A pause. "Because…" The word stretched out, lingering in the air, its faint echo trailing off. "Everyone's chasing the light…" The sound expanded, breaking through, piercing the clouds with a sudden clarity. In that instant, the whole world brightened, as if pure golden sunlight flooded the Verizon Center.
Slowing down. Softening. Lightening.
Ronan's voice floated down like a feather, twirling gently, landing softly on the heart—so tender it could almost melt you. "You know… everyone's chasing…" Ripples spread across the soul, stirring up a swell of emotion.
Boom, boom!
"Light!"
The drumbeat synced perfectly with Ronan's voice, landing like a hammer on the audience's hearts. It was as if Ollie's drumsticks were striking their very chests. You could feel the thud of each beat, a faint ache blooming in your ribcage.
Their minds were hooked.
Every ounce of attention locked onto Ronan. It was like their breath, their pulse, their heartbeat were tethered to his hands. Not a single soul in the Verizon Center's crowd of ten thousand could escape—their gazes burned with urgency, fixed on his shoulders.
Then—
Ronan raised his right hand and snapped his fingers. Like a spell straight out of Harry Potter, the lights blazed to life. A dazzling flood of brightness swept every corner of the venue. The shimmering silver overwhelmed the eyes, blurring everything into a momentary haze—no one could catch a single movement.
So, it was all sound.
Boom, boom! Clang, clang! Crash, crash!
The band kicked into gear.
From guitar to bass to drums, this time there were no slip-ups. Their playing locked in flawlessly, weaving a shared melody—gentle yet radiant—guiding the crowd into the new world Ronan had opened for them, bathed in golden light.
The hand-clapping stopped. The band's melody took over.
No rehearsal, no practice, yet under Ronan's lead, it flowed seamlessly. The transition was so natural, it felt like it was meant to be.
As the lights settled, the receding silver glow revealed the stage once more. There was Ronan, hands gripping the mic, standing front and center, lost in the song. The corners of his mouth curved up lightly, effortlessly charming, fully immersed in the moment.
It was like… he glowed. Without even trying, he drew every eye in the room, quietly taking command of the scene.
"When the world's weight falls on your shoulders, when despair crushes your soul, keep pushing, sing loud like a soldier…" (Note 1)
Ronan's voice flowed so naturally, so freely, like it took no effort at all to find the perfect spot in the melody. His soft, soaring notes landed right on the audience's hearts, brushing against the living rhythm of their beating pulses.
The lyrics and reality stitched together perfectly.
Even in chaos, even ignored by the crowd, even in the darkest moments—never panic. Instead, sing like a soldier.
"Shouting, 'Come on! Come on! We'll make it home!'"
Boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
It wasn't just Ronan anymore. The other three bandmates joined in, singing into their mics. Though they took the lower harmonies, their voices braided tight with Ronan's, unleashing the raw emotion from deep within, letting it pour out unrestrained.
That pure, thick power hit head-on, igniting the crowd's pent-up, restless energy. Like a volcano, it started to release—slowly at first—sparking the night's first climax at the Verizon Center. A roar filled their ears.
Then the band's voices faded, leaving Ronan alone to belt it out once more:
"Because everyone's chasing the light! You know… everyone's chasing the light!"
In place of their singing, the instruments took over. The drums grew denser, the guitar and bass swelled louder.
Buzz, buzz.
Buzz, buzz.
The sparks of the instruments fueled Ronan's voice, a force erupting from his core, pouring into the lyrics.
"Come on! Come on! Because! Everyone's chasing…"
A rest!
Huff, huff. Huff, huff.
The Verizon Center fell into total silence. Every eye in the crowd locked onto the stage, chins tilted up, breath held, staring at Ronan in the center.
That tall, striking figure stood bathed in the spotlight, casting a long shadow—like he was holding up the world. In the stillness that filled the air, you could still see the blue flames burning deep in his soul. Clear, brilliant blue—so vivid, so captivating—radiating a raw, unfiltered strength.
It was love.
A love born from the depths of his being, wild and blazing, bursting with energy. Even in endless darkness, even surrounded by boundless chaos, that flame never flickered out. It glowed steadily, illuminating the scars etched across his body and soul—bloody and raw. Yet his eyes stayed bright, a light so fierce it outshone the night.
In that moment, you couldn't help but hold your breath. The melody and soul fused perfectly, the stage and performance sparking dazzling fireworks. It was breathtaking.
Then—
"Light!"
Boom, boom!
His voice synced with the drums again, and this time Ollie pushed the beat to new heights. The melody exploded like the lights, surging to its peak in volume and depth. The whole Verizon Center shook with the tidal wave of sound.
Thud, thud! Boom, boom! Rumble, rumble!
The melody poured down like artillery fire, relentless booms battering their eardrums. In that earth-shaking, sky-splitting chaos, every last bit of emotion broke free, smashing through the ceiling with no restraint. All that remained was an endless roar in their minds.
Buzz, buzz!
Buzz, buzz!
The crowd was stunned!
Yet even that deafening surge couldn't drown out Ronan.
He yanked the mic from its stand, striding forward in one bold step. His towering frame stretched out, commanding the space. The emotions pent up in his chest hit their peak with the melody, spilling out in a full-throated cry. That soul-deep power poured down unchecked—one step, then another, then another—pushing the climax to its limit.
"Darkness blurs the view! Like a veil over your eyes! With the power of true love, tear it apart!"
The melody climbed higher in that passionate outpouring, his voice cracking, emotions bursting, his soul trembling beyond control.
Note 1: "Looking For Some Light" — Colony House