"I'm not holding you back from speaking with your mother, Justin. I just don't thing you are ready to face her, after you're Stormy night. You cannot keep living like you do. Does she know how unhappy you are?"
"She's unclear about me, and my life after the break in. She doesn't want to believe I'm broken, and I want nothing to do with the ties that bound me. I never wanted her to feel like I've dejected her, but Memphis isn't for me anymore. I'm don't know where it would be right...." He stops wiping at the tears burning his blue orbs. "I want to get this right," he sobs, at the car comes to an abrupt halt.
"You will," he hears, as a chill runs through his spine.
"Who said that?" he questions eyes wide with worry?"
"Said what, Justin?" she implies.
"Somebody said I will find my way," he deeply breathes.
"You can," she smiles, bringing her arms around his frail form, in hopes that he won't continue on about the voice,"Shh."
"Take me home," he cries with desperation.
"We'll be there shortly," she assures,"Try to relax, Justin."

The apartment is chilly, as Val wraps a blanket around his troubling form, "Are you feeling better after your nap in the car?"
He shrugs his shoulders,"Not at all. Why won't you talk to me about the voice? Is it because I'm going crazy?"
"Because you didn't want to deal with the woman I told you about before, and I doubt you are willing to believe, just yet."
He questions, "Am I in some kind of weird cult?"
"No, ghosts happen, and one just so happens to be my sister."
"You're right, I'm not ready to deal with this. Sorry for sounding insensitive," he sighs sadly,"Something has to change, and soon."
"Things always have a way of working themselves out. Give it time, Just."
"I'm not sure I can," he weeps softly into her worn tee-shirt,"Am I savable?"
"Of course you are," She pats his back,"You want to rest in here while I go speak to Alley?"
"I suppose," he closes his eyes, leaning against his pillow.

He awakes to darkness, and distant chatter,"Alone again," he muses shifting his distraught form to the side of the bed. His fingers run along his bruised scalp, and down his battered sweaty facial features. "Nobody fu**in wants me," he breathes heavily.
"They're all probably sh** wasted, and forgot all about the damaged star sleeping in the room not too far from them....
Footsteps, he hears them, as the sounds of voices fade from his ears. Loud and clunky shoes hitting the old wooden boards, coming closer send Justin into a tailspin.
"Anyone in here?" a husky man shouts, pounding on the door.
Gasping, Justin watches the door handle, and then the door fly open revealing a bulky man in uniform. He squints at the gruff figure flashing a light.
"Sir you'll have to get up. We've been stinging this place for the last week."
"Sh**," Justin seethes under his breath, as he quickly pulls the sheets from himself, and stands before the man.
"I won't do anything, if you come with me. Hands behind your back."
Justin cringes, as his head fills with a deep blistery sensation. The icy cuffs against his skin burn, as they grow tighter.
"Out with you now,' the officer demands.

Sitting on the floor, he watches the police search the apartment. His body trembles, knowing he is next.
"An injection," he states to himself, as his blue eyes grow wide,"He wants to shoot me up with whatever @#$% is in there to get something out of me."
His eyes are menacing trying to look at every nook and cranny on Justin's body, "This will all be over soon," he grumbles, taking Justin's nightshirt sleeve, and lifting it quickly.
Another officer questions, "What's your name son?"
"Justin," he stutters softly, turning to face this new man. He closes his eyes feeling an intense jab in his arm.

Twenty minutes later, Justin yawns drowsily attempting to focus on his surroundings. Everything is fuzzy, coming out of the sedation drugs.
"You are in the hospital again," a womanly voice says.
"Cause I fu@#ed up," he replies growing angry.
"You made a bad choice, but it will be okay. You need to move on. Val is so sorry about all this."
"Now, the world thinks I'm a criminal," he sobs.
"No, they were informed it was a misunderstanding. It will blow over, like your attitude should."
"I would try if something started to go right for a change," he explains, as his voice becomes hoarser.

The next morning,"Momma," Justin says with fear evident his deep blue eyes,"I'm not ready for another interview like this."
"Just tell them what we discussed Justin. We'll get through this."
"That's just it Mom, I'm not about to lie. I had that concussion long before landing my a@@ in that crack house. I have connections with them. I'm not about to give them hell when they did more good for me than bad. Val that girl is amazing..."
"Justin, that is no place for you to be living. It is got they were exposed like this, before you got hurt."
"Hurt?" His eyes grow wide, "Hurt was me being dejected by my own mother after three guys decided to break in, hold me a gun point and tell me I was a fu'@#er, and shouldn't be alive. You tried to pass it off as something I could easily get over, but I hadn't. When you started realizing what a wreck I was, you sent me to see this weird man who smelled like bad Colene, and only cared to take me on because I had buckets of money to keep him in business, as long as my paycheck would keep going up. He told me to go see how the real world is, visiting a home full of people on drugs. I learned a lot from these guys."
"I never meant to hurt you, by doing that. I figured the doctor knew a lot better than I would have.' Her hand runs along is back creating soothing motion, "Shh, you can call this off and you and I can spend some time together to think this all through...."
His tired blues wander the room, before meeting hers, "I owe this to my fans to stay true. I have to do this for them to understand my reasoning."
"Okay Justin," she says turning on her heels to walk out of the room.

Five p.m., Justin answers the phone in a raspy sounding voice,"Hello?"
"Hey there J Man, sorry about all that. The police released me finding nothing to convict me of, other than being in the wrong place at the right time."
"I miss you Val," he sighs, and closes his eyes.
She inquires, "You want me to stop by later?"
"That'd be great," his voice full of desperation.

"You've done some organizing," she laughs.
'I had to get to it eventually. It may help to get past the trama, I've faced. Mostly, it's a lot of glass. They mutilated my costome picture frames."
She bends to the floor gazing at the destroyed photos, eyeing one piticular photograph,"Do you know who this girl is?"
He shrugs his shoulders,"I can't think straight," he mumbbles running his fingers along the healing facial bruises. His eyelids are heavy, and reasonably swollen.
"How is your head feelling?' she asks with concern.
"Sleepy from the pain medications," he sighs.

She clould listen to him play the piano for hour with ease.
He stops abruptly, at the sensation of somebody's hand's atop of his, "Stop," he seethes, "fuc**n stop please."
His head shoots in every direction, "what is this?"
Val grasps his hands, "No one is here, Just. Keep playing.
"I hear her. Why can't you?" He wipes at the tears stinging his saphire eyes.
"I'm not sure," she sighs.
He pounds on the keys, closing his eyes, and falling into a trance like state. His breaths slow, as the rockish meldoy lulls to a ballady masterpiece.

Later, his eyes drift from face to face. There's a sea of eyes starring trying to figure him out, understand where he is comming from.
He steps forward into the disco light, and quickly grabs the microphone. His voice is smooth, and soothing, and he pulls it off seeming in good sprits, when inside he couldn't be more broken.
His newest album is selling like hotcakes. A small smile forms on his face at this accomplishment, but it quickly fades when someone in the audience reminds him of the atttack, "Why didn't you give it to them? You act all big and mighty in these songs, but really you're a @#$%!"
Justin half shouts, "I was fu**in scared, ya know? When somebody has a gun to your head unless you're physco you aint gonna fight it at the chance they'll blow your brains out. I'm here to preform, and that's what I'm gonna do."

The fans are gone, and he is safe in her arms in his bedroom, "Shhh," she says,"You're with me now, and everything is going to be okay."
"I believe you," he whispers,"more than ever, I do."
"You'll always have a place with me," she tells him, pushing the fine curls from his eyes.
"Memphis ties us together. No other location will ever be as special as Memphis, even after the heart break...."
She kisses his head lovingly, as his eyes close.
"He's falling fast for you," her sister smiles, "just like I had said."
"It's early yet," Val replies," and he is still struggling to survive, anything else happens, and he made need to be hospitalized. He's so lost in himself he can't cope with what is around him."
"Sometimes bad brings the good out of people, and Justin is one of them. He hasn't climbed to the peak of the hill yet."
Val shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know what you are getting at."
"You'll see shortly," she says before vanishing into thin air.

The ringing of his cell phone wakes him, "Hello?"
"Mr. Timberlake, I have some unfortunate news, I need you to come down to the police station, because we believe we have found your biological father and step-mom perished in a car wreck."
"I'll be right there," he breathes unsteadily.

At the station, Justin gasps at the two boys sitting with a female officer.
"Justin," the children cry, as he approaches them, with his heart caught in his throat.
"Are you two okay?"
Jonathan the oldest wipes at his eyes,"We want Mommy and Daddy."
Bending down, Justin embraces them,"I'm not sure we can have them." He sniffles, and picks Steven off the ground holding him tightly in his arms,"We're going to get through this together." He wraps his freehand around Jonathan's fingers, "I have go talk to the policemen. I promise to be back in a few minutes. The nice police woman will watch you for a bit more, okay?"
The two kids nod their heads, as Justin places Steven in her arms, and walks away.

Dinosaur Eggs

View this trailer below!


Opening the container of eggs, Justin grasps onto the oddly shaped and colored egg. Gently, he places it on the table, after he grabs a napkin to catch the ozzy egg's content.
Pop, crack, bong, "Well what do we have here?' he asks laughing. ""You aint no chicken."
"Chicken,' the critter responds in a little voice, "Hardly. I'm......."
"You're an alien," Justin exclaims excitedly, before backing away."
"No, I am no such thing. I am a dinosaur and you are no cave man."
Justin steps closer, "I'll take that as a compliment........ How'd you survive all these years?"
"Well it was no picnic kid,"he sighs. "It coulda been a little warmer. Everything got really cold and I dozed off. Now I'm here with you....."
"This is amazing and crazy," Justin stutters happily. "All I wanted to do was paint some Easter eggs. I never expected this......."
"Well kid I'm hungery. Have anything to eat?" he responds.
Justin questions thoghtfully, "I...I...I... what do you dinosaurs eat?"
"Depends on what type of dinosaur you got. I'm some type of pre-historic bird," he smiles.
His blue eyes grow wide,"So I gotta feed you worms?"
The dinosaur asks, "Worms what are worms?"
"They are smally wiggly creatures with no legs," Justin explains, "Very slimmy and brown."
"Perfect kid," he chuckles. "Where do you get these things?"
"The store," Justin responds.
"Store?" the animal oddly looks at him. "Whatever happened to critters just lying around?"
"Well," Justin begiins, "Sometime long ago the earth divided, making parts of the world not so warm. We have four seasons, and it is spring. The worms just are not out and about quite yet. The ground is too cold. There may be a few in the ground, but it needs to heat up, before we could go digging. The store keeps them alive in a bucket... We use them to fish."
"I will try to adapt to this, and you can learn from me too," the bird smiles wrapping his wing around Justin's body. "You in this with me kid?"
Justin nods his head, "For sure." He gathers the mess on the table, dumping the contents into the trash, and washes his hands.
Heading out the door with the bird he grasps onto his money for the worms.

Stepping foot into the general store, Justin approaches the fishing section, and picks up two small buckets, bringing them to the man at the check out counter.
The man at the counter eyes him, "What's with this sudden interest in worms son? You don't usually come in here for those sort of things."
Growing timid, Justin softly explains, "Baby bird Sir." His blue eyes widen. "I found one that needs some caring."
"If you say so," the man laughs studying Justin carefully.

At home Justin opens the worms, giving them to his bird friend. "I don't have to feed them to you do I?"
"I can manage without I think. That's what this beak is for.," he squeaks.
"I'm going to go make some Easter eggs," Justin says, as he slowly stands and wipes his hands against his overals.
He glances up from his worms, "What is Easter, and how do you make eggs kid?"
"Easter is a holiday. It is like the day you are born very special. We are not actually making eggs. We color the egss with dye."
"You use things that have died!?" The creature raises his eyebrows.
"No this is colored stuff. It changes the color of whatever you put it on or in. It is like when the leaves change, but messier."
"I'd say so kid. Then what are you gonna do?" He pecks at the worms waiting for Justin to answer.
"I have not really thought of it," the young man states. "It's been a weird day."
"I hear you! This is one strange senario," he smiles, "but kid you and I can work through this."
"You need a name," Justin grins.
"Call me what you will kid," he turns toward the worms grabbing another.
"I like Beaky," Justin declares, before walking away to paint his eggs.

Sitting on his bed, Justin draws the pre-historic feathered friend, as his mother looks over her shoulder at his sketch.
"You have quite the imagination," Justin tells him. "What have you done today?"
He puts down his blue crayon, "I painted eggs," he explains as his blue eyes grow big. "Mom could I have a pet?"
"No Justin, I'm sorry pets are too expensive right now. We are on a tight budget."
"Okay Mom," he sighs and picks up his blue crayon, and gazes toward his closet, and rubs his stomach."
"You hungery?" she asks, and he quickly nods his head in response. "Let's go see what we can find....."

He is content to keep his mystery guest out of his mom's way in fear of what she may do. Justin eats as fast as he can to get back to his room where he new found friend awaits him.