The days passed at an alarmingly slow rate for Tori as she went about her daily life. In the back of her mind, she had an overwhelming amount of dread as the seconds ticked by closer and closer to this audition. After receiving more details from Cat and Jade about the vocals required, she found out that she wouldn't be working all that much since the audio she'd be needed to record would be used at most two to three times throughout the entire film. From Jade's messages and the details listed for the audition, it would most likely be a little in the opening, a larger haunting and operatic piece used at the finale, and possibly one other melody used to sprinkle throughout the climax.

For the audition, she would be required to come to the studio itself and dress nicely, but not formally, and have some references prepared if there were any available as well as submitting some other examples of previous work. On top of that, she was required to perform a short piece that would only be sixteen bars, the standard length for an audition piece, and she could pick anything she wanted but she was encouraged to try and select something that matched the theme of the project. It didn't take long for Tori to think of some potential songs, the issue was building back up the nerve to perform them. After some contemplation, Tori decided on two pieces, just to be safe, and made her way down the hallways of her cabin and grabbed the set of keys she had tucked away and unlocked the door at the end of the hall. She reached in and grabbed her guitar that hung on the space next to the door and pulled it out before locking the door back up and making her way to her bedroom after putting the keys away.

The old six-string guitar rarely came out of that room but considering it was for something important, Tori deemed it necessary to keep it out so she could practice and rehearse. In between her lesson plans and completing her chores and taking care of her family, she practiced. She practiced over and over and over again until the notes were practically ingrained into her head. It was difficult at first but over time it became much easier. She worked and started to slowly regain the skills she had honed through her years at HA and from all the hours she spent dedicating towards her album. Up in her room, she strummed the strings of the guitar and sang the notes, experimenting and changing them slightly to better fit her voice and she found it to be therapeutic in a way. These days music wasn't as integral to her daily life, she only ever sang or played an instrument when she needed to calm down from a panic attack or if she was doing chores and would hum along to the tune from her radio. In a way, it took her back to her earlier years and it eased the tension she was feeling but replaced it with melancholy as she lamented about all that she had lost and had to give up.

The day of the audition finally arrived and Tori woke up early despite not having to be there until around one in the afternoon. She awoke and nearly stumbled out of bed as she tripped over Nyx who was curled up on the floor next to her. She showered and scrubbed at her skin with her body wash and shampoo to remove the smell of the marijuana she smoked the night before to help calm her nerves. After an hour of thorough cleaning, she got out of the shower and went to her closet and selected a pair of nice jeans, and paired it with a short sleeve, black and white striped shirt. She stood in front of her full-length mirror and examined herself, the outfit was cute but as she looked down at the intricate maze of scars on her forearms, she frowned and walked back to her closet and grabbed a jean jacket, and rolled the sleeves down over her arms despite it being close to ninety degrees outside. Tori then went to her small vanity set up in the corner of her room and brushed her hair as Duke laid on the bed and groaned while looking at her through the mirror's reflection. "It'll be okay bud," Tori said as she kept brushing her hair. "It will only be for a little bit then I'll come right home."

Duke's only response was another low groan before barking and turning his head to look away from her. "Oh, is that how it's going to be?"

She finished fixing her hair and tied it back in a simple braid and walked over to the bed and crouched down so she was level with Duke as she rested her head on the side of the bed and said, "Come on bud, I'm nervous too…but shouldn't we at least give it a try?"

He briefly looked at her from the corner of his eye and whined as he rolled over to the other side of the bed. Tori giggled and walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down and ran a hand along his back and said, "I'm sorry buddy, I wish you could come with me too but I promise, I will come right home and we can cuddle on the porch and watch the sunset. Does that like fun?"

He offered her no response which made Tori sigh and hang her head sadly. She scratched behind his ear in his favorite spot and said, "Fine, fine…you can sleep on the bed tonight. Deal?"

His tail started to wag as he kicked his leg out from being scratched. Duke then turned and sat up and licked Tori's cheek and cuddled in close to her chest as she laughed and said, "There we go, I thought you'd come around for that. Come on, let's get some breakfast but then I have to get going."

The large dog hopped off of the bed and followed Tori out of the room as she put on a gray scarf to compliment her outfit and sprayed some perfume, she had received from Cat years ago but never used before heading downstairs where the rest of her dogs were resting. She quickly made sure all of them ate and had water before making herself some toast. Nothing else sounded appetizing and with how nervous she was feeling, she didn't think it would be a good idea to risk anything else. As she sat at the kitchen table and nibbled on her toast, she flipped through the papers tucked away in a small folder that contained several headshots and a couple of copies of her resume and references and her sheet music, just in case the people running the audition needed any of it. On her phone, she played the tunes of the two songs over and over as she hummed them and began some vocal warmups to help distract her mind. Using her years of experience with Jade, she felt that her audition pieces would fit well with the dark themes of the film. She had chosen "Hoist the Colours" by Hans Zimmer and featured in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films as well as "Lullaby of Woe" by Ashley Serena. The second one was from a game of a show that Tori had not watched, all she knew was that it was called "The Witcher." She had heard it on a whim one night while browsing music online and enjoyed the slow and ethereal tone of the song, same with the other one.

She had no idea which one she would end up doing when the moment came but she felt it was best to have them both ready and planned to use the right one for the people handling her audition. Eventually, it got closer to the afternoon and Tori left the cabin after telling her loving dogs that she'd be home soon. She grabbed some water and went to her van and began the trek down the roads while listening to the radio but was interrupted as her phone started to go off. When she pulled it out of her purse, she saw Jade's name flashing across the screen and answered the call, "Hello?"

"Hey Vega, you busy?" Jade asked as she sat back in her chair in the office the studio provided her. She spun around to face the window that overlooked part of the lot and clicked a pen between her fingers as she bit her lip. She had managed to convince the studio to give Tori a fair audition and had been impressed with her when she said she wanted to be impartial. Together they had decided that Ryan Blackhawk would step in for her and would judge her with the others that were involved with casting and if they felt Tori was a good choice, they'd send Jade the recording they planned to make and give their input and discuss it further. Although Jade still felt that she should just go around them and hire her directly, she wanted to show Tori that she was changing. Her flask was filled with water instead of its usual contents as she sipped it and said, "I thought I'd just check in on you. You nervous?"

Tori sighed and kept driving as she said, "Terrified."

Her comment made Jade chuckle as she said, "You'll be fine. Just take a breath and don't rush yourself."

There was a pause between them before Jade chimed back in and said, "I'm leaving for New York in a bit. I won't be back for a few days."

"You mentioned heading back there," Tori said. "What are you gonna be doing?"

"Mostly just packing more clothes and wrapping up some small things so I can fully focus on the movie." Jade spun back around in her chair and checked her airplane ticket and said, "I'll probably be back in a week at most. Maybe a little longer. I just need to make sure I have all my clothes and work stuff."

"Couldn't you just have someone do it for you?" Tori asked curiously.

"I could and did before and I will never make that mistake again," Jade grumbled. "The last time I let Mary use an intern or someone like that and they didn't fold of my clothes the right way and they forgot some essential things on the list they were given. On top of that, the fucking airport got my stuff on the wrong flight!"

Tori couldn't help but smile while biting her lip, trying to suppress a giggle as Jade said, "Wipe that smirk off your face Vega! I know you're trying not to laugh. Anyway, after that shit show, I'm not letting anyone handle that stuff aside from me."

"Oh, come on," Tori protested with a small grin, "you have to admit, it is pretty funny."

"That's what you think," Jade said as she smirked. "So…what piece are you doing?"

"I have a couple in mind, I'll pick once I see who is there I guess," Tori said with a shrug. "Thank you, you know, for being fair in this."

"It's stupid but I know you're right," Jade said as she leaned back in her chair. "Look…I wanted to ask you, despite how the audition goes, if we could have dinner sometime?"

"Like a—"

"Yes Tori, like a date," Jade quickly said as she clicked the pen repeatedly, "just something simple. Nothing huge, just a small dinner date. What do you think?"

"I don't know," Tori said, "last time—"

"I can promise you, that none of those stupid vultures will see us or bother us, I'll make sure of it. I want us to get back together but I don't want you to feel overwhelmed."

Tori thought it over and weighed it out in her head, and asked, "Do you think we're really ready for that?"

Jade felt her heart crack right down the middle as she stopped fiddling with her pen and said, "You said that we should at least try now that everything's out in the open. So why not just go for it?"

Her thumb traced the steering wheel as she drove as Tori finally said, "You're right, but when would we go? You'll be really busy once casting is done right?"

"Casting is done Vega," Jade said as she smirked, "Wanna know who I managed to get for the lead?"

"Who?" Tori asked curiously as she pulled through some lanes of traffic.

"Cillian Murphy," Jade said smugly as she knew Tori loved him and his work.

"No way!" Tori screamed into the phone as Jade winced and pulled the phone away from her ear.

"Yes, it's true!" Jade said, "But don't say anything about it okay? The full cast list is going to be released in a few days and I don't want any leaks until all the paperwork is signed."

"I promise! I won't tell anyone!" Tori said with a grin.

"Not even Cat or Andre!" Jade said sternly.

"B-but—"

"No buts Vega! Now can you call me and let me know how the audition goes?" Jade asked.

"Umm sure, I can do that," Tori said. She was surprised by how considerate and caring Jade was trying to be and thought it best to try and offer the same amount back or at least attempt.

"Good," Jade said. "I'll let you go for now; I've got to head out so I can make it to my flight."

"Okay, bye Jade, I'll talk to you later," Tori said as she went to hang up.

"Tori wait!" Jade said quickly. On the other end, Tori pulled the phone back up and waited as Jade took a moment and said, "Break a leg."

Tori smiled and nodded her head as she said, "Thanks, Jade. I'll call you after, okay?"

"Alright, bye Tori," Jade said with a smile as she hung up the phone. Her heart fluttered a little bit from talking with Tori but she couldn't savor the feeling as she had to pack up her bag and head out to the car that was waiting for her. Once all of her things were together, she walked out of her office and left the building, and made her way to her car where she promptly got in and drove off to collect her suitcase and then was escorted by her driver to the airport.

For Tori, she hung up and felt a bit better than she had before and had a little more confidence as the audition slowly approached. It felt like an eternity as she waited in a nearby parking lot before she could drive to the studio gates but before she knew it, she drove past them after being instructed by the guard which building to go to. Her feet left as if they were weighed down by iron chains as she slowly walked to the smaller building in the corner of the property. Once inside, a person at the front desk checked her in and had her sign a couple of documents and collected her headshots and other papers to hand to those in charge, and instructed her to go wait in a room down the hall to her right. She thanked them and started to look over her music repeatedly, afraid that she was mixing up the notes while entering the room and found it to be filled with about eight or so other individuals all doing the same.

There was some light conversation amongst them but they all stayed focused on their phones or looked through their papers while they waited. One by one, they were called and escorted by the person at the front desk to another room where the audition was held and soon enough, Tori was the last one. She nervously tapped her foot as she flipped through her music for what felt like the hundredth time until she was brought back to the present by her name being called. "Miss. Vega? They're ready for you."

"Hm? Oh-oh thank you," Tori said as she scrambled to put her papers away and quickly got up to follow them.

Each step echoed louder and louder to her as they approached the door and she was motioned to go inside. Her head was spinning as her heart raced as she went in and took in the space. It appeared to be a small meeting room that had the tables shifted around and a space cleared in the middle of the room with a chair for her to sit. Directly in front of it was a table that was covered in papers of other applicants and a laptop surrounded by a couple of cups of coffee with four individuals huddled close together and pointing and chatting about something on the screen. One of them glanced up and greeted Tori who politely returned the greeting and took a seat in the chair in the middle of the room but as she looked back up and took in the features of each individual, she froze and felt a primal urge to run away.

They were here. They were right there. Sitting at the end of the table with all the others, chatting casually with the others, and smiled at Tori. Their grin made Tori's skin crawl and her stomach turned as she shifted nervously in her seat and looked towards the door.

"Miss. Vega?" one of the individuals said. "If you'd like, you may start. We have all your paperwork ready to go."

She sat there for a moment as her heart raced faster and faster, each thump seemed to grow louder and louder until that was all Tori could hear. Her breathing became quicker and shallower as she held onto the sides of the chair and her eyes darted between them all and settled on her abuser and the door to her side. She was about to rush out but was stopped as her body froze with fear as they stood up and approached, feigning a concerned look on their face as they knelt to her side. They placed a hand on her knee and her shoulder and said, "Oh it's okay sweetheart, just take a breath, okay? I know you must be nervous."

Tori looked down at her lap and tried to slow her breathing and fought against the shiver that crept up her spine from the person's touch as they leaned in and whispered, "It's been a while, Vega. I knew you'd come back into the business eventually. Be a good girl and sing for us. Don't make me wait."

They leaned back with that same fake compassionate expression and patted her shoulder and took her hands that were sweating and helped her to her feet. She wobbled and felt ready to throw up but calmed down just enough as she thought of Jade's words, "Break a leg."

"It's for Jade. It's for Jade. I just have to sing and I can leave, just sing something and leave. Just do it! Get out! You have to leave! Why are you here?! How?! Why now?! Sing! Tori please just sing and run! Don't take the job!" She thought to herself as she stood there feeling completely overwhelmed and paralyzed with fear.

Whatever happened next, Tori couldn't recall as the world around her moved and warped in a blur of color and motion. She thought she sang but couldn't remember what and she swore she thought words were being exchanged but the next thing she concretely knew, was that she left the room with her bag and walked out. She walked faster and faster until she was sprinting down the hall to sign for the restrooms and rushed into the one for women and practically kicked open a stall door and crouched down and threw up as she cried. Her breathing was quick and shallow as she sobbed and stayed curled on the floor and held herself for who knows how long. She cried and cried as she emptied the contents of her stomach and tried to find the strength to move but felt stuck in place.

In reality, she laid there for about ten minutes before moving off the floor and hastily cleaning herself up before she walked as fast as she could out of the building. Once outside, she sprinted to her van and drove as fast as she was allowed, and left the lot. On the highway, she broke down again and wailed and cried as she sped past cars with trembling hands holding onto the wheel as she navigated her way home. Somehow, she made it home in one piece and without any accidents but as she pulled into her spot next to the cabin, she shoved the door open and sprinted to her room and curled up in bed, and let herself fall to pieces. Her dogs all followed her up and tried to see what was causing their mother such distress but Duke, using agility he rarely used, sprinted into her room and curled up with her, holding Tori and letting her cry into his coat.

Halfway across the country and several thousand meters up in the air, Jade tapped her pen to the notepad in her lap as she checked her phone again in case, she missed Tori's call. The flight attendant passed with a drink cart and felt the temptation to get some wine but refrained and shifted her attention back to the draft she was working on. She felt, or at least hoped, that Tori would call her soon but she still checked her phone every couple of minutes throughout the flight. By the time she landed, she felt a little anxious and tried to call Tori but got no response. She tried several more times throughout the evening before falling asleep, feeling miserable and holding her phone close to her chest.

Author's Notes:

Hello everyone! First off I just wanted to apologize for the delay and lack of uploads. I had some personal things come up that required by full attention so it took a toll on my time and motivation to keep writing. To add onto that, I struggled a bit with this and some of the coming chapters so I decided to take a little break.

Anyway, sorry for the delay but I do hope you enjoy this chapter and please feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think. This is the final piece that I have been setting up for this story so in terms of chess, all the pieces are now on the board and now we will be going towards resolution and mending the relationship while dealing with these issues. I can't wait to post more of these chapters and to see what you think! Have a good day!

Songs Used for Inspiration:

1. ?

2. "She Got the Best of Me" by Luke Combs

3. "Miss Missing You" by Fall Out Boy

4. ?