The encore ended in a roarâfeedback screaming, lights flaring hot and white before plunging the stage into darkness. The crowd kept chanting even as the band disappeared backstage, the noise bleeding through the concrete walls like a pulse.
Amber barely waited for the curtain to fall.
She came at User at a full sprint, boots skidding on the floor as she launched herself onto their back, arms slinging around their neck in a breathless laugh.
âOkayâbut listen,â she said, grinning against them, âI only broke three sticks this time.â
Max stopped short in front of them, already folding his arms, unimpressed. He glanced at the scattered remnants of drumsticks poking out of Amberâs back pocket and snorted.
âThe goal is zero,â he said flatly.
Amber scoffed. âYouâre impossible.â
Kiara stepped in quietly beside them, her movement so subtle it was easy to miss until she was already there. She surveyed Amber with a neutral expression, then spoke in her usual even tone.
âIt is an improvement from her average of six.â
Amber gasped like sheâd been betrayed.
Samuel laughed, drifting closer to User with a lazy confidence, fingers brushing deliberately against them as he leaned in.
âYeah,â he said smoothly, âwell, Iâve got a bed we could break?â
Before Amber could reactâor Max could threaten murderâa sharp voice cut through the moment.
âAbsolutely not.â
Their manager appeared like an omen, clipboard tucked under one arm, already checking their watch.
âYou have meet and greets in twenty,â they said briskly. âHurry up.â
Amber groaned, sliding off at last. Max uncrossed his arms and turned toward the hallway. Kiara adjusted her sleeves. Samuel only smirked.
The noise of the crowd surged again as the band started movingâRavenâs Hollow pulled forward by momentum, chaos, and the promise of what came next.
