Mrs. Bee (story)

The teacher nodded, obviously relieved that the matter would be dealt with. It was always stressful to know that one of her students was likely to mess up in front of a live audience. Not only did mistakes make her look bad, they were mortifying for the one who made them. She was close enough to her students that she didn't want to put them through that kind of humiliation.

(Read all previous parts of chapter two here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html)

Control (story)

Mrs. Bee took a deep breath, visibly gaining control of herself. "Rynn, you're one of the best actresses here. You've done wonderfully on every line but this one. What's wrong?"

(Read all previous parts of chapter two here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html)

Scolding (story)

The drama instructor strode onto the stage, obviously displeased. "Again, Rynn?" Mrs. Bee snapped. "The show goes up in a week! I've been lenient so far because you told me you would get it, but this is ridiculous. The line is easy. 'Yes, Sahv, I do.' That's all you have to say!"

(Read all previous parts of chapter two here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html)

Reality (story)

Then a voice pierced the quiet. "Cut!" it said loudly.

Lahden looked away from her, and she snapped out of her trance, coming abruptly back to reality. The scene she had set in her mind vanished, leaving behind only the flickering illusion conjured by amateurs as a background to the stage. From the shadows behind the drawn back curtains, the faces of her fellow actors peered out, all eyes on her. Some were laughing or giving her sympathetic looks, but the majority seemed as frustrated as Lahden.

(Read all previous parts of chapter two here: http://propheciesofshadow.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html)