Morning came slowly.
Not gently—
But heavily.
---
Lina sat by the small window of the apartment, her fingers wrapped loosely around a cup of tea that had long gone cold. The city outside was alive—cars moving, people rushing, life continuing as if nothing had changed.
But for her—
Everything had.
---
Her eyes looked tired.
Not just from lack of sleep—
But from everything.
---
The nightmares hadn't stopped.
If anything—
They had become worse.
---
Every night, she found herself back there.
In that house.
In that moment.
Frozen.
Helpless.
---
And every time she woke up—
She was gasping for air like she had been drowning.
---
She hadn't told Simon.
She hadn't told anyone.
Because what was the point?
---
She exhaled slowly, placing the cup down.
"I need to move forward," she whispered.
Not survive.
Not hide.
---
Move forward.
---
She grabbed her jacket and stepped out.
---
The streets were busy, filled with voices, movement, noise.
Normal life.
---
Something she was still trying to understand.
---
As she walked, her eyes scanned everything absentmindedly—shops, people, signs—
Until something caught her attention.
---
A large poster.
Bright.
Bold.
Impossible to ignore.
---
She stopped.
---
Her eyes fixed on it.
---
THEVOICE TALENT SHOW
---
Her heart skipped.
---
The words seemed to echo in her mind.
Louder.
Clearer.
---
A chance.
---
Her steps slowed as she moved closer, her eyes scanning every detail.
---
"Open to all aspiring singers…"
"A chance to be discovered…"
"Change your life forever…"
---
Her fingers tightened slightly.
---
Her mother's voice echoed faintly in her memory.
"You were born to sing, Lina…"
---
Her chest tightened.
---
For a moment—
She hesitated.
---
Fear.
Doubt.
Uncertainty.
---
Then—
Something else.
---
Determination.
---
Before she could overthink it—
She pulled out her phone.
---
Her fingers moved quickly.
---
Registration.
Name.
Details.
---
She paused.
---
For just a second.
---
Then typed:
Lina Storm
---
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
---
This wasn't just a name.
It was a choice.
---
A new beginning.
---
A quiet breath escaped her lips.
Then—
She pressed submit.
---
And just like that—
The first step was taken.
---
She lowered her phone slowly.
Her heart racing.
---
No one knew.
Not Simon.
Not Dave.
---
This—
Was hers.
---
Meanwhile—
At the Hale mansion—
Silence had replaced excitement.
---
Bella sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection with a slight frown.
Anna lay on the bed behind her, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly.
---
"I still can't believe that happened," Bella muttered.
---
Anna scoffed. "He embarrassed us."
---
Bella turned slightly. "Not just embarrassed—he dismissed us."
---
Silence.
---
Anna sat up.
"I don't even want to see him again."
---
"Same," Bella replied quickly. "He's arrogant."
---
"And rude."
---
"And not even worth it," Bella added, crossing her arms.
---
A pause.
---
Then Anna smirked slightly.
"Besides… we don't need him."
---
Bella nodded.
"You're right."
---
And just like that—
Their interest in Dave disappeared.
Not out of maturity—
But pride.
---
Meanwhile—
At the JALD penthouse—
Energy had returned.
But differently.
---
Focused.
Purposeful.
---
Jeremy stood near the table, flipping through documents.
Andrew leaned against the counter, reviewing numbers.
Lucas paced slowly, thinking.
Matthew sat quietly, observing.
---
"The auditions start soon," Jeremy said.
---
"We need everything finalized," Andrew added.
---
Lucas stopped pacing.
"The prize."
---
Silence.
---
All eyes shifted slightly.
---
"…Dave," Matthew said quietly.
---
As if summoned—
Dave entered the room.
---
He looked better.
Not completely—
But better.
---
"Talking about me?" he asked calmly.
---
Lucas smirked slightly. "Always."
---
Dave walked closer.
"What's the issue?"
---
Jeremy placed the papers down.
"We need to finalize the prize for the winner."
---
Dave nodded slightly.
"And?"
---
"We want something big," Andrew said. "Something that actually changes someone's life."
---
Silence.
---
Dave leaned back slightly, thinking.
---
Then—
"Give them everything."
---
The room stilled.
---
Lucas raised a brow. "Everything?"
---
Dave's expression didn't change.
"A place to stay," he said. "Let them live here for a month."
---
Jeremy nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
---
"A record deal," Dave continued.
---
Andrew's eyes lit slightly.
"Now we're talking."
---
"And a million dollars."
---
Silence.
---
Heavy.
---
Lucas blinked.
"…You're serious."
---
Dave looked at him.
"Very."
---
Matthew leaned forward slightly.
"That's not just a prize."
---
"That's a new life," Jeremy added.
---
Dave nodded.
"That's the point."
---
Silence settled again.
But this time—
Different.
---
Excited.
---
Inspired.
---
Lucas let out a low whistle.
"Well… guess we're making history."
---
Andrew smirked.
"People are going to lose their minds over this."
---
Jeremy looked at Dave carefully.
"You sure about this?"
---
Dave didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
---
Because somewhere—
Deep down—
He knew—
---
This wasn't just about the show anymore.
---
It was about helping, since he failed to help Lina , he thought that maybe helping someone else will help ease the guilt.
---
Someone who needed exactly that.
---
A chance.
---
A way out.
---
A new beginning.
---
Unaware—
That she had already taken the first step.
---
Across the city—
Lina walked slowly, her phone still in her hand.
---
Her heart hadn't calmed down yet.
---
She had done it.
---
She had entered.
---
No turning back now.
---
A small smile touched her lips.
---
For the first time in a long time—
Hope didn't feel impossible.
---
It felt real.
---
And somewhere in the distance—
A storm was quietly beginning to rise.
---