Chapter 1: Halloween Night

October 31, 1960

Elsa Mars was getting ready for her TV show which started in a few hours. Soon her greatest shame would be revealed. The damned journalist could not have been involved in her own affairs. Why were we looking into his past? Why didn't we leave her alone? His life and career were soon to be ruined. Michael was going to ask for a divorce, well it wasn't a big loss for her, but his production company had also dropped him. This career ended tonight. In fact, she had made the decision that her life would end this evening.

She was retouching her makeup, she noticed a spirit approaching. A spirit she knew well. Edward Mordrake's.

"You're a little early," Elsa began.

"I could turn the comment around."

"No, I'm ready to go. The curtain is down tonight. I bow, head high. » Elsa said visibly confident.

You see, Elsa, I never do that, but I like you. And your fate is not what you think. The path you currently believe to be the right one is wrong. Stop being ashamed and get up. Make your shame, your pride. Made of your weakness, your strength."

'And how I'm supposed to do that huh. No, it's just over. I have no one left. Everyone is dead, or about to die. And now I'm about to lose the only thing I have left: my career. I refuse to continue like this." Elsa cried.

Yet, if you knew as I do, how the future is shaped. An extraordinary Canvas." The spirit continued.

"No." was his only answer.

"You are not meant to be with us."

"Yet I have fished more than once."

Repenting erases sins Elsa. And you were an exemplary human in your last years. You have completely redeemed yourself. Moreover, your destiny is not only yours, but many other people who are extremely benevolent."

"I don't understand anything."

"The important thing to understand is that you have a path to chart, certainly with pitfalls, but it's up to you to overcome them and make them your strength."

This is completely stupid. Here I am the only monster, so on the night of the fall I will perform as planned, and you will not have a choice but to take me with you."

Well, know that I would not let you do what you were about to do." he concluded before disappearing with a broad smile.

At the same time, the fire alarm started to sound. Two men from the security department of the studio arriving running in the big dressing room of Elsa.

Mrs Mars, quickly, we must go out. There is a fire in Studio 4."

"Scheiße." Elsa moaned as she stood up from her hairdresser, before continuing.

"My studio is next to studio 4. Is it in danger?"

The fire department is coming. Yes, your studio equipment may be damaged by fire, water or smoke. Enough talking, we need to get out."

The 3 out. Elsa watched the smoke coming out of two windows in the building. She knew that Edward was behind it.

Meanwhile, in Nevada, Massimo Dolcefino sat on his couch watching TV with a glass of whiskey in his hand and waited patiently for the end of the commercial break. He was waiting for the start of 'Elsa March Special Halloween'. He had never missed a single episode. Every Friday night, he moved into his small living room to watch his beautiful Elsa on TV.

Massimo was lost in his thoughts, he remembered a few days earlier. He had gone to visit Elsa to say goodbye. He remembered the tears that had slipped down his sweet face when he announced to him that he was going to die soon. Before he told him this unfortunate news, she asked him to go with her, to love her. And God knew how he loved her. But he had only one month to live. That day, he realized something. Even if he bore a heavy legacy of the physical torture that Hans Gruper had inflicted on him, he could provide Elsa with the life of happiness she deserved. Despite its sequela, its dysfunction, it could provide happiness to her physically as well. His tongue, his hands, they were intact. He loved her so much, from the first day he saw her, from the first minute she lay on the table in his workshop in Berlin. Her angel, her Elsa. He wanted so much, to end his days in a life of happiness and love with her, but it was too late, he was going to die. He had been too proud to take it back before. Tears were flowing freely on his face now. He was holding a small blue velvet box with a diamond ring inside. The diamond ring he bought in 1934 from a small Berlin jewellery shop. On that day, he had gone out to pick up two boat tickets for the ship bound for America. One for Elsa, and one for him. Passing the jeweller the first time, he was stopping in front, but had continued his route, thinking that he should not run out of money for their bills. On the way back, he stopped again at the jeweller's and smiled. He had enough money left to buy a ring more than suitable for his angel. His plan was to ask Elsa to marry him as soon as they arrived on US soil. Eventually, life decides otherwise. Massimo could not bear to know Elsa terrified of crossing one of his torturers no chance, so he went to avenge her. The idea was to go to America just after, but life had decided otherwise. He admired the ring, the one that Elsa will never wear. Some tears flowed gently on his face once more, thinking of the life they had dreamed of together, and to which they had never been entitled.

Finally, the commercial break ended, but the long-awaited show did not start as planned. A male voice began to speak in the television.

"Today's "Elsa Mars Time" program will unfortunately have to be cancelled as a light fire has been declared in the studios, damaging some equipment. Fortunately, the fire was quickly controlled and no one was injured. Elsa Mars and her team would like to thank you very much for your understanding."

Massimo was without a word in front of his TV screen. He was a little disappointed not to see Elsa, but he was relieved to know that she was safe. He shut the TV, put the little velvet box in his pocket and finished his drink before going to bed. Lying in his bed, he turned to his side, placed his hand on the empty square next to him, and thought of the happiness it would be to have his angel lying beside him. To have his angel, Elsa, as a wife.