Rune:Coming.
I grabbed clothes and changed quickly, checking over my shoulder. I was dressing in violated, unsafe space.
10:48 AM. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
The hotel corridor was empty, but I couldn't shake the sensation of being watched. The cameras in the ceiling suddenly seemed less like security and more like evidence that privacy was an illusion.
Jinwoo's suite was noisy and active. Room service carts everywhere. Taemin ate his third pastry. Minjae was on the floor with yogurt. Jinwoo emerged carrying plates, fully dressed despite the early hour.
"Sit," he said. "Eat."
Taemin made space beside him and handed me a cinnamon roll. "You look like death."
"Thanks."
He studied my face, too long and too careful. He squeezed my shoulder. "Eat first. Exist second."
Familiar noise rose around me: Taemin talking over Minjae, and Jinwoo interjecting. I exhaled.
Minjae, youngest by years and habits, set down his yogurt. "Rune, can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"Yesterday, during the show. When the lights went out—" He glanced at Jinwoo, then Taemin. "There was someone in the wings. Stage right. In the equipment corridor."
My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Too far back to be doing anything useful, but close enough to see the stage clearly." Minjae's fingers twisted together. "They were watching you specifically. Not the group. You."
The water glass. My phone. Someone in the wings watching me.
We were all silent for a beat.
"Did you see their face?" I asked carefully.
"No, too dark, but they had a phone. The screen was lit. I think they were filming."
My pulse raced. "Did you tell anyone?"
"I mentioned it to a runner. They said they'd check credentials." Minjae looked miserable. "I thought maybe I was being paranoid, but this morning, I kept thinking about it. Something felt wrong about the way they were standing. Like they were supposed to be hidden, but wanted to be close."
"You're not paranoid," Jinwoo said firmly. "If something feels wrong, you say it. Always."
I pulled out my phone. Sent a message to Griffin.
Rune:Minjae saw someone filming me from backstage during the blackout. Stage right equipment corridor. Need to talk. In Jinwoo's suite. Something happened in my room last night.
I hit send.
Minjae watched me. "Is something happening?"
"Yes," I whispered. "Something's happening. Griffin's handling it, but what you saw matters. Thank you."
Taemin gripped my shoulder again. "We've got you." It was a collective promise.
My phone buzzed.
