Chapter 40. Inspiration Lost
Act one went by perfectly. As did all that had occurred of act two. The last scene began asChristian and Isabel embraced as love-struck lovers, completely lost in the bliss that would come at the end of their songs. Giselle, standing in the corner of the stage, consumed by darkness, began to approach.
Just as they were finishing their last line, she pointed the gun between Isabel's eyes, ready for what was to come.
From where they sat, the two cousins watched the scene. Edmund grinned evilly, pleased with what would soon come. Gregory, however, stood up just as Giselle approached Christian and Isabel, and walked out of the theatre.
"I will get out!" Cecille shouted, banging the door over and over again.
The past few hours had her legs buckling. Although her pace was considerably slower, she continued her ritual to no luck. The only mark of her arduous labor was a small dent in the thick door, not even a quarter of the way through the door.
Hitting the door, she felt her legs give way as she fell forward just as the door was opening.
Toulouse stared in bewilderment at the blood-soaked Cecille. On the ground lay a chest, its rims red with blood. The darkness of the room seemed to over accentuate the blood that was illuminated from the hall lighting. Looking down at Cecille, who looked up and did not seem more relieved to see him, Toulouse bent down to help her up.
"What has happened?" Toulouse asked until Cecille grabbed his hand, not hesitating from the blood, and pulled him down the hall towards a dark corner.
"I will explain quickly because we need to do something. Isabel is in danger. Giselle is going to kill her. She'll be shot in the last scene. Giselle has a loaded gun. The scene everyone sees of Isabel dying will be real. It is Edmund's plot to get rid of Isabel to prevent her from ruining Gregory. Even if Giselle doesn't pull through, Edmund will do something, and no matter what he does, he has one intention. He plans to have Isabel killed before the night is through."
A loud shot echoed throughout the production as Isabel fell to the ground. The people backstage had certainly done their part in making the murder seem as real as possible.
Giselle kept the gun pointed even after Isabel fell. Falling down and crying, she bent down to Isabel and began talking.
"I am sorry," Giselle said, turning towards the audience to allow her voice to project. "So overtaken with jealousy was I that I planned to take your life this very night as you professed your love in each other's arms. Looking now at you and the love you have, I now know that I cannot do this."
Helping Isabel up, she looked out at the audience and caught her breath. Improvising was not her forte, and she was lost in the moment as to what to say or do to continue with the play.
"Thank you," Christian took over and wrapped his arms around Isabel protectively. "She means the world to me. I love Isabel, and would do anything for her, if only she could be mine."
Giselle took a step back when she heard that. The audience did not seem to catch Christian's words except for Ziddler and Edmund, who only looked at the scene wondering what would come. As the truth settled in for her, Giselle dropped the gun and bowed her head.
"I apologize very much," she said, feeling the tears come to her eyes. "I did not realize the extent to which your love was. But now I see it. Please forgive me. I wish you no harm."
Walking off the stage in tears, Giselle looked up only to tell the stagehands that they could dim the lights for the next scene.
"We begin the third act," she told one stagehand as she ran off to go into her room and cry herself to sleep, completely through with all forms of acting for her muse was lost.