Gustave and His father watched the girl on the corner. The dim street lamps reflected off of the older man's mask that covered half of his face. Both wore dark travel clothes

She was singing sweetly. Her hair was ratted and dirty but through the look of neglect it was chocolate brown. She wore a dress that was once deep blue but was now more of a brown black rag. Dirt splotched her otherwise beautiful face.

A man walked past and tossed a coin at her she caught it and looked after the man. A stranger, "Thank you sir." She called after him.

"She has as much ability as your mother." Gustave's father nodded.

"That's what I thought. I spoke to her and she says she is homeless, and an orphan." Gustave said looking up at his father.

"Then let's not wait any longer to introduce ourselves." The masked man walked forward the son stirring in his wake.

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"GET OUT YOU BRAT!" The Warden screeched tossing me onto the cobblestone streets. I fell and winced at the stinging in my hands.

"Madame Sillber! You can't just throw her out. She's your ward!" Missy's voice shouted and then the girls thin frame was thrown down next to me.

The door slammed. And I crawled up into a sitting position. Laughing breathlessly,"Well Missy. Back on the streets of Boston again."

"Your fault this time." She groaned getting to her feet. She pulled me up with her,"Why do you have to be such a smartass?"

"Can't help it." I shrugged.

"Well learn to." Missy spat.

"Fine. So where should we do now?" I sighed starting to walk, but not in any certain direction.

"I honestly don't care. What do you want to do?"

"I want to sing." I smiled skipping to the corner of the street. I looked up and down the busy street and grabbed a tin can that lay nearby.

I winked at Missy and began to sing. I had always been able to use my voice. And had been doing so for as long as I could remember. The Music always pounded through my brain and I had never touched a piano before, and I had no other instrumental training. So singing it was.

In the streets people would stop and stare or listen for a while.

Soon coins plunked into the small can and Missy emptied it keeping track how much we had earned. When we had eight dollars we were able to go to a small café and get two bagels for a sort of breakfast.

It tasted delicious. We never got bread at the last three orphanages we had been in. And the warm yeasty food was mouthwatering.

A skinny baker walked over to us and smiled his teeth were a gleaming white. He looked at me and shuddered at my eyes and uncovered arm. As usual. He then turned to Missy,"Hey there, I saw you outside. How would you like to join me for a bit of fun tonight?" His eyes were only on Missy's face.

Oh great. Another admirer for Marissa's esteem. Joy. I sighed inwardly. This always seemed to happen. We were 16 now anyways. I guess she could go if she wanted. And her deep raven black hair and bright blue eyes didn't help the men stay away from her.

Where as me, I was a freak, a monster. My eyes were two different colors. One a bright green, the other deep brown. And my arm was disfigured, the skin was red and always looked raw and the veins stuck out deep blue and yellow blisters dotted the horrible landscape that was my flesh. But just on the shoulder and forearm. My first warden called me,"Freak Show."

I hated being myself. I wasn't pretty or attractive, I was flat chested with dark hair that would never behave. My skin was a pale milky white, which made my disfigured arm look even more horrific. I wasn't particularly smart or funny. All I could do was sing.

That's all I was good for. My voice.

"Sure." Missy smirked.

I just finished my bagel and put down the $3.50, the rest of the money and a note, and walked out of the Café.

I hopped on back of a hack and rode off. I never saw Missy again. I was tired of playing freak in Boston.

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I arrived in Manhattan one month later. It was dark but the streets were crowded and bustling.

I loved the city already. I could get a lot of money and my pick pocket skills could be utilized fluently.

I hopped off of the cab and landed on the street. I ducked and weaved through the bustling metropolis, until an abandoned street corner under a streetlight. I started singing again. Might as well get a good start.

A few men would throw spare coins as they passed. My throat was about to give out when an woman came up to me,"Hello dear." She smiled. She had a thick accent and long blonde hair.

"Hi." I croaked back.

"You're voice is very beautiful. Do you have any parents?" She asked.

"No ma'am. I'm an orphan. I just got here from Boston." I smiled.

"Oh! well would you like to come and stay with me until you can get a real home." She extended her arm to me.

"Uh...thanks." I took her arm and she led me away.

Hello. Imagi here. Just to let you know, most of the chapters for this story are written. So our dear Koschei Song will try to update every weekend. But no promises once I get to about the fourteenth chapter.