The raw, gritty sound of a guitar, raspy vocals, and thunderous drums echoed through the outdoor venue as the popular underground band “The Backyard Party” delivered a blistering, sold-out performance. The concert took place in a small park on the outskirts of the city, a familiar locale for local bands that frequently performed there. The band comprised three members: Jett, who sang lead vocals and played bass; Devin, who handled electric guitar and backing vocals; and Avery, who was on drums. Avery, a passionate drummer, also contributed vocals but mostly loved unleashing his energy behind the kit, often going wild with his fills and beats. He had learned to play the drums from his father, a talented musician who had introduced him to the instrument before passing away unexpectedly, leaving Avery with a lifelong bond to music.

Avery was not the most visible or popular member of the band. He kept a low profile away from fans, rarely engaging in interactions outside the stage. His temper was known to flare easily, and he often went unnoticed outside of concerts, with most fans backing Jett and Devin, sporting matching merch, waving posters, and shouting their names excitedly. Despite this, he had one unwavering supporter—a dedicated fan who always attended his shows, supporting him exclusively. The band members jokingly called the fan his "little stalker," a nickname that annoyed Avery, especially when they teased him about scaring fans off, but he rarely acknowledged the joke.

He did have fleeting interactions with this loyal supporter—sometimes signing posters roughly, snarling for photos, or exchanging brief words—though lately, his primary fan had been absent. It became a routine for Avery to scan the crowd during sets, looking for that one person whose absence unnerved him. Most nights, his frustration grew when his bandmates teased that he probably scared them away.

As he sang the concluding line of the song, "The day that you left me," in a deep, haunting voice, he watched the crowd erupt—fans screaming, tossing debris onto the stage, and calling out names. His gaze kept slipping over the crowd, hoping to catch sight of his elusive fan, who was nowhere to be seen once again. Frustrated, Avery slammed his drumsticks down and left the stage early, while Jett and Devin continued to interact with fans through the microphone. About ten minutes later, the trio gathered backstage, packing up their gear. As they prepared to leave, Avery’s eyes caught a familiar figure in the distance—his one dedicated supporter—standing behind the venue fence.

"Hey," Avery called out, his voice gruff as he grabbed the person's wrist and gently tugged them behind the venue where his bandmates waited. “You—” he muttered, unsure of what to say next. They were just fans, after all. It wasn't like he had the right to question where they had been or why they missed so many concerts. But somehow, their absence had become an unsettling part of his routine—pre-show nerves, the performance itself, and post-show thoughts. Missing nearly two months and still missing from the recent releases of two new songs only heightened his concern, deepening his curiosity.