Hearts In The Headlines

Sierra

“Welcome! This is Star Search. The national competition where we find the next top star.”

The MC’s voice boomed through the mic as the lights flared around him on stage.

“We’ve reached the final round of our competition. In the beginning, we had one hundred contestants. Now only four remain. Only one will win.”

My heart raced as his words echoed through the auditorium.

The audience cheered as the MC spoke. Star Search! Star Search! Star Search! The MC held his palm out to quiet them. A sudden hush fell over the room.

“And now,” he announced, “let the competition begin!”

I watched all of this from the wings as I tried to calm myself. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I’d make it this far. I hoped that I would, but sometimes hope was evil.

I was contestant number four—the last performer of the night. Ahead of me were three other contestants who had beaten the odds just as I did. Like me, they made it to the final four. Unlike me, they seemed sure of themselves. That was especially the case for Nova.

Nova was the first competitor I’d met. She entered the room as if she owned it, head held high. She didn’t strike me as the type to get nervous. Life seemed to hand her things easily. At first, I was impressed.

That impression didn’t last long. Her superiority complex revealed itself quickly.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by the voice of contestant one. I looked toward the stage and saw the pink butterfly outlined on the LED screen behind her. The lights shone on her as she lifted the mic to her lips.

As part of the competition, we had to select a color and an animal to represent us. The outline would be displayed on the LED screen when we performed.

Contestant number one’s performance was excellent. She sang with polished skill, every note steady. Years of practice showed, and the audience responded with warm applause. A minute later, she was off the stage.

Five minutes passed, and contestant number two stepped forward. A blue dolphin appeared on the LED screen behind him. His voice carried a smooth charm, matching her skill but adding a tone that drew louder cheers.

He finished, and the applause he received was noticeably louder than hers. He left the stage after a minute.

Time passed quickly and before I knew it, it was now Nova’s turn. It should have been obvious, but she chose a red tiger—bold, beautiful, commanding.

Her voice was flawless, her control unmatched. Her skill had long surpassed the other two contestants. By the end, the crowd was on their feet chanting her name.

Nova! Nova! Nova!

The applause thundered in my ears. Nova stood on stage, basking in the praise before the MC joined her. He gave his final remarks and allowed her to leave.

Nova walked off the stage, catching a glimpse of me in the wings. She smiled and slowly approached, and as she came closer, I noticed the quiet challenge hidden in her eyes.

When she reached me, she spoke. “Do your best, sweetie. Second place is awesome too.”

After speaking, she patted my shoulder and walked away. I stood frozen; my feet were anchored to the floor. Her words stung. It was one thing for me to think about those things—but hearing them from my competition, or worse, imagining the judges agreeing, was something else entirely.

Would I only win second place? Could I even get second place?

I pushed away the doubts and took a deep breath to steady myself.

It was finally my turn. The MC announced, “And now, our final contestant of the night—CeCe Rae!”

I walked slowly to the stage with my mask secured on my face—a lavender Venetian half mask. I was the only competitor who wore one. I liked that no one knew who I was. It meant I would only be judged by my voice; that I could sing my heart out without being compared.

The organizers were hesitant at first, but they quickly saw its merit when they witnessed the audience’s reaction. They loved the mystery surrounding my identity and stayed hooked, hoping one day I would take off the mask.

When I reached center stage, the lights hit me—warm and bright. A hush fell over the room as the music began. The LED screen behind me displayed the outline of a purple phoenix—my chosen symbol.

I lifted the mic to my lips—my palms sweaty—then lowered it again. I stood there, silent.

The audience grew restless, whispering among themselves. I tried to open my mouth, but no sound came out.

****

Seth

“Boss, are we going to the competition?” My assistant asked as I sifted through some paperwork.

“Is your workload too light?” I replied.

What CEO has time for competitions? I had work to do.

“But, boss,” he continued. “I thought you wanted to sign someone from the competition. Don’t you want to hear them sing before deciding?”

I waved him off. “Just sign the winner. No need to spare any extra effort.”

“Yes, boss,” he said, turning to leave.

Before he could reach the door, an idea struck me. A CEO showing up personally would make signing easier.

“Wait.” He stopped and looked back at me.

“Who is the contestant favored to win?”

“That would be Nova, boss. She’s up next.”

I stood and grabbed my coat. “Draft a contract quickly. We’ll get this done today.”

My assistant nodded. “On it, boss.” He paused, then added, “I’ll bring the car around.”

Within five minutes, I was in the car, heading to the competition. By the time we arrived, Nova was halfway through her performance. It didn’t bother me; I wasn’t interested in seeing the entire performance.

I took a seat in an inconspicuous corner of the room and watched the remainder of her performance. Her voice was strong, steady, and controlled. She sang every note perfectly and ended on a high note.

I smiled. She was perfect.

After her performance, I didn’t leave right away. I still had a task to complete. While I waited, my assistant handed me my tablet, and I sorted through a few work matters.

I didn’t bother looking at the stage when the final contestant came on. The winner had all but been announced. Whispers drifted through the room, capturing my attention. I looked up and saw a young woman on stage with a mask on, standing there in silence. I checked my watch. It had been half a minute since she walked on, and she still hadn’t started to sing.

I shook my head in disappointment. Even if she couldn’t win, she should still try her best. Only the weak gave up before even trying.

I decided to head out and sign Nova after the winner was announced.

It didn’t seem like the last contestant would be gracing us with the sound of her voice today, and that meant the competition was over.

I rose halfway, then halted as a voice cut through the mic.

Author’s Note — Chapter 1

Thanks so much for reading Chapter 1! 💙

New chapters are posted every Tuesday and Friday evening (EST).

If you enjoyed this chapter, I’d really appreciate your votes, comments, and shares. I’d love to hear your thoughts, theories, or favorite moments!

See you in the next chapter!