Beneath a Full Moon Sky-A Love Never Dies Fanfiction

Chapter 5: Gustave

*seven and a half years later*

Today I turn eighteen years of age. Today is my last birthday as a mortal. Today is my final day of truly living.

Over the years, I have learned very valuable skills from my dad. How to use a Punjab noose, how to sing like a professional, musical theory, how to successfully get away with murder, family history, ballroom dancing, flirting, and other things similar to that. He also may have told me every flaw related to the de Chagny family possible. I may not have known it then, but each of those skills would be of great use for later on.

Over the years, I had grown very fond of my mask. I almost never took it off. I only took it off while sleeping and bathing.

I had kept my promise to my dad. I never took the necklace with my mother's ashes off unless I was bathing.

After Meg, Madame Giry, and I had eaten dinner, we left to board the ship that would be sent off to Paris. I had not paid any attention to the name of the ship. Atlantic? Atlantis? Anastasia? Either way, it started with an 'A'. 

Once we boarded the ship, we were told that it would take six weeks at least to get there. Six weeks at least and we have to get to Paris and I have to wait for a full moon. I started to wonder how long I would have to wait to be initiated.

While we were on the ship, I met a girl. Her name was Antionette. She was the first girl I met since I met Meg, Aunt Espen, and Madame Giry. Or as Dad likes to call her, Avelaine. She told me never to call her that, though. 

Antionette has long, bone-straight hair the color of the night sky, eyes the color of the ocean, skin the color of sand. When I had first met her, she was very curious.

"Why do you wear that mask," she had asked when we first met. "What do you have to hide?"

"Nothing," I had replied to her.

"Well, take it off," Antionette said. "I want to see what you look like."

"I-I can't," I stammered.

"Why?"

"It's a-"

"A what?"

"I can't say."

"It's fine. Besides, I love a good mystery and I can imagine what you look like. By the way, my name's Antionette. What's yours?"

"Gustave."

"Nice to meet you, Gustave. I need help imagining what you look like. How old are you? I just need age."

"I turned eighteen today."

"Well, happy birthday! I'm seventeen. Have you been to France before?"

"I lived in Paris for ten years then moved to Coney Isle for... family reasons."

"I live right outside of Paris-"

"Gustave!" I heard Aunt Espen call out.

"I have to go," I said awkwardly. "See you around."

"Goodbye," Antionette said as I walked away.

The next few weeks were pretty uneventful. I got to know Antionette a little more but that was basically all the action. We got off of the ship after six long weeks and we had to take a train to Paris. Antionette and I were on separate train cars so we weren't together. On that train with just my family, I realized how much I needed Antionette. Would this become more than friendship? I really hoped so. Once we got off the train, that's when things got crazy.

We were walking through the streets of Paris and then Dad stopped suddenly. He was looking at something. It took me a moment to identify what it was.

Not what, but who.