I'm a Silhouette.
~Narrator's P.O.V~
*Sigh* What am I going to do with myself? I've been in Hell for over two months and so far, nothing seemed to have worked out for me. I have no home. I have no job. At least I still have my memories and my name. I need to find a career somewhere, and soon. I can't just be a jobless nomad living street to street with nothing but her singing talents. I don't care if I become a performer for a porn studio. As long as I have a roof over my head!
Anywho, I'm just wondering the streets of the west side of Pentagram City, wearing a rugged black dress and dark red wool cardigan I found in a dumpster, trying to look for a place to sleep for the night. I tried motels and a place to stay in exchange for a job, but everyone around the area kept telling me to get lost or they don't want my services. Kept calling me Angel Dust… Whomever this Angel Dust is, I'm certain I don't look like her... Or him... Or them.
Anyway, during my walk down the streets, I found an empty alley that appeared to be either abandoned or deserted. It'll do for a place to sleep for now. I dug into the dumpster, on the left side of the alley, and found a large piece of cardboard and a ragged old blanket. At least I won't get cold during the night... I laid the cardboard onto the floor and sat on it, knees close to my chest, with the blanket over my shoulders. Drunk citizens and fighting gang members passed me without giving me a second glance or shouting at me.
I let out a heavy sigh, resting my head onto my first pair of arms, as my second pair hugged my knees closer to my chest. My eyes felt heavy, I struggled to keep them open, in case someone tried to attack me in my sleep. I remembered a song from the time I was alive. I opened my mouth and started singing softly to myself,
"I'm tired of waking up in tears...
'Cause I can't put to bed these phobias and fears...
I'm new to this grief I can't explain...
But I'm no stranger to the heartache and the pain...
The fire I began...
Is burning me alive...
But I know better then...
To leave and let it die..."
I let out a soft sigh and rested my head onto my knees, letting sleep take its hold on me and the darkness take me away from this place.
*Dream*
I opened my eyes to find myself on the streets of the north side of the Pentagram. In front of some sort of studio building... I believe. I rubbed my eyes and cautiously walked over to the studio. The doors swing open and a bright light forced me to shield my eyes.
A silhouette walked out of studio doors. It looked like a spider demon, just like me. I narrowed my eyes and the silhouette walked out of the doors. I gasped in shock.
It was me. Only, instead of wearing a ragged dress and cardigan, she was wearing a short, black slit dress with black evening gloves and boots. It was revealing and something I wouldn't wear over my dead body.
The other me walked on the streets and smiled. She had a golden fang as well. What happened to me to become this person?
The other me saw me and walked over. She raised her hand and touched me on the nose.
In a flash, I found myself on the edge of the city. There was a large hotel standing before me. The other me was standing front of me with a smug smile.
She beckoned me to follow her and walked into the hotel. I hesitated to follow her with uncertainty. Suddenly, the hotel glowed and erupted with a bright light, blinding me.
*Dream End*
(A/N: Based off Fluttershy's Dream by Ferexes on YouTube.)
I woke up with a small moan. I opened my eyes and sat up from my sleeping form. I rubbed my eyes and found myself no longer in the empty and abandoned alley in the west side of the Pentagram. I was in what looked like a dressing room… For a 1920's performer?
"Where... Where am I?" I wondered, looking around the room, "How did I get here?"
"Good morning, my dear." A voice from the door called, "I hope you slept well."
The door opened to reveal a short and stout woman with light grey skin. Her eyes were hot pink with black sclera. Short blonde hair and she wore a typical, 1920's flapper dress with a pink headband and a pink pearl necklace.
I yelped in startle, and covered myself with a blanket. But I found myself out of my rags and in a silk dressing gown.
"Oh my gosh! I hope I didn't disturb you." The woman frowned, then smiled with a bow, "Allow me to introduce myself. Name's Mimzy and this is my club."
Uncertain, I gave the woman a small wave, "Hello. Nice to meet you, ma'am."
Mimzy shook her head, "Oh no. It's nice to meet you." Then she explained, "I was wondering around the west side of the Pentagram, when I heard you singing in an empty alley." She looked at me and asked, "Did you know that you have a wonderful singing voice?" I was uncertain how to answer, then she continued explaining, "Then you fell asleep. I looked around and noticed that no one else has noticed you in the alley, and I couldn't let some raw talent like that go to waste, so I decided to take you into my club."
"You took me in? Because of my singing?" I asked, making sure I was hearing right. Mimzy nodded her head. I frowned and lowered my head, "You should've left me to die out there. I'm nothing special."
Mimzy gasped at my words and shook her head, "Oh, no, no, no, no. I can't let talent like yours waste away like that. You're much more than you let yourself to be..." She stopped for a second, then she realized something, "Golly, I never got your name."
I lightly smiled, "Oh. My name is Eleanor. But my friends call me Ellie."
Mimzy clapped her hands together with a smile, "Eleanor. What a beautiful name." She extended her hand, "A pleasure to officially meet you, Eleanor."
I smiled and shook her hand, "The pleasure is all mine, Miss. Mimzy."
Mimzy smiled, "Please, just call me Mimzy." Then she turned and made her way to the door, "I'll let you get dressed now. We open very soon."
"Yes, ma'am." I answered.
With that, Mimzy left the dressing room and I was left alone. I got out of bed and searched around the dressing room, looking for something to wear, until I came across something that might fit me. A black, U-neck t-shirt with a skull design on the center, dark olive green, 3/4 length pants and black boots. I got dressed into the gothic, tomboy-ish attire and it was a perfect fit. Mimzy must have had a spider demon work for her before... I'm not gonna ask...
Once I was dressed and ready, there was another knock on the door. Mimzy's voice shouted from the other side, "Eleanor? Are you decent? It's time to start the show."
"I'm ready, Mimzy." I called, "And please call me Ellie."
"Excellent. I'll be on the stage. I'll see you there." She replied.
With that there was silence. Anxiety crept up on me, as I made my way to the door. My mind raced with anxious thoughts, making me freeze. This might be a bad idea. What if they don't like me? What if I don't deliver as Mimzy hoped? I shook my head from the thoughts. I promised Mimzy and I'm going to do my best.
I opened the door and followed the corridor to the back of the stage. Mimzy was already front stage, singing a song with a catchy beat. My left foot tapped to the beat of the song. After a few minutes of singing, the song was over and everyone applaud Mimzy's performance.
Then Mimzy spoke to the audience, "Golly! Thank you for your atmosphere here today. And I'm pleased to inform you that we have some new talent for you, today. All the way from the west side of the Pentagram." She gestured to me, "Ellie!"
The audience murmured in confusion and whispered to one another. My anxiety caused me to freeze on the spot. Mimzy walked over to me, grabbed my hand and dragged me on to the stage. The spotlight focused on me and I could barely see the audience before me. I had to shield my eyes to see them. There were demons of many shapes and sized, waiting for me to do or say something.
I looked across and saw a modern-day keyboard. What's one of those doing in a 1920s club? A gentle tune echoed in my mind. A keyboard tune. I remember this song from my former life in the Living World. It was one of my favorite songs when I was alive. I let go of Mimzy's hand, walked over to the keyboard and began playing the tune. The audience went quiet. The tune played in my mind like a symphony, my fingers played the notes on the keyboard like the music was guiding me. I closed my eyes, opened my mouth and began singing,
"I'm tired of waking up in tears...
'Cause I can't put to bed these phobias and fears...
I'm new to this grief I can't explain...
But I'm no stranger to the heartache and the pain...
The fire I began...
Is burning me alive...
But I know better then...
To leave and let it die..."
I opened my eyes and looked at the audience. The patrons watched with wide eyes of awe and hands digging into their pockets.
"I'm a Silhouette.
Asking every now and then,
Is it over yet?
Will I ever feel again?
I'm a Silhouette.
Chasing rainbows on my own,
But the more I try to move on,
The more I feel alone.
So I watch the summer stars to lead me home..."
I didn't notice Mimzy staring at me with wide eyes of wonder and awe, as I continued to sing and add more music to the tune,
"I'm sick of the past I can't erase...
A jumble of footprints and hasty steps I can't retrace...
The mountain of things I still regret...
Is a vile reminder that I would rather just forget...
(No matter where I go...)
The fire I began...
Is burning me alive...
But I know better then...
To leave and let it die..."
I looked at the skylight in the ceiling, looking at the full moon shining into the room,
"I'm a Silhouette.
Asking every now and then,
Is it over yet?
Will I ever smile again?
I'm a Silhouette.
Chasing rainbows on my own,
But the more I try to move on,
The more I feel alone.
So I watch the summer stars to lead my home."
I closed my eyes and my second pair of arms hugged my body, as I lowered my head to stop my tears,
"'Cause I walk alone.
(No matter where I go...)
'Cause I walk alone.
(No matter where I go...)
'Cause I walk alone.
(No matter where I go...)
I'm a Silhouette.
Asking every now and then,
Is it over yet?
Will I ever love again?
I'm a Silhouette.
Chasing rainbows on my own,
But the more I try to move on,
The more I feel alone.
So I watch the summer stars to lead me home...
I watch the summer stars to lead me home..."
The music and the song ended and I finished playing the keyboard and finished singing. I opened my eyes and looked at everything around me.
Everything... Even the people... Was at a standstill in shock, wonder and awe. Even Mimzy stared at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. Everything was so quiet you could hear the car horns outside the club. I hugged myself tightly, hoping for a good response. But knowing my luck, they probably hated my performance.
With the negative thoughts getting the better of me, tears welled up in my eyes. I ran offstage, down the corridors and into the dressing room that I woke up in. I closed the door, leaned against the door and hugged my knees close to my chest, burying my face into my hands.
A few seconds of crying, I heard someone knocking on the door. Mimzy's voice called on the other side, "Ellie? It's Mimzy. May I come in?"
I wiped the tears from my eyes, stood up, turned around and opened the door.
Mimzy looked at me and frowned, reaching for my face, "Ellie, you poor thing." She closed and locked the door and leaned against it, "I never know you had that in you, Ellie. That was-"
"Awful? Distasteful? Horrible?" I guessed with a small sulk.
Mimzy shook her head, "Oh, no, no, no!" She smiled, "That was phenomenal! Amazing! Stupendous! Astonishing! You blew the stage!" She grabbed hold of my hands, "You should've stayed to hear the audience. They loved you." Then she asked me, "Where did you learn to sing like that?"
"I've been able to since since I was a child. Songs play in my head like a muse. I listen to the tune and I sing what comes to mind." I answered with all honesty.
"Alrighty." She replied, then she stood up straight, "Ellie, I have made up my mind." I tilted my head in confusion. She continued, "You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish, in exchange for your services to my club."
My eyes widen with shock. Is she serious? Me? Stay in the club? But I have to work to stay? Where the heck do I sign up?
I recollected myself, straightened myself and extended my hand to Mimzy, "Mimzy, I would be honored to work for you."
Mimzy smiled and shook my hand, "I look forward to working with you." Then an idea came to her, "Oh! That reminds me. We need to get you a new name."
I raised a brow, "A new name?"
Mimzy nodded, "Yeah. You see, not all of the demons in Hell use their real names. They use demon names so to indicate their new lives here."
I nodded in understanding and thought for a moment. What would make a good name? Something original. Something nice. Something that fits me. Then an idea came to me. I smiled at Mimzy, "What about Jack Rose?"
Mimzy looked at me, "Jack Rose?"
I nodded, "Yeah. It's an alcoholic drink made with applejack. It feels like it fits me. Simple. Easy to remember. What do you think?"
Mimzy thought for a second and smiled, "I love it!" She laughed and threw her arms around me. I laughed and hugged my new employer.
Maybe things are starting to look up for Jack Rose.
(A/N: Song is Silhouette by Owl City.)