My second story, which I hope will be a long and successful series, The X Factor meets phantom of the Opera with a hint of Scooby Doo, Will you the reader be able to solve the mystery??
7 'Episodes'
Submitted Saturday at 8.00pm UK time
Episode one
The Rock Factor, a televised talent competition where the best artists in the country fight it out for a recording contract, offered by Simone Crewl, the most notorious judge and music executive in the UK.
Their were two acts left, Louise Welsh's act Ryan Jackson, The original underdog of the competition, receiving criticism from Simone and the other two judge's, Melvin D and Callum Cold. Ryan is 17, know one is more suprise than Ryan himself having got into the Finals. He has ash blond hair, which he often quiffs up to show off his childlike face, cheeky grin and dimples.
The other act is Simone's only group left im the Compitition, freeway, consisting of Jack Murray, 16, Parker Smith, 16, and Corey Andrews, 17, Corey is the lead singer of the band and at 17 the oldest member of the group, he looks out for Jack and Parker as if they were his brother's, Corey is tall and thin with mousey brown hair, slight stubble and big dark brown eyes.
Jack is the middlest of the group, and is probably the most insecure, he is by know means fat or unattractive, but struggles to find his place within the group, he's terrified of the fame that has been thrust upon him throw doing the show, jack is slightly chubbier than Corey, he has dark brown two tone hair which he wears in a smart mop, and big emerald green eyes.
Parker is the baby of the group. Having turned 16 on the day the group got into the semi-finals of the Compitition. Parker has a sense of wonder and adventure about him, wanting to see the world, he has the appearance of a 12 year old, and looks upto Jack, Corey and his mentor Simone, who is like a mother to him, she reciprocated these feeling for him on his birthday when she sat him down and talked about the reality of the music industry and pressures it can have on a young man, Parker is short, with black hair to match, which he often spikes up to "make him abit taller", he also has unusually big crystal blue eyes.
Semi-final night
The atmosphere in the studio was tense, it had just been revealed that Ella Mason, one of Melvin D's acts had been voted off the Compitition, and that Ryan Jackson and freeway had gotton into the finals, the host, McDermott Donnelly, begins to close the show "and that's it for your Saturday night semifinal lady's and gentlemen for more info on the acts visit the website, twitter or our facebook page goodnight" a stage hand counted him down as the ending credits theme song ringed throw the studio, their was a dim silence before the cry of "all clear" from the stage manager, the studio audience began to leave and Simone beamed as she pulled the stage hand to one side.
"can you ask Corey, jack and Parker, along with Ryan, to come to my dressing room please, think we should celebrate" she smiled, Simone knew how the industry worked, Melvin D was signing Ella, and knowmatter what the outcome she had decided to sign both Ryan and freeway after the Compitition with Louise as their manager.
She arrived at her dressing room where all four boys, aswell as Louise Welsh were waiting, however her smiles turned to horror as she opened her dressing room door to find a tall figure standing at the makeup table, he wore a long black cape, dark purple velvet suite with matching gloves and a bright white Guy folks mask, he bellowed at the group now congregated at the door "you are a disgrace to your industry!!! Cancel the finals of The Rock Factor, or you will all be doomed"
"Who the hell are you" asked Ryan sheepishly
"just call me, the Phantom of the Rock Factor" replied the figure, and with a swoop of his cloak and a ploon of smoke he disappeared.
"The show must go on" exclaimed Simone, who thought it must be a practical joke, maybe played by one of the disgruntled judges, she sent the four boys to the house they shared, telling them to rest and she would speak to Freeway on Monday morning. Louise asked Ryan to Skype her the next day as she was headed to Dublin for negotiating talks with one of her long serving bands, Westside.
It was late when the boys got back to the rock factor house. A large one story mansion on the outskirts of the television studio grounds, tired and confused, they all watched the highlights from the show in the living room, jack was the first to go to bed, followed quickly by Corey, Parker stayed up to chat to Ryan.
"You alright bro" Ryan asked Parker tenderly. "yeah i'm cool" replied Parker "brought my first lottery ticket today, felt so grown up"
"Don't grow up to quick dude, enjoy being young" Ryan replied, and with that gave Parker a hug and they both went off to bed, Parker to his room and Ryan to his.
Ryan slipped out of his jeans but decided to keep his white socks on as it was cold, he put on some white nylon shorts and a black t-shirt with Harlem86 written in white on the front. He dived into bed and was just drifting off when a a soft, velvet gloved hand clasped over his mouth, his eyes widened As he saw the outline of the guy folks mask, Ryan struggled before seeing rag in the phantoms other hand, the rag was pushed against Ryan's mouth and nose, he slowly lost consciousness. His hands were tied behind his back, a blue bandanna shoved in his mouth, secured with 3 revolutions of grey gorilla tape, his feet were then bound with the tape on the ankle with his thick white socks still showing slightly at the top.
The Phantom took a picture of Ryan in his unconscious bound state on a mini Polaroid camera, waited for it to develope then left it on the pillow where Ryan's head had been, Ryan was then thrown over the phantoms shoulder and carried out into the hallway, as this was happening Parker, half asleep, came out of his room and heard a small pop, a creak and a bang, as he rounded the corner to to the entrance of Ryan's room, he smelt a sulfury smell in the air.
Because it was dark Parker didn't notice the smoke clearing, he drifted to the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water then went back to bed.
The next morning, after not receiving a message from Ryan as promised, Louise phones the house to contact him. The three band mates go to wake Ryan, only to discover that he has been replaced by a small dimly lite photo, Jack goes to pick up the photo, but Corey stops him, picking it up himself, he is horrified to see Ryan in the state he is, as he lifts the photo towards the light, a lightly engraved message shins throw the back, reading simply...
Your next, Corey
End of part one.