"Sometimes , silence is loud"
The day advanced too much for his taste so Marcus decided to finally leave the actors at peace and let them have the rest of it. It was almost 6 and it was getting dark outside. The perfect time for going outside at a meeting or wherever they needed the enlighted touch of the Virtuoso and his lady. After a brief check of his desk one letter caught his attention. A masquerade ball. He never tough that such thing would please him. As a matter of fact it still didn't but Viola enjoyed masks so maybe this one time.
The worst about it was that he had to hide his face with something so uncomfortable and out of date as a mask.
On the way home he went through the nearest shop selling such "artefacts" and after some time he finally found something sufficient enough. It happened to be a metal one but still very light and fitting his "temperament" as the shopkeeper himself said in the end. Marcus felt pity for him. He was distressed enough with his current customer so what would have happened if Viola came arround with her… unusual tastes… Instead doing so he revised all masks once again and took the one that would fit her best. Even though it was definitely the one she would never pick, the shape and motives it offered were fitting her. "This woman… Always comes to me to choose what suits her best." – after a brief goodbye with the shopkeeper who probably saw enough of him for life, Marcus rushed as fast as he could when he saw the clock.
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– So late! How are we going to show up so late! – he never grew bored listening at her whining. It was so… unlikely for her. Almost cute.
– Yes but we made it. - he was calming her while nearing the building. As it was cold they both had to choose their clothing and that was… time consuming… The guard at the entrance tried to halt them but as soon as Marcus lowered his mask and nodded with confidence as if he was the host himself the guard stepped back. It was impressive what people would do for you if you are famous enough. Something he did not like to use but always enjoyed it when he did.
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As expected the masquerade was nothing all so special. At least not before the interference of the "Virtuoso". Viola alone had so much fun watching him get angry at the poor musicians who couldn't settle under his constant assault of remarks and comments. He even grabbed a flower from the nearest vase and started conducting them. Under his lead the place slowly came back to life and when the musicians could finally manage without him was time for a dance. That was the one thing he enjoyed more than anything else but only when Viola joined. Waiting for that moment since they came in she was swift to follow his lead. In moments more and more people gathered arround the two but none could match with their technique.
From slow and soulless the ball became lively and festive. All was going well until the night was no longer young and the bottles no longer full. After taking his leave with the musicians who still talked about him with admiration it was time for going home but this night seemed more pleasant than most.
– A walk to the theatre my dear? – she seemed a bit surprised at his call but instead pressed herself to him and so they kept going.
~
– Viola! – a bullet hissed next to his neck while trying to reload his gun. – Faster! Faster! - before he could put the last shell one of them reached for him with an axe still covered with the blood of the others. – You will pay! You will pay! You will pay! – hissing trough teeth he put the last bullet. – YOU! – dodging one more swing of the axe he slipped on a blood stain but still managed to shoot the attacker in the guts.
As if time stopped in that moment. The face of the man – a terrifying mask, his body – light as a feather in the air, his emotion… true.
Not sure what he just witnessed Marcus looked for Viola but she was nowhere to be seen. The others were comming but he didn't pay attention. With the sight of his friends on the ground and now missing Viola he rushed backstage where for his great relief she was still alive. Without losing time he gave her the gun and pushed her to the central door.
– Go for once! GO! I'll be fine! – the hatred in her eyes grew stronger but she knew. A moment later she disappeared trough the dark doorway to the central hall he turned around bleeding and bruised to the charging wretch. For a moment he was there waiting for them to come and in the next he was laying crushed on the floor as all of them were hitting with the blunt of their weapons and then darkness took him…
~
– Come on! Wake him up already.
– It looks like he can't be awaken, sir… - after cursing aloud the noise of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the room. This happened a couple more times and then Marcus realized it's the big thick hand of someone slapping him but there was no pain. Just his head moving left and right with each strike.
– Hey! Don't touch her! She is mine! – the voice sounded harsh and ruthless. There was also another. Comming from somewhere further away it sounded very familiar but yet it remained nameless.
– He is up! – I saw him open eyes! – almost instantly the hand dropped his collar and once again the ground hit him.
– Did you really think that we won't catch you? The so called "Viola". – that alone made Marcus open eyes and try to get up but the world was still spinning and someone pressed him back on the ground with his boot.
– Oh, look what we have here! The Virtuoso himself! Or herself? I am confused with this weakling.
– That is what you fell for Scarlet? This? – with the last words Marcus also felt a kick in the ribs. The pain was slowly setting in and growing as time progressed.
– Don't touch him! Scum! – the sound of loud slap followed.
– Now, now we will get to you too. First lets arrange a small act. Give him his gun. – still no sure what is happening Marcus got lifted on his feet by someone and one hand filled with something. Only his thumb and middle finger were working. He could not even see what was wrong with the rest because his bruised eyes left only slight open cracks he could barely see through.
What he first saw was Viola against him with a gun and the man talking something. She was crying. Slowly she pointed the gun at him and shouted something. Her moves getting shaky, someone pushing his hand with Whisper in it…
– Do you remember what I said when we met… - not knowing if she could hear him because he couldn't hear himself. – You will be beautiful… perfect… - the realization what he has to do slowly came to him as he saw how someone put a dagger to her throat. Whisper was laying firmly in his hand, ready, waiting for it. Her eyes were filled with tears while saying something. He could see her repeating it through shaking lips. „– It was… him"…
Lifting his gun Marcus aimed for her carefully. Measured the distance between his gun and hers and from hers to his, slow and steady he locked on his target and said softly:
– I'm sorry… But you WILL BE! – momentarily whisper blazed and the air filled with smoke when a second gunshot thundered in responce. As the smoke cleared there was one still sitting straight and another on the ground while the pouring blood was slowly forming a little pond arround the body. One of the surrounding men neared the fallen with noisy claps:
– Bravo maestro! You had your last performance. Shooting her trigger was truly impressive… but pointless… It's time for her last performance now. - he stood tall and turned his back to the dying when someone interrupted:
– Bur sir he is still breathing. – furious the leader grabbed the collar of the one interfering.
–She got him square in the eye! Or you want me to check on you if it's possible to survive such a thing? - after throwing the man aside he turned to the living one. – Where I was… Oh yes… She is all yours boys! – his heavy steps headed to the exit with the words – Don't forget to "clean up" when finished. - the sinister laughter of his comrades followed and a few torches were lit.
This night the screams of pain and agony of one brought hope to another until there was nothing else but silence.
