𝕲𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖑𝖞 𝕸𝖔𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊𝖘

Chapter 2: The Ballerina

The chandelier glitters above me as I twirl onto the center of the stage, I see Jane and Lizzy on either ends, kicking their feet in the air, clinging to their male partners, I jump in the air as my wispy white dress floats like a cloud around me, I close my eyes and let my limbs go free, they move so seamlessly as if someone was controlling them with strings, just like a swan's. I see Jack sitting in the audience, grinning, and silently clapping towards me, I thought I might be the happiest person alive at that moment, I remember as I floated across the stage how just moments ago, backstage, he had gotten down on one knee and how I had shrieked with pleasure

"My makeup will come off!' I had said between tears of joy as I slowly dabbed my cheek, trying to maintain the white paint I had just applied

I said yes of course, Jack was a journalist who had first stumbled into one of my performances to write about it in his column, but when he came in the green room to interview me, it was as if an unknown rose inside me had just bloomed, we blushed throughout the entire conversation. I look away from him and do my last step, a high jump in the center and slowly descending away from the stage, but just as I was to jump, one of the ribbons of my pointe shoes came undone as I stumbled right into one of the numerous gaslights that illuminated the stage, the glass shatters as my wispy, tulle dress touches the light, bursting into flames, as I start to shriek a blood curdling scream. I could feel my skin melt against my bones, the pain excruciating, my voice had stopped from screaming so loudly, the entire theatre echoed with only my shrieks of horror. I run across the stage, engulfed in fire, to stop my agony but I finally drop in the center. Last thing I remember was him, staring at me in utter disbelief, shaking my hand vigorously, telling me to wake up, his tears dropped on my cheeks, providing a cool sensation as I slowly close my eyes. But then I woke up again, right next to where I had dropped, I thought I was alive again, but a feeling of dread overcame me as I looked to my right and saw me, cold and charred. I watched as they took away my body, I watched as Jack just stood, his face was as if someone had drawn an invisible veil across it, not revealing a single emotion. I watched as tears ran down his cheeks, oh! How I would've given anything to wipe them and hold his hands in mine, but my hands just went right through his. I cried and I cried but not a single tear trickled down my cold ashen cheeks.

People say that they have seen me since, dancing away with my dress aflame. Some people say that my entire existence is a myth, but I don't care. I just dance on the stage without my feet ever fully touching the gilded floor. I cry and wail as I think about that day. I roam the halls and the numerous green rooms in search for him, my dress, blackened and charred, my skin too blackened and charred. In every performance just as the curtain is about to drop, I make my appearance, dancing just as I had been on that day. Now people are just accustomed to me, and my smoky figure walking sulkily across every hallway, every private box, spreading the smell of burning hair and fabric mixed with faded rose perfume.

I look across and see the ballet performance about to end, it was Swan Lake, I was the swan queen back then. Just as the heavy velvet curtain was about to drop, I danced to the center and took my last bow, doomed to live it all over again, my wounds freshening every day, my heart being set ablaze everyday as I investigate the audience and don't see him. But I dance, with every part of my stone-cold soul. And I will keep dancing till the end of eternity.

The End

(All chapters are their separate stories and are not related. Don't Forget to vote<333)