That last night when we sat in awe

You tried to hack it with a saw

Spree, spree

Please find it without me

Glee, glee

Just let me be

I'm not like you

Insanities are not safe

Brash, brash

You've given me a rash

Smash, smash

Please don't take out this trash

--From the song I Feel Like A Million Dreams

Lyrics by Orion Bauwens

I'd like to say that what happened in Detroit was the only drama that happened during our first international tour. However, I can't.

After a six-day stint all around Japan, we jet over to South Korea. It's much of the same. Fans greet us enthusiastically. We stay at a hotel. Orion plays video games with our fans occasionally when he feels like it. Thoughts of what happened in Detroit are starting to slowly leave us. That is, until the fourth day in South Korea.

We were at a meet and greet. We sit at a long table in a lecture hall at a university. I can't believe how many fans are here. I can't believe their excitement. Even though we can't understand half of them, it's a really wonderful experience.

That's the thing that I love about music. It's cliche as all get-out, but it's universal. Language barriers are non-existent. They like us for us, our sound. We've touched the lives of people we never would have interacted with otherwise. We've brought them all together, all under one beautiful umbrella, our music.

It was starting to go to my head. This could very easily turn into a God complex for me. I needed to watch myself.

For half an hour we lapped it up. We signed autographs, we accepted presents (mainly plushies, flowers, various headbands that lit up or were cat ears...We were gifted a light up, electronic glow stick, which apparently is a huge part of the music fan scene over in Korea). Everything was going great.

I see a blur of something in my peripheral vision. I flinch, ducking out of the way. There's a sickening, audible thwack!, and I look over.

Orion had been sitting in the middle, Ben and I flanking him on either side. I was to his right. When I look over, he's not there. He's sprawled out on the floor. His eyes are closed, blood gushing from his head.

Our security team surrounds us. Pandemonium breaks out. For a few seconds it seems like everyone is screaming. Then there's a disturbing silence, with a few mutterings here and there. Ben and I are kneeling next to Orion. We're both freaking out.

It doesn't help any that we don't know what anyone is saying. Panic seeps into my pores. Our Korean interpreter is doing her best. She's a sweet woman, and I've grown very fond of her, but there's just too much happening right now to keep up with it.

"An ambulance has been called," Min-Seo, our interpreter, tells us. "It will arrive shortly. I am so sorry."

It's like, the millionth time she's apologized. The fan meetings security force is working on clearing the room for us. I peek out between the legs of the protective human barrier that's been formed around us. Just about everyone has been cleared out.

"Tell them to stop recording," I snap, absolutely fuming when I still see some girl's with their phones out as they're ushered out the door. "This is fucking bullshit, tell them to put the phones away."

Min-Seo stands up, angrily shouting at the back of the room and waving her hand, her brow furrowed. The people put their phones away.

I touch Orion's shoulder but he's still unconscious. I then grab what did this to him. It's an unopened, glass bottle of green soda. Now wonder he's out like a light.

What the fuck? Who would do something like that?

~

"Oooooh, my head hurts."

"Orion!"

Orion's dark eyes flutter open, and I don't think I've ever been happier to see a pair of eyes staring up at me in my entire life.

"Where am I?"

"The hospital," Ben tells him.

Orion's eyes grow into saucer plates. "Why? What happened?"

"Some psycho threw a bottle at you," I tell him, not being able to remove the acid from my lips.

"You got a concussion probably," Ben says, then chuckles. "And a couple stitches."

Orion starts to sit up. Ben and my own hand shoots out, gently pressing against his chest and shoulder. "What time is it? How long until we go on stage?"

I laugh at his brazen ignorance. "Did you not just hear you probably have a concussion? The concert has been cancelled for tonight."

Now he looks like he might cry. "What? Cancelled? No--I'm fine, we need to perform--"

"Dude," Ben says, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay. Everyone will understand..."

"But--but it's a sold out show..."

"I'm sure they will be more worried over that you're okay and not about missing the show," Min-Seo tells him.

"Peanut!"

We all look over. Gloria is rushing over, looking frazzled, hair all a muss (which is so unlike her). In her hand she clutches her cell phone. She looks near tears, and it breaks my heart.

Our manager goes to Orion, moving his fringe from his forehead, kissing it gently. She squeezes his hand. Seeing how upset Gloria is seems to ground Orion, and he no longer looks near tears.

"I am so sorry, I got here as soon as I could."

"It's fine," Orion tells her with a chuckle. "I just woke up, anyway."

"What happened?"

"An anti got to him."

We all look at Min-Seo who had spoken, confused.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand," Gloria stutters, "I think something is getting lost in translation--"

But Min-Seo shakes her head. "No, an anti--anti-fan." Min-Seo looks to the side, a bit embarrassed. "We have a problem here in Korea with fan bases. People develop bias'--people they adore, their idols, their favorites. But on the other end of the spectrum are anti-fans."

The four of us look at each other.

"Unfortunately they can be a bit...unstable. Their rage can go anywhere from being a troll online and spreading nasty, hurtful, hate-filled rumors to, well, physical attacks."

Once again we all look at each other, and now Min-Seo looks like she might cry.

"I am so, so sorry you experienced this," our interpreter rushes on, barely holding it together. "We wanted nothing more for your group to like our country and be welcome here, and now I fear this is going to leave a sour taste in your mouth--"

"No," Orion says, giving her a reassuring smile, "No. South Korea is beautiful. It's culture, it's people. Up until today we've had nothing but a wonderful experience."

Min-Seo wipes her eye quickly, looking a bit prideful. "Really?"

"Everyone has been so nice," Ben says.

"Yeah," I chime in, "super welcoming and friendly."

"So respectful," Ben adds.

That makes Min-Seo smile, and she wipes away another tear.

"We'll definitely be back," Orion assures her. "It's so pretty here, I love it."

"Definitely," I emphasize.

Just then a doctor walks up. As he speaks, Min-Seo translates.

"We want to keep you for an hour for further observation now that you're awake, but you should be fine. We suggest you take it easy for a day."

The doctor hands Orion something. Confused, he takes it. He then holds it up. It's a pack, and it unravels, revealing seven small packs filled with pills. His eyes grow huge, looking at it up and down before looking at the doctor. "What's this?"

Min-Seo tells the doctor to explain, and then speaks for him. "Anti-biotics and medicine. We want to make sure that your stitches don't get infected, and there are pills for your general well-being. There are also pain-meds. Take each pack every day for a week, with a meal. Drink plenty of fluids."

Orion looks at the packs again. "You're joking, right?"

Min-Seo speaks to the doctor, who chuckles. "You don't have that in the States?"

"No...I've never been handed a condom pack of pills before."

Gloria, Ben, and myself crack up while Min-Seo giggles and blushes a bit.

"It does look like that, doesn't it?" Min-Seo says, covering up her huge smile with her hand.

The doctor asks if Orion has any questions, and when he doesn't, he leaves. Orion is still staring at the medicine in disbelief. "Do I really have to take all this? It seems over-kill."

Min-Seo shrugs. "It's standard."

Orion gives her a nervous look. He then folds the pills back up, putting them in his lap. "Okay, if you say so..."

We all stick around with Orion. After a little while, Min-Seo excuses herself (probably to use the washroom or something). As soon as she's out of earshot, Gloria takes the pill packet and sticks it into her purse. She puckers her lips. "Not that I don't trust them, but I don't trust them. I'll find out what all these are and if you should be taking them."

"Sounds good," Orion replies with a grin. "I can honestly say I never thought I'd be handed a condom pack filled with pills."

Even though she's laughing, Gloria rolls her eyes. "Oh grow up..."