An Angel's Will

Chapter 2

I woke early the next morning and dressed. I wore my second skin under my dress incase they had me try on costumes. I had to hide it from Gustae because he had tried to throw it away about four times. I began my walk to the theatre.
When I arrived everyone was already dressed and on stage. "Hello, doll!" the director called. So you are my new Fantine are you?" He grinned.
"Yes, that is what I was told," I answered.
The other girls seemed jealous and I was a little scared. Selene grabbed me and pulled to the stage. "I'm going to get her fitted into a costume," she announced without really asking.
We went backstage to Fantine's dressing room. She grabbed a dress from a rack and held it up to me. "You're about the same size," she shrugged.
"I was wondering, if I may," she nodded in my direction telling me to finish. "What happened to the original Fantine that you cast?" I asked.
Selene sighed and took a seat. "Look, I'm not going to lie to you kid. A lot of harassment goes on here. It finally go to be too much for her and she quit." She sighed.
"What do you mean by harassment?" I asked nervously.
"I'll say this. None of here are saints. It's not a great life but we do what we have to, to survive in the business. even if that means sleeping around with a few guys for a part." I was horrified.
How could anyone deal with that? there was an ever growing lump in my throat that made it hard to swallow. If Gustave found out he would be pissed.
I climbed into the showy costume and let Selene lace it up for me. We walked back to the stage to show the director.
"Yes it is perfect!" he said, looking at me a little too long for my comfort.
"Alright we are running the scene where Fantine goes to the whores at the shipping docks." The director called. "The girls will fill out in," he announced.
The girls started singing in these awful character voices. I looked over the music I was give and walked in where I was told.
I went up I the old woman an tries to sell her the locker I was given as a prop. It was put through other scenarios and two people were trying to get Fantine to join them. I agreed and I was put I front of a suspicious looking man. I lead him off stage and sung my line. I didn't like bein backstage alone with him and yearned for my cue line to go back on.
It came and then it was time to sing Fantine's big solo. I sat on the stage and began sing.
This song was so sad and I cried with Fantine as I continued to sing. As the song neared it's climax I saw a man in the audience.
"As they turn your dream to shame!"
The man wore a black coat and top hat.
"He slept a summer by my side. He filled my days with endless wonder. He took my childhood in his stride. But he was gone when autumn came!"
He stood an I felt uneasy. "And still I dream he'll come to me! That we will live the years together. But there are dreams that cannot be! and there are storms we can not weather!"
I was nearly sobbing when I sang my line.
"I had a dream my life woul be! so offering from this hell I'm living! so different now from what it seems!" I carried on and concluded the song.
The man in the audience stood and clapped proudly. I could now see that man's face. It was Gustave.
No! no he couldn't be here! my heart stopped. I knew what the next scene was and Gustave would not like it.
Seedy looking men came on stage and started talked about me. One tried to touch me and I smacked his hand away. I looked at Gustave and he was standing studying the man suspiciously.
The man got angry and grabbed me by the arm and pulled me roughly to my feet. I was directed the kind To my customer and I bowed my head and took the man backstage.
"Who's the guy outside?" the man asked.
I ignored him.
"Who is he? come on is he your boyfriend?" he smirked.
I said nothing.
"Hey! Bitch I'm talking to you!" the man grabbed me by my hair causing me to scream. He put his dirty hand over my mouth and hissed threats in my ear.
His hissing was cut off and he made a strangled noise. I broke away from him and saw the reason for his cut off speech. Gustave held him in a choke hold. No!
"Hey buddy, you wanna tell me why she screamed? answer correctly and I may show you some mercy," Gustave said in a dark voice.
"Gustave please stop!" I cried.
He looked at me as if I had two heads.
"Please," I begged him.
He released the man and dragged me away. "If he EVER touches you again I'll rip his head off," he snarled.
"Gustave please I can handle myself," I sighed taking his face in my hands.
He finally looked at me and his face softened. "I need you to leave before you get m in more trouble," I said.
He sighed and touched my arms. "Alright. I know I can't talk you out of staying here."
"No you can't in stubborn remember?" I smirked.
He kissed me quickly and left. I walked back onstage and saw the man holding his throat and talking to the director. No.
Real fear began to settle. What would happen to me? the director began to walk over to me. I tried to make myself look as tall as possible. He got very close to my face. I met his eyes and gel them.
"So mademoiselle," he said mockingly. "Do you belong to that man?" he asked speaking of Gustave.
"If you are asking if he owns me then the answer is no," I replied sharply.
"Good we don't like to employ owned girls here." he scoffed. "And make sure your male friend isn't seen here again," he ordered.
I nodded and he left.
"Damn you have more balls than the last girl. I've never seen a girl under five foot look so big," Selene smirked leaning on te wall next to me.
I chuckled. "I'm five foot even actually," she grinned at me and shook her head.
"Your a little piss fire aren't you," maybe with her here my time here would be livable.
"Look what the bitch's boyfriend did to me!" the man screamed. I tensed.
"It won't happen again don't sweat over it." The director scoffed.
The man glared at me and I knew that was going to come back later and haunt me.
We finished up early and I was back to walking alone. I was tensed and alert as I weaved my way around the dark streets. I could sense someone behind. I casually looked behind me and caught the dark silhouette of w large man. I ran then holding my skirt so I wouldn't fall. I knew that I would never be able to outrun the man who is as now running in persute of me.
Hands grabbed my arms and I screamed. I cried out as loud as I could while I struggled.
'Colette. colette! COLETTE!" I knew that voice!
"Gustave!" I latched onto him and tried to calm myself down.
He held me and streaked my hair soothingly.
"I don't want you walking home alone when it is this dark out," he said into my hair.
I nodded in agreement and let go of him. I took his gloved hand in mine and hugged myself to fight off the December chill.
"How about I get a fire started when we get home?" he smiled down at me. I returned his warm smile and nodded.
We returned to our home within the gates of Phantasma and settled in front of a warm fireplace.
We were laying on the floor wrapped up in a soft throw. My head laid on his chest while a hand traced light circles on my back.
"I wish I could see you more," I sighed catching his eyes.
"You don't have rehearsal tomorrow do you?" he questioned.
"No," I answered.
"Good that means you can sit in on mine!" he cheered.
"You're allowing me to watch your closed rehearsals?" I gasped.
He chuckled and nodded. "Yep, I have a few dance numbers that you could help me put together."
"I'd like that." I smiled laying a quick kiss on his lips. He pulled me back to him for a longer kiss. I kissed him again and a knock sounded at our door.
"I can't get a break can I?" Gustave scoffed.
I sighed and rolled off of him so he could answer the door. The door shut and Gustave returned with a box.
"I opened the door and this was all that was there. It's for you," he said handing me the semi heavy box.
I opened it an saw that it was a few dresses and knick-knacks from Paris. I read the tag and smiled. It read:
" you'll probably have a lot more use for these than I will,"
It wasn't signed but it didn't need to be. I knew it was Cyprien's hand writing. Gustave and I went through the box. There was a group photograph of the cast and a few Gustave and I took.
I nearly choked when we found a candid photo of Gustave and I with his father. We all just stood there laughing it was a great photo. Gustave smiled and took the photos, arranging them on the mantel above the fireplace.
I took dresses out of the box and found that the last dress was the gold one that I wore the night that I thought I was in a dream. I touched the silk fabric and smiled.
Guatave saw it and chuckled. 'That was a hell of a night," he smiled.
"You say that like something actually happened," I scoffed.
"It came close to happening," he chuckled.
I shook my head an repacked the box.
After that we both we upstairs to bed.