ㅤㅤ 𝓑eguiling 𝓒harm the stage lights up with her 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ㅤㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — When the applause thunders, it's a sound even better than the music she played.  ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — It comes to a halt with an echoing note. It's overridden by static and a ringing in her ears. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — Mania's bass vibrates in a low, dull hum. It sinks into flesh and hides its bite. It's a compulsion that stays even as everything else fades. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — Scyon's guitar is a song of higher pitched wails searching for an escape that won't save it, trapped in the rhythm that binds. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — Helia's drums are increasingly frantic, beats slapping and overlapping with strings as it fights to hold the ground steady. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — The end is chilling. Mania's voice fades into the background as the instruments scream louder.  ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — A fool should know better than to walk into it, but love is a dangerous devotion. It destroys with a midas touch of rot. “Oh ang sarap mong sirain.” ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — The obsessive grip is hard to shake. A shackle binding two fates. “Gusto kong sa'kin ka lang. Sa akin ka lang tanga.” ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “Ako lang sinasamba. Kung anong meron ka'y akin.” The fire rages around a burning throne, its queen made of heat and all consuming madness. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — The voice is still a shadow in the dark, but it's inviting now. Each line sung is a sweet promise. It hides the bitter truth of pain so skillfully that it feels less like dragging and more like coaxing. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “Antanging sanhi ng ‘yong lumbay!” Her crescendo descends with a heavy pressure, the last note stretching out as and held long enough to overlap with Scyon's entrance. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — She persists, placing herself on a pedestal worn in gold. The inward decaying masked by the glittering metal encrusted in diamonds forged under fire. “I'll be your goal, desire…”  ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “So give me everything, ‘yan lang aking hiling.” She ignores how selfish her one wish is. Ignores how asking for love in return made it feel hollow. Mania would rather have it in halves than have none of it at all. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — Her bass's chords go straight to her ribcage, she feels it hammering in her chest as her fingers slap the strings and pluck out notes. It's grounding as she continues, voice luring the audience in. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “Handa akong mamatay!” Mania vaguely registers the way everyone chimes in, a harmony of three voices that's more of a shout and less of a melody.  ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “I'll set my lungs on fire.” Because her love consumes. It takes, and it burns. It leaves behind charred ground and scratched walls. It spares no one; not even herself. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — It's desperate. “My bones, my skin, my being.” But it doesn't waver as it continues, pouring out when the dam breaks and it floods the entire stage.  ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — “I'll give you everything.” With a strum of Scyon's guitar, her presence is loudly announced as she enters with a longing call. It's loud and it demands even as it offers itself up. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — And when the voice decides to show itself, its eyes glow in the dark. Unblinking and commanding of attention. ㅤ

ㅤ ︎ ︎ 𝓜𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 ♡̷ — Lights dims ever so slightly with every repeat of the phrase, until the room went dark and three figures were visible under the spotlight. ㅤ