HIDDEN: A Fairytale Mashup

Chapter 1: The Downfall

"What the HELL is this?"

Davina Hawthorne stormed through the door, her heels fiery red, like her raging temper. She wasn't meant to be wearing them, but at this moment she didn't care, for the only thing that mattered was dragging that mute, talentless girl off stage and out of her role. The cast turned in her direction, wide eyed as Davina strutted past the rows of chairs. The director ran down the stairs beside the stage and in front of Davina, stopping her in her tracks.

"Why is she up there? Where I'm supposed to be?"
Her tone was every bit a reflection of her- demanding and condescending. She placed her hands on her hips and stared, eyebrows raised.

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Davina. She's up there because you were late. Again. And we needed someone to do your role," the director replied. "And frankly she's actually quite-"

"Bullshit. Dorothy is MY role. Not some no name set designer who can hardly speak, let alone act a role," She dismissed him, pushing past and stomping up the stage. The director's raced anxiously behind her as Davina's eyes narrowed at the culprit in question.

"Hey, look. I'm not trying to take your role or anything, you were late and I was asked to step in. I don't even act, and my name is-"

"Oh please, darling, I don't care what your name is, I just want you-" Davina prodded the shorter girl with her finger- "off my stage."

The cast watched in amusement, as Davina scowled at the brunette, towering over her. By now the director was behind the crowd. He swerved past the rest of the cast and pulled Davina away. 

"Leave Lila alone, she did nothing wrong. We needed her to fill in because-"

"FILL IN? Seriously? You KNEW I would be here. Why didn't you wait instead of using that skank?"

"Wait, EXCUSE ME?" Skank?" Lila shoved the director out of the way. "I'm a skank? You don't even know me. And that's rich coming from the girl who treats everyone like crap-" Lila was pulled back by Chris, one of the cast members. She brushed his arm off muttering to him to let her handle things. The cast at this point were murmuring and filming the scene on their phones, because rarely anyone ever stood up to Davina Hawthorne. She was the literal Drama Queen, both in acting and in life. Nobody expected it to come from Lila Rogers. a girl who stayed on the sidelines. But whilst everyone else was either documenting the events or whispering amongst themselves, the director, Clarke Nelson, directed his eyes towards Davina's footwear.

"Davina," he said, pulling the blonde aside, "Why are you wearing those?" 

Davina's eyes glanced at her feet, the crimson heels shimmering. She looked back up at the director and shrugged.

"Because I wanted to. I mean, that's what you're supposed to do with shoes, right?"

"Yes. but-"

"Fine, then that's settled. Now can she please get off stage?"

"No."

The entire cast stopped. Half the cast's mouths dropped open. Lila sharply inhaled as everyone stared at the director. Nobody ever said no to Davina, it just didn't happen. Davina turned to the director, her green eyes narrowing.

"What?"

"I said no," Clarke told her. His expression was cold. "You are extremely talented, that's clear. But you exploit the rules and treat everyone like they're below you. You are a student, Davina. And you must abide by the rules like everybody else. Now you were late, and caused a scene, so you're sitting out for this rehearsal. You can join us again for the afternoon practice. Lila will perform your role for the morning. Plus, we need someone to be your understudy because Jane has quit and you, frankly, can be unreliable. We have 3 months left before the performance. You have time to practice. Now, please sit," the director turned back to the cast. "Places, everyone. We're starting from the top of this scene."

Clarke Nelson urged the shocked cast to get back into place. However Davina could hear nothing but her breathing growing heavier as she became filled with fury. How dare he? This play was what it was because of her. He had no right to let that bitch step in, she didn't even know what to do. Lila Rogers would pay. And so, with her anger clouding her judgement, Davina stormed towards the crowd of students, her eyes set on Lila.

"This. Is. My. Role. Not hers. I don't care if I was late, she's not Dorothy. I am," Davina hissed as she barged past everyone to get to Lila.

What she didn't realise, however, was that she had pushed Clarke Nelson, who was standing at the edge of the stage. Davina's push had loosened his footing, so he stumbled, and nobody noticed until the heavy sound of a body hitting the wooden floor from a five-foot high stage made everyone's blood run cold.