Someone in the audience was up to no good, tossing a handful of steel balls onto the runway.
Rosalind was in the middle of her walk when she suddenly stepped on a steel ball and slipped. She tried to regain her balance, but instead pitched forward and crashed to the ground.
She gritted her teeth and tried to get up, but a sharp pain shot through her twisted ankle, and she fell back down.
'I can't look at Chloe in the audience,' she thought. 'I've ruined the show she was so excited for.'
A tear slid down her cheek. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. She looked up and saw Alaric Davenport silhouetted against the light. 'He always shows up at times like these…'
He stood with one hand behind his back, offering her the other. She took his hand and pulled herself up.
He asked in a low voice, "Don't try to be strong. Can you walk?"
"I can."
She let go of Alaric's hand and, enduring the excruciating pain, walked forward alone.
Alaric stood behind her, his eyes fixed on her.
