Joe walked across the rafters above the stage. He heard something, or was it some one, behing him. Scared he ran, using one of his trusted secret passages. He sighed, no such luck, this person, this thing, seemed to know what he was thinking. Joe ran all the more faster, panting, wishing that he had watched his weight. He used another one of the many secret passages and ended up right above center stage. He smiled. He must have lost the mysterious being that was following him. He sat down and slowly uncorked his canteen that was full of alcohol and took a long refreshing drink. It felt good. His throat had turned dry from all the running. He did not notice the shape appear behind him.
Meanwhile Christine was being laced tightly into her dress, she let out a squeel of protest "Nonsence Christine" Mrs Grey said "It was the fashion back then, the managers are persistant about keeping it as real as possible"
Christine sighed but remained silent. She saw a rose on the dresser. A single, red, thornless rose with one peice of black ribbon wrapped tightly around it, finishing in a bow.
"He is impressed with you dear. It is his desire for you to be the star of this "opera" house"
Christine picked it up and smelled it. Closing her eyes. His roses always smelled sweetest. The most tempting.
"There all done, Christine. You look beautiful"
On the stage the dancers were spinning around, gliding. They highly resembled swans or feathers, graceful yet weightless. It was beautiful. They all moved as one. if it werent for the different coloured dresses many would have thought it was a copy-paste job going on. However, a few seconds later the state of their dance was the least of anyones worries as Joe's dead body dangled from the ceiling by a hangman's noose wrapped tightly around his neck.