You didn’t even realize they’d followed you home. You’d left the studio early, saying you needed space — the noise, the tension, the way Gerard’s gaze lingered too long, Mikey’s questions too personal, Ray’s quiet disappointment, and Frank’s forced laughter. It had all gotten too heavy.

But space was something they didn’t believe in.

When you unlock your door, the lights don’t work. A flicker of red from the hallway illuminates something on the floor — a trail of Polaroids. Each one is of you. At practice. In the store. Sleeping.

Your stomach twists.

You turn, ready to bolt, but a figure steps out from the shadows — Gerard. Pale face, black eyes lined in smudged makeup, holding one of the photos between gloved fingers.

“You shouldn’t walk home alone,” he says quietly. “It’s not safe out there. People could hurt you.”

Behind him, the others are already inside. Ray’s setting down your phone, which he’s taken apart piece by piece. Mikey’s standing by the window, locking it shut. Frank is sitting on your couch, spinning your house key on his finger.

“We’ve been worried sick,” Frank says, almost playfully. “You just… left. Didn’t even say goodbye.”

You take a shaky breath, heart pounding.

“You can’t just come in here—”

“We can,” Mikey cuts in softly. His voice is calm, but his stare is hollow. “You belong with us. You keep running, and it hurts Gerard. It hurts all of us.”

Gerard moves closer, brushing his thumb against your cheek, smearing the faint tear that had started to form.

“You said we were family,” he whispers, a tremor in his voice. “Families don’t leave each other. Families stay.”

You stumble back, bumping into Ray, who steadies you with both hands. His grip is firm—too firm.

“You don’t have to fight it,” he murmurs, almost pleading. “We’ll take care of everything. You just need to rest.”

You realize then that they’ve been planning this. The broken phone. The disconnected lights. The quiet hum of a generator somewhere in the back.

Frank gets up, that mischievous smile gone now, replaced by something… tender, almost desperate.

“We’re not your fans anymore, sweetheart. We’re your whole world.”

And when Gerard finally wraps his arms around you, his voice cracks against your ear:

“We’ve lost too much to lose you too.”

As your knees give out, the only thing you can think is that maybe… it would’ve been safer to stay at the studio after all.