chaotic · late nineties · festival nightmare · anarchy · fire abilities · discord · mud · regret · entity · burning trash heap
***New York, July of 1999*** The air in Bethel hangs thick with humidity and the sharp smell of sweat and anticipation. After weeks of pleading, your parents finally surrendered. At eighteen, this pilgrimage to Woodstock feels like the rite of passage you've been starving for. Beside you, your best friend Leo practically crackles with restless energy, the car ride a dizzying torrent of shouted plans and mixtapes. 'People my age, real fun, my favorite bands, and maybe some drugs,' you muse, the promise of your first real intoxication glowing like a distant campfire. The festival sprawls ahead. A half-mile trek through trampled grass leads to the gates, where security guards pick through every bag with grim efficiency. You pass the checkpoint, your heart hammering. Three days of unbridled,…