That night, Synyster Gates tossed and turned, caught in the grip of a vivid, unsettling dream. The world around him was shadowy and dim, as if he were walking through the back alleys of his own mind. In the distance, he saw a faint figure standing in the fog, silhouetted against the dim glow of a flickering streetlight. Syn took a hesitant step forward, and as he moved closer, the figure came into focus—it was M. Shadows, looking both eerily serene and hauntingly familiar.
"M... Matt?" Syn's voice was barely a whisper, his heart pounding in his chest.
M. Shadows turned, his gaze steady and piercing, and nodded. "Yeah, it's me."
Syn felt a wave of emotions crash over him—grief, confusion, and a strange sense of relief. But there was something dark in Matt's eyes, something urgent that unsettled him even in this surreal dreamscape.
"Syn, listen to me," M. Shadows said, his voice low and intense. "I don't have much time. You all got it wrong—Johnny didn't kill me. None of you did." He took a deep breath, looking over his shoulder as if he expected something terrible to emerge from the shadows. "It was Big Bill. That duck... that twisted, monstrous duck."
Syn's brow furrowed, his mind spinning. "Big Bill? You're serious? You mean the duck Joeharry brought around?"
M. Shadows nodded solemnly. "Big Bill was no ordinary duck. There's something... wrong about him, something evil. And he's not done yet. I came here to warn you—Big Bill is coming after Johnny next."
Syn could feel his pulse quicken. The surreal nature of the dream faded, replaced by a raw urgency that cut through the haze. "But why? Why Johnny?"
Matt's expression softened, filled with regret. "Johnny was always... different, always vulnerable. Big Bill senses that, sees him as an easy target. And he's got a vendetta, Syn. If you don't do something, Johnny won't stand a chance."
Syn took a shaky breath, the weight of Matt's words settling on him. "But how do I stop a murderous duck?"
"You'll figure it out," M. Shadows replied, his voice echoing strangely, fading into the mist. "But you have to act fast. You've got to protect Johnny... for all of us."
Before Syn could respond, the scene began to shift, and Matt's form started to dissolve, his outline scattering like smoke in the wind. Syn tried to reach out, to hold onto the moment, but it was slipping through his fingers. The last thing he saw was Matt's gaze, steady and filled with a sense of quiet urgency.
"Don't let him down, Syn," M. Shadows whispered, his voice barely audible as the dream faded.
Synyster jolted awake, his heart pounding, drenched in cold sweat. He sat up, staring into the darkness, his mind racing as Matt's warning replayed in his head. The absurdity of the situation struck him, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was real. Somewhere, deep down, he felt the weight of Matt's words, as if they'd imprinted themselves on his soul.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his phone and called Johnny. After a few rings, a groggy, annoyed voice answered on the other end.
"Syn... it's two in the morning. What do you want?"
"Johnny, listen to me. You need to be careful, okay? There's... there's something after you." Syn hesitated, wondering if Johnny would believe him, but the urgency in his gut left no room for doubt.
"What are you talking about?" Johnny asked, sounding more alert, if still confused.
"It's Big Bill," Syn said, his voice trembling slightly. "That duck Joeharry brought around. He's the one who... who killed Matt. And now, he's after you. HE'S AFTER YOU, JOHNNY."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line, then a sigh. "Syn, if this is some messed-up prank, I swear..."
"I'm dead serious, Johnny. Just promise me you'll be careful, alright? Stay with one of us, don't go anywhere alone. Just... trust me on this."
Johnny sighed again but finally relented. "Fine, whatever. If it'll make you feel better."
As the call ended, Syn sat alone in the dark, his mind whirling. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear—he wasn't going to let another friend fall to the wrath of Big Bill. Not if he could help it.
The next day, Johnny, Zacky, and Synyster Gates gathered in the dimly lit back room of the club, each of them wearing a look of grim determination. Zacky had spent the night researching, combing through strange forums and musty old books from the attic of a retired roadie he knew. After what seemed like endless hours of scouring, he found something—a ritual, ancient and obscure, that might let them reach M. Shadows from beyond the grave.
Before they began the ritual, the room was quiet and filled with an uneasy tension. Zacky, Johnny, and Synyster Gates huddled around a small table, littered with candles, symbols, and a tattered page from an old book Zacky had found. But before they could summon Matt's spirit, Johnny leaned over, glancing at Syn with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"So... about that phone call you made to me last night," Johnny started, breaking the silence. His eyes were still cautious, clearly unsettled by the cryptic warnings Syn had shared in the middle of the night. "Are you really serious? About Big Bill?"
Syn sighed, running a hand through his hair as he tried to collect his thoughts. "Yeah, man. I know it sounds insane. But it wasn't just a dream, Johnny. Matt... he came to me. It felt real. And he warned me that you're in danger. He said Big Bill is coming for you next."
Zacky shook his head slowly, absorbing Syn's words. "This is insane," he muttered. "A duck killing Matt and now going after Johnny? What even is Big Bill?"
Johnny paled, a mix of confusion and dread on his face. "Why me? What does that duck even want with us?"
Syn hesitated, struggling to remember exactly what Matt had said. "He said something about fear. Like Big Bill is feeding off of it somehow. And Johnny..." Syn's voice softened. "He said you're the one that Big Bill's targeting now, for some reason."
Johnny took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself. "If Matt says I'm the one he's targeting, I want to know why. I don't want to be afraid of this... thing. Whatever it takes, I'll face him."
Zacky placed a reassuring hand on Johnny's shoulder, a rare moment of solidarity among them. "We'll get through this, alright? No duck is taking us down. Not as long as we've got each other."
Syn looked at his friends, a renewed determination shining in his eyes. "Let's bring Matt back. Let's get some answers."
With a final nod, Zacky took the crumpled page, reading over the ancient words once more, and began the ritual. The room dimmed as they circled around, united in purpose and ready to face whatever truths awaited them on the other side.
Zacky's voice trembled as he read aloud the final words of the ritual. The room felt heavier, as if a thick, electric charge had settled into the air, making each breath harder to take. The flickering candlelight cast shadows that seemed to stretch and shift across the room, almost alive. Then, in the center of their circle, the air grew colder, a dense chill that cut through them.
And then, a figure appeared—a hazy, translucent form, gradually taking shape. There he was. M. Shadows. Standing before them, solid enough to be unmistakable, yet ethereal, as if part of him were still somewhere else.
"Matt..." Synyster Gates whispered, his voice barely holding back his emotions. The relief and awe on his face were mirrored by Johnny and Zacky, who both stared, transfixed by their friend's ghostly presence.
Matt looked around at each of them, a small, familiar grin forming on his face. "You guys," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that was at once strange and familiar. "I didn't expect to see you all so soon. But I'm glad you found a way to reach me."
Johnny swallowed, his nerves finally catching up to him. "We—we had to, Matt. Syn said Big Bill killed you. And that... that he's after me next." His voice cracked, a raw fear hiding behind his words. "We didn't know what else to do."
Matt's expression softened, and he nodded solemnly. "Johnny, listen to me. It's true. Big Bill... he's not just a duck. He's a creature bound by something ancient, something dark. He hides in the form of a duck, but his power comes from the energy around him. And right now, that energy is fueled by fear, by anger... by everything that's been dividing us."
Johnny's eyes widened as he absorbed Matt's words. "But... how do I fight him?"
Matt smiled reassuringly. "You don't have to do it alone, Johnny. All you need to do is stand your ground, with the rest of the guys by your side. When he comes for you, don't let him intimidate you. Don't let him divide you from your brothers."
Zacky, determination hardening in his expression, nodded. "If standing together is what it takes, then I'm in. We won't let Big Bill tear us apart, Matt. Not after everything."
Syn placed a hand on Johnny's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll do whatever it takes. We're not losing anyone else."
Matt's figure began to flicker slightly, the dim light around him growing faint. He looked around at each of them one last time, a sense of peace settling in his expression. "Then you'll be alright," he said, his voice fading. "I believe in you. Remember what brought us together. And don't let fear decide for you. And by the way Syn, i still have the bigger ASS!"
"No, I DO!" Syn yelled.
With that, Matt's form grew fainter, the last traces of his presence slipping away like smoke. The room fell silent, the candles flickering and then going out, leaving them in darkness.
After a moment, Zacky cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. "Alright, guys. It's us against Big Bill. For Matt."
Syn and Johnny nodded, their expressions steely with resolve. They began to come up with a plan to fight Big Bill.