It was a warm september evening, the gold rays of sun were painting clouds pink and orange, as if the weather wanted to say the last goodbye to summer. Ashlyn sat in a window of her small room in a middle of the train, looking at the blurry view outside the glass. She opened it slightly and listened to the muffed sound of the wind and the clatter of the wheels of a speeding train on the tracks.

It was her birthday - the second spent in her new home.

Everything was as she wanted I to be.

It really was a home they wished for, they quickly used to this lifestyle - performances, trip to another city, rest - over and over again. Logan couldn't perform because he were too young for it yet - but Ashlyn after two years of practicing finally turned eighteen and was ready to take part in a performance for the first time.

She couldn't wait for it.

Knock, knock!

The door opened and a beautiful dark-haired mexican girl peeked into the room.

"Ashlyn! You're here."

"Hi Taylor. What's up?"

"We're starting the last dress rehearsal in fifteen minutes! Girl, what's with you?"

"Fifteen minutes?! Oh damn!" Ashlyn jumped off the windowsill, rushed to her wardrobe and took her costume off the hanger.

"Sorry, I got lost in thoughts", she frantically started putting on clothes.

Taylor immediately grabbed Ashlyn's hairbrush and cosmetics scattered around her dressing table, ready to help her with makeup.

The girls ran into the circus tent three minutes before time. They squeezed through the backstage, weaving through the performers until they found Jasmine - the primaballerina in whose acrobatic performance Ashlyn was to take part.

"I thought you wouldn't honor us with your presence", Jasmine snorted as she noticed Ashlyn.

"I'm before time", she noticed. Jasmine was so overconfident and vain, and Ashlyn tried her best not to show she disliked her.

Jasmine rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Oh, don't make a problem. Come on, girls! Let's get ready for my show."

Three other contortionists followed her, glancing at Ashlyn. Meg, one of her, sent her a compassionate smile.

Well, not everyone loved primaballerina.

"This bitch allows herself too much", Taylor looked like she was going to explode. "I I really want to wipe that smug smile off her beautiful face one day! She acts like some cocky princess, but the truth is you're way better than her."

"Don't joke. This will be my first show and she has over eighty under her belt."

"It's just a number. Anyways, break a leg!" Taylor leaned in to hug her friend.

"Thank you! I'll do my best. I'mean sure my makeup will be the most beautiful makeup they ever seen."

"It'starts going to be the most beautiful makeup I've ever done", Taylor pushed her gently. "Go, Let them know you're the best!"

Ashlyn waved and ran to a dressing room to drink some water before the rehearsal. Stress squeezed her guts. She glanced at the mirror of her dressing table and quickly fixed her hair - fortunately, she didn't forget to put her long hair in a bun in the morning.

"Do your best, Ashlyn" she whispered to her reflection. She reached for a mask she was supposed to wear for half of the performance - a beautiful snow-white mask in the shape of a rabbit's face. Her sight moved down and fell on a small note tucked under her makeup bag. A slight smile appeared on her face.

She unfolded the note and read a message consisting of a few words - 'You'll sweep them off their feet' - and a signature 'Phantom' underneath.

She quickly put it aside, feeling her heart speed up, this time not from the stress.

You're so silly, Aiden.

She ran back toward the stage wondering if he knew she had long ago found out that he was the one giving her those notes.

Ashlyn sat next to other contortionists when the stress from earlier almost dissapeared. She knew she's prepared perfectly - and even though it was the last and the most important rehearsal - it wasn't her first one.

Jasmine was pacing around the backstage, complaining her mask is uncomfortable, and ignoring the fact she was bothering other people. She looked mad. One of her friends asked what was going on and she simply shrugged it off with a huff.

Ashlyn's heart sped up as the ringmaster announced Jasmine's show.

The stage was now fully lit, like a bright island in the darkness. From her point of view, the seats in the audience were barely visible. Colored light fell on her from above, making her costume sparkle. She imagined Taylor sitting in the control room, convincing her mother to direct the brightest reflector at Ashlyn. She hoped her friend wouldn't do it, even though she promised her so jokingly.

The music changed and Ashlyn closed her eyes.

She shivered, feeling an urge to start dancing, but it wasn't her turn yet. Jasmine started to dance and the contortionists joined her one by one.

Her muscles remembered the choreography better than her mind, leading her steps to the music, making her feel like she was flying.

Imagine you're a butterfly, mom's quiet voice echoed in her head. Words she repeated for years, words that leaded Ashlyn to love dance with her whole heart.

Jasmine was the star of this show, but for Ashlyn it didn't matter.

Now it was only her world of dance and music.

But it brutally ended with a loud rumble and Jasmine's scream.