272 Nightmare (2/2)
Backstage, a certain man wearing a mask and shades unleashed a malevolent aura as he stood watching the performance live on the monitor. Jiang Ying Yue paled and moved a few steps away from the man, while Dom squawked, turned tail and ran far away. The masked man was able to control himself quickly, focusing instead on his amazing baby girl, completely erasing from his mind the existence of the three pests performing on the stage with her.
On the stage, Iris' hands and fingers began to blur as they moved swiftly on the guitar strings. She changed up the melody, adding more punch and dimension to it than the original. Her version was cleaner, crisper, more complicated and intense.
She was rocking it but still managed to look elegant. Her movements were very fluid.
Then she ended the guitar solo with a flourish, bending her back low and kicking her exposed leg. Some audience members passed out from too much excitement.
Blaze sang with even more gusto after such an electrifying guitar solo. Sweat spritzed out from him as he jumped up and down and rocked all around while singing the last parts of the song.
”It's almost here
The dawn is near
I know you're tired but stay with me
Just keep on running, don't look back
Or else this nightmare will never stop
We'll soon see the light of day
Just hold my hand and follow me!
Let's run, run, run
Until our breaths run out
Open your eyes
Look wide and see
Now we're out of the nightmare
Oh yes we're out!
Oh yeah!”
All the band members, including Iris, jumped to end the song in a jarring last beat. As soon as their feet touched the floor again, the entire studio was filled with a deafening noise.
The audience all stood up. Their thunderous applause and roaring cheers drowned the hosts' voice who were now trying to talk to Pandemonium and Iris.
”Iris! No, Boss Iris! You're so cool! Please stay with Pandemonium forever and ever! I'll become a Black Star just for you!”
”Sh*t! Is it just me or she's way cooler than Eros? Sorry, Eros my love. I love you, but Iris is just on another level!”
”Oh damn! I'm straight and have dedicated myself to my four Pandemonium husbands but I think Iris just bent me to swing the other way!”
”Hah! Look at how awesome our Boss Iris is! You were all insulting her earlier but now look at you!”
”Come, new comrades! The Black Stars welcome new people!”
”I'm a Black Star but I think Pandemonium is cool too!”
”Pandemonium fans welcome the Black Stars!”
Many Pandemonium fans became Black Stars, and some Black Stars also became Pandemonium fans at the same time. This development wasn't just a mere alliance but a sort of merging between the two fandoms.
Finally, the audience started to settle down. The interview began.
Male host: ”Wow! That was so amazing! Impressive! My heart is still beating so fast!”
Female host: ”Exactly! Look, I'm sweating.”
The band members and Iris thanked them. The hosts asked most of the questions to Iris at first. However, she redirected the focus back to Pandemonium.
”I'm just a substitute for Eros tonight and this is Pandemonium's performance,” she said. ”I played this performance as part of Pandemonium.”
Fortunately, the hosts understood her intention and began asking the other band members. Because of Iris' presence and their awesome performance, their interview went on longer than what was usually done with new acts.
”We would like to work more with Senior Iris in the future if we're given the chance,” Blaze said.
”Yeah!” Thunder agreed.
Night nodded.
Male host: ”What do you say, Iris?”
”Sure,” she replied.
Her affirmative answer made the Black Stars and Pandemonium fans cheer in excitement and anticipation.
The hosts finished the interview and announced a short break for the commercials. As Iris and the band members waved at their fans and the audience before returning backstage, the female host couldn't stop herself from staring at the diamond ring on Iris' finger.
”What is it?” The male host asked his partner.
The female host shook her head. ”Nothing. Maybe I'm just thinking too much.”