I do not own American Horror Story: Freak Show.
But this isn't about the freak show. This is a love story.
In the Absence of Light, Darkness Prevails
Across the Ocean
"You must go, Elsa. You must. The ship is leaving soon."
They stood there, together. Under a heavy grey sky, being jostled by the crowds of people boarding the steamship.
The sound of its horn rang out loud and long, alerting everyone within earshot that it was readying itself for departure.
And time was running out for Elsa to board.
"Please, cara mia," Massimo begged gently. "I will follow you in a month's time. I will send a letter of my arrival date and the name of the vessel. Watch the ship schedules in the papers."
She was shaking her head violently.
It had only been a few days since Massimo had announced Germany was no longer safe enough for them to remain.
In that time, he had procured funds for Elsa and a ticket on a steamship to New York.
For her only.
"No!" Elsa protested desperately. "I do not wish to be separated from you! How will we find each other again?!"
Together, they were supposed to go together. Not her to America and him to remain.
"Please, cara mia. You must go. Please. Go now. I will follow you. Please, Elsa, have faith in this."
He kissed her forehead, lips trembling upon her flesh.
"Go, Elsa, please go."
She clutched his arm, unwilling still to let him go.
"I love you, Massimo."
He smiled then, gazing at her, seeming to drink her in all he could.
"And I love you, Elsa. Always remember I love you."
And gently pushed her toward the ship.
With tears threatening to fall and ruin her carefully applied makeup, Elsa turned, and clutching her small bundle of belongings, walked away.
And boarded the ship.
Without Massimo Dolcefino.
Once aboard, she headed straight for the deck, dragging her bundle along behind her through the crowds. Struggling out onto deck under the heavy grey sky, she pushed her way to the siderail.
Looking for her carpenter with the salt and pepper hair amid the waving, cheering crowds.
But could not find him anywhere.
For, unbeknownst to her, he had already departed.
Toward his vengeance.
Massimo Dolcefino had utilized the last of his money to procure her boarding pass onto the ship and scant money for her arrival in New York.
To assure her freedom and safety.
He planned to take what he needed from the men he was going to kill.
And when they were all dead and in pieces, he would follow her to America.
With a clear conscience and an open heart to his Elsa.
In the meantime, there were boarding houses in New York for immigrants. They provided shelter, food, and starting employments for those new to America.
She would be safe and free.
And that was all that mattered.
Her wellbeing.
And his vengeance.
The trip across the Atlantic lasted nearly two weeks.
One the fair weather days, Elsa resided on the open air deck as much as possible.
Altering between facing the distant, unknown land of America and the looking back to Massimo, as if she could still see him miles and miles away across the ocean.
On rainy, colder days when she was forced below to the crowded decks, she thought she might go stir crazy from boredom and claustrophobia.
Many people were sick with the motions of the sea.
She, mostly gratefully, was not. Though it did take concentration and effort to maneuver her unfeeling wooden legs smoothly on the undulating ocean waves.
Though she performed no physical labor at all, Elsa found the trip exhausting.
And nights proved little escape. The women with which she shared her congested, dirty accommodations sobbed in the long stretches of the night.
And, not understanding their foreign tongues, Elsa was unsure of how to help them.
It was very lonely, very tiresome, and very depressing.
Elsa pressed her lips together, steeled her eyes, and resolved not to complain or weep.
One day as she was arranging her meager belongings within her tiny cabin, she heard men and women chattering excitedly as they rushed past her door.
She poked her head out into the narrow hall and saw they were heading up on deck, very nearly running.
She followed them up, her curiosity aroused.
And gazing in the direction of all the turned heads, saw it in the distance, cutting through the lifting fog.
The fabled Statue of Liberty.
Tall and strong.
An arm upholding a torch of light.
America. They had finally arrived.
People were cheering and shouting and clapping their hands, faces alight with joy and exhilaration.
A few couples were forgetting their inhibitions and embracing, kissing with elation.
Elsa found herself smiling as well.
And wishing fervently that Massimo were at her side so they could be one of those.
The first class passengers unloaded and set foot onto American soil almost immediately, making their way out into their new world without hindrance or concern.
Elsa was not one of these.
Neither was she a second class passenger.
But a steerage traveler.
And a woman.
Traveling alone.
And thus considered among the most suspiciously and shrewdly of all.
And finally, finally, after hours and hours, she was ushered onto a small ferry heading toward a small, crowded spot of land called Ellis Island.
It was just as cramped and stifling on the smaller marine vessel as on the larger ship.
And if Elsa had seen the cattle cars the Jews were even now being loaded onto in Europe, she might have panicked and jumped ship then and there, attempting to swim to freedom.
Some people were excited and chattering rapidly. Others seemed nearly paralyzed with fear and confusion.
As for Elsa, she clutched her small traveling bundle to her and stayed as quiet and still as possible.
Craning her neck anxiously for the next big step towards America.
And so now Elsa and Massimo are separated, unfortunately. By an entire ocean.
And we all know where Massimo's headed. But what about Elsa?
Thanks to YellowBrickQueen, jessicalangefan, foreverglfan88, brigid1318, and GG for the ongoing reviews.
I'll be updating the last several chapters daily until the final chapter on Wednesday.
So I hope you'll stick around until then. :)