At four, Leo came to Rachel’s house with his mother and a youth advocate.
He wore the same oversized sweatshirt that the emergency crew had found him in.
His eyes moved quickly between the front windows and the side gate.
“You don’t have to talk to me,” Rachel said.
“I know,” Leo answered.
“I asked to come.”
Helena remained near the door while the advocate pulled out a chair for Leo.
Rachel placed water on the table without mentioning refreshments again.
“I want you to hear what actually happened,” Leo said.
Rachel sat opposite him.
“I’m listening.”
“The auditions seemed normal at first.”
He described a room full of teenagers learning lines, practicing accents, and waiting for their names to be called.
Dana moved among them with an easy smile and corrected their posture without asking permission.
The casting consultant appeared just after six.
He announced that selected candidates would participate in an advanced exercise after the other applicants had left.
Iris Bell and Leo were among the four students told to stay.
“Two of them left before dinner,” Leo said.
“Dana said those students had failed the commitment test.”
“What was the test?” Rachel asked.
“She wanted us to sign a document agreeing that our families wouldn’t discuss the program.”
“Did you sign?”
“I tried to read it.”
Leo rubbed his palms together.
“She told me that asking questions made me difficult to cast.”
Iris refused the document outright.
She said her mother needed to review anything involving travel or overnight commitments.
Dana sent Iris into the storage closet to collect a costume bag.
The consultant followed her.
Leo heard Iris tell him to move away from the doorway.
Then Dana ordered Leo to stay seated and stop listening to other people’s private conversations.
“I tried to leave,” Leo said.
“The main door was locked.”
“Did you see anyone lock it?” the advocate asked.
“No.”
“What happened next?”
“I heard Iris shouting outside.”
Leo swallowed.
“I went to the emergency door, but Dana said opening it would trigger an alarm and ruin every chance my sister had.”
“She threatened your sister?” Helena asked quietly.
“She said my family would never work with reputable theaters again.”
“What did you do?”
“I sat down.”
Leo’s voice broke.
“I just sat there.”
Rachel reached for the edge of the table to steady herself.
“You were locked inside a building by adults who had lied to you,” she said.
“You didn’t cause this.”
Leo stared at the water glass.
“Mrs. Vale knocked on the side window after a while.”
“What did she say?”
“She told me she’d make sure I could leave.”
“Why didn’t you go when the alarm broke?”
“Because Iris was still missing.”
The room went silent.
“I thought Dana would bring her back if I stayed where she left me,” Leo said.
