A few minutes later, a man stepped out, his sharp eyes scanning all of us.
"If you are here for the masked dancer job," he said firmly, "follow me."
My heart skipped. This was it.
We all began to follow him, our heels and footsteps echoing against the polished floor.
Behind me, I heard a soft laugh.
"She is really serious about this," the same girl from before said mockingly. "How can a local girl even be chosen in a place like this?"
My chest tightened, but I said nothing. I stayed quiet. This was not the time to fight. This was my only chance.
We were led into a large hall. The moment I stepped inside, my breath caught.
At the front of the room, three people sat behind a long table. Two men and one woman. Judges. Their expressions were calm, unreadable, and powerful.
The man who led us in gestured for us to sit. We took our places in a row, my hands resting nervously on my lap. He stepped forward again.
"Before you are chosen," he announced, "each of you will come forward and showcase your skills. Your pose, your movement, your style."
Some of the girls clapped excitedly. My stomach twisted. This was real.
One by one, they began to call us. The first girl stood up confidently and walked to the center. Music started playing. She moved like water, her body flowing perfectly with the rhythm. Her hips swayed, her arms graceful, every step controlled and practiced. The judges watched quietly, writing something down.
Next. Another girl. Then another. Each one better than the last. Each one more confident than me.
My hands began to shake. What was I doing here? I had never danced like this before. I didn't belong here.
"My turn."
The words echoed in my head as my name was called. My heart began to race uncontrollably. I stood up slowly, my legs feeling weak beneath me. All eyes turned to me. I could feel their judgment already.
I walked to the center, my chest rising and falling rapidly. This was it. This was my chance. For my mother. For Daniel. For everything.
I closed my eyes. For a moment, everything went silent. Then the music started. Slow. Deep. Powerful.
I lifted my foot slowly, letting my body respond to the rhythm. My hand followed, moving gently through the air. Step by step, I began to move.
At first, my body felt stiff. But then… I let go. I let the music take over. My hips swayed from side to side, slowly, then deeper, matching the beat. I turned gently, my hands tracing invisible lines in the air, my body bending with the rhythm.
The sound wrapped around me like a spell. I wasn't thinking anymore. I wasn't afraid anymore. I just moved.
I spun lightly, my hair following the motion, my feet gliding across the floor. My chest rose with the music, my hips dipping and lifting, my arms stretching as if telling a story without words.
For that moment… I forgot where I was. I forgot who was watching. I was no longer the poor girl struggling to survive. I was just… free.
Then suddenly, the music stopped. My eyes flew open. It was over. Silence filled the room. My heart pounded as I looked at the judges.
Then… the woman among them started clapping. Just her.
I froze. Was that good? Was it bad? I couldn't tell. I quickly bowed my head and returned to my seat, my heart still racing.
Next, it was the rude girl's turn. She walked confidently to the center, her chin lifted high. "My name is Vanessa," she said proudly.
The music started, and she began to dance. But this time… something was off. Her movements were sharp, but not smooth. Her confidence was there, but her rhythm wasn't. A few girls exchanged looks. Some even laughed quietly. I couldn't help it. I smiled a little too. Her ego was bigger than her steps.
Soon, everything was over. All the girls had performed. The tension in the room became heavy. The man stepped forward again.
"Out of all of you," he said, "only five will be chosen."
My heart dropped. Only five.
The judges began to whisper among themselves. Then one of the men picked up a paper. He started calling names.
"One…" A girl stepped forward.
"Two…" Another joined her.
"Three…"
"Four…"
My heart was beating so fast I could barely breathe. One more. Just one more. Please…
Then the man walked toward me. My breath caught. This was it. He stopped right in front of me. His eyes looked me over.
"How did you intend to get this job?" he asked coldly.
My heart sank. "You didn't dress properly. You don't even understand what this place is about." Each word felt like a blow.
"I won't be choosing you."
My chest tightened painfully. "I will choose Vanessa instead."
Vanessa smirked and walked proudly to the selected group. "I told you," she said as she passed me. "You don't belong here."
My vision blurred. I stood there, frozen. Disappointed. Broken. I slowly turned to leave. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I was foolish to think I had a chance.
"Stop."
The voice was sharp. Clear. My heart skipped. I froze immediately.
"Stop, Maya."
My name.
I turned slowly. The female judge was standing now, her eyes fixed on me. She walked toward me, her heels echoing in the silent hall. She stopped in front of me and looked at me carefully from head to toe.
Then she spoke. "She is chosen."
The man frowned immediately. "No, ma," he said quickly. "We already have five. She is not good enough."
The woman's eyes hardened. "She is good," she said firmly. Her voice carried authority. "Her dancing is exactly what we need."
She looked directly at him. "You cannot judge someone by what they are wearing."
My breath caught.
Then she turned back to me, her gaze softening slightly. "She is beautiful," she continued. "More beautiful than anyone here."
The room fell silent. My heart pounded wildly in my chest.
"She just needs refinement," the woman added. "With proper training, she will be perfect."
I stood there, unable to move. Unable to speak. Did that mean… I got the job? Or… was this just the beginning of something I didn't understand yet?
My heart wouldn't stop racing. Something told me… my life was about to change again.