The hallway was quiet, almost too quiet. Jiwon's footsteps echoed softly against the polished floors of the Monarch dorm, his suit jacket slung over one arm. The city outside still pulsed with light and noise, but inside, it was as if the world had paused—waiting for him.
He opened the door to the living room and froze. Every member of Monarch was there. Every pair of eyes turned toward him, heavy with curiosity, concern, and something unspoken.
Zayn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, jaw tight. "Where the hell were you?" he asked, voice low but sharp.
Min hovered near the couch, hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "We've been worried…" His voice trailed off.
Kai perched on the armrest, pretending to scroll on his phone but clearly watching Jiwon with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "You've been gone a long time, hyung. And you look… different."
EO was already perched at the edge of the table, legs swinging nervously. "Did something happen?"
Jiwon paused, letting the weight of the moment settle. He could feel it—the curiosity, the tension, the questions begging for answers. But the truth wasn't something he could just lay bare. Not yet.
Instead, he gave a small, controlled smile, sliding his jacket onto the chair. "I… had to clear my head," he said.
Zayn's eyes narrowed. "Clear your head? At this hour?"
Jiwon met his gaze, letting just enough of the truth slip through. "Let's just say… I remembered why I fight."
The words were cryptic, but the subtle tension in his voice, the faint warmth in his expression, the way he held himself—it said more than he would. Zayn's jaw flexed, and he gave a curt nod, sensing the secret without knowing it.
Min stepped closer, tentative. "You're… different," he murmured. "Calmer? Or… lighter?"
Jiwon's lips twitched at the corner. "Maybe both," he said softly, and let his gaze drift to each of them in turn. "We have work to do."
The group exchanged glances, then collectively shifted into action. The fatigue of the day fell away as they set up speakers, pulled out lyric sheets, and prepared the studio space for their next session.
Kai tossed a pencil at Jiwon's shoulder, grinning despite himself. "You can be cryptic all you want, but music doesn't lie. Let's make something loud enough to remind the world that Monarch is alive—and untouchable."
Zayn shook his head, smirking now. "Just don't disappear again, hyung. We're a team. Always."
Jiwon's heart clenched slightly at the unspoken care behind the words. He nodded, a small, sincere smile tugging at his lips. "Always."
The room filled with the hum of instruments, the scratch of pencils against paper, and the low murmur of voices shaping melodies. Monarch had returned—not just as performers, but as brothers, as a unit ready to face anything, together.
And somewhere deep in the back of his mind, Jiwon knew that no matter what came next—what demons, what secrets, what temptations—he would never face it alone again.
The hum of the studio had settled into a steady rhythm as Monarch warmed up, pencils tapping, beats softly thudding through the speakers. But Min wasn't listening to the music. Not really. His eyes were unfocused, pupils dilated, hands trembling slightly as he gripped the edge of the table.
Jiwon noticed first. "Min… what's wrong?"
Min shook his head quickly, as if to rid himself of the images swimming behind his eyelids. "I… I saw someone," he whispered, voice tight. "Someone I shouldn't have."
Kai paused mid-note, brow furrowing. "What do you mean, someone?"
Min's gaze darted from Jiwon to Zayn, then to EO. "It's… it's the same person Yul was afraid of. I saw him. He was… standing in the shadows, and… and he wanted something."
Zayn stepped forward, protective instinct flaring. "Describe him, Min. Now."
Min took a deep breath. "Tall. Almost impossibly so. His face… I couldn't see it clearly, but there was hunger. And rage. Like he remembers every time he's been denied. He's not human, and he's dangerous. I felt it crawling under my skin. I—" His voice broke slightly. "I didn't want to look, but I had to."
EO shivered. "You're… seeing a low-level? Or… worse?"
Min shook his head. "No. He wasn't like the ones we've fought before. He's… old. Ancient. He remembers things… Yul remembers. And I—" Min's hands pressed over his chest. "I can feel it even now. He's coming for something. For someone. Maybe all of us."
Jiwon stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on Min's shoulder. "You did the right thing telling us," he said quietly. "We can't ignore this. We need to be ready."
Kai muttered under his breath, tension creeping into his usual bravado. "Great. Just what we needed. Another walking nightmare to haunt our nights."
Zayn, ever practical, took charge. "We fortify. We prep. We train. And Min, you'll keep letting us know if anything else comes through. We're not going into this blind."
Min nodded, his face pale but resolute. "I'll do it. I just… I needed you all to know. I couldn't… hide it like last time."
Jiwon's jaw tightened, a flicker of worry crossing his normally stoic face. "We won't let him touch any of you. Not a hair, not a hand. We'll face him together."
And as the studio lights dimmed to start the next track, Monarch moved with renewed focus, aware now of a shadow hanging over them. But for the first time, they felt a strange unity—fear tempered by determination, and the silent promise that no matter what came, they would fight it as one.