Rewind With A Superstar System-Chapter 66: Grand Finale (2)

<🎧 Song Recommendation: Holy Grail by Jay Z ft Justin Timberlake (inspiration track!)>

...

The house lights died, plunging the Star Theater into an abyssal darkness. And for a moment, the only sound was the anticipatory breathing of a over thousand people.

After all, this was the moment the entire season, perhaps the entire franchise, had been building toward. The stage, stripped of its usual props and backup dancers, felt incredibly vast and dangerously intimate all at once.

By an earlier coin toss done backstage, it had been decided: Julian would perform first, to set the bar, while Von would close the show.

A single, booming drumbeat echoed through the hall, and two spotlights snapped on immediately.

On stage left, a warm, golden beam illuminated a circle on the floor. Standing in the center of it was Julian West, looking like a deity in his white and gold suit.

On stage right, a cold, harsh blue spotlight carved out a similar circle. Standing inside it was Von Varley, dressed in all black, his sunglasses hiding his violet eyes.

The rules for the Duel had been explained to the audience already. While one artist performed, the other had to remain in their designated circle, silent and forced to endure the performance.

The music for Julian’s track began. It was a high-energy, infectious funk-pop beat. Horns blared, a bassline thumped, and Julian flashed that winning smile that had captivated America.

He stepped out of his circle first, commanding the stage instantly.

"Let’s have some fun tonight, LA!" Julian shouted into the mic, his voice perfect, clear, and filled with charisma as the music built on

He launched into his song immediately, and truly, it was amazing. The lyrics were about parties, champagne, and living the good life. It was the perfect uplifting song.

♪ 🎤

I walked in the party, looking fresh and clean...

The baddest girl I ever seen, stepped on the scene.

She got diamonds on her neck, glitter on her toes...

The way she moves that body, everybody knows...

♪ 🎤

Julian didn’t just sing; he performed as well. He glided across the stage with footwork that was effortless. He spun, he dipped, he pointed to the screaming girls in the front row.

♪ 🎤

That we ain’t going home (No, no!)

We in the zone (Yeah, yeah!)

The DJ playing that funky beat...

So get up out your seat and move your feet!

♪ 🎤

But the most infuriating part of the performance was how he interacted with Von.

As the chorus hit, Julian danced his way over to the blue circle where Von stood like a statue. Julian circled him, dancing with an infectious energy, essentially using Von as a prop to show his own benevolence.

He wasn’t attacking Von; he was trying to include him in the party, which was infinitely more condescending.

Julian leaned in, singing the chorus right at Von, smiling as if to say, Cheer up, buddy, you’re on TV.

♪ 🎤

’Cause baby, you got that Million Dollar Smile!

Driving me crazy for a thousand miles!

Ooh, girl, you shine like gold!

A love story that’s never been told!

Yeah, you light up the room, you light up the sky!

Million Dollar Smile, my, my, my!

♪ 🎤 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

To the audience, Julian looked like a gracious winner trying to lift the spirits of his troubled friend. To Von, it was a taunt, but he didn’t flinch. He kept his head bowed and his hands in his pockets, letting Julian have his moment.

Julian finished with a massive, sustained falsetto note, dropping to his knees center stage as pyrotechnics sparked behind him.

♪ 🎤

Don’t stop, don’t stop the feeling! Million Dollar... Smile! OW!

♪ 🎤

The crowd erupted. It was a standing ovation. The applause was deafening as if to say Game Over. We have our winner.

Julian stood up, breathless and beaming, blowing kisses to the crowd. He walked back to his golden circle, stepping inside. He looked across the stage at Von and gave a small, encouraging nod.

The golden light dimmed, leaving Julian in a semi-lit amber glow. The stage went silent.

Then, the cold blue spotlight on Von intensified.

🎹 🎶

A piano melody began to play.. It was a slow, haunting, melancholic piano riff. It sounded incredibly sad, almost like a funeral dirge.

A hush fell over the crowd. Was this... an apology song? Was Von going to sing a ballad about how sorry he was?

Julian, standing in his circle, crossed his arms and smiled softly.

♪ 🎤

You put the weight on my back, and I let you.

♪ 🎤

Von stepped out of the blue circle. He moved slowly, dragging the microphone stand with him in both hands.

His voice wasn’t the powerhouse belt of Julian, but it had a texture that cut through the silence.

♪ 🎤

You poured the poison in my mouth...

And I watched you sip it.

I still don’t know why... why the high costs so much? Ohh...

♪ 🎤

♪ 🎤

You paint my name in the dark just to hide your shame.

Hang my laundry in the streets, dirty or clean.

Give it up for fame...

But I still don’t know why, why you crave it so much?

♪ 🎤

Von began to walk in a slow, wide circle around the stage. He looked like a man wandering through the ruins of his own life.

The audience leaned in. They felt pity. They saw a broken young man singing about the toxicity of fame.

Von stopped in the center of the stage, his back to the audience, facing Julian directly.

♪ 🎤

And, Brother, it’s amazin’ the games I play with you.

I just can’t read your script.

One day you’re screamin’ you love me loud...

The next day you’re so cold.

One day you’re real, one day you’re fake, one day you’re fair...

You’re so unfair.

...

Dancing with the lie ’til the party’s over... Masquerade!

♪ 🎤

The piano lingered on a discordant chord, hanging in the air like a question mark.

Von stood there, staring at Julian.

Then, he reached up.

Slowly and deliberately, he took off his sunglasses, and the audience gasped.