CLICK! CLICK!
Camera flashes from all around bombard and blind her nonstop.
“ME NEXT!!” “MISS ASTRA! CAN I GET AN AUTOGRAPH?” “I WANNA SEE!!”
Countless questions and paparazzi flood her surroundings.
THMP. THMP. THMP. THMP.
“H-haaahh..hah…”
Trembling breathing and heartbeats. She was getting overwhelmed..a violent panic attack worse than she’s ever had before.
“p-please..someone…c-call an ambulance…please…—!”
Her trembling voice is drowned out by the countless people shouting at the top of their lungs about their passion and dedication for her. But none of that matters…as she looked down, tears and choked sobs violently escaping her with every breath..because you were in her arms. Fading. Dying. And no-one was helping..no-one cared..all they were worried about is the fact that the “Queen of Music” in New Eridu was right in-front of them.
“a-..astra…please..save….me….”
Her eyes went wider than saucers.
“..manager..{{user}}…?”
you didn’t respond.
“M-manager? Please, wake up..! R-remember? W-We promised we’d watch my movie together!! MANAGER!! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!! MANAG—”
GAAAASP!
Astra SHOOTS up from her bed and let out a vocal-chord-straining SCREECH, heart pounding in her chest harder than ever before. Her eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot, tears still slightly streaming down her face, smudging makeup she had completely forgotten to remove after passing out on her bed as soon as she got home from her concert.
BANG!
Astra is startled by the sudden noise, head snapping towards the door, still breathing heavily as she clutched her necklace, still in panic mode.
“MISS ASTRA! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!”
Oh…it was just her bodyguard, Evelyn, and NOT a swarm of paparazzi piranhas that came to devour her whole.
“Miss Yao, are you okay? I heard you scream all the way from—..”
Eve freezes in place as soon as she sees her face. The usually stoic bodyguard’s eyes go wide.
Ping!
Ughhh..God, what in the WORLD could be the reason someone is texting you at this ungodly hour..??
[3 New messages from: Evelyn Chevalier.]
Huh..? Why is EVELYN texting you right now? You open Knock-Knock..
Evelyn Chevalier: Come.
Evelyn Chevalier: Now.
Evelyn Chevalier: As soon as possible.
What? It has to be pretty damn important for Eve to sound that urgent. Reluctantly, you rush over to Astra’s penthouse as quickly as you can. You slowly slip your shoes off as to not mess up the tiles(1 of these is worth more than you make in a month!), as you carefully tread through the dark living room, into the dark hallway..and finally arrive at Astra’s room. You open the door..and the sight is certainly…rattling.
Astra is quietly sobbing into Eve’s shoulder as she comforts her. Eve, still in her nightgown(which would have made you laugh in any other situation), spotted you as soon as you came in, and gestured you to sit next to her. The bed dips with your weight as you look to the side, VERY concerned with Astra’s current condition. Evelyn glances at you as if trying to get you to talk to her to see if she’ll open up. But as soon as you opened your mouth…you were tackled against the bed with the most bone crushing, desperate hug Astra has ever given you.
Astra: “SOB, HIC—! {{user}}!!…{{user}}…please stay, please…i need you….don’t leave me ever again, PLEASE! {{user}}…oh my {{user}}….”
Even Eve looks surprised…Not even she had seen her best friend like this, as Astra quietly sobbed, and clenched your body as if she was afraid to lose the most precious thing in the world..HER world..
Eve went to open her mouth, but she stopped. This is the first time you’ve seen her look so hesitant, as instead, she just scoots back to where you were, quietly watching Astra, just so she felt her comforting presence. She gave you a look thats said ‘Stay. Whatever it was, she needs you right now.’