He had been unlike any other. The day we had met was still imprinted in my cloud of memories. The details are hazy but I vaguely remember him. We had immediately connected. Madam Giry knew that I couldn't have any other man as my partner. Everyone else danced, but we shared something so much more then a dance. It was spiritual. We had passion. Madame Giry couldn't help but show us off that night. She proudly placed us in front of all the other dancers.
The day we had shared our first kiss was my favorite memory. We had giggled all the way to the rooftop. He had promised me that he had a present for me, but I knew he was lying by the look in his eyes. He had actually asked me. He hadn't grabbed me or dishonored me in any way. He simply folded his hands and calmly asked me if he could give me a kiss. He gently held my hands as our lips joined. I can almost still feel his warm breath and large tender lips moving slowly against mine. Before the performance he had said three words. "I love you." I had no idea they would be his last.
I sunk my head deep within the pile of ash staring at the remains of what had been my dream. The only one I loved and my home leaked through my fingers and combined with its surrounding ash on the floor.
What do I do now? I have nothing left. The heartless flames had separated me from my love. I could only watch as they overtook him. I had tried to leap within the flames to share in his fate but they were too cruel to allow my peace. Someone had seized me by the arms and flung me outside to have me watch the only home I ever knew fall in flames. The only light source for me now was the moon that shined through what used to be the ceiling where the chandelier was hung. I already knew that deep within it was too late for light. My soul is now a shadow. I no longer belong in light.
I can barely remember anything now. I have forgotten what I look like. I am a thin pale girl. My paleness is slowly fading underneath all the ash. My rosy cheeks, tiny nose, and wavy blond hair are now black. My eyes were already nearly black. Even my lashes are now thick with ash. My dress was torn down the middle during the wild dash towards the exit. The tare now serves as my undergarment display. I didn't bother to cover my mouth as the ash filled my lungs and I started a coughing fit. My eyes began to sting and tears welled in my eyes. I've become that which I hate and love the most. I collapsed and buried my face in my hands. My sobs could not express the extent of my agony. I laid down and hugged my knees on top of my bed of broken dreams. There I sank into a tangle of prolonged nightmares. All of them involved fire.
I awoke miserably with a massive headache. My stomach screamed for nourishment. I tried to lift my head but as I did the room began to spin. I hadn't eaten in days. The idea of food made me want to hurl. I closed my eyes trying to imagine myself somewhere else, anywhere else but here. My eyes caught something in front of me. I crawled closer to take a better look. A massive pit was in the center of what used to be the stage. My mouth dropped in shock. I couldn't believe it was still there. When the man had been unmasked he had cut the rope that supported the chandelier in rage and had escaped in this hole. This had been were the artificial fire was. I traced a finger around the edge of it to see if it was real. I reached a hand inside the darkness. I felt nothing but cold damp air.
The man that killed my beloved Gian lies in that pit of darkness. I looked around for a loose object. A piece of chandelier glass twinkled in the moonlight. I grabbed it and chucked it into the hole then listened for its fall. Not long afterwards I heard a tiny splash. I estimated that the fall wasn't too far down. I didn't even care that I might be falling into a deep twelve foot pool of water. The only thought that crossed my mind was how satisfying it would be to stand over the killer's dead body. I dreamed of ripping out his eyes with my bare hands and sinking my fingernails into his skin. I rolled my head around in pleasure. I had never experienced such a blood thirst. I found the whole idea exciting. I reached for another piece of glass. This time I made sure it had a sharp point. I had gone far past the point of sanity and I knew it. I licked the tears from my skin and began to laugh bitterly. I licked the sharp glass and savored the sting and trickle of my blood.
"Tonight phantom you have a date with destiny," I yelled before choking on my own laughter and tears.