Recommended music: "Immolation" or "Air" by Hans Zimmer


Of Fire and Water

I tried to speak, but he said coldly: "Not a word, daroga, or I shall blow everything up." And he added, "The honor rests with mademoiselle…it is not too late to do the right thing." —excerpt from Chapter 25; The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The flaming hands shall stretch their fiery fingers forth, strangling anything within their reach. Fire cannot tell good from evil, innocent from condemned.

It only knows to burn.

The fiery lake will erupt and consume everything—from the cellars to the chandeliers—and will gush out into the darkened streets.

Hades will open its mouth wide and swallow the souls I have prepared for this moment. Eat and be satisfied! Glut on all who have shunned me, they who are the true monsters!

At the screams of agony, Heaven will bleed scarlet sorrows.

And yet…this does not have to pass, my child!

Ignore the emerald vessel of life and turn to favor the ruby bringer of death.

Herein lies salvation, should you accept it as thus!

Select the scorpion and you shelter the Parisians with your wings. Protect those innocent lambs!

Instead of scorching infernos, merciful waters will echo your promise to me. They will drown the fiery blasts I so dearly wish to ignite.

Instead of tortured anguish, the bells of Heaven will resound with golden peals of rapture and celebration!

What? Why do you cry, my angel? Why do these pearls fall from your eyes?

No, no, please—do not weep!

Do you not see how simple this is?

Turn the grasshopper, and you refuse all that I wish to offer you. For your selfishness, thousands will perish in fire and brimstone!

Oh, how you tremble now, dearest!

There is one other option. Yes, 'tis true! Turn the scorpion, and you can save them. Yes, you can save them if you will consent to be my bride!

Which do you wish to be?

A bride of life or a bride of death?

A herald of glad tidings or a harbinger of cursed fate?

You do not have long now. No, I daresay only two minutes…maybe even less as I feel dreadfully impatient!

Grant me an answer quickly!

To Heaven or to Hell?

The honor of that decision rests with you, Mademoiselle.