Chapter 2 The Weight of Shadows

"Elena!"

The voice rang out behind her, but she didn't stop. Her legs burned, her lungs tight as she slipped down another narrow alley. The night air pressed in, thick and damp. Somewhere behind the theatre district, she slowed, hands shaking as she unfolded a crumpled flyer.

"Open Casting Call - 6 PM Sharp. The Crescent Studio. All ages welcome."

She stared at it, lips trembling. This was all she had left.

Footsteps echoed around the corner. She jumped, pressing her back to the wall.

"Hey, are you lost?"

Elena looked up to see a girl about her age with bright eyes and red lipstick. Her hair was pinned neatly, unlike Elena's wet, tangled mess.

"No," Elena whispered.

The girl's eyes narrowed. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I'm just... here for the audition."

The girl smiled. "Me too. I'm Dani. You?"

"Elena."

"Well, Elena, you'd better hurry. They're starting soon." Dani paused. "You okay?"

Elena gave the smallest nod.

"Good. Let's go in together then. Safety in numbers, right?"

Elena followed her inside.

The room buzzed with nervous energy - whispers, soft humming, the tapping of feet. Faces turned as they entered, some curious, others indifferent.

"Stand in line," Dani said, pointing. "I'll save you a spot."

Elena stepped forward, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She felt like an imposter, her clothes too plain, her body too stiff. But she held the flyer tight. This was her chance.

Her mind drifted to the last conversation at home - if she could even call it that.

He had stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes narrow.

"You think you're special because you can read lines and act out someone else's life?" he sneered.

"I just want to try," Elena had said quietly.

His fist slammed the table. "You try, and you fail. You embarrass me. You come crawling back."

"I won't," she'd whispered, barely audible.

"What did you say?" he growled.

"I said I won't come back."

That earned her a bruise that still throbbed when she walked.

Now she stood here, shaking but upright.

A voice called out. "Elena Marlowe?"

She stepped forward.

The stage was simple. A few judges sat at the back of the room. One man didn't look up from his clipboard. But another sharp suit, eyes like flint - stared right at her.

"Go ahead," someone said.

Elena took a shaky breath and began.

Her voice was soft at first, then clearer as the words found their rhythm. It wasn't perfect, but it was honest. She poured into the monologue everything she hadn't been able to say. Her anger. Her loneliness. Her hunger to be seen.

When she finished, silence.

Then the man with the sharp eyes stood up.

"That was... raw," he said.

"I'm sorry," Elena said quickly. "I can do better. I just..."

"No," he interrupted. "Don't apologize. What's your name again?"

"Elena."

He studied her like she was a puzzle. "You've never trained professionally, have you?"

"No."

"But you've lived some things."

She flinched.

"Good. Pain teaches the truth." He turned to walk away, then glanced back. "Talent alone won't save you. Not in this world."

"Who are you?" she asked.

He smiled faintly. "Dominic Blackwell."

The name meant nothing to her. But his voice did. It clung to her skin like a second rain.

Outside, the storm had started again. Elena stepped out into the downpour, the flyer now soggy in her pocket.

"I think he likes you," Dani said, appearing beside her with a grin.

"I'm not sure."

"He talked to you. That's already something. Blackwell never speaks unless he sees something."

"Is he... important?"

"He used to be. Big-time director. Fell off the radar for a while. There are rumors."

"What kind of rumours?"

"That he's dangerous. But brilliant. And cold."

Elena swallowed.

"Well, you got his attention," Dani added with a smirk. "Maybe he'll mentor you. Turn you into the next star."

"I don't want to be a star," Elena said.

Dani raised a brow. "Then why are you here?"

"I want to be free."

There was a long pause.

"Then maybe this is the right place after all."

They walked in silence for a while until Dani turned down another street. "This is me. Are you gonna be okay?"

Elena nodded. "Thank you."

"Come tomorrow. They're posting callbacks."

"I will."

Elena stood in the rain long after Dani had disappeared. Her body ached, the weight of shadows still pressing on her back. But her feet were steady. Her hands no longer shook.

She walked toward the alley where she'd left her things. She didn't have a home anymore - just a small backpack, a blanket, and a half-loaf of bread. But she had the memory of a stage, a voice echoing into silence, and a pair of eyes that had seen something in her.

When she found her spot, someone was already there.

It was him.

Dominic Blackwell.

She froze.

"Don't scream," he said simply. "I followed you."

Elena's heart thudded.

"You shouldn't-" she began.

"I'm not here to hurt you. I wanted to know if you had somewhere safe to go."

Elena looked down.

"That's what I thought." He sighed and leaned against the wall. "You don't talk much."

"I don't trust easily."

"Good. Don't. But I'll offer you something."

"What?"

"A deal. You come back tomorrow. You show up prepared. You don't quit. In return, I'll give you time."

"Time?"

"To learn. To grow. To use that voice. But if you waste it, I will walk away."

Elena hesitated. "Why me?"

"Because pain like yours can't be faked." He stepped forward. "But you need to control it, or it will control you."

"I'm not a puppet," she said.

"Then don't be." He handed in his card. "My number. Only use it if you're serious."

He turned to leave but paused. "By the way..."

She looked up.

"That was the best audition I've seen in five years."

He disappeared into the night.

Elena stared at the card. Simple. No company. Just a name and number.

She looked up at the dark sky, rain still falling, but her chest rising with something unfamiliar - strength.

Tomorrow, she'd return.

Not because of Dominic.

But because for the first time... someone had heard her.

And she wasn't going to waste that chance.