Chapter Text
Although Mira was annoyed that Rumi had moved up the release of Golden: Like c’mon they had just wrapped up their global tour; they definitely needed and deserved a break, she could also understand it.
She, like Rumi, had seen the gold shimmering in the Honmoon. They were so close. And she could feel it too. The Honmoon itself crooning with anticipation. Still a break would have been appreciated.
Instead Rumi had, without asking, pushed up the promo and release of Golden. It was frustrating. Instead of sinking into the couch, wearing a bathrobe, eating her favorite snacks, and basically just lounging around with Zoey doing nothing for two weeks, Mira was at the studio prepping for the first live performance of golden.
Fucking Rumi.
“Cheer up!” Zoey told her. They were in their shared dressing room, getting the final touches done for hair and makeup.
“Here come closer and smile,” Zoey commanded, brandishing her phone for a selfie.
Mira forced herself to relax and to release the tension in her shoulders. This was good. They were going to release Golden, they were going to turn the Honmoon gold. And once that happened they really could take a break, a hiatus. So what if it was full speed ahead right now, the break would come.
Maybe even Rumi would be convinced to relax.
Unlikely.
Mira smiled for the selfie leaning into Zoey’s shoulder. The Honmoon crooned in her ear. Everything was going to be perfect.
—
Rehearsal went smoothly. Golden had been their pet project, their goal for so long. Mira had spent months behind the scenes workshopping the choreography to get it just so. Even though they had never performed it, it was still deeply engraved in muscle memory. It helped that it was an easy song for Mira and Zoey, Rumi doing the majority of the work.
“No more hiding, I'll be shining,” Rumi sang, and the Honmoon purred to life.
“Like I'm born to be,” Rumi continued pleased.
Mira, who was providing backing vocals, took a moment to appreciate how incredible Rumi’s voice was. Even after all these years, it still impressed her. The Honmoon had already lit up even though it was just staff watching the performance.
“Cause we are hunters, voices strong,” Rumi continued before slowing down to sing, “And I know I believe.”
At the end of the rehearsal, Bobby, who had danced and sung along said, “That was incredible girls! I’m so excited for the performance.”
Rumi grabbed both Zoey and Mira’s hands in her own.
“We’re so excited too Bobby,” she told him before sharing an excited smile with Zoey and Mira. Zoey put a hand on Rumi’s shoulder and squeezed.
—
It was even better with a live audience. The Honmoon glowed and shimmered. It wrapped itself around the crowds and around the three of them, beaming with excitement. It had never seemed so alive and so full of love before. Mira knew this was it. The Honmoon was going to turn gold. This was the moment they had worked so hard for. This was what the last five years had been building towards.
Rumi sang the ending verse, “You know that it’s our time, no fears, no lies.”
“Oh, oh,” Mira and Zoey provided. Then all three of them came in to finish.
“That’s who we’re born to be.”
The crowd immediately went wild, surging forward, screaming and shouting and clapping their praise. The Honmoon vibrated with pleasure and Mira could see the gold threads spreading over the blue, each strand changing until all she could see was an overwhelming golden hue.
Zoey grabbed the three of them in a hug exclaiming, “Oh my gosh we did it! I love you guys so much.”
Rumi laughed, but she, like Mira was staring at the Honmoon with awe watching the strands change.
“I’ve waited so long for this!” she said in a tone of disbelief. Mira smiled at Rumi.
“It's really happening,” she told her.
Mira turned away from the two of them to more fully take it in. The crowd was still alight with energy cheering, and Mira was pleased that they’d prepared an encore to reward them with. The Honmoon was splendent radiating joy.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” ripped across the space. The sound was discordant: like fingernails on a chalkboard. Mira threw her hands over her ears wincing in pain. Her whole body scrunched up. The Honmoon was wailing, crying, a panicked wave of energy rising from it.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” it screamed. It was so loud that Mira could not hear anything else, could not understand what was happening. The fans shouted in pain. Mira did not understand. The Honmoon was golden.
Why was it screaming?
She felt a hand grab her shoulder. Zoey. She turned but Zoey looked horrified, devastated, staring at Rumi. Mira turned to look.
Rumi. Rumi who was covered in purple patterns.
What the fuck.
Rumi, who had been so pleased just a moment before, was now screaming in an animalistic chorus with the Honmoon. Rumi’s whole body was contorted in pain and purple patterns swirled around her skin burning a raw red color.
The Honmoon roared, “NOOOOOO,” and Rumi cried with it.
“Rumi, Rumi,” Zoey cried. Mira went to touch Rumi, to pull her back, but when her hand made contact she screamed. Her hand was on fire, burnt beyond repair. Was this what Rumi was experiencing?
The purple continued to spread. A demon, Mira realized. A demon was devouring Rumi, taking her to the other side of the barrier, stealing her soul away.
How had a demon snuck in?
The Honmoon was inconsolable. Mira could smell burnt flesh, hers and Rumi’s. She felt nauseous. Flames flicked around Rumi’s skin. Rumi’s chest heaved, her skin melted. She screamed. Mira could do nothing, but clutch her burned ruined hand. Zoey cried desolately next to her. They watched as Rumi burned and the Honmoon screamed.
Mira felt the spot in her chest, the spot where she was tethered to Zoey and Rumi flickering and failing. Rumi was dying, Mira could feel it. The Honmoon wailed and thrashed.
“NOOOOOOOO NOOOOO NOOOOO,” it cried. It kept trying to wrap a protective blanket over Rumi, but every time it did, it made it worse. The protective barrier turned to flames the moment it touched Rumi.
“Stop,” Zoey begged. “You’re hurting her.”
Mira wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or to cry. No demon was going to listen to them. The demon was eating Rumi, taking her soul; Mira could feel it in her chest.
“Please, please stop being golden,” Zoey begged and Mira realized she was talking to the Honmoon. The Honmoon roared: its energy spilling all over the place. Rumi collapsed on the ground onto all fours convulsing in agony.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO,” the Honmoon cried. And then it tugged hard. Mira felt it in her very soul, a painful pinch right at the core of her, pulling and twisting her. She screamed as she unravelled. There was a blinding light, a burning tear, the ache of her burnt hand, and the unbearable wail of the Honmoon.
Is this the end? The pain encompassed her. It was a relief to collapse.
—