Alister stood before the mirror as he fixed his tuxedo. After getting the suit in place, he reached over and took a sip of water, moistening his lips and throat for the stage. He licked his chops and murmured. "God, I hate suits. They just don't suit me." He then chuckled by his sentence, and stepped over to place some papers aside.

   All of a sudden there was an odd chill in the room and the sound of footfalls on the hollow ground. He turned to the door, it was cocked open in a ghastly way.

   Alister blinked his eyes, and shivered. "Just the wind... Must be an air conditioner... Or else Sarea playing tricks on me, but that wouldn't be like her." He shrugged, stacked up the papers nervously, then went over to the open door.

   The lights in his room and the hallway flickered out, leaving one candle from his table lit.

   His eyes flattened. "Great, the power must have died...." He went back to his table and grabbed his candle, then turned and went to the door. "What a night to start the performance..."

   The door slammed shut in his face, blowing the candle out, leaving him in utter darkness.

   Alister coughed. "Um... Sarea..? Are you playing games on me?" He felt around for the knob on the door in the dark.

   He reached it, came out, then turned back towards the door. The candle flickered into life again, and he saw a bronze plate on the door. It was dirty, and his name was on a sheet of paper taped above.

   "Mm... sometimes I wonder how long this place has been standing. Seems pretty ancient here." He licked his thumb, then cleaned the bronze plate up a bit. "Kind of creepy too..." He then touched over the paper with his name on it.

   The bronze plate shimmered in the dim candlelight, and a name was seen: Duskana Rendasva

   Alister scanned the name. "Duskana, eh? Wonder who that was..."

   There was a crash from inside his dressing room.

   Alister jumped from the sound. "What the heck?" He opened the door and looked inside.

There was a mess of all his belongings on the inside. On the mirror was written: LEAVE

   Alister's face suddenly went pale, and his body shook. "Definitely not Sarea playing..... God..."

   The door slammed shut behind him. All lights were out, and the mirror cracked down the middle.

   Alister's eyes widened with fear, as his body trembled even more. "U-u-u-umm.... S-S-Sarea...?"

   There was a very, very cold chill in the air now.

   Alister quivered, wrapping his arms around himself. He tried to keep warm, as he stepped back and leaned against the door. "This is totally freaking me out... Did this place used to be a haunted house or something..?"

   The Theatre Manager opened the door and pulled Alister out of his room. "Are you mad? The show's going to start! Come!"

   Alister cried out. "Whaaah! Whoaa... What?!" He seemed lost now after that experience inside his room.

   The Manager led him to backstage, then stopped dead in his tracks. "...N-n-n-n-never mind. Come with me, get your friends, now." He sounded scared... shocked...

   Alister's voice stuttered. "Wh-what? B-b-but what about the performance? I don't know where Sarea is. I-I-I haven't seen her... U-unless you have and know where she is."

   The manager looked and pointed softly to the other side of the stage. A woman half shrouded in darkness was standing there, staring them down. "Just stay here... I'll get the lighting ready.."

   Alister sighed. "Great... Thanks."

   The manager jogged to the other side of the stage, and as he did so the woman turned and disappeared into the shadows. The manager disappeared out the door, and Sarea came back beside Alister.

   Sarea had a questionable look on her face as she came over to him. "Where have you been?"
Alister sighed. "I was about to ask you that. You know, back there, I had a freak show going on in my room!"
Sarea blinked her eyes. "Oh you don't say..."
"Yeah, and right now I'm in a very crappy mood because all of this was happening..." He covered his face and groaned, filled with horror and stress.
Sarea's ears folded, and she looked away. "Don't be upset-"
"I'm not upset, especially with you... I'm just... I'm just alittle horrified right now. All shook up. It'll go away soon once we perform, so don't worry."
Sarea nodded solemnly. "Yes, of course. It'll all be okay in the end.... I hope..."
Alister gazed at her and smiled. "At least you're here with me now. That makes me feel a little better..."

   By the time the show was over and all the audience had gone, the Manager looked somewhat panicked. "I'm very sorry to all of you," He said to Alister and Sarea and all their cast and company, "You'll have to stay for the night... It's raining very hard." It was, of course. The theatre was on its own, really. There wasn't anything nearby.

   Both Sarea and Alister had on a straight face. "Great...."
The red porcupine then fell into tears. "Aw no, not here!"
Sarea gazed over at him and smiled. "Don't worry, Alister. I'm sure your parents won't worry."
"It's not that..." Alister blubbered. Sarea stared at him, waiting for a different answer. Alister sighed, and waved his hand. "Just forget it."
"I'll stay with you, if that's what you want..." She said softly. She was half smiling, as if she didn't like the idea of what she said.
Alister yipped. "Yes! Please! Company would be nice..." Sarea laughed. "Just take deep breaths and calm down...."

   The manager gulped to himself. "J-just try and stay together and near my office, where I'll be s-sleeping..."

   Sarea smiled sweetly. "Okay, thanks for the advice. We'll stay close."
Alister's eye twitched. "Wh-why are you stuttering..?" He pointed straight at the manager. "Are you like... hiding something."
Sarea grabbed his hand and pulled it down. "Now really, Al. No pointing fingers. That's rude..."
Alister grumbled, his head bowed. "Whatever..." "I think I'm going mad..."

   Later that night, Alister was still awake, even when Sarea was fast asleep. There was some soothing sound coming from the stage nearby, something like singing. Would he go and see what it was for himself?

   Alister shook slightly, then settled. "Sounds like someone's rehearsing... It sounds very lovely, just like Sarea..." He gazed down at her for a moment, then crawled silently to the door. "It'll only be a peek, nothing more. I just wanna see who it is singing out there. Ohh God, protect me..." Sarea's ear twitched when he said the word 'God', but she stayed asleep.

   As Alister came to backstage, he saw the woman. It was a black cat, and she was wearing a gray tutu. She was moving slowly on her pointe shoes; she was a ballerina. "Why can I, still believe in tomorrow when all I have tried was just in vein...."

   Alister's jawed dropped. "Wow, I don't remember her being part of our group... She looks very talented from my eyes. She can sing and dance. kind of like me and Sarea..." He watched her silently, scooting up a bit more to see her more clearly. "Maybe I should warn the manager about this..."

   She continued. "Is it worth the fight, I couldn't start believing that those feelings who died could face the pain...."

   "Should I say hi, or just stay quiet and hidden, wait when she's all finished...? I'd hate to interrupt her."

   She seemed to b singing for no reason, it shouldn't be a bother to say hello. She yet continued... "I don't need no diamond rings, Alibies no more...."

   "Alright, I'm gonna just say hi, say 'you're fabulous, you should join our group' and get off. Okay, here it goes..." He took a long deep breath, then silently stepped out on stage. "Um.... Hey." He raised one hand in greeting.

   She suddenly stopped, then turned to face him. Her eyes were dim red, almost so that they were pink, and she was shaking slightly. "...oh no...."

   He now had both his hands raise. "Hey, it's okay. Don't be scared. Sorry for coming to you like this.. Um... I just heard you sing, and just had to check it out. Now, I must say, you're a great singer."

   She just blinked softly. "I told you to leave," She said, then began to hiss. "I told you, threatened you, nearly killed you... You. Didn't. Leave."

   Alister's hands slowly fell to his sides, his face suddenly turning pale. "....What..? Wait... You're the one who wrecked my dressing room? And left me the message?"

   She stepped backwards. ".....Yes....." She growled, and her whole body flickered. What was she? As she hissed, his chance was perfect. He could easily lunge forward and grab her... then pin her down. If she could do what she'd done to his dressing room, no telling what she'd do to him!

   Alister growled. "Miss, what the heck is your problem?! What did I ever do to you? I don't even know you, and surely, you don't know me... You'll pay for the damages you caused in my room!" He ran forth to tackle her down and hopefully call the manager.

   She struggled underneath his grip. "Let...go...of....me!"

   "Not until we get this straightened out!" He hissed. "Now first of all, who are you? And second, why would you destroy my room anyway? And finally third, what's with the 'LEAVE'?! You better have a good reason why you want me to leave. And you better explain quick, or I'll call the manager!"