A Hidden Face

A Deal

Ok so recap!
Ava got a mysterious message saying that if she didn't meet the person who sent the message, they'll leak her and her band's identity!

(Later that night, after the concert)
12:00 am, Minrow 4th street, in an ally way

They arrived at the designated location, a dimly lit alleyway off 4th street. Ava led the way, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. As they approached, a figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by a hoodie. "You're late," The figure spoke, voice muffled. Ava could feel the tension radiating from her bandmates behind her. "Who are you?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady. The figure chuckled darkly, stepping closer. "Does it matter? I have something you want." Ava stepped forward, shielding her bandmates from the mysterious figure. "Show us what you've got," she said, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. The figure raised a small USB drive, holding it up for them to see. "What is it?" Ava looked at the USB drive, suspicious and cautiously. "Your biggest fan here has been keeping a little secret," the figure replied, a sinister grin spreading across their face. "This contains footage of your most intimate moments, captured without your knowledge or consent. And if you want it kept quiet, you'll do exactly as I say." "Ok, what kind of sicko are you?" Emma asked, disgusted and terrified. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. They looked at the hooded figure surprised. "Wait... that's all? Don't you like.. want money or I don't know a date with one of us-" "Shut up, Kat. Don't give them any more ideas than they already have." Alex shut Kat up and she realized that he was right. "Sorry, I was expecting something way worse honestly." The band glared at Kat. Their gaze telling her to stay quiet and let them do the talking. The figure laughed coldly. "Oh, don't get me wrong. There will be more... demands later. For now, just show up at the address I'll text to Ava, and give the best performance of your lives. If you do as you're told, no one will ever know your little secret." Ava sigh, shaking her head and trying to grasp reality. "Ok so you want us to play at your party Saturday...? At what time and where?" "The party starts at 8 PM sharp. The address will be sent to Ava's phone later tonight. And remember..." The figure leaned in closer, lowering their voice to a menacing whisper, "...not a word to anyone." With that, the figure retreated back into the shadows, leaving the band members standing alone in the eerie silence of the alleyway. Ava checked her phone a moment later to find a text message from an unknown number, containing the address and a chilling reminder: "Don't be late."

(A few days later, Saturday 18th)
On the road, towards 1024, street Qualister

The days passed by slowly, but the night of the party finally arrived. Alex, Kat, Emma, Marco and Ava gathered their instruments and headed to the provided address. As they drove through downtown, it dawned on them how unusual this all seemed. They pulled up to a luxurious, well-lit mansion surrounded by tall iron gates. A security guard waved them through after a quick ID check. Ava felt a knot form in her stomach as they pulled into the driveway. "This feels so wrong..." she muttered. "Too late to back out now," Led inside, the band members were struck by the opulence of the mansion. Guests clad in fancy attire mingled about, sipping champagne and chatting animatedly. Ava and the others were escorted to a lavishly decorated stage in the ballroom, where their instruments had already been set up. As they took their positions, Ava looked around the room. Her heart was pounding, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this whole scene. Suddenly, a chilling message appeared on Ava's phone, from the same unknown number as before: "Showtime." Ava quickly showed the message to the others. They shared nervous glances before Alex counted them in. The first notes of their hit song rang out, drawing the attention of the room's guests. As they sang and played, Ava scanned the faces in the crowd, trying to spot their mysterious blackmailer but she froze as she saw Jake take part of the crowd. "Jake? What is he doing here?" Kat hissed under her breath, nodding towards the familiar face in the crowd. Ava gulped, trying to maintain her focus on the performance. She had no idea how Jake was connected to all this, but his presence only served to heighten her unease. Halfway through their set, Ava noticed something strange. Many of the guests were recording their performance on their phones. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she realized that this was probably exactly what their blackmailer wanted - footage of them performing at this secret event, which could later be used against them. As the song came to an end, Ava quickly ushered the band off the stage, her mind racing. They needed to get out of here as soon as possible. But as they made their way towards the exit, Ava spotted Jake standing by the door, blocking their path. As the band approached, Jake's eyes locked onto Ash. He had seen her perform countless times, but there was something different about her tonight. She seemed familiar, yet he couldn't quite put his finger on it. "Excuse me," Jake said, stepping forward. "Could I have a word with you?" Ava hesitated, casting a worried glance at the rest of the band. They nodded encouragingly, and she stepped forward. "Sure, what's up?" she asked, trying to disguise her voice slightly. Jake squinted at her, tilting his head to the side. "You remind me of someone," "I get that a lot," Ava replied evasively, shifting uncomfortably. Jake continued to study her, his brow furrowed in concentration. "No, it's not just that... You look... Wait a minute..." Jake's eyes widened as a realization dawned on him. He reached out and gently grasped Ava's arm, turning her face towards the light. "Ava," he whispered, his voice filled with shock. "Is that you?" Ava laughed and shook her head, trying to hide the fear she feels. No, you have me mixed with someone else but I don't blame you, many people have tried to see the face behind this mask so.." Jake hesitated, then smiled as he drew back. "You're right, I must be mistaken. Still, even with that mask on, I can tell you have a certain presence when you perform. It's captivating." Ava's heart began to race as the compliment caught her off guard. Jake's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he stepped aside, allowing the band to exit. As they walked away, Ava couldn't shake the feeling that Jake had seen right through her disguise. She glanced back, noticing him watching her leave, a curious expression on his face. As Ava walked away, she felt a strange connection to Jake. It was unexpected and unnerving, but also thrilling. She couldn't deny that there was something about him that drew her in, almost like he could see the real her behind the mask. Jake stood there, watching as Ava disappeared into the crowd. He couldn't believe it - he had been so certain that she was someone else entirely. But now, as he watched her leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye...

𝄞𝄞𝄞

That was fun. Hoped you enjoyed. Next chapter is in a few hours!