REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight

Chapter 94: Bad feeling.

Elara did not mention it again after that morning, but Ziva did not forget. Two days later, she pushed open Elara’s door again with her tab in hand and looking a little pleased with herself. "They replied," she said.

"That was quick." Elara replied looking up from her music sheets.

Ziva walked in and dropped a small folder on the table. "It’s not an open call. They’re being really picky. I had to send your profile straight to them." She paused for a second, then added, "Also, the main investor isn’t listed. Everything is going through some other company."

Elara raised her eyebrows a bit. "Hidden?"

Ziva shrugged. "Big projects do that sometimes. Maybe they want to stay in control without getting noticed, or they just don’t want anyone to know who’s really behind it yet."

Elara didn’t ask any more questions. She just nodded and picked up the folder.

"You’ll have your first meeting with them tomorrow morning," Ziva went on while Elara gave a small hum.

"That’s fair."

–

The next morning, Elara arrived at the audition building with Ziva. When they got to the reception, Ziva handled the check-in. "Elara Veyne. First session."

The receptionist checked her list and nodded. Then she handed over a small card with a number. "Second floor. Waiting area B."

Elara took the card and followed Ziva upstairs.

The waiting area was already half full when they entered. The people present sat in neat rows. Only a few were warming up and going through their scripts. Others just sat still with their eyes closed, like they were saving their energy.

Elara found a seat and looked slowly around the room. Most of them didn’t look like singers– at least not the kind she was used to seeing at Voice. They held scripts instead of music sheets and practiced expressions more than tones. Some were murmuring lines with real emotions, not melody.

Elara guessed that they were rising actors.

There were a few familiar faces from Voice too, including Jeni.

Jeni noticed her at almost the same time. Their eyes met briefly and she gave a small nod. Elara nodded back and looked away.

Time passed slowly as names were called one by one. People stood up, went in, and came out. Some looked relaxed when they returned while others looked tense.

Elara sat straight with her hands resting on the folder in her lap. She wasn’t reading it. There was nothing left to review.

When her name was finally called, she stood up calmly.

"I’ll be here," Ziva said.

Elara nodded and walked to the door, opened it and stepped in...

A long table stood in the room with three people behind it. A woman with glasses who looked to be in her fifties sat at the middle. To her left is a man flipping through a file. To her right, another man held a tablet, probably taking notes.

Near the wall is a piano with an accompanist sitting behind it.

Elara walked to the marked spot and stopped.

"Introduce yourself," the woman in the middle said flatly.

"Elara Veyne. Currently with Voice." she replied.

The woman’s pen paused for just a second. It was small, almost nothing, but Elara noticed it.

"We’ll start with a short reading. Page three." the woman nodded and pushed a file forward.

Elara stepped closer, picked it up and look at the marked section. It was a scene, not a song.

She read it once in her head and lifted her gaze.

"Whenever you’re ready," the man on the left said while Elara nodded.

She lowered her eyes to the page and took a moment to balance her emotions. Then she opened her mouth.

"If you’ve already decided what I am... then there’s nothing I can say that will change it."

She paused briefly, then took the next line without much delay.

"You’re not asking me because you want the truth. You’re asking so you can hear me deny it... and still not believe me."

Her fingers tightened on the paper. She swallowed once.

"I won’t beg you to trust me. Not when you’ve already chosen not to."

Her voice softened, almost breaking.

"Just... don’t pretend this is fairness."

Elara took a slow breath and lifted her eyes to the woman.

The woman did not speak as she watched her, as if she was thinking through something carefully. Then she finally said, "Again. This time... say it like someone who is trying to act fine, but is not fine at all."

Elara paused as the words settled in her mind. She stood there quietly for a second longer before giving a small nod. She looked back at the script in her hand, then lifted her head again. She tried it the way they asked her to, making sure not to overdo it.

When she finished, the man sitting at the left leaned closer to the woman and said something in a low voice. Elara could not hear what it was but she saw how the woman’s eyes dropped to the file in front of her.

Then she looked back up and gave a small nod. "Sing," she said simply.

Elara did not hesitate. She turned toward the piano and gave a small nod.

When the music started, she sang with ease...

The woman lowered her gaze and wrote again in the file in front of her. When she was done, she closed the file gently. "Thank you, that will be all for now." she said.

Elara gave a nod. She placed the script back to where she had taken it from, then turned and walked out of the room. The moment she stepped back into the waiting area, Ziva stood up immediately and walked toward her.

"How did it go?" she asked.

Elara stopped in front of her and let out a quiet breath. "I have a bad feeling," she said.

"Bad?" Ziva asked, her brows pulling together.

Elara nodded tiredly, her gaze drifting back to the door she had just walked out from. "I think they’re deciding something," she said quietly.

Ziva let out a soft snort and crossed her arms. "It’s nothing. Stop thinking too much." She gave Elara a short look before adding, "Good or bad... we’ll find out soon."

Elara looked at the door for one more second before turning away.