It truly began here.
Act ll, the confrontation.
Holding the heavy door, she used its support to step upward into the perfect web of metal, her sneakers barely making a sound on the dull, grey floor.
She could feel their eyes on her, though their attention kept to the main attraction as well.
They were most definitely watching closely, for when he turned to peer at her their heads turned as well.
Their eyes met as strangers, their love hidden from those who would suspend disbelief.
Pretending his gaze a monsters, Sage turned rapidly to leave.
Slam!
She jumped as if a ghost came to close, shivering backing away from the door the key now tightly gripped in her hand.
Almost everyone had jumped, and looked around for the so-called ghost.
Inside she smiled in the slightest.
The door slamming scared her every practice run.
Edward knew this too.
They had discussed this the night before, things to take comfort in such small moments of the performance; to forget what happened outside the web of metal, if only for a moment.
She could feel his tension lighten in the slightest.
Her tension could not be eased.
More of her husband's threats loomed over her. If the performance didn't go as planned Edward would bleed again, and she wouldn't be able to see her true love except for their "performances."
Deciding to ignore these thoughts and move forward, she continued the act, playing the frightened damsel, stepping towards the chained man.
Still tightly gripping the piece of shaped silver, she moved a foot in the monsters direction.
He no longer looked at her, but moved his head back to its original position; back to stone.
Her back to the audience, she moved along the edge of the cage until she was, from the crowd's view, in front of Edward's right arm.
She wondered if any of them had figured out that she was no stranger, but a simple actress?
She would have to look back to the crowd to know.
But that would give her away.
Not to mention feeling their gazes boring into her back being enough.
Closer and closer, a delicate shaking hand outreached.
His position looked like that of a puppet, reflecting that of a puppet-reflecting them both.
It was easy to imagine his chains being that of a marionette, no choice but to follow the pull of the master puppeteer.
Laughing he dances the couple closes but never lets them touch.
Is that a tear coming from that puppet's eye?
No that can't be, he isn't human.
Sage reeled back her imagination, but the image remained in her head as she moved her hand only inches away from the dangling scissorhand.
She had turned so that the audience could properly see the scene before them, but still be fooled, by Sage's supposed natural movements.
They all stared, at this brave stranger who dared delve in a world somehow beyond them.
Her grip on the key loosened dangerously.
Snip!
Her finger had only been inches away as she jumped back a slight scream coming from her mouth.
The ground shook with fear as the audience followed.
They seemed to worry for this stranger; this damsel's safety.
The woman stepped back towards the door as to open it again.
The key was gone.
In the chaos she had dropped it only feet away from the monster who stood a scarecrow again.
Silence.
The audience should think it safe to receive the sliver object, which lay gleaming on the ground ,at the point.
But fear presided.
A man broke away from the crowd, and tried to pry open the door. He cried out
"Are you okay, miss?"
He received no answer.
The door wouldn't open anyway.
They must have perceived Edward as some true danger now.
When did a locked door become dangerous anyway?
When did woman become known as weak damsels?
And those who lived such as her love become freaks?
Sighing heavily at such misconceptions, the character began to change, from a damsel to a woman of independence.
Her steps were sure this time as she moved once again towards Edward.
Her character had let herself think this strange an in front of her was harmless; the key forgotten as it blended into the floor.
This time her hands hung lifelessly at her side, if only for a moment.
Soon she stood in front of him again, her body blocking Edwards from the crowd's view.
Unless he was a vampire he wouldn't have been able to hurt her.
A funny thought, considering her love didn't age like that creature of the night.
Her thoughts turned to the fact that she could talk with him now, even in the crushing silence.
The air was clouded with suspense, and indeed crushed the two performers.
The woman felt that she might be pressed to death from it.
Edward was feeling it too.
What could she say?
Edward's gaze was boring into hers, drawing her in to their minds, the back of her conscience so they might speak in peace.
"Am I really such a monster?" asked Edward almost jokingly.
"No, I am just such a great actress. I've been the damsel, and she is easily remembered."
"Let's finish this; my arms are starting to hurt."
Sage smiled, happy with this slight tension-breaking moment.
He seemed to remember, more so then she, that this was just a performance; a shadow of reality.