The Shadows We Dance With

Ch22: Beneath The Spotlight

Spencer Reid stood in front of the full-length mirror in Val's private dressing room, adjusting the straps of the bodysuit that clung to his skin like a second layer. The outfit, custom-made by Madame Seraphine, was unlike anything he had ever worn before. It was a shimmering black bodysuit with high-cut hips that accentuated his slim frame, embellished with diamonds that sparkled under the harsh fluorescent lights. A corset cinched his waist, giving him an unnervingly feminine silhouette, and long, elbow-length gloves completed the look. He could hardly recognize himself—his reflection was that of a stranger, someone bold and confident, not the boy who had once been shy and uncertain.

He was fifteen years old, but tonight, as he stared at himself in the mirror, he felt much older. The makeup Val had applied earlier accentuated his features, giving his eyes a smoldering, almost dangerous look. His lips, painted a deep red, stood out starkly against his pale skin. The transformation was complete; he was no longer just Spencer, the dancer. He was a performer, a persona crafted by Val, one that existed solely for the stage.

The nightclub was called Pride, a place Spencer had never heard of before Val had told him about the performance. At first, he had been excited—performing in a real club, in front of an audience that wasn't just judges and other dancers. It had seemed like a thrilling new experience, a step into the world of professional dancing. But as the details unfolded, Spencer's excitement had quickly turned to dread.

He had learned that Val owned Pride, though he hadn't realized it at first. It was a sleek, dimly lit place, filled with people who exuded a kind of confidence and sophistication that made Spencer feel small and out of place. The crowd was older, much older, and they had a hunger in their eyes that made Spencer's skin crawl. He had tried to voice his concerns to Val, to tell him that maybe this wasn't the right place for him, that he wasn't sure he was ready for something like this. But Val had dismissed his worries with a cold, sharp anger that left Spencer feeling both ashamed and frightened.

"You're a dancer, Spencer," Val had snapped, his eyes blazing with a fury Spencer had never seen before. "This is what you've been training for. Don't you dare back out now."

The memory of that conversation replayed in Spencer's mind as he adjusted his bodysuit one last time. He had seen a side of Val that day that he hadn't known existed—a side that was ruthless, demanding, and utterly intolerant of weakness. Spencer had been too scared to argue further, so he had put on a brave face, telling himself that it would be just one performance, one night he needed to get through.

But it hadn't been just one night. It had been the first of many.

The first time he stepped onto the stage at Pride, Spencer had felt like his heart was going to explode from fear. The lights were blinding, the music loud and pulsating through his body, and the crowd... the crowd was unlike anything he had ever seen. They were mesmerized by him, their eyes following his every movement, their cheers growing louder with every spin, every jump, every suggestive gesture. He had danced like his life depended on it, every ounce of training he had received from Val channeled into that one performance. He had told himself that if he just got through it, if he just did what Val wanted, it would be over.

But it wasn't.

Val had praised him afterward, his anger from earlier replaced by an unsettling calm. "You were incredible, Spencer," he had said, his hand resting on Spencer's shoulder with a weight that felt more like a burden than reassurance. "The crowd loved you. You're going to be a star."

Spencer had forced a smile, nodding along as Val spoke, even as a pit of dread settled in his stomach. He had hoped it would end there, that Val would be satisfied and they could move on to something else, something less... intense. But Val had other plans. He started booking Spencer for more performances at Pride, each one more demanding than the last. The routines became more provocative, the outfits more revealing, and the makeup heavier. The transformation Val had started was now in full effect, turning Spencer into someone who wasn't quite himself, someone who existed only for the stage.