Chapter 1
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 made it easy to see why she made it to the final four—her skill showed years of experience. The audience applauded as she took her final bow, and 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 performance was incredible—even better than contestant one’s. His skills matched hers, but he had the added benefit of a voice that tickled the ear in just the right way.
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 her animal of choice was a red tiger—solitary, big, predatory and beautiful all at once. She chose red: commanding and impossible to ignore. Just like her.
Nova began singing, and it was immediately clear she was the best of the three. Her voice—like theirs—was beautiful and steady, but her control was superior. Her skill had already surpassed the other two contestants.
She commanded the stage, making it impossible to look away. By the time she finished, the audience was on their feet cheering.
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 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 centre 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.
Author's Note — Chapter 1
Thanks so much for reading Chapter ! 💙
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