I'm intrigued by the pink haired man. wow nice song... oh crap a gunshot. I hope Al, makoto and the daughter are not shot.

Anonymous thanks me for always posting... you're very welcome. Are you the only one creating the pieces for the story? If so I'm blown away, so talented.. art and music, singing...

Time seems to have frozen --- performers lined up on the corridor wearing colourful costumes and holding their instruments, their mouths agape, an uncomfortable silence coming from the stage, your heart nearly skipping a beat.

"Gloria!", yells Vera.

You turn around to where Vera and Gloria were. A gunman is nowhere in sight.

In the blink of an eye, murmurs reach your ears. Panic is in the air as the performers shuffle uncomfortably in their positions. Footsteps in crescendo, coming from the stage.

Breathing rapidly, Gloria lets out a grunt. "I'll... be okay."

A person with a very pale complexion frantically runs towards you, just to stop in front of Gloria. "Please hang in there." He then looks at Vera. "And call emergency services. We need to get her to the hospital, but I have to make an announcement first." He hurriedly dashes past you, and makes his way up to the other side of the backstage.

Vera takes out her phone and calls an emergency number, informing them of the situation.

"May I have everyone's attention, please?", echoes the pale man's voice from the speakers.

"All performers, please proceed or stay in the backstage until further notice.", he says. After a brief pause, he speaks again:

"Good evening. I am E, the founder of Rage Events. I know that you all came here to enjoy diverse styles of music for a night. The idea that something can go wrong was far from your minds. To ensure everyone's safety, I have deployed festival staff to perform an investigation."

Al, Makoto, Fuyuka, the violinist, and the staff on stage pass by you and gather around Gloria. You take a glance behind you and notice that a crowd has formed.

"We are also currently in contact with the nearest police district. Until we have ensured everyone's safety, I am requesting all of you to stay in your seats, and wait for a staffer to check on you, first.", you hear over the speakers.

The audience is in a panic, with some of the people seated in front of you making a hurried exit to the sides of the stage. The people on stage check on each other, but fortunately, nobody seems to be hurt.

A person with a very pale complexion comes up to the stage from the stairs on the side, and calls for everyone's attention.

"All performers, please proceed or stay in the backstage until further notice.", he says. Al, Makoto, Fuyuka, the violinist, and the staff on stage exit through the sides of the platform. As soon as the stage is vacated, he looks at the audience and begins to speak.

"Good evening. I am E, the founder of Rage Events. I know that you all came here to enjoy diverse styles of music for a night. The idea that something can go wrong was far from your minds. To ensure everyone's safety, I have deployed festival staff to perform an investigation. We are also currently in contact with the nearest police district. Until we have ensured everyone's safety, I am requesting all of you to stay in your seats, and wait for a staffer to check on you, first."

He bows deeply for a few seconds, then leaves the stage.

Her eyes wide open, Gloria gasps for air.

Vera holds Gloria's hand tightly. "Hang in there.", she tells her.

Gloria nods, and clutches the left side of her chest, covering the gunshot wound. Before you can ask her what happened, an ambulance -- its siren blaring loudly -- makes a close approach. The back doors of the ambulance open, and paramedics alight the vehicle to pick Gloria up.

"Ma'am, are you her companion?", asks one of the medical personnel.

"I called for emergency services. We were talking to each other when I heard a gunshot, and before I knew it, she was grunting.", says Vera. She is instructed to go inside the ambulance.

Al makes her way past the crowd and speaks to the paramedics. She takes something out from her pocket, revealing an identification card of sorts. "I'm Dr. Chiharu Hiiragi from the Centropolis Medical Centre. Please allow me to conduct the primary survey.", she says as she enters the ambulance. She then looks at you. "Please make sure Maki and Fuu are safe."

You ask her how you can help out with the audience check, and she takes out a page from the clipboard, handing it over to you. It's a table with names, seat numbers, and ticket numbers.

"What do I do with this?", you ask her.

Pointing at each column of the table, she instructs you to check on VIPs and other higher-priority ticket holders first. You ask her if there's a list of people in the general audience. She shrugs and tells you that if such a list exists, it's probably with someone else.

You rush back to the audience, and look for the first seat number on the list given to you. It's the front row among the seats designated for friends and family. You address the uneasy, chattering crowd. "Alright. Please calm down and remain seated. I will do a quick roll-call of everyone, row-by-row."

The first few rows, including your own, are mostly complete, barring Al. You saw her in the backstage earlier, so you're certain that she's okay. Ironically, the VIPs are likely to be the least of the worries of the organiser. The panic is likely to be worse among members of the general audience.

After a few moments, one of the festival staff approaches the first row of friends and family seats, and addresses the uneasy, chattering crowd. "Alright. Please calm down and remain seated. I will do a quick roll-call of everyone, row-by-row."

You present your ticket to the staffer as soon as she calls for you. She smiles and ticks her list, moving on to the people seated beside you. The first few rows, including your own, are mostly complete, barring Al. She left for the backstage with Makoto, Fuyuka, and the rest of the people on stage, so you're certain that she's okay. Ironically, the VIPs are likely to be the least of the worries of the organiser. The panic is likely to be worse among members of the general audience.

You prepare to leave your seat now that someone has verified that you're live and alive, when you find Makoto and Fuyuka rushing to you.

"Are you alright?", asks Makoto.

Al makes her way past the crowd and speaks to the paramedics. She takes something out from her pocket, revealing an identification card of sorts. "I'm Dr. Chiharu Hiiragi from the Centropolis Medical Centre. Please allow me to conduct the primary survey.", she says as she enters the ambulance. She then looks at you. "Please make sure Maki and Fuu are safe."

"Are you okay?", Makoto asks you.

You nod and thank him for his concern, but express your worries about Gloria's condition.

A frown forming on his face, he throws another question at you. "Do you know what happened earlier?"

"I understand." A frown forms on Al's face. As she pulls you up into the ambulance, she cups her hands around her mouth and screams, "Maki! Please take care of Fuu while I go to the hospital." You see Makoto and Fuyuka run past the crowd. A look of worry on their faces, they wave Al goodbye.

The back doors close behind you as she begins to examine Gloria's chest.

"Will Gloria be okay?", you ask Al.

"We'll find out after I complete the primary survey." Al checks for a pulse on Gloria's neck, then takes the oxygen mask. Attaching its tubing to the oxygen tank on the side, she fits the mask over Gloria's face.

Al places the earpieces of a stethoscope in her ears and takes the circular piece on its other end on her fingers. She looks at you momentarily. "Can you get me the sphygmomanometer, please?"

"A sphy what?", you shoot back, as she exposes a part of Gloria's chest, and rubs a cotton swap in a circular motion around one spot. She looks at one of the medical personnel and asks them if they have a needle.

"It's the thing we use to record your blood pressures.", replies a paramedic sitting next to you. He hands you a black pouch, which you place close to Al, as she takes a needle from another medical personnel and inserts it on the left side of Gloria's chest. She removes the needle, leaving the cannula stuck to Gloria, and asks for a syringe, which is handed over to her.

"How far are we from the hospital?", Al asks. One of your companions tells you that you'll be there in about a minute. She looks at Gloria. Taking the blood pressure monitoring device out of its bag, she straightens Gloria's arm and secures it just above her elbow. Inserting the bell of the stethoscope under the cuff, she audibly whispers, "Hang in there, Gloria."

Before you know it, the doors to the ambulance open, and hospital staff take Gloria, wheeling her out of the vehicle and into the emergency room. Al goes down with her.

As you check on the rest of the VIPs on your list, a lady wearing a black suit with red and gold accents stands up in front of you. You momentarily glance at her and notice that the Blackmoon insignia is embroidered on one side of the suit, before calling for another name. She clears her throat and says, "Excuse me."

You establish eye contact with her and ask, "Yes?"

"Have you met someone named Aria in this festival?" She eyes you suspiciously.

"Alright," you address the crowd. "Please quiet down and remain where you are while we do a head count. We need to verify that everyone's still here."

A lady with purple hair and green eyes raises her hand. "What's going on?"

You tell her to calm down and wait for the organisers to make an announcement. Perhaps they couldn't hear the gunshot from where they were standing.

"We need answers!", yells a man as he adjusts his rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. His outburst triggers the crowd to become noisy, no voice distinct from another. This was a bit harder than you thought.

You hold your hands up at the sides of your face, and push them forward, gesturing for the crowd to keep quiet. You try to keep track of the last number you've counted, but with people shuffling around, you find yourself losing the number.

You start back at 1, when you hear someone ask, "Excuse me?", and feel a tap against your shoulder. You look behind you to see a lady wearing a black suit with red and gold accents stands up in front of you. The Blackmoon insignia is embroidered on one side of the suit.

You establish eye contact with her and ask, "Yes?"

"Have you met someone named Aria in this festival?" She eyes you suspiciously.

"Someone shot Gloria. Al accompanied her to the hospital." His eyebrows furrowed, you can see that he's stressed out. "I hope she'll be okay."

Fuyuka holds Makoto's hand, and looks at him. "She's with mum. That woman will be in good hands. Don't worry so much, Dad."

"I can't help but be bothered at what's happening. Most of our team mates are dead, and they almost got Gloria." Makoto looks at you. "It's as if someone is after our team, but who?"

"Did you get the text, too?", you ask.

He places his phone back in his pocket. "About staying here in Pina Park? Yeah." He looks around him, then behind. "Where's Fuyuka? She told me she needed the bathroom."

Fuyuka rushes in from the side, her knees bent, and her body slouched forward as she stops in front of Makoto. She pants heavily. "Sorry, there was a long queue at the portable bathroom."

Makoto looks at her. "I was starting to get worried. Your mother would not forgive me if anything happened to you."

"I'm sorry.", she mutters as she runs to Makoto and embraces him tightly.

His face shifts to a look of worry as he pats Fuyuka's back. "For what? You didn't do anything wrong."

A frown forms on Fuyuka's face. "You weren't able to talk to mum at all after your performance. I bet there's so much you would have wanted to tell her."

Makoto throws the cigarette butt to the ground, and steps on it. "There's always next time." He gives her a warm smile. "She's probably treating Gloria right now. Can you text her once we find a hotel?"

"Sure." Fuyuka releases Makoto from her hug, and looks at him. "You don't mind if I call you 'dad', right? You really seem like dad in every way, even if I know you're not the same person."

"I have to admit that it was a bit odd that you accepted me so quickly." He lets out a chuckle. "I'm very grateful that you and your mum are alive. I still wonder if all of this is just a dream." Makoto extends his arm to you. "We'll look for a nearby hotel. Would you like to join us?"

"Yes?", she says as turns about-face and pushes her finger into her ear. After a few moments, she nods and says, "Roger that.", before pushing her finger into her ear again.

"My superior just told me that everyone in Pina Park must stay in one of the nearby hotels. Apparently that gunshot is an attempted murder, and some people are missing." She turns around to look at you, a sly smile forming on her lips. "Shall we take this conversation elsewhere?"

"Just received word that all festival goers were asked to stay close to Pina Park, since a few performers went missing." He heaves a sigh. "People think Atebus is so peaceful. They just don't know the history of this place."

He has a point. There's the Atebus Revolution Murder, the strange rifts that appeared in the moon a few years ago, and the looming presence of Blackmoon Corporation in the heart of Ziara. With the existence of Lower Ziara known to the Subetan consciousness, it's a wonder that a bloody revolution has not taken place there.

You consider asking him how he feels about Atebus, when he taps the steel divider between the front and the back of the van and asks, "Apparently you guys should stay in nearby hotels or inns. I know a good place. Want me to take you there?"

The skeeviness of a random ambulance driver offering to take you to a place where you can sleep, aside, it's probably a bad idea for him to take the ambulance outside of emergency response.

Al smiles and nods at you, when you hear a phone ring nearby. She takes out her phone from her pocket, and scrolls her finger against its screen. A doctor approaches Al and discusses Gloria's current condition with her. Al gives him her contact number, and instructs him to update her regularly. She then looks at you, and shows you the text message:

"I have to stay here and watch over Gloria until I'm certain that she's stable, but would you like to join Makoto and Fu in the hotel? You look like you could use some rest."

You tell Al that she should probably take it easy, of all people.

"This is a vocation. To ensure that other people are in good health, sometimes, I have to sacrifice my own well-being." She smiles wryly. "Besides, I'm not sure I'll be comfortable being around someone who looks so much like my husband, down to his mannerisms and his name. It's still messing me up. I haven't been able to concentrate since."

She glances at the vital signs monitor right behind her. "Well, just let me know if I should arrange for someone to get you a cab."

"Aww, that's a shame.", remarks Fuyuka.

Makoto's head tilts slightly to the right. He places one of his hands on his hips as he looks at you. "You sure you don't want to take advantage of the festival organisers footing the bill? You're a VIP, after all."

You disclose whatever reasons you have in mind for opting to stay in an inn, to your comfort. Going to an inn will give you a better opportunity to talk to people. If you're feeling up to it, you can even do a little investigation of your own. The homey atmosphere will probably be more comfortable for you than the pomp and luxury of a high-end hotel.

"That's understandable." Makoto takes his hand off his hip and bids you good-bye. "Stay safe and don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything, okay?"

You return the gesture, and leave the festival venue, heading on the opposite direction as Makoto and Fuyuka.

You decide against disclosing reasons you have in mind for opting to stay in an inn, to your comfort. Going to an inn will give you a better opportunity to talk to people. If you're feeling up to it, you can even do a little investigation of your own. The homey atmosphere will probably be more comfortable for you than the pomp and luxury of a high-end hotel.

"Suit yourself.", the woman says with a smirk. "There are strange flora and fauna in this place. You don't look like you're from here, so I anticipate that you'll have a hard time. Don't tell me I didn't warn you." She walks a few steps away from you, waving good-bye and blowing a kiss at you.

You hesitantly wave back, and leave the festival venue, heading on the opposite direction as the lady.

You've not the slightest clue of any board and lodging close by. Perhaps you should have gone with them instead. Walking by the glowing lake close to Pina Park as you mull over the idea of going to a hotel instead, you see a line of shuttles with a sheet of paper by their windshields. Most of them are headed to hotels, but one marked as a "Shuttle to Lakeside Inn" takes your interest. You take a peek at one of the other windows, and find people who seem to be fellow festival goers inside.

There seem to be a few vacant seats inside. You enter through the shuttle's door, and hope for the best. After a few moments, the vehicle departs from Pina Park, and makes a turn around the lake. As you drown out the faint chatter inside the shuttle with your own thoughts, you immediately spot a quaint wood cabin with a neon sign that reads "Lakeside Inn". The shuttle stops right at its front door.

You could have brought some of your personal effects with you. Oh well, here's hoping that the inn has toiletries inside the rooms. You leave the shuttle, and enter the inn. The receptionist immediately walks away from the counter and asks if your group is from the Infection Control Music Festival. Your companions roar affirmatively, prompting the receptionist to show you to your rooms.

He starts up the engine, and drives away from the hospital like a mad man in the middle of a drag race. The speed of his driving and sharp turns he's taking starts to make you feel nauseous.

"Hey, can you slow down a little?", you shout into the window as you hang on to a railing.

"No can do.", he replies. "What if I have to pick someone else?"

What's wrong with this guy? You say, "I told you that I can handle myself!"

"You're not from here. You don't know what danger lurks in Pina Park at this hour of night. I have to take you to safety, and quickly!" If he's sincere, you can appreciate his sentiment, but not his driving. Trying your best not to gag, as he makes another sharp turn, you come to the realisation that the vehicle made a rough, full stop. You hear the door open, and feel your surroundings spin around you briefly.

Something drags you by the hand from the relative darkness of the ambulance, to the bright lights illuminating a door. You can't make out much with your vision and balance going around in circles, but you hear the driver engage someone in conversation.

"I didn't call for an ambulance.", says someone you gauge to be a middle-aged woman.

With a pleading voice, the driver says, "Please take care of this person. They're one of those people who went to the music festival in Pina Park."

"Goodness, gracious! They look ill! Why didn't you take him to the hospital, you dimwit?"

"You really want some random tourist to get sick from sleeping in the emergency room?" You hear a dull slapping noise, akin to someone hitting their palm with their forehead.

"Well, we're full with all those other weirdos from the festival. Take them to another inn." The origin of the other voice becomes apparent to you as your vision stabilises. She's a woman with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses, wearing a bandana over her head and a Vetan dress.

"Can't you spare even just one room?" The driver takes out his wallet and pulls a couple of crisp bills. "Here, I'll pay you for their stay."

You give the driver a look of confusion. "Why are you doing this for me?", you ask.

He scoffs. "I can always earn that money back. If something happens to you because I left you to find your own way, it'll be my fault. I can't have that. Now, go. If Martha tries to kick you out, tell her that I'm moving back to Veta." The driver bids you good-bye, and hops back in the driver's side of the ambulance.

The lady probably named Martha narrows her eyes into slits. "Do you have something going on with him?"

Your eyes widen in shock, and you quickly deny any connection with the driver.

"Yeah… I'll be keeping mine eye on you." She opens the door to the inn for you, and points at a couch on the lobby. "If you're not feeling well, go lay down there."

Al's eyebrows furrow together. "Are you sure you'll be okay? I think the organisers will foot the bill. You might as well go to a hotel so that you'll be comfortable."

You tell her not to worry, and bid her goodbye. A security guard stands close to the door of the emergency room. You ask him if he can hail you a cab going to the nearest inn. He obliges, leaving his post and heading to the front gate of the hospital. There, he speaks to the driver of a taxi that just passed by, and gestures for it to go to the emergency room.

The taxi makes a smooth cruise on the turn to the emergency room, and stops right in front of you. The driver opens the passenger door next to him, and asks you if you're the person who's headed to a nearby inn. You nod and enter the vehicle, hoping that you'll be taken to a good place. The driver makes a turn around the lake. As a pop song plays on the radio, you immediately spot a quaint wood cabin with a neon sign that reads "Lakeside Inn". The taxi stops right at its front door.

You could have brought some of your personal effects with you. Oh well, here's hoping that the inn has toiletries inside the rooms. You leave the taxi, and walk to the front door. In the dark of the night, you can make out a woman with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses, wearing a bandana over her head and a Vetan dress. Her arms folded across her chest, she says, "No vacancies."

"I'm from the music festival. They told us that we can stay in any inn or hotel around the area for free--"

Her forehead furrows as you hear her grunt. "I said, no vacancies!"

You explain your case to her, that you arrived from the hospital and don't know where else you could stay. Sure, you can go to a hotel, but you don't know your way around this side of Pina Park.

You hear her grumble to herself, before she opens the door for you. "Hmpf. Fine. Just go share a room with someone. I'll be keeping mine eye on you." She points at a couch in the lobby.