The Mask Of Beauty and Rage (Brahms X Greta)

Chapter 1 - Falling Sky

            A door. Surrounded by pure darkness. It was just straight ahead. Escape was on the other side, waiting for her arrival. Her footsteps echoed as she walked towards the door. Light tried to escape the edges of it. The floor was wet, almost as if she was walking on a thin layer of ice. Every step she took made a small puddling echo through the darkness.

She slowly dropped to her knees to touch the bitter cold water with just the tip of her fingers. She stared at her reflection in the water, noticing that half of her face was missing. It was blurry, almost appearing as someone else's face was trying to connect with hers. She tried to make out who it was, or even what it was. The reflection started to fade away. Replacing it was a large figure slowly approaching to the surface. The figure seemed to be trapped from within. Isolated, away from the full light, all it has ever known was darkness. It was born in the night destiny to remain alone.

A hand slowly approaches to reach her, but couldn't get out, a thin layer of nothing covered the water. Hesitating to bring her hand to it, unsure what was going to happen next. Her breathing was getting heavier as she got closer. This creature, this person, this thing she didn't know what it was, it was glowing, like a dim light through its chest, trying to found hope of some kind. It was abandoned, reaching to her wanting the desire of one's human touch. She was about to touch the hand, but she was too late. Then suddenly it began to sink. With its hand starting to slowly descend, to the very bottom of the miraculous abyss. Demonic hands surrounded the dim light snatching at the arms and legs as it dragged the entity deeper into the chasm.

Without thinking, or anymore hesitation in that moment she quickly rushed her hand into the water to try and reach the weak figure. She stopped immediately at the sight of her entire arm in the freezing cold water. Nothing had remained except for her bones; the skin had vanished completely. Quickly noticing a dark smoky hand rising from beneath to reach for her hand. It would do the same to her as it did to the light. Without a second thought she yanked her hand out fast in fright as she stood abruptly. The creature had vanished from below. Her flesh and blood had returned during the retraction. She could stand on the water, but could not fall through it fully, she thought.

She felt completely puzzled, where was she, what is this dreadful unending place? Feeling overwhelmed by her millions of questions she was torturing herself with, thinking she might go mad. She was standing on death himself; the light was devoured; it had dispersed from sight. Trying to compose herself she closed her eyes for a moment to take control of her breathing again. Faint whispers had surrounded her being, her eyes jolted open with alarm. They were voices, she thought, she wasn't going crazy just yet.

"Hello?" she said softly as she looked frantically to her sides.

No answer but she tried again once more feeling irritated.

"Who's there?!" her voice was stronger this time.

Silence filled the endless black space. She heard fast footsteps rushing from behind her. Suddenly hearing a child's soft laughter in amusement. Her heart stopped as she turned around rapidly. Her breathing increased once more, losing control.

A dark wooden rocking chair appearing from out of nowhere. It was at quite a distance from where she stood. Struggling to see who actually was perched on the now creaking rocking chair from afar. Her body seemed paralyzed at the sight, too scared to move anywhere. Soon she heard soft hums coming from the chair. She had finally awoken from her daze due to the enchanting sound.

What if they need my help? What if maybe I'm here for a reason.

Thoughts in the back of her mind spoke to her with ease. Freedom was right there on the opposite side, waiting for her arrival. She glanced at it, then back to the disturbing rocking chair.