As the music started up, Minho glanced around the wing, looking for Jisung. He always came in right behind him. He was going to miss his entrance.

"Chan! Han's not here!" he whispered, starting to panic.

"I know but we can't just leave the crowd waiting. We have to go on. He'll make it. I'm sure he just got confused and went to the other side."

Minho nodded, not reassured in the slightest. Had his nerves gotten the best of him? He felt awful for sending him off earlier. He didn't know why he did it. Over such a petty fight.

He hadn't gotten the chance to check on him because of it. What if he was having a breakdown somewhere? All alone?

"I have to go look for him."

He turned to go but Chan grabbed his wrist.

"Minho. The show is starting. I'm sure he's going to be here."

"But what if-"

Just then the crowd started screaming, and they jumped at the burst of volume. Had the other side entered without them?? Why were they so worked up all of a sudden?

The group moved towards the edge of the curtain but didn't see any of their members on the stage yet.

Maybe they had just gotten excited.

But the screaming was only getting louder.

And that's when the growling started.

It sounded almost-inhuman.

As if wild creatures were running through the audience.

Chan grabbed the headset nearest to their wing to talk to the tech team in the soundbox up above.

"What the hell's going on out there?"

"You need to run! Now! Get out of there! Something's horribly wrong! There's blood! Oh God-so much blood!"

"Slow down-what do you mean blood?"

"They just-they came out of nowhere! And started-attacking people! You need to get out of here right now! Take your members and run!"

"I don't understand-what about the fans?? We can't just leave them!"

"There's no hope for them, you need to go now!"

Chan put the headset down.

"What did he say?" Minho asked and the others gathered closer.

"There's been some sort of attack-I don't know. He said we need to get out of here but-how can we just do nothing?"

"Hyung...are we going to die?" Jeongin asked, his fingers holding tightly to his microphone.

Seungmin pulled him close, shaking his head.

"No, we have Channie-hyung with us. We're going to be just fine."

"He's right. As long as I'm here, you'll be safe. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Chan walked over to Jeongin, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"I need you to be brave. All four of you-I need you to go back to the dressing room and lock the door. Okay? Can you do that?"

Seungmin and Jeongin nodded and Hyunjin hesitantly followed suit. But Minho shook his head.

"No! What about you?"

"I just need to figure out the situation-I can't leave without knowing I did everything I could to help them."

"Chan! Are you crazy? You're just an idol! Not a doctor! What could you possibly do!?"

"I don't know. But I have to do something. Please, Minho. Take them there. I'll meet you. When you hear four knocks in a row, you'll know it's me and open the door. Okay?"

"No! We're not leaving you here!"

"Minho. I need you to do this. To protect them. Please. You can do this. I'll be right there."

Minho shook his head but Seungmin nodded grabbing Minho's arm. He pulled Minho and Jeongin with him, heading for the dressing room. Hyunjin paused as he passed Chan, pulling him into a hug.

"If you don't come back, I'll kill you," he whispered, making Chan laugh.

"Don't worry. It'll be okay. I'll be back."

Hyunjin nodded and followed after the others.

Chan took a deep breath, the shrieks of the audience starting to heighten his pulse. Something awful was happening. And he had no idea what he'd see when he stepped outside of the curtain.

But he needed to do it.

He needed to do something.

With a shaky breath, he took a step forward, just as the curtains flew open as someone launched themselves towards him.

...

"Han! What are you doing? You're supposed to be on the other side!" Changbin groaned, pushing him out of the wing. But Felix stepped in front of him.

"Bin, give him a break."

Their eyes met and Felix turned his head to the side. Changbin stepped back, shaking his head.

"Everyone's supposed to come in together on that side while I help you on. So we don't draw attention to your injury. He's going to mess everything up."

"Just let him stay. It's fine. I don't really care. Besides they're going to notice when I'm sitting for the entire show."

Changbin's eyes went soft, looking down at the ground. Felix put a hand on his cheek.

"Sorry," Changbin muttered.

"Thank you."

Felix turned back to Jisung who was standing uncomfortably by the back of the wing.

"I'm sorry...I know I shouldn't have..."

His hand started to shake and he quickly pulled his sweater sleeve lower to cover it up, pulling his hands into his chest. Felix started to walk towards him, Changbin quickly slipping under his arm so he could help him walk over.

"It's okay. Come on, the show's going to start soon. It's time to get excited!" Felix smiled and Han lit up a little, a grin curling across his cheeks. Changbin's mouth lifted in an amused smirk.

Just then the crowd started shouting.

...

Chan tried his best to catch the person, not wanting them to hurt themselves on the heavy equipment behind the curtain.

"Woah! Hey, hey, I've got you! I've got you."

He tried to see the girl's face but she kept squirming in his arms, her nails thrashing against his skin.

"Woah-hey, it's okay, it's okay, I've got you-"

Her face suddenly snapped towards his and he felt vomit in his throat.

Her eyes were a dark crimson, matching the red mess covering her cheeks. Her mouth dribbled what looked like...blood. And her eyes locked on his. She lunged towards him, her mouth opening as she tried to find any way to bite him.

"Shit!" Chan backed away, pushing her off him, but she was persistent. He pressed his sneakers against her chest, holding her back but she started reaching for his ankles, her hot breath far too close to his bare skin.

He reached behind him for anything to hold her back with, finding a chair, and quickly pulled it in front of him, forcing her back.

But just as he started to gain control of the situation, another figure burst through the curtain, coming straight towards him. He saw the crimson eyes and felt fear rush through him.

Another one.

What the hell was happening?

He adjusted the chair just as the second girl slammed into it, grabbing for him. One had already been a test of his strength but two was starting to push his limits.

The metal legs of the chair dug into his calves, and he cried out in pain, pushing them forward with all of his strength.

And then. There was a third.

Coming towards him.

He shut his eyes, bracing for impact.

But a loud metal clang followed by the crunch of bones caused him to open them.

"CHAN! TAKE MY HAND! NOW!"

He looked up to see Changbin standing over him, his arm extended. Chan quickly held on tight as Changbin yanked him off the ground and the two flew forward, away from the people on the ground. After the unsettling sound, Chan wasn't sure he wanted to look back.

"What the hell was that?" Chan asked as they sprinted across the back of the stage towards the left wing.

"How the hell would I know!?" Changbin yelled in response, yanking Chan to the side as he swung his hand-made weapon at someone who'd burst through the curtain.

Chan saw a mic stand tipped over against the wall as he ran by and quickly grabbed it, needing a weapon of his own.

"Where are the others?" Changbin called out to him as they sprinted.

"They're already somewhere safe. I sent Minho to bring them to our dressing room. I told him we'd meet up there. Where are Han and Felix?"

"They're safe. I told them to hide. We need to see what's going on out there. See if we can help anyone else!"

"I need to help them. You need to get Felix and Han to the dressing room!"

Changbin stopped, turning to face him.

"No! You can't possibly fight those things on your own! I literally just saved your Aussie ass! Let me help!"

"If Felix and Han are still here, they might not be safe! And Felix is hurt! He won't be able to defend himself!"

"You think I don't know that?! That's why I told them to hide! Felix can't run fast enough to get away! His safest bet is hiding here!"

"No. His safest bet is having you there to protect him. I need you to take care of them. Carry him if you have to. None of you are safe here!"

"Well neither are you! And neither are any of the people out there! They need our help! Two is a fuck ton better than one."

With that, Changbin dropped his weapon, opting for a heavy metal mic case, and ran out to the stage. Chan had no choice but to follow.

But both were utterly frozen.

The scene before them was so much worse than they could've ever imagined.

Blood was everywhere.

On everything.

In every seat.

And thousands of crimson eyes filled the audience.

And they all turned at the curtain's movement.