Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I remember it like it was yesterday.

I had just gotten home from school. The sun was setting, casting orange light across the living room floor. I dropped my bag by the door, expecting to hear my mom humming in the kitchen or my dad watching college football highlights

But the house was too quiet.

And then I saw them.

My parents' bodies—dissolving. Fading into smoke and ash like sand slipping through an hourglass. And standing over them... that thing.

No.
Not a thing.
A demon.

Its red skin shimmered with an unnatural glow in the warm light filtering through the window. Twin spikes of green hair twisted upward like horns. Its black-and-yellow eyes met mine, and my body locked up. I couldn't scream. Couldn't breathe.

The demon tilted its head.

Then it moved.

In an instant, it leapt—claws stretched wide, mouth open, reaching for my soul.

But she got there first.

Celine.

I didn't know her name then. I didn't know she was a K-pop star, or a demon hunter, or a legend. All I knew was that she appeared in a burst of light and fire and stopped the demon with a single strike.

The creature vanished. Not destroyed—banished. Driven back into the mist.

I fell to my knees. Shaking. Tears streaked my cheeks. My parents were gone.

And then I heard her voice.

"You can see through the mist, can't you... Bomen?"

She knelt beside me. Her voice was calm, but firm.
"I can offer you two things. One—therapy. You forget this happened. You live a normal, quiet life, and pretend this was all a nightmare."
A pause. A beat.

"Or two... you rise. You fight. You make sure no one else ever comes home to this."

I looked up, eyes full of fear, rage, sorrow—everything all at once.

And somehow, through the grief, I heard yourself whisper:

"I want to stop them."

Chapter Text

The two weeks after my parents died were a blur.

Paperwork. Grief. Silence. And then—change.

Celine pulled strings faster than I could comprehend. Within days, I had a passport. A new name. A new life.
Baelmon Hwang.
Chosen in honor of my real name, but distant enough to bury the pain.

And then we flew.
To Seoul.

When we landed, Celine loaded my bags into the trunk of her car without a word. The sky was overcast, and the city buzzed around us—alive, unaware.

She finally broke the silence.

Her voice was cold, but not unkind. Firm.
Measured.
"My one rule," she said, "that you will follow without exception is this: Our faults and fears must never be seen."

She looked at me. Hard.
"Do you understand me, Baelmon? If you don't follow that rule, you'll fall under his control."

I didn't know who he was.
I didn't know what she meant.
But I nodded anyway.

At the time, it sounded like strength. Like survival.
Little did I know... that motto would become the bane of my existence.

We drove for hours. Past the neon lights of Seoul, past the crowded streets and city noise, until the buildings thinned out and the countryside swallowed us.
Oddly, it calmed me. The endless green, the quiet. Like the world was pressing pause.

Finally, after what felt like forever, we pulled up to an old house surrounded by massive stone walls and tall grass. It looked like something from a dream or a movie.

A hanok, Celine called it.
Traditional. Korean. Sacred.

At its center was a colossal tree—its bark etched with symbols I couldn't understand, its presence almost... alive. Not far off, a river cut through the land, its sound soothing and steady.

I stepped out of the car.

And immediately got hit in the face with a ball.

A girl ran toward me, panic in her voice. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?"

I nodded, dazed.
"Yeah... I think so."

She grinned. Her black hair was tied into two braided buns, and something about her energy caught me off guard. My heart skipped, and I had no idea why.

Celine's voice called out behind me.
"Line up!"

Three girls appeared beside her.
"This," she said, "is your new team."

She pointed first to the one with the purple braided hair and brown eyes that seemed to search the world for something just out of reach.

"Rumi."

Next, the tallest—long, reddish-pink hair and sharp purple eyes that could probably kill someone with a glance. She didn't smile.

"Mira."

And finally... the one who hit me with the ball.
The one who smiled like she knew how to fix broken things.

"Zoey."

Celine looked at all four of us.

"You'll be training together. Learning together. Fighting together. Whether you like it or not."

I stood there, bruised and stunned.
I had no idea what I was stepping into.

But something deep down told me...

This was only the beginning.

Chapter Text

After Celine introduced the girls, you'd think she'd properly introduce me—the so-called "new recruit."
But nope.
No orientation. No warm-up. Just tossed straight to the wolves.

And Zoey? She led the charge.

Before I could even set my bags down, I was surrounded.
"What's your name?"
"Where are you from?"
"What are your hobbies?"
"What's your favorite food?"
"Do you like kimchi?"
"What music do you listen to?"
"Do you sing? Can you dance?"

It was like an interrogation with sparkles.

Eventually—somehow—I managed to answer Zoey's endless questions. Mira stayed quiet but observant, arms crossed, while Rumi leaned against the wall, studying me with unreadable eyes.

By the time the sun dipped below the trees and bathed the courtyard in gold, I was exhausted. I slipped into my room, flopped on the unfamiliar bed, and closed my eyes.

And that's when he spoke.

"Sleep well, future hunter..."
"Because I won't ever let you rest again."

The voice wasn't human.
It didn't speak—it slithered.
It echoed in my bones.

I sat up in a cold sweat, heart racing, but the room was still. Silent. Empty.

⸻

The next morning, the first thing I saw was Celine standing in my doorway.

"Get up," she said flatly. "It's time."

Groaning, I rolled out of bed and changed into the only training gear I had—an old T-shirt and shorts from home. The air was crisp. The hanok was quiet.

Celine waited for me outside my room, not saying much as she led me down the stone hallway and through a wooden door I hadn't noticed before.

We stepped into the library.

It was massive—walls lined with scrolls, books in multiple languages, crystals, incense, and old weapons. A soft light filtered through lattice windows.

Celine pulled out a scroll and opened it on the table between us.

"The story of the Honmoon," she said. "This is what you're here to protect."

And then she told me the story the room and the outside lighting up with the glow of the honmoon

The barrier between the world of humans and demons.
The ancient hunters, spiritual contracts, and the cost of failure.
The how music wasn't just art—but a weapon of light.

By the time she finished, my mouth hung open slightly.

"Wow," I whispered.

Celine smiled. Not kindly—more like a trainer pleased that her student wasn't completely hopeless.

"Now that you understand why you're here..." she said, rolling up the scroll.

"...It's time to train."

Chapter Text

I didn't tell anyone about the voice.

Not Zoey, not Mira, not even Rumi.
And definitely not Celine.
But every night since I heard it, you felt it—somewhere deep in my chest like a cold ember that wouldn't die. The voice wasn't just a nightmare. It had weight. Intent. I knew its name now. I learned the voice's name from Celine when she told me the story of the creation of the honmoon.

Gwi-Ma.

Even just thinking it made my spine itch.

⸻

Celine began my training the next morning. With them.

I was thrown into choreography drills, harmonizing exercises, synchronized formations.
The girls were fast—almost unreal. Mira moved like her feet never touched the ground. Zoey remembered entire routines after one run-through. Rumi's voice could cut through walls.

Me? I tripped over my own feet. I sang like someone who loved music but didn't speak it. I wasn't a natural like them.

And every mistake echoed louder than it should have.

By the third day, sweat poured down my back and my voice cracked with every note.

"Come on, Baelmon!" Zoey shouted with a playful smile, hands on her hips. "You're stiff like a tree!"

I tried to laugh. I tried to keep up.
But inside, I felt small.

⸻

After another failed run-through, I stood panting on the rooftop. The hanok was quiet below. I gripped the wooden railing, staring out at the river. The wind carried the faint sound of music from a speaker far off, one of the girls practicing.

Celine found me there.

She didn't yell. She didn't ask what was wrong. She stood beside me for a long time, arms crossed, eyes distant.

Then she spoke.

"You're not like them."

I stayed silent.

"That's not a weakness," she continued. "But it means I've been training you wrong."

She turned to face me. There was steel in her gaze, but also... care. The kind that doesn't need softness to be sincere.

"I trained them to be warriors who perform. But you... you're going to be something else."

I furrowed my brow. "Something else?"

"You'll fight from where you come from. With the fire you already carry."
"We'll train from your roots. Your body. Your rhythm. The way you understand the world."

Then her tone shifted—lower, colder.

"Because our faults and fears must never be seen. Remember that, Baelmon."

I tensed.

That line again.

I looked away.

I didn't know why—but for the first time, those words didn't sit right.
Not after everything I had already seen.
Not with that voice in my dreams.
Not when I knew that Gwi-Ma was watching me—just waiting.

Still, I nodded.

I didn't argue.

But in my heart, I whispered:
"If I can't show my fears... how do I fight them?"

Chapter Text

It's been a day since Celine had that heart-to-heart talk with me — the one where she promised to stop forcing her way of training on me. Instead, she said she would train me in a way that actually made sense for who I am. And tomorrow, that training would begin.

The next morning, I woke up to the now-familiar sound of Celine's voice.

"Get up," she said, standing in the doorway.

I groaned but did as I was told. As we walked down the hallway toward the training basement, she brought up our conversation from two nights ago.

"I wasn't trying to give you a false sense of comfort, Baelmon," she said. "I truly want you to find your rhythm — your way to fight."

Then, she asked me something unexpected: "What's your favorite kind of music, Baelmon?"

That caught me off guard. Celine was usually all commands — never questions. I looked at her and said honestly, "Rock. Rap. Country. And... Jesus music."

She raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Jesus music? Don't you mean worship music?"

"I guess," I replied. "But I look at it more like... talking to a friend."

She gave a small nod. "I see."

When we arrived in the basement, she looked at me with a new energy. "Then let's start there. Go wild."

She hit play on the speaker system, and the songs I had grown up with — the ones I studied, memorized, blasted in my room before bed — began playing. "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City," "Boys 'Round Here," "Cyclone"... all of it. I felt it in my bones — something shifting, something burning. Then it happened.

The training room lit up.

Symbols from the Honmoon glowed along the walls.

And as I sang along to the lyrics — really sang — I felt a fireball form in front of my hand. Panic kicked in.

"Celine! Celine! Celine!" I yelled.

She rushed down with a fire extinguisher. After putting it out, she ran to me and hugged me.

"You did it!" she said. "You accessed the Honmoon. I knew you could."

I pulled back, confused. "What do you mean? I didn't access anything — it was just fire. Not strings like the girls."

She smiled. "It's still the Honmoon. Just in a different form. That fire? That's you. Now that you've unlocked it, we can finally work on forming your weapon — like the others."

Later that evening, as the sky darkened over the hanok, I called out, "Hey, Celine — I'm going for a walk."

"Don't be gone too long," she replied from the kitchen.

"Mind if I come with you?" Zoey asked from behind me.

"Yes, I do," I said. "I need time to think."

"No fair," she pouted.

I wandered deep into the woods nearby, wondering what kind of weapon I'd end up creating. That's when I heard it — a giggle.

"Who's there?" I asked.

No answer.

Another giggle echoed behind me.

"Zoey, if you're trying to scare me, it's not going to work."

A voice answered — but not Zoey's. "Scare you? No."

I turned — and saw something terrifying.

It was a shadow version of myself... but it had the voice of Gwi-Ma.

"You..." I whispered. "Gwi-Ma."

"Ah, so you do remember me, boy," the shadow said, grinning.

"What do you want?"

"This."

The shadow grabbed me, and suddenly I was forced into a vision.

I saw a stage — wrecked.

Rumi, bruised and covered in strange marks.

A boy band in trench coats and hats, singing in trance-like unison.

The Honmoon... cracking.

And then — a glimpse of the demon world.

Gwi-Ma released me. "I hope you enjoyed the future, Baelmon. Because you're going to cause it."

He turned to leave but paused. "Oh — one final thing. Remember this demon?"

The same monster that killed my parents appeared, rising from a glowing rift in the air.

"You..."

I tried to move, but my body wouldn't respond. The demon smiled, opening its mouth to take my soul. I felt myself growing light, hollow — like I was fading.

And then, I heard a voice — my dad's.

"Remember son faith over fear"

A tear fell from my eye.

Then something lit up inside me — something strong.

"No more," I said aloud.

I sang. "I'm done running. I can't believe I was hiding — trying to forget. But I won't forget. I'll remember them. Always."

BOOM.

Honmoon fire surged around me — but this time, I didn't panic.

This time... I imagined a weapon.

Fast. Fierce. Powerful.

A blue flaming Desert Eagle formed in my hand.

"Hey, demon!" I shouted.

The demon lunged toward me to finish the soul drain, but I lifted the gun.

"Eat Honmoon lead."

BANG!

The demon shattered into ash, sucked back into the rift it came from.

Gwi-Ma growled, still in his shadow form. "You may have won this one, boy. But you will become my pawn."

Then — he vanished.

And I passed out.

⸻

Two hours later...

"Baelmon! Baelmon!" Celine called, shaking me awake.

"You talk in your sleep," Zoey said, smirking.

"You've got blood on you," Mira added bluntly.

"I'm fine," I said groggily. "Thanks, Detective. Thanks, Captain Obvious."

As we walked back home, I stopped and turned to them.

"Hey, Celine. Girls."

They turned to look.

"I fully awakened my powers," I said. "I can create guns."

Celine blinked. "I see."

But the girls all shouted in unison:

"WHAT?!"

Chapter Text

It's been one year since that night—since Gwi-Ma attacked me and nearly took my soul.

After that, Celine doubled down on my training. She helped me control the Hanmoon fire and mold it into something new: weapons. I can now create any gun I want. But I know deep down, firepower alone won't be enough against Gwi-Ma.

That's why I've been pushing myself further—training in hand-to-hand combat with Mira, who's honestly a girl boss when it comes to beating you into shape. I've been learning different melee weapons from Rumi, who—surprisingly—is kind of an encyclopedia when it comes to that stuff. And Zoey? Zoey stepped in when my aim with firearms was so bad, it made me wonder how I even killed that demon a year ago. Her precision with throwing knives is scary-good. Thanks to her, my aim's slowly improving.

Celine now trains me alongside the girls again—not in dance, but in something broader. Music theory, instrumental practice, vocal coaching. I never thought I'd care about this stuff, but after unlocking my powers, it just clicks. I've even started enjoying it. Guitar is my favorite, obviously.

And something about the way Celine teaches now feels different. Ever since my awakening, she's incorporated other styles—rock, country, rap, gospel. It's like she's finally trying to understand me, not just mold me.

My voice cracks less, I don't stutter as much, and my dancing's improved—though I'll never outshine the girls there. But today's training is finally done.

"That's enough for today," Celine says, exhaling.

⸻

Later that day.

"You guys ready?" I ask.

"In unison," the girls say—"Yes!"

"Well then... picnic time!" I grin.

"For the future fans!" The girls cheer together.

We bolt down the hill to our usual spot, a soft patch of grass under the massive tree that protects the hanok. I lay out the blanket while the others unpack the food.

"You know," I say, sitting down, "never in a million years did I think we'd be this close."

"Well, you did show up like a lost puppy on our doorstep a year ago," Mira smirks.

"An adorable one at that," Zoey giggles.

I blush a little. "You shouldn't joke like that, Zoey," Rumi says, trying to sound serious.

"But he is cute..." Zoey mutters.

"Thanks, Zoey... but Rumi's right." I try to brush it off. "Anyway, sandwiches are served. Peanut butter and banana for me. BLT for Zoey. Ham and cheese for Mira. And a sub sandwich for Rumi."

"Thank you," they all mumble, mouths full.

⸻

One hour later.

I lay on my back, hands behind my head, staring at the branches.

"I can't believe it's been a year since I got here. Even though I lost my family... I think I found a new one."

"I totes agree!" Zoey blurts out, bouncing.

"Agreed," Mira and Rumi say in sync.

"Hey, Baelmon... when's your birthday?" Rumi asks.

"It's August now, so... next month. September."

"Got it," Rumi replies flatly. She's already plotting something. I can tell.

A few minutes pass, and one by one, the others fall asleep under the tree—classic food coma.

Except me.

Because he's back.

Miss me, boy?

The voice curls around my spine like cold smoke.

You may have avenged your old family... but I wonder how you'll react when you lose this one.

Suddenly, I'm yanked into another vision. This time it's different from the first one and I'm arguing with Celine?

Celine screaming in a frenzy, her voice cracking.

Our faults and fears must never be seen, Baelmon!

"No..." I mutter.

Well maybe I want to show them, Celine! My power's stronger when I do! I yell in the dream.

I can't breathe. My heart pounds.

And then—

"Baelmon...?"

Zoe's voice. Still half-asleep.

"You okay?"

"Yeah... just a bad dream."

She yawns. "Here. Take my hand. It should help."

I reach out and take it. The panic stops. The vision fades.

And just like that—I fell asleep too.

Chapter Text

"Happy birthday, Bomen!" my mom said, a little too cheerfully.

"Happy birthday, son. I'm proud of you—for avenging us by killing that demon," my dad added as he hugged me, beaming with pride.

"Dad... are you okay?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Now, dear, let the boy make his wish," Mom said gently. "Go on, honey."

I closed my eyes. I wish to keep living—for them, I thought.

But then... silence.

"Really, boy? That's your wish? How could you wish for a life you couldn't save us in?" Their voices distorted mid-sentence—twisting into Gwi-Ma's.

"No—what? What do you mean? I avenged you!"

"But you couldn't save them," Gwi-Ma tauntingly whispered into my ear like a knife dragged through cloth.

"Happy birthday, Baelmon," he laughed. "It'll be your last truly happy one."

"Shut up!" I yelled, bolting upright.

The Honmoon pulsed violently through my room as blue fire surged around my hands.

A moment later, Celine burst in. "Baelmon! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine," I muttered, exhausted.

Celine's gaze narrowed. "Just a nightmare?" she asked skeptically, noticing the scorched floor and faint wisps of smoke from my hands.

"You caught me," I admitted. "It was about my parents. We were celebrating my birthday before... well, everything. It's dumb."

"If you insist," she said softly. "Since it's your special day, you get the day off. Don't waste it."

"Yes, ma'am," I said.

Rumi, Zoey, and Mira were peeking around the door.

"You three," Celine snapped. "Go train while I run some errands."

"Yes, ma'am," they said, way too quickly.

As they disappeared, I added, "Now if everyone could kindly leave so I can change..."

The girls giggled as they left. Outside the room, they turned to Celine.

"You totally forgot it was his birthday, didn't you?" Zoey teased.

"N-no I didn't!" Celine stammered. "Now go train!"

As the girls headed off, Celine retreated to her own room. Sitting at her desk, she pulled out a manila folder with my adoption papers.

"Molly, James... did you really want me to do this?" she whispered. "I don't know if I can give him—or the girls—the life they deserve."

Flashback.

"Molly!" Celine, Ryu ( Rumi's Mom), and Joo-hee rushed into the hospital room.

"She's asleep," my dad said quietly. "But the birth went smoothly. Bomen's with the other newborns."

Soon my mom stirred. "Celine... Ryu... Joo-hee... How are y'all?"

"We should be asking you that," Celine said, hugging her. "You just gave birth."

"Celine," my mom whispered. "Promise me—if anything happens to me or James—you'll be his godmother. Please."

"You have my word," Celine said. "I'll take care of him."

Flashback ends.

Celine looked down at the papers again. "I promised... and I won't break that promise."

She stood, grabbed her coat, and left.

⸻

Elsewhere in the Hanok...

"Alright," Rumi whispered. "Operation: Hwang Surprise begins now."

"Zoe and I will decorate the living room and Baelmon's room," she added.

"I'll distract him," Mira said, already heading upstairs.

⸻

Upstairs.

"YO, HWANG!" Mira shouted as she barged in. "Come with me. We're going to the river."

Recovering from the heart attack she just gave me, I groaned. "Let me grab my shoes."

⸻

Meanwhile, in Seoul...

Celine stepped into a guitar shop.

"Hi! Looking for anything in particular?" the clerk asked.

"Yes. A beginner guitar for my son," Celine replied.

"I've got the perfect one. The Yamaha F335. It comes in black, brown, blue—"

"Blue," Celine said instantly.

"Blood red, too," the clerk added with a sinister grin as his illusion dropped—revealing a demon underneath.

Celine sighed. "Of course."

Demons all around her dropped their disguises. With a flick of her wrist, Celine summoned her twin scimitars.

"I hope you're ready to die," she said coldly.

As melodies flowed from her lips, empowering her strikes, she tore through them with expert precision—though the fight began to wear her down.

"Getting tired, hunter?" the demon clerk taunted.

"Zip your foul mouth," she snarled, finishing him off with one final blow. Leaving cash behind the counter for the real owner, she grabbed the blue guitar and left.

⸻

Back at the river.

"So why'd you bring me all the way out here?" I asked.

"To talk," Mira said bluntly. "You've been putting up a front. We all see it. Tell me what you dreamed about."

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Tell me or I'll put you in a chokehold."

"...Fine." I told her everything—everything except the part about Gwi-Ma.

⸻

Back at the house.

"Decorations are up, cake's in the oven," Rumi said.

"I called dibs on doing Baelmon's room," Zoey chimed in.

"Call Celine," Rumi reminded her.

On the phone:

"Celine, we didn't go train," Rumi admitted. "We threw a party for Bowman. Can you come back soon and help us surprise him?"

"I figured as much," Celine replied. "I got him a guitar and picked up some pizza. You baked a cake, too?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good work."

⸻

Back at the river.

"I'm gonna head back," Mira said.

"Thanks... I'll stay a bit longer."

⸻

Forty-five minutes later.

Celine and the girls waited quietly in the kitchen.

Ten minutes after that, I stepped inside.

"Surprise!" they all shouted.

"AHH!" I screamed, summoning my twin pistols on instinct.

"Don't shoot!" Zoey cried.

"Oh. It's just you guys..." I said, lowering the guns. "Sorry. Got startled."

Celine stepped forward with the pizza.

Recap of the Night

Everyone grabbed slices of pizza while we watched a movie and played fighting games. As expected, Mira and I dominated the competition — much to Zoey's dismay and Rumi's eye rolls. Afterward, they all gathered around me and sang "Happy Birthday." Then came the cake, laughter, and the kind of joy I hadn't felt in a year.

At the end of the night, Celine and the girls stepped away for a moment. When they returned, they were holding something behind their backs.

"Happy Birthday, Baelmon," they said in unison, stepping forward and revealing the gift.

It was a beautiful blue Yamaha acoustic guitar.

"You didn't..." I whispered, my eyes wide, emotion welling up in my chest.

"We did," Zoey said with a wink.

"Thank you... thank you, all of you," I choked out, tears quietly spilling down my face.

"One more thing," Celine added softly.

She reached into her coat and pulled out a stack of papers.

I stared at them. "Are those...?"

She nodded. "They're adoption papers."

I froze.

"Baelmon," she said, her voice steady but full of love, "if you'll have me... I would be honored to become your mother."

I blinked as fresh tears blurred my vision.

"Really?" I whispered.

"Yes," she said, her voice trembling just slightly now. "If you'll let me."

Without thinking, I rushed forward and hugged her as tightly as I could.

"Yes, Celine. I want you to be my mom."

She held me close, and in that moment... for the first time since my parents died, I didn't feel broken.

⸻

Later That Night

As sleep finally overtook me, the warmth of the day still lingered in my heart.

But it didn't last.

"Have a good birthday, boy," Gwi-Ma's voice slithered into my dream like poison.

I stood paralyzed in another vision. Zoey's voice pierced the chaos:

"No, Baelmon, you can't!" she screamed, reaching for me

The vision faded, Gwi-Ma's laughter echoing in my mind.

"See you around, boy."

I awoke with a scream, drenched in sweat.

"No!"

The birthday had ended.

But the nightmare... was coming

Chapter Text

It's been eight years since I received the Yamaha guitar from Celine and became her son. I'm fifteen now, with full control over my Honmoon powers and the ability to summon any weapon I want—just by thinking of it. My fire is completely under control too.

But even though I've mastered everything that makes me a stronger hunter, my music was always a problem. Sure, I could sing any song, match any note, and rap bar for bar. Celine, my adopted mother, told me this was good—it meant I could protect the Honmoon. But I didn't want to just protect it . I wanted to make it golden. I wanted to create a Honmoon so strong that no child would ever have to lose their parents to demons like I did. And deep down, I didn't want to be second-best to the Huntrix.

For three years I struggled to figure out what I wanted to sing about, and who I wanted to sing for. Then, one day, Celine gave me a box filled with items she had salvaged from my home after my parents were killed.

When I opened it, I froze. Inside was something I never thought I'd see again—my superhero Bible. My dad had given it to me when I was five. On the cover were scratches and burn marks, but inside I noticed a bookmark sticking out. I flipped to it, and there it was:

Isaiah 41:10
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reading those words hit me like lightning. That was it. That was the reason I'd never found my voice in music until now.

I would sing for God.

I went straight to Celine.
"Mom, I want to be a Christian music creator."
She studied me, then smiled softly.
"I see. I'm glad you've found your voice, Baelmon. But remember—keep your emotions in check."
"Yes, ma'am."

⸻

Present Day

I stood in my room, humming a new song in a low musical tone.
I was running in the shadows with fire in my hands... I thought I could handle the darkness just by being strong again...

"Baelmon!" Zoe's voice cut through my focus as she burst into the room. "You ready? Today's the big day!"
"Yeah, I know." I fiddled with my tie, struggling with it. "I'm ready."
"Here, let me help," Zoey giggled, stepping in to fix it.
"What was that song you were singing? Is it new?"
"Yeah," I nodded.
"It sounded good." She gave me a mirror. "Also, Baelmon—you're looking sharp."
"Thanks, Zo. You're looking good yourself."

Before the moment could go anywhere, Mira and Rumi  walked in.
"Let's go, lovebirds," Rumi teased. As Mira made mocking kissing noises
"Ugh, grow up you two ," I muttered, brushing past them.

Mira leaned toward Zoey, smirking. "If you really want him to fall for you, you're gonna have to be bolder."
Zoey went bright red. "What are you talking about, Mira!? He literally just said I looked good in my dress—that counts for something!"
Mira laughed. "You two are hopeless."

"Zoe! Mira! Chop chop!" Celine's voice called down the hall.
"Yes, ma'am!" they answered in unison, rushing out.

⸻

Outside

My jaw dropped. Parked in front of the house was a stretch limo. I looked at Celine dumbfounded
"Yes, it is, son," Celine chuckled knowingly.

The girls were just as stunned as I was. Silence lasted only a second before chaos broke out—laughing, cheering, shouting.
"Enough!" Celine's motherly voice cut through. "Time to go."

We piled into the limo.

⸻

In the City

"Today, citizens of Seoul, Korea," a news reporter announced, "a brand-new K-pop idol group is making their debut—under the guidance of Celine of the Sunlight Sisters!"

The limo pulled up. We stepped out onto the red carpet and walked to the interview table.
"Wow..." Zoey whispered, starry-eyed.
"That's one way to put it," Mira added.
"Guys, focus up," Rumi said, her tone serious.
"Lighten up, Rumi—it's your debut. Enjoy yourself," I told her.
"But I'm the leader. I need to act like it."
"Don't be modest. You're practically skipping right now," I laughed.
"Dang it..." she muttered.
"Smile for the cameras, girls," I reminded them.

We sat at the interview table. Celine stepped forward with a mic.
"Attention, everyone. It's an honor to be here today to announce the new K-pop group: Huntrix. But before I hand the mic to them, I'd like to introduce my adopted son—Baelmon."

She passed me the mic.
"Hello, Seoul. I'm Baelmon, Celine's adopted son. You haven't heard of me like you have my sisters and friends, because I wasn't sure if I was cut out to be an idol. I struggled until I rediscovered my roots—and now I'll be pursuing the path of a Christian artist. Please support my sisters as they've supported me. Ladies and gentlemen... I give you Huntrix."

I handed the mic to Rumi, Zoey, and Mira.

"Thank you,Baelmon," Rumi said. "As you heard from our brother and close friend, we are Huntrix—and we can't wait to create music for you all."

She froze mid-sentence, nerves hitting hard. Zoey,Mira, and I all rushed towards her asking if she was ok to which she replied "yeah just quick nerves and all" Rumi,Zoey, and Mira proceeded to tell the world who they are. While the press did their thing

Before questions started back up, I smirked, grabbed the mic again, and gave Zoey a mischievous look.
"So—you want to know when they'll perform?" I asked the crowd.
They roared back in excitement.
"How about... right now?"

I started a chant.
"Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing!"
The crowd joined in.

The girls looked at me in shock.
"Why!?" Rumi mouthed.
"Because it's time to show the world—and the demons—that you're here to make your mark," I said firmly.

I ran to the soundboard. The girls exchanged a look, then straightened.
"Okay," they said together.
(This is where you the reader plays how it's done)

The music kicked in. Huntrix performed their first song right there in front of the world. The crowd went wild. Their interview ended in glory.

Or at least, it should have ended there.

But we didn't know what was waiting for us next.

ATTENTION READERS THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS STORY IF YOU WANT THIS TO CONTINUE YOU'D BETTER UP VOTE IT LIKE CRAZY AND GIVE KUDOS! ALSO SHARE WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE!

Chapter Text

The girls and I stared at Celine. “What do you mean we have one more thing to do?” I asked.

Celine gave me that look — the one that meant don’t question me. “I scheduled the girls’ manager to meet us today,” she said.

A few moments later a man came running up, breathless and apologetic. He wore light-blue khakis, a white T-shirt, and a matching light-blue blazer. “CELINE! I’m so sorry I’m late — my alarm didn’t go off!” he panted.

“No punctuality, as per usual,” my mother said sarcastically.

“But at least I’m here,” he replied with a sheepish grin.

“Children, meet Bobby Rodriguez,” Celine said flatly. “He’s a former K-pop star. We did a few collabs back in the day.”

Silence fell for half a beat — then the girls completely lost it.

Zoey started the barrage. “What was it like performing with the Sunlight Sisters? Did you ever have a secret romance with them? Dance-offs? Rap battles? Diss-track competitions?!”

Rumi followed, eyes wide. “Your singing is amazing — could you give me some tips?”

Mira fangirled too. “Can you teach me your old choreography moves?!”

Bobby looked flattered and overwhelmed at once. “Wow — I’m flattered you know all that about me, but that’s a lot of questions. One at a time, please.” He drew a shallow breath, trying to keep up.

Rumi went first. “How did you achieve those high notes? I want to model mine after yours.”
“I see… Rumi, right?” Bobby asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“Rumi — it mostly comes from practice. It’s not something I can just hand you. Work at it,” he said kindly. Rumi accepted it with a nod.

Zoey asked next. “What was it like performing with the Sunlight Sisters?”
Bobby grinned. “It was a blast. My group was always super-focused — we didn’t see them as romantic interest or anything — but we loved sparking friendly competition. There were diss tracks, dance-offs… all in good fun.” He glanced at Celine, who only rolled her eyes.

Then Bobby looked at me. “How about you… Bowman? Any questions for me?”

Without thinking I blurted, “Did you sing ‘Gangnam Style’?”
He laughed. “Yes — Psy asked me to collab. It was a lot of fun.”
“Huh. My dad was right about you being on Psy’s song,” I replied.

Bobby, exhausted from the rapid-fire questions, changed the subject. “Who wants pizza?” he called.

“ME!” I shouted.

“NO, ME — I WANT IT MORE!” Mira snapped, pushing forward.

“Excuse me?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Wanna repeat that?”
“I said I want pizza more than you,” she replied coldly.

“We’ve been over this,” I said, grinning. “I love pizza more than you.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.

Rumi clapped the back of both our heads. “That’s enough, you two,” she said, the voice of reason. Zoe giggled and filmed the whole thing on her phone. Celine looked like she was surrounded by a pack of idiots — and she wasn’t wrong.

Bobby led us to the nearest pizza place and we followed, chattering and arguing like normal kids. But as we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Eyes everywhere — behind the café windows, gliding over in reflections on car windshields, a chill in the air that had nothing to do with the evening breeze.

I quickened my pace, glancing back. Everybody else laughed and pointed at a billboard advertising Huntrix’s debut single. For a second, the world looked normal.

Then I saw a shadow slip between two parked cars and stay there, like someone hiding on purpose.

My stomach dropped.

To be continued…