Dark Side

Chapter 1

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP

The sound of my alarm woke me within seconds. Oh great, late for work again. I got up and searched around my room, throwing on a bright red shirt that showed my bellybutton and a pair of jeans. Grabbing my bag, I made my way to the kitchen to grab something to eat, but once again my foster parents did not buy food. My sister and I practically starve here.

"Joanne where are you?" I yelled. Joanne is my foster mom. I wanted to make sure she was home to watch my little sister, Jade. Jade and I were dumped into foster care when I was eight and she was two, but they were terrible and abusive towards us.

Joanne walks into the room practically tripping over her own feet and as usual—drunk.

"Can anyone watch Jade today while I'm at work?" I asked. Jade walked into the room and hugged me.

"Yeah I can watch her. Right sweetie?" Jade looked up at me like she wanted me to save her, but I had no choice.

"Okay, have fun be back later."

"Bye." They both said as I walked out the door.

I arrived at work, taking out my keys and jamming it into the keyhole. I open the door to the rusty old karaoke bar called DJ's. My parents once owned the bar a few years back, earning much business. They died when I was seven, having been murdered on a trip to New York. Now it was run-down and barely made a dime.

My best friend Maddie greeted me when I walked in. She was unusually excited, bouncing on her toes and her lip in between her teeth. Maddie has a much harder life then I did, living with two drunks and a drug addict. She usually comes into work tired and hurt, but surprising not today.

"Hey why are you so excited?" I asked.

Her bouncing subsided as she went on about a competition she heard about that was supposed to take place here.

"What do you mean competition?" I said. "Barely anyone even knows where this dump is."

"Well someone does considering they are sending out Simon Cowell and the boy band One Direction to find a band or solo singer to go on tour with them."

I was seriously shocked. I had heard of One Direction but never thought much of them. Simon Cowell, though, was a huge deal.

All I managed to say was "Wow."

"Yeah" Maddie ran a hand through her blonde hair, repositioning her bangs to the side. "They are coming tonight so we need to set up because a lot of people and paparazzi are going to be here."

"Why would they come to this dump rather than a big fancy club?" I asked.

"Something about publicity probably." She shrugged. "They need to make it look like they are sympathetic or something, but everyone that comes here to sing has a chance. Everyone's names are on the list including yours." I gave her a shocked look.

"Mine? Why mine?" I asked.

"You are the best singer here and you know it too! I think you can win, Ashley!"

We spent the rest of the day cleaning up, decorating and trying to make the place look somewhat decent. People started piling in while all the acts got dressed and practiced. I still had no clue what song to sing, but I eventually decided on Run This Town by Lucy Hale. I chose this song because its fun and shows of how strong my voice is. I peeked out the curtain and saw Simon Cowell sitting with five of the hottest boys I have ever seen. I ran off stage because the show is about to start and I am going last so I have to wait about two hours. I hope that would give me enough time to get rid of my nerves. Unfortunately, the time went by faster than I thought.

I'm next.