My cover of my sister’s original song went viral overnight. After I got my big break, I gave her everything she ever wanted. Designer clothes, sports cars, a penthouse apartment. But when a famous actor sneered that she’d never be as good as me, she started to hate me. The night I was named "Artist of the Year," my sister stormed into my dressing room and drove a razor blade across my throat. "If you hadn't stolen my song, you'd be nothing!" she screamed. "That award was supposed to be mine!" After I bled out, she took her own life in despair. But somehow, we both woke up. Back in our freshman year vocal class. This time, my sister scrambled to her feet before I could. She was going to sing her song. "This time," she whispered to me later, "I'm the one who's going to be a star. And you? You're just the footnote in my story." 1 After a long, suffocating darkness, a voice cut through the void. "Seraphina? Are you with us? It's your turn." My eyes flew open. I was in my freshman year vocal class at the Kingswood Academy of the Arts. Our professor stood on the stage, looking at me expectantly. The girl sitting next to me nudged my arm, her eyes wide with excitement. "Sera, snap out of it! Weren't you going to sing 'Echoes of Time'? I heard you practicing in the dorm—it was incredible. I’ve got my phone ready to record and everything." Her hopeful gaze met mine, and a dizzying mix of shock and joy washed over me. I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, a blur of white shot past me. My sister, Selene, rushed onto the stage, snatching the guitar from our professor's hands, her face flushed with a feverish excitement. "Professor, my sister's not feeling well," she announced, her voice ringing with false concern. "I'll sing for her today. Besides, 'Echoes of Time' is my song anyway. I can sing it better than she ever could!" Without waiting for a reply, she began to strum the chords, her voice filling the room with a practiced, emotional melody. A wave of dizziness hit me. It wasn't a dream. I was reborn. In my past life, in this very class, I was the one who sang Selene's song, "Echoes of Time." We both came from a family of musicians, but Selene always insisted she was the one with the real creative genius. We both had music channels online, but neither of us had more than a handful of followers. Selene had posted "Echoes of Time" nearly a year ago, but it had gone nowhere. Impatient and hungry for fame, she quickly abandoned her original work, filling her channel with covers of trending pop songs instead. What she didn't know—what none of us knew—was that this particular class was being secretly live-streamed. 2 After I sang "Echoes of Time" in that class, my life changed. I went viral. The flood of online attention quickly led to an invitation to compete on a national music show. I was supposed to be the unknown underdog, the cannon fodder. But against all odds, I battled my way through the competition and placed second. That was the beginning. I signed a record deal, released albums, and sold out concerts. I became a household name, and I made a fortune. Selene, however, never caught her break. Even when she tried to ride my coattails, her follower count barely budged. Eventually, she gave up and let me support her, her favorite refrain becoming a constant echo in my life: "Sera, if it wasn't for my song, you'd be nobody. Anyone could have sung it and become famous. I gave you that chance. At least eighty percent of your success is because of me." "So what if I ask for a little money? You get all the fame, all the fans. You should be thanking me for everything you have." "Honestly, your talent was never even half as good as mine. If I had sung that day, I would have been the star. Don't you dare forget where you came from." Armed with that narrative, she demanded designer bags, luxury cars, and sprawling mansions. Bound by a sense of sisterly duty, I gave her almost everything she asked for. But then, she set her sights on the one thing I couldn’t give her: Leo Vance, the famously untouchable, award-winning actor. She demanded I set them up. For the first time, I said no. So she went behind my back, using my name to get close to him, hoping for a one-night stand that would launch her into his orbit. It was a disaster. Leo had her wrapped in a bedsheet and thrown out of his hotel room. "You think you're your sister?" he'd sneered, his voice dripping with contempt as she stood humiliated in the crowded hallway. "A woman like you isn't worth a single strand of her hair." Selene never forgave the world for that humiliation. But she blamed it all on me. So on the night I won the "Artist of the Year" award, she stormed into my dressing room. Her eyes were wild, her face a mask of madness as she sliced my throat open with a razor blade. Before the police arrived, she killed herself. As my life faded, her face, contorted with hatred, was the last thing I saw. "If you hadn't stolen my song, you'd be nothing!" she spat, her voice a venomous hiss. "The award, the fame, even Leo… it should have all been mine!" The memory of her vicious snarl blurred and merged with the serene expression she wore now, her eyes closed as she sang. Perhaps my stare was too intense. Her eyes snapped open, locking with mine. And in their depths, I saw a flicker of defiant challenge. In that instant, I knew. She was reborn, too. 3 Selene and I had studied music together our whole lives, but our styles were worlds apart. She focused on technique, on flashy high notes and vocal acrobatics meant to show off. I poured my soul into the melody, saving the technical flourishes for just the right moment to leave the audience breathless. But now, as she sang "Echoes of Time," she was a perfect imitation of me. Her voice was soft, delicate, weaving a story with every note, just as I had in my past life. She wasn't even halfway through the song before the live-stream chat exploded. OMG OMG OMG, this is heavenly! Her voice is unreal! I thought Kingswood Academy was just for pretty faces this year, but this girl is a hidden gem. That storytelling quality in her voice… I haven't heard anything like this in years. Her voice is so healing. I'm screen-recording this to listen to every night before bed. Send me that recording! I need to make it my ringtone. GOOD NEWS, I found her music channel! And this is her original song?! She's incredible. Instant follow. The viewers flooded Selene's channel. Quick-fingered fans had already clipped the performance and spread it across every major social media platform. It was all happening exactly as it had for me. When the song ended, Selene set the guitar down and returned to the seat beside me. Before I could say a word, she leaned in, her voice a low, taunting hiss. "You're furious, aren't you, Seraphina? Feeling like I stole your thunder? Well, now you know how I felt. Watching you shine under the spotlights while I was trapped in your shadow… every second was torture. Because all of it—all of it was supposed to be mine!" She leaned back, a smug smile playing on her lips. "Don't blame me. I'm just setting things right. You never had my talent. I was always the better singer. Why shouldn't I be the one who's famous? This time, I'm the one who will conquer the music world. And you? You're destined to be nothing more than the forgotten sister." 4 Riding the wave of being the "original songwriter," Selene's rise was even faster, even more explosive than mine had been. It wasn't long before she became the first freshman in our class to receive a contract offer from a major record label. I walked into our dorm room during lunch break, carrying takeout, and was met with Selene's triumphant voice. "Olympus Records is the biggest music label in the country! With them backing me, becoming a star will be a piece of cake." Hearing that, I frowned, unable to stop myself from asking, "You're signing with Olympus?" The cheerful atmosphere in the room instantly froze. Selene shot me a defiant look, her lips curling into a cold smirk. "That's right. Are you jealous? I guess a second-rate influencer farm like VibeFlow Media can't really compare to a giant like Olympus, can it?" She said it because, in my past life, VibeFlow was the only label that had offered me a contract initially. They were known for social media influencers, not serious musicians, and their reputation in the industry was nothing compared to the prestige of Olympus Records. I met her venomous gaze, pressed my lips together, and said nothing. But Selene took my silence as confirmation, her smugness growing. "It figures. Someone like you, who only got lucky by stealing someone else's work, could only ever sign with a place like VibeFlow. Olympus doesn't just let any stray in. I told you, Seraphina. I'm the one with the real talent. I'm the one who was made for this." Our other two roommates looked confused. "Selene, what are you talking about?" Selene scoffed. "Oh, you didn't know? My dear sister here was planning to get famous by covering my song. She even has delusions of becoming Artist of the Year. Pathetic, isn't it?" 5 At her words, both of our roommates shot me looks of pure disdain. "You're famous because you're amazing, Selene. If she's so talented, why doesn't she write her own songs?" "Seriously, some people will do anything for attention." "The way she said that, acting so concerned about you signing with Olympus… I thought she had some better offer in mind. Turns out it's just a trashy company like VibeFlow." "Don't listen to her, Selene! Sign with Olympus! With all their Grammy-winning artists, you're guaranteed to be a star! That'll show Seraphina!" In this industry, fame is a magnet for friends. Our little dorm room was already proving to be a microcosm of the entire entertainment world. Basking in their flattery, Selene smiled victoriously. "Alright, I'll sign with Olympus. And since you've all been so supportive, there's a music competition next month. I'll see if I can pull some strings and get you two spots in the first round." The competition she was talking about was The Ascent. It was a brutal series of auditions, eliminations, and live shows. In my past life, placing second on that show cemented my career and took me to the next level. The show was open to anyone—amateurs, online singers, anyone with a dream. But if you had a label and connections, you could skip the grueling open auditions and go straight to the televised first round, where the real exposure began. My roommates' eyes lit up. "Really? Oh my god, Selene, you're so talented and generous!" "You're going to be a huge star! Someone like Seraphina, sick with jealousy, will never be on your level!" Selene shot me one last triumphant, mocking smile before heading off to finalize her contract with Olympus Records. I finished my lunch in silence and climbed into my bunk. Lying there, memories from my past life flooded back. It was true that at first, VibeFlow was the only company that would take a chance on me. But after I made a name for myself on The Ascent, Olympus had come knocking too, offering me a lucrative deal. I turned them down. By then, I had heard things about them, about their predatory contracts and how they chewed up and spat out young artists. Seeing Selene's smug satisfaction, all I could do was wish her good luck. She was going to need it. 6 News of Selene's contract with Olympus Records spread like wildfire among the freshmen. The same people who envied her also heard the story of my "jealousy" and began to ostracize me, treating me with open contempt. I didn't care. After years of fighting my way through the cutthroat music industry, I was used to slander and backstabbing. My heart had only ever belonged to one thing: the music. Soon, the open auditions for The Ascent were announced. Kingswood Academy was one of the first to get the news, and our class president stood at the front of the room with a stack of registration forms. "Who else wants to sign up?" Nearly every student at Kingswood was aiming for a career in music, so the entire class registered. I remembered from my past life that several of them had even made it to the top 100. I took a form. As soon as I finished filling it out, I felt Selene's dark gaze on me. "Seraphina," she hissed, "don't tell me you're still delusional enough to think you can repeat your past life." I didn't answer. She sneered. "With what? You have nothing." I lifted my chin. The confidence forged by years of walking red carpets and commanding stadium-sized audiences created an invisible pressure that made her flinch. "With myself," I said, my voice ringing with certainty. Someone snapped a photo of that moment. A second later, a shoulder slammed hard into mine. "Who do you think you are, Seraphina? You're nothing compared to Selene! You'll just embarrass yourself on that show!" "I heard you only got into Kingswood because of Selene's help. It's a disgrace to have someone like you in our class." "You have no talent! Go home! Without your sister, you're nothing!" Their words were just echoes of what Selene herself had told me countless times in our past life. "Sera, you only got famous because of my song. Your success is my success." "You could never have made it on your own. Everything you have, I gave to you. Understand?" Her words had been a poison, brainwashing me until I almost believed them myself. I clutched the registration form in my hand, my knuckles white. This wasn't just about chasing the award I had almost won. This was about proving to myself, once and for all, that I was enough. No matter what, I would see this through to the end. 7 The open auditions passed in a blur, and just as I'd expected, I made it through to the first televised round. Frankly, it would have been pathetic if I hadn't. After years of competing against industry titans and seasoned professionals, I could handle a simple audition in my sleep. Two hundred contestants advanced from the auditions. The show's producers quickly posted the official list of competitors on their social media channels. The roster was filled with popular music bloggers, viral internet singers, and even a few indie artists with albums and tours under their belts. The hype for the show was already building. Selene's name was all over the comments section. Her acoustic performance video had amassed over five million likes; there was hardly anyone online who hadn't seen it. Selene! I remember her! The super talented original singer. She's got a bright future. FINALLY, some fresh blood instead of the same old faces. I'm putting my money on Selene. I bet she makes the top three. Her vocals and songwriting are honestly better than some established artists out there. WHOA, you guys need to see Selene's latest post. I feel so bad for her. When the show starts, I'm voting for her and boycotting her psycho sister. Who's her sister? That Seraphina girl! Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from one of The Ascent's producers, along with a link. His message was blunt. [Is this true?] The link was to a trending news article. The headline was plastered in bold letters: #ViralSinger'sSister Vows to Ride Her Coattails to the Top? 8 The story was based on a social media post from Selene. In it, she tearfully accused me of being consumed by jealousy. She claimed I was trying to steal her spotlight, copying her every move, and that my only reason for joining the competition was to leech off her newfound fame. At first, the public was skeptical. But then, our classmates and roommates began to chime in, one by one, corroborating her story. I can vouch for this. Seraphina totally tried to sing Selene's original song in vocal class to get attention. I'm their roommate. Seraphina is constantly undermining Selene. She was so bitter and passive-aggressive when Selene signed with Olympus Records. They had a huge fight in the classroom! I saw it! Seraphina was screaming at Selene in front of everyone. It was disgusting. How can someone be so shameless? And then they posted the picture they’d taken—the one of me and Selene in the classroom. The angle was perfect for their narrative. I looked cold and intimidating, my gaze sharp and commanding. Selene looked small, fragile, and innocent. To any outsider, it was clear who the bully was. By the time I saw it, the story had already spiraled out of control. Worse, someone had dug up my audition video, and the comments were flooded with hate. I didn't believe it at first, but after hearing Seraphina sing, it's obvious. She's a total copycat of her sister. Well, they grew up together. She's a damn good mimic, I'll give her that. Honestly, if she had sung the song first, she might have gone viral too. Please. A knockoff is a knockoff. Even if she sang it, she'd just be a thief. She doesn't deserve an ounce of fame. #TeamSelene #CancelSeraphina With the scandal blowing up online, the show's producers were getting nervous. The show hadn't even premiered yet, and it was already drowning in negative press. The producer messaged me again: [Maybe you should withdraw. If you appear on the show now, you're just going to get torn apart by the public. You'll never build a career this way. You'll just become a target for their hate.] Looking at the endless scroll of vicious comments, I knew anyone else would have quit. But I had clawed my way through the darkest corners of this industry before. This little storm was nothing. I replied instantly: [I'm not quitting. And don't worry. I have a way to prove my innocence.] This was my second chance. I wasn't about to give it up. 9 The day of the first round arrived. Backstage was a chaotic symphony of nerves. The 200 contestants were a whirlwind of activity—some perfecting their makeup, others warming up their voices, every face etched with anxiety. Every face, that is, except for Selene's. She wore a smile that radiated absolute certainty. A crowd of sycophants had already gathered around her. "Selene, you look so gorgeous and confident today! Can you give us a hint? What are you singing?" "It has to be another one of your originals, right?" Selene tilted her chin up, her gaze sweeping over them with a touch of arrogance. "Of course. And trust me, the song I'm performing tonight will blow everyone away." Her admirers gasped in unison. "If you're saying that, it must be incredible! Is it even better than 'Echoes of Time'?" "I can't wait to hear it! It's killing me that we have to wait. If it weren't for the NDAs, I'd be begging you to sing a few lines right now." "You're a shoo-in to advance. You'll probably make the top ten, easy." Then, their collective gaze shifted, landing on me as I sat in the makeup chair. Their voices dripped with malicious glee. "Look at her, still bothering with makeup. I guess if you know you're going to lose, you might as well look good for your farewell performance." "I can't believe she still has the nerve to be here. I wonder what she's planning to sing. A copycat like her is destined to live forever in Selene's shadow." Their voices were loud enough for me to hear every word. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my expression blank. I refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. Thankfully, the competition started soon after, and we were all herded to the waiting area. A stagehand went down the line, confirming our song choices one last time. Selene was a few spots ahead of me, close enough for me to overhear the staff member confirm her song title: "Dream Fulfilled." The name was unfamiliar. I wracked my brain, but I couldn't place it. It wasn't a hit song, that was for sure. Maybe some obscure track. I dismissed it and confirmed my own song with the stagehand: "Azure Wings." Just then, the host's voice boomed from the stage, calling Selene's name. She stood up, and as she passed me, she shot me a sharp, provocative glance. I frowned, a flicker of unease stirring within me. A moment later, the opening notes of her song filled the backstage area. A gentle, soaring melody… accompanied by a clear, ethereal vocal harmony. It was the intro to my song. My "Azure Wings."
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