Ch. 34: Diamond Band

Jon had toyed with the idea of launching his own repair shop in the past. However, his skill set was somewhat limited, preventing him from being a jack-of-all-trades. Most successful repair shop owners had a niche, be it automotive, mobile devices, or computers. Lacking such a specialty, Jon feared his venture would be short-lived.

But now, things were different. He had gleaned a touch of magic from the world of Harry Potter. If he stumbled upon an item he couldn't mend, he could simply utter the "Reparo" spell and restore it effortlessly.

As the clock struck five in the afternoon, he collected Ayla and they made their way to Chris's concert. Despite the show being two hours away, Times Square was already buzzing with anticipation. Throngs of fans, donned in Diamond Band T-shirts, added to the cacophony.

A makeshift stage had been erected in a clearing, where Chris and his Diamonds were slated to perform.

"Jon, Ayla!" The sound of Annie's voice made Jon swivel around. Annie was approaching them, her stride confident.

"Annie, you're not sporting the Diamond Band's merchandise. Chris might be a tad disappointed!" Jon jested.

Annie retorted, her tone laced with mock indignation, "I'm not a groupie, I'm here in solidarity!"

Jon chuckled, then asked, "Where's Chris?"

"Prepping in their band car!" Annie gestured towards a temporary structure behind the stage, adding, "Let's go check on him!"

Jon, Ayla, and Annie made their way to the van. Inside, the band members were engrossed in their pre-show rituals - applying makeup, fine-tuning instruments, and engaging in hushed conversations over their phones.

"Hey, look! It's the future Mrs. Diamond." A voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone in the van towards Annie.

"Cut it out, Ferrante!" Another voice chimed in, and Chris emerged from the crowd.

"Jon, how are you holding up?" Chris asked.

Jon nodded, replying, "Much better, thanks for asking."

Chris clapped Jon on the shoulder, his laughter echoing in the van. "Let's get you acquainted with the band. The wise guy from earlier is Ferrante, our guitarist."

Ferrante, busy tuning his guitar, gave Jon a friendly nod. "Hey, mate!"

Chris then gestured towards a burly man. "And this is our drummer, Alberton!"

Alberton merely nodded at Jon, his focus elsewhere.

"Don't mind him, he's a bit reserved," Chris explained, a playful smirk on his face. "But trust me, he's a completely different beast on stage!"

"On bass, we have Lenny!" Chris gestured towards a young man sporting sunglasses.

"Pleasure to meet you, mate!" Lenny greeted Jon with a burst of energy.

"And last but not least, our keyboardist, the lovely Lillian!" Chris introduced, indicating a blonde woman who was the only female member of the band.

"Hello there!" Lillian greeted Jon warmly, punctuating her greeting with a playful wink.

Just then, Ferrante rose from his seat, addressing Chris, "Boss, we will have time to chat with your brother-in-law later, we don't have time for introductions. We're on in a few!"

"Brother-in-law? Ferrante, get it right! One more slip-up and you'll find your **** head in Alberton's backyard," Chris retorted, eliciting laughter from the band. Ayla, however, looked on, puzzled by their banter.

"What does **** mean?" Ayla asked innocently.

Jon's expression faltered, and he quickly advised, "Best to forget that word, Ayla."

Annie interjected, "Chris! She's just a kid! Watch your words!"

"Apologies, Ayla! Please forget what I just said," Chris apologized swiftly.

Annie sighed, shaking her head in mild exasperation. "Alright, we won't distract you any longer. Focus on your performance!"

With that, she ushered Jon and Ayla out of the van.

Once they had left, Lillian stepped forward, turning to Chris. "Hey, Chris! Was that your brother-in-law?"

"Lillian. I'm tired of correcting everyone," Chris replied, his tone stern. "And remember, he's off-limits!"

"Why? I think he's rather charming," Lillian protested.

"Because you'll lose interest in two days, just like with your previous boyfriends," Chris retorted.

Lillian responded with a pout, choosing to remain silent.

***

Jon, Annie, and Ayla found themselves amidst a sea of fans. The turnout for the show wasn't massive, but the audience was brimming with die-hard Diamond Band enthusiasts. At least half of them sported the band's merchandise.

In the midst of the clamor, the trio patiently awaited the start of the performance. Suddenly, Jon felt a peculiar sensation. It was as if he could sense malevolent thoughts emanating from someone in the crowd.

This was a newfound ability he'd acquired since becoming the Ghost Rider. He could detect sinister intentions, such as murderous intent, in the minds of those around him.

Jon's brow furrowed as he scanned the crowd, trying to pinpoint the source of the ominous feeling. His gaze finally settled on a man in a black peaked cap, who was staring coldly towards the stage.

Just then, the performance kicked off. The members of Diamond Band took the stage one by one, greeted by a chorus of cheers from the audience.

"Chris!"

"Rock it, Ferrante!"

"We love you, Lilian!"

The crowd roared with excitement. Once all the band members were on stage, Chris, positioned as the lead singer, strummed the first chord, and the audience fell silent.

The band's performance officially began, reigniting the crowd's fervor. Chris played his guitar, stirring up the audience's energy.

However, Jon was too preoccupied to enjoy the performance. His attention was riveted on the man in the black peaked cap.

Before long, the man began to move, weaving his way through the crowd towards the front. He then reached into his jacket.

"Stop!" Jon's shout pierced the air, but amidst the performance, only Annie and Ayla heard him.

"Jon? What's happening?!" Annie asked, alarmed.

Without a word, Jon lunged forward, tackling the man from behind.

A gunshot echoed through the venue, followed by a moment of stunned silence. Jon's intervention had caused the shot to fire harmlessly into the air.

Panic ensued, spreading through the crowd like wildfire. People scattered in all directions, their screams drowning out the halted performance.

"Jon!" Annie cried out, clutching Ayla's hand. She tried to push through the frenzied crowd towards Jon, but the chaos made it impossible to move.

Jon and the man hit the ground, the latter struggling fiercely. The man aimed his gun at Jon again.

Seeing this, Jon seized the man's gun-wielding hand. Still fearing an accidental discharge, he decided to employ a more unconventional tactic.

"Look into my eyes!"

Jon's eyes blazed with an otherworldly fire. The sight petrified the man, who immediately ceased his resistance. He dropped the gun, his eyes vacant as if his soul had been drained, and he stopped struggling.

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