Chapter Text
Lee Felix had never seen a city like Seoul—drenched in neon and rhythm, pulsing with life in a way that made his hometown in Australia feel like a still photo. And tonight, it was alive in a way that made his heart race.
He stood in a sea of Stays, heart pounding in sync with the deep, pulsing bass echoing through the arena walls. The Stray Kids concert had only just begun, and already Felix was overwhelmed. The lights were wild, sweeping over the crowd like tidal waves. Fans screamed the lyrics, hands thrown into the air, lightsticks glowing in a synchronized ocean of devotion.
Felix had waited years for this moment. He’d spent months saving up for a ticket, even more time booking his flight and accommodations. And now—he was here. Close enough to see the sweat dripping down Hyunjin’s temple. Close enough to feel the heat from the stage. Close enough that it almost didn’t feel real.
He didn’t look like much—black hoodie, simple jeans, hair slightly curled and bleached at the tips. But he stood out in a way that he couldn’t hide. There was a certain softness to his features that made people double-take. Sharp cheekbones, warm honey-brown eyes, lips that parted slightly every time he got overwhelmed by the music.
And maybe that’s why Hyunjin noticed him.
It happened during Venom. The dancers moved into formation, lights slashing across the arena in white-hot beams, and Hyunjin spun—elegant, effortless—and his eyes locked onto Felix. Just for a moment.
Felix froze.
He told himself it was coincidence, that Hyunjin probably looked at dozens of fans that way. But there was something about the way his gaze lingered—curious, puzzled, intrigued—that made Felix’s heart skip a beat.
Then the lights flickered.
At first, no one noticed. The stage effects were dramatic—flickers and strobes were part of the set design. But the power didn’t come back right away. The audio cracked. A sudden, jarring silence followed. No music. No bass. Only confused murmurs from the crowd.
Then darkness swallowed the arena.
A beat of silence.
Then screams.
Not excited ones. Not fan screams. Real screams—panic, sharp and broken. Felix whipped his head around, the glow of thousands of lightsticks flickering like dying stars. People were shoving, some climbing over seats, others sprinting toward the exits. Chaos.
Someone near the front screamed again, louder this time—high-pitched, blood-chilling.
“What the hell…” Felix whispered, barely audible over the rising panic.
He caught a glimpse of it.
A figure stumbling onto the barricade—drenched in blood, limbs jerking unnaturally. It looked like a fan at first—until it lunged and bit someone’s neck.
Gasps turned to screams. The crowd surged backward.
“ZOMBIES!” someone shouted. “OH MY GOD, ZOMBIES!”
Felix didn’t want to believe it. He didn’t want it to be real. This had to be a stunt. A prank. Some kind of horror-themed surprise event.
But then the blood sprayed. The girl went limp in the zombie’s grip, eyes rolled back, and Felix saw the horror up close.
It was real.
People trampled each other, desperate to escape. Felix tried to push through the stampede, but the chaos swallowed him. Hands shoved him forward, then backward. He almost fell—until a strong hand grabbed his wrist.
He turned—and stared straight into Hyunjin’s face.
Up close, Hyunjin looked even more surreal—sweat-slicked, wide-eyed, gasping for breath.
“You!” Hyunjin shouted over the noise, recognition flashing in his gaze. “Come with me!”
Felix didn’t hesitate. He didn’t think. He just ran with him, gripping his hand tightly as they darted toward the side of the stage. Staff were yelling, trying to herd people away. Some were already being overwhelmed—bitten, pulled down, ripped apart.
Backstage was a mess—smoke from the fog machines still clung to the air, mixing with blood and shouts. Hyunjin shoved aside a speaker, pulling Felix behind him. A zombie lunged from the side—a crew member, half of his face missing—and Hyunjin slammed a mic stand into its chest without flinching.
“Where’s the rest of the group?” Felix asked, his voice cracking.
“Scattered,” Hyunjin muttered. “We got split up after the lights went out. I don’t know if everyone made it…”
They moved quickly, ducking through tight hallways, emergency lights glowing dim red. The echo of moaning grew louder.
“Why did you pull me?” Felix asked breathlessly as they turned a corner.
Hyunjin didn’t answer immediately. He stopped by a metal door, listening for sounds beyond it, then finally turned to look at Felix.
“Because I saw you,” he said, voice low. “Before everything went to hell. You were standing out there… and I couldn’t stop staring.”
Felix blinked. “That’s not a reason to risk your life.”
Hyunjin gave him a ghost of a smile. “No. But it’s the reason I couldn’t leave you behind.”
Felix’s stomach flipped. His mind was screaming that now wasn’t the time, that zombies were literally right behind them—but something about Hyunjin’s steady gaze made the world feel just a little less terrifying.
Suddenly, a heavy bang hit the door behind them.
Hyunjin cursed. “We need to move.”
He shoved the door open, revealing a narrow stairwell descending into darkness. “Service tunnel. Might lead to the parking level.”
Felix hesitated only a second. Then followed.
They descended quickly, breath echoing in the tight space. The sounds of chaos faded behind them—just enough to think, to breathe.
They moved in silence, the flickering emergency lights guiding their path. Somewhere in the distance, a familiar song started playing—soft, distorted, and wrong.
It was Maniac.
But it wasn’t from the speakers. It echoed through the concrete like it was leaking from somewhere deep below them.
Felix’s skin prickled. “Why is that still playing?”
Hyunjin looked over his shoulder, eyes dark. “I don’t know. But I don’t like it.”
They moved together down the tunnel, two shadows clinging to the edge of the world unraveling. And somehow, through all of it, Felix felt safer with Hyunjin beside him.
The concert had ended. The city had fallen.
But this wasn’t the end.
This was only the beginning