Chapter 8 - THE DANCE THAT MADE LILA COLLAPSEThe music stopped.
Lila ran back inside.
The old theater was dark.
The main stage was empty.
But music continued from Studio Seven.
She followed it.
The door stood open.
Inside, Elise was dancing.
Alone.
Her body moved with extraordinary precision.
She was older now.
Her knees were damaged.
Her breathing was heavy.
But every movement was perfect.
Lila stood frozen.
Elise completed the final turn.
Then collapsed.
Lila rushed to her.
“Elise!”
Elise opened her eyes.
For a moment, she looked confused.
Then terrified.
“Did you see?”
“See what?”
“The girl.”
“What girl?”
Elise grabbed Lila's wrist.
“She was standing behind you.”
Lila turned.
No one was there.
The studio was empty.
Elise began to shake.
“Anya?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Elise looked at the mirror that was no longer there.
“She looked like me.”
Lila felt cold.
“Your daughter?”
Elise nodded.
“Marin.”
“But Marin is alive.”
“I know.”
“Then what did you see?”
Elise stared at the floor.
“The girl from the first finale.”
Lila helped her stand.
“What happened when you danced?”
“I remembered.”
“What?”
Elise looked at Lila.
“The room.”
“What room?”
“The one beneath the theater.”
“Your memory?”
“No.”
She pointed at Lila.
“Yours.”
Lila frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Elise's voice became quiet.
“When I danced the second finale, I remembered seeing you.”
Lila froze.
“You saw me?”
“You were a baby.”
“That is impossible.”
“You were in Celeste's arms.”
Lila stared.
“When?”
“The night Anya disappeared.”
Elise closed her eyes.
“Your mother brought you there.”
“Why?”
“Because she was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Elise looked toward the stage.
“Of the people who had already begun watching you.”
Lila felt sick.
“You mean they knew about me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of your blood.”
Lila shook her head.
“I don't understand.”
“Celeste was a brilliant dancer.”
“So was Anya.”
“And so was I.”
“Then what?”
Elise looked at her.
“Your mother believed you had inherited something.”
Lila laughed bitterly.
“Talent?”
“No.”
Elise whispered:
“Memory.”
Lila stared.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
“That's impossible.”
“Is it?”
Elise pointed toward the floor.
“Why did you know the final movement?”
Lila said nothing.
“Why did you remember your mother teaching you something when you were six?”
Lila's heart began to beat faster.
“Because she taught me.”
“No.”
Elise shook her head.
“She taught you the movement before you were six.”
Lila froze.
“You were there.”
“What?”
“The first time.”
Elise looked at her.
“You were three.”
Lila felt a strange pressure in her head.
Then a memory appeared.
A dark room.
A woman crying.
A baby.
A song.
A hand moving through the air.
The memory disappeared.
Lila staggered.
Elise caught her.
“What did you see?”
Lila looked at her.
“I don't know.”
Elise's expression became frightened.
“That is how it begins.”
“What?”
“The memories that aren't yours.”
Before Lila could answer, the studio door slammed shut.
A man's voice came from outside.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
Adrian.
Lila turned toward the door.
Elise stepped in front of her.
“Where is Anya?”
Adrian did not answer.
“Where is my mother?”
Still silence.
Then Adrian said:
“Celeste is waiting for you.”
Lila's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Come with me.”
Elise grabbed her.
“No.”
Adrian laughed.
“You still believe you can protect her.”
Lila looked at Elise.
“Where is my mother?”
Elise shook her head.
“Lila, don't listen to him.”
Adrian said:
“She is alive.”
Lila's entire world seemed to stop.
“Where?”
“Under the theater.”
Elise whispered:
“No.”
Adrian continued.
“She has been there for three years.”
Lila turned toward Elise.
“Is that true?”
Elise said nothing.
Lila's voice broke.
“Is my mother alive?”
Elise closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
Lila stepped backward.
The truth hit harder than any lie.
Her mother was alive.
All this time.
Three years.
She had mourned her.
She had spoken to her grave.
She had danced for her memory.
And Celeste had been alive beneath the theater.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Elise whispered:
“Because she asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed they would use you to find her.”
Adrian laughed softly.
“And she was right.”
Lila looked at him.
“Take me to her.”
Elise grabbed her arm.
“Lila!”
“I said take me to her.”
Adrian smiled.
“Finally.”
But before he could move—
the theater lights exploded.
The room went black.
A woman screamed.
Then the old melody began.
This time, it came from the stage.
And a voice whispered in the darkness:
“Lila, run.”
Her mother's voice.
May you like
Celeste.
Lila ran.
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