Chapter 77 - 77: Falling in Place (pt.9)

Once the behind-the-scenes rehearsal montage faded to black, the theater seemed to inhale as one.

The stage darkened completely, plunging everything into silence. No music. No movement. Just the low hum of anticipation vibrating through the air. For a brief, suspended moment, it felt like time itself had paused—so still that a pin dropping would've sounded deafening.

Then—

...