In the bustling City S, the main city of the country where the wealthiest residents and the biggest companies were based, Beatrice arrived early.
Her breath was visible in the chilly morning air.
The audition for the theater group would be held here, and she was lucky that she didn't have to fly all the way to New York for it.
She stood before the audition room.
Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with quiet intensity. Aspiring actors filled the waiting area, rehearsing lines, practicing expressions, or simply sitting in tense silence.
This was the only audition for every theater group from Juilliard, not just the one Beatrice was hoping to join. That is why the number of applicants were also overwhelming.
She clutched her script tightly, her fingers trembling slightly. The sheer weight of the audition felt suffocating. She tried to remind herself of all the encouraging words she had heard over the past few days.
'And your acting is what inspired me even more to push through with my plan.'
'You are a great actress, Beatrice. You'll surely reach greater heights because what you have, more than the capability and looks, is the love for acting.'
'Listen to me. I promise you, Bea, I'll become the best lawyer this world has ever seen. And when I do, I'll make sure you're free to do whatever you want. You won't have to hold back because I'll make sure no one can hurt you again.'
'You can do it, Beatrice Falcon.'
When it was her turn, she took a deep breath before walking into the audition room. There, Beatrice was met with a panel of six judges seated behind a long table. They exuded a calm authority that only heightened her nerves.
"Beatrice Falcon?" one of them asked, glancing at her resume.
It was the representative from the group she was trying to join. These judges were also watching applicants auditioning for other groups, and if someone was rejected, they could offer them a spot if they liked them.
"Yes, that's me," she said, her voice almost cracking.
He nodded, "Whenever you're ready."
Beatrice stood on the small stage, feeling the spotlight's heat against her skin. She took a deep breath and began her performance.
At first, the words felt clumsy on her tongue, and her movements were stiff and unnatural. She could feel the judges' gazes boring into her, silently analyzing every detail.
She suddenly felt that she wasn't doing well and feared she would utterly fail.
Panic bubbled beneath the surface, threatening to overwhelm her.
Then Harmony's words echoed in her mind.
'Forget about Beatrice Falcon.'
'Completely let go of yourself. Be the character you want to be—every action, every emotion, even the smallest details.'
'That's what you'll need to do. But it's a last resort. If time is running out and you feel your current strength isn't enough, then do it.'
'It is a fearsome way of acting because the you right now might not return, and that character could become your true self.'
'But I have to do it. No, I know I can do it. I am capable,' she encouraged herself.
It's not like she never knew what method acting was, but as Harmony had said, she knew her own limit and she chose to improve herself for the time being. Completely forgetting about such a method.
Desperate, she shut out the room, the panel, and even her own doubts.
She let the character's emotions take over, diving into the role as though it were the only way to save herself.
She had read and memorized everything about the character, she knew she would be able to become this character as long as she will.
And she will surely not be consumed by this character and she would get to return as Beatrice Falcon.
Her voice grew stronger, her expressions more vivid. Every word she spoke, every gesture she made, felt authentic, as though the character had come to life through her.
The room seemed to fade away, leaving only the world of the story she was telling.
When she finished, there was a brief silence.
The representative of the group she was applying to, along with the others, leaned forward, a hint of surprise on their expressions.
"Thank you, Miss Falcon. That was… absorbing."
The others murmured their agreement, nodding subtly.
Beatrice gave a small bow and left the room.
…
By Monday morning, the classroom was lively as usual, but Beatrice sat quietly at her desk, staring out the window. Her friends could tell right away that something wasn't right.
Kathrine leaned closer to her.
"Bea, how was the audition?" she asked carefully.
Beatrice turned her head slowly, her face calm but distant.
"It was… interesting," she said in a quiet, strange tone, as if she wasn't really there.
Justin frowned, "Uh, Bea? Are you okay?"
Kenneth waved a hand in front of her face, "Hello? The audition's over—you can come back to us now."
Beatrice didn't react.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly and said, "Life is just a stage, isn't it? Maybe we're all just pretending, never truly ourselves."
Her friends exchanged worried looks.
"Okay, it seems that something happened during the audition. She's officially stuck," Luca commented, stepping closer.
"She's still acting like the character."
Kathrine gently grabbed Beatrice's shoulders.
"Bea, it's us—your friends! Snap out of it!"
But Beatrice just stared ahead, lost in her own world.
Just then, Harmony walked into the classroom. She paused when she saw what was happening.
In an instant, she could tell that Beatrice had made a drastic choice.
'You have not overcome your fear at all,' she thought inwardly, sighing.
The others noticed her arrival.
Gabriel was looking worriedly at Beatrice, but when he turned to Harmony, he frowned even more.
She was, once again, too pale.
Even Luca couldn't help but frown, 'Just how busy was she to end up looking like that?'
"Harmony, Beatrice she…" Kathrine spoke, her voice shaking.