The Woman in the Play

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Charlotte was nervous about having all eyes on her for once. She was always the backup actress, with one or two lines. This time, she would be the star. She had been waiting for this moment all her life, but it was hard to ignore the nerves building up within her. 

She took a peek out at the audience, and quickly pulled back the curtain when she saw the large crowd. She took several deep breathes, and felt a warm hand touch her shoulder. She looked over her shoulder to find her best friend, Jane, standing behind her. She was dressed as a maid, her hair in a bun on top of her head. 

She always preferred playing small parts in theater plays. She considered it to be a hobby of hers, and would rather be focusing on her studies at the university. 

"What's wrong, Charlotte? Are you feeling butterflies in your stomach again?"

Charlotte let out a small sigh. "Yes. I can't believe I'm finally here, but I'm afraid. What if I forget a line? What if I freeze?"

Jane patted the top of Charlotte's head in a sisterly manner. "You won't, dear. You are a wonderful actress. Everyone here knows it, and everyone is jealous of you. You should see how the ladies look at you. Their eyes are full of malice whenever the handsome Eric touches your waist."

Charlotte hid her blush. Eric was the other star of the play. He was playing her prince charming, who would lure her away from the handsome man who was disguised as the Devil. She could never resist a play with a story so dark; they were the best kinds of stories. 

Sometimes Charlotte wondered why the damsel in distress never prevailed and left with the villain in the end. Wouldn't that make a story memorable, when the woman you are rooting for, gives herself to evil in the end? Charlotte also thought that the handsome man playing the Devil in the play was someone she preferred more. Charles. That was his name. He had a sort of allure to him that she couldn't explain. 

Jane pulled back the curtain. "And look who came to watch you. See that dashing blonde man sitting with the famous Johann Krausser?"

Charlotte thought her heart would explode inside of her chest. She was praying that Jane was joking, but when she scanned the crowd, she saw the father and son sitting together. Everyone in the city knew them. David and Johann Krausser. Women and men would fond over the handsome and beautiful children of Johann Krausser. 

David was adored and considered the favorite son by many women in the city. He always looked quite handsome in his red suits, and his long blonde hair ended right at his shoulders, making him appear so majestic. He was staring straight ahead at the theater; his arms crossed over his chest. 

Charlotte noticed the bored expression on his face, and she hoped that she would put on a good performance that would leave him impressed. She lost count how many times she pictured that man touching her cheek, his blue eyes focused on only her. 

"I know that all of the ladies love David, but don't you think that Johann is…more handsome?," Jane said with adoration. Charlotte rolled her eyes. Johann was famous in the university that Jane was enrolled in. Charlotte would never dare lay eyes on him, even though he was a looker at the age of forty, she preferred men around her own age. 

Jane always did prefer smart men. 

"You love the men you can't have," Charlotte said with a smile. Jane giggled. Their director then called out in the background, telling everyone that the play would begin in a couple of minutes. Charlotte's nerves instantly returned. 

"Oh. We are going to start."

Jane kissed her cheek. "You will do great, my dear."

Jane scurried away, her hands touching the bun on top of her head to make sure it was in place. Charlotte placed a hand on her chest. She closed her eyes, and pictured Eric and Charles fighting over her, asking her to choose one of them to love, that will ultimately decide her fate. 

Instead of her prince charming and the Devil, she saw David Krausser in his red suit. He reached out a hand to her, and it was he that she accepted. That image was enough for Charlotte to make what she was feeling fade away. She walked away from the curtains, and watched as the narrator of the play entered the stage first, introducing what the audience will expect. 

Then it was Charlotte's turn. She could feel everyone's eyes on her, but when she looked at the audience, it was David that she only saw. He no longer appeared bored. His eyes were on her, and only her. 

Charlotte felt a flutter in her stomach, and she focused on that feeling, putting everything into her performance as the damsel in distress, a woman who was afraid of falling into the Devil's trap. Before she knew it, they had reached the ending of the play. 

She fell into the arms of Eric, saving her from the Devil in the end. They confess their love to each other, and they kiss, ending the play. The audience stood up to applause, their cheers echoing throughout the theater. Charlotte was breathing heavily, suddenly exhausted from her performance. 

The entire cast walked onto the stage, each holding each other's hands. Charlotte and the cast bowed as one, and she saw Jane holding hands with Charles and another random cast member. She winked in her direction, making Charlotte laugh. She looked out at the audience, and was surprised to see David watching her. 

Johann leaned over to whisper something in his ear as he was clapping, but David pulled away from his father, appearing almost annoyed with him. Charotte thought that interaction was strange, but she shrugged it off. Who hasn't experienced a bad moment with their parents? She lost count how many times she fought with her parents when she dreamt of being a star. 

She walked back with the cast members, the curtain closing behind them. The director ran up to her, and clasped her hand.

"Good job, my dear. You were wonderful."

Charlotte felt her cheeks turn red. It was the first time he ever complimented her. He walked away to congratulate everyone else, leaving Charlotte to receive more hugs and even kisses on the hand for her performance. Charles bowed in Charlotte's direction, and this made her crack a smile. Charles was a brilliant actor, and this act of congratulations made her heart swell with pride. 

She felt a hand touch on her back, and she turned around, expecting to see Jane coming over to congratulate her. She froze when she recognized the handsome David. 

"How did you get here so fast?," she blurted out. 

David showed her a smile full of straight white teeth. 

"I couldn't help myself. I had to meet you."

Charlotte felt her cheeks turn red. "Oh. Um…"

David laughed. "It's alright, my dear. Everyone always stumbles over their words when they meet me."

Charlotte did not take offence at his words. He wasn't making fun of her, he was genuinely having a conversation with her. She put on her best smile, hoping that she didn't look exhausted. David then surprised her by lifting up her hand to place a kiss with his soft lips. Charlotte felt a shudder go through her body, and she wondered if he had this effect on all women. 

David released her hand. 

"Could we speak privately? Perhaps…I could take you for an evening stroll?"

Charlotte bit her tongue, preventing herself from squealing in delight. 

"I would love to."

"I'll be waiting, my dear."

She watched David go, leaving the stage. She spotted Jane standing far away, her eyes wide. She looked in Charlotte's direction, and she jumped up and down, the biggest smile on her face. She blew a kiss at Charlotte, and ran off to the changing room. 

Charlotte already knew that Jane was going to ask for all of the details once their stroll was over. She couldn't believe that she would be meeting with David Krausser. Not every woman got to spend time with someone like him. Charlotte went to the changing room, and got back into her blue dress and hat. She hugged Jane on the way out. Jane kissed her on the head, and touched her cheek. 

"Tell me everything tomorrow!"

"I will!"

They hugged once more before Charlotte left the theater. She felt a thrill go through her body when David Krausser was waiting for her. He was standing outside of the theater, hands in his pockets. He offered his arm to her. Charlotte linked her arm through his. It was almost like a kiss. 

They walked down the city, through small crowds of people chatting about whatever. Charlotte did not expect to join them at this time of night, but after her successful endeavor, she deserved it. The best part was that her night would end with a handsome man on her arm. 

A man that women loved. That dreamt of marrying someone like him. Charlotte wondered how it would feel like to be a part of the Krausser family. They were well known in the city, and were quite popular for different reasons. David was obviously for his good looks, and the fact that he was always the one to be in his father's shadow. 

Even though Charlotte did not understand Jane's infatuation for his father, she can see where David got his good looks from. Johann was quite the stunner, she can't imagine how many older women have pursued him. 

"You were marvelous today."

"You really think so?," Charlotte asked hesitantly. 

"Yes."

David looked off into the distance, his blue eyes focused on nothing. 

"You remind me of someone."

"Who do I remind you of?"

"My mother."

"Oh. She must be lovely."

"She died at a young age. Of consumption."

"Oh. I'm so sorry."

David turned to look at her. "Thank you. That means a lot. When everyone else tells me sorry, it sounds like they never mean it. You are the most genuine I have heard in a long time. Unless your acting is that good."

Charlotte flinched. "Of course not! I would never act out or pretend I meant that -''

David chuckled. 

"I'm joking, my dear."

Charlotte wished the ground would swallow her whole. Why she took his statement so seriously was beyond her. Perhaps she was a bit too tired from tonight. Maybe she could go back home, and continue this lovely walk at another time. It was already getting late, and now there was hardly anyone on the road anymore. 

But what if she never gets an opportunity like this again?

Charlotte put aside her exhaustion, and put on a smile. 

"Oh. Sorry about that. I think I'm just tired."

"Who wouldn't be after that performance?"

David came to a stop, raising his hand to graze her cheek. Charlotte was too shocked to pull away. She had pictured this many times, but couldn't believe it was actually happening. 

"The truth is…I have admired you for a while. I once saw you in my father's classroom when I came to visit. You were with your friend. Jane, I believe. I have…struggled to forget about you."

Charlotte could not breathe. It was like someone had blown out a candle flame within her, stealing away her ability to talk. David leaned over to kiss her. Charlotte closed her eyes. His soft lips were exquisite on her own. 

Then something painful pierced through her body. She gasped against his lips, pushing David away. She looked down to see a blade sticking out of her side, staining her blue dress a crimson shade. 

Charlotte opened her mouth, about to ask David in her confused state why he had stabbed her, but she instantly regretted it.

It was no longer David standing in front of her. 

It was a beast. 

The Devil. 

He was smiling at her; his white teeth now razor sharp. They resembled knives, even sharper than that of a vampire. His eyes were glowing a dark red. He was laughing, pointing at her wound. 

"Goodness Charlotte! You are bleeding quite a bit!"

Charlotte took a few steps back, wobbling on her two feet. She started to feel the pain now. Her wound was leaking blood, sending vibrations up and down her body. It was like this monster had stabbed her heart instead. 

Charlotte raised her arms toward David. 

"Please. Please don't hurt me."

David's sharp-toothed grin grew wider. 

"I like to make the pain last."

He charged at Charlotte. She screamed for a total of fifteen minutes. She did not last as long as David wanted her to. She was only a human, and the blood loss was what killed her in the end. 

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Johann arrived at the scene by carriage. He came to a stop, and looked down at the mess his son left behind. The woman was torn in half. Her intestines were spread out like worms bursting out of her body during a horrifying birth. David was standing next to the body, using a handkerchief to clean himself up. 

"David. How many times do I have to tell you to not murder people in the city? What if people start asking questions about her disappearance? You were the last person she saw, you fool."

David lowered his head, hiding his shame from his father. 

"I'm sorry, father. I was hungry."

Johann let out a heavy sigh. "Get in the back. I'll have the twins dispose of the body. Again."

David did as he was told, not saying a single word. Johann studied the body. She was a great actress. It was a shame that she wouldn't get to continue her dream. But like many say, it was always the ones who died young that everyone remembered. 

Johann left the scene, not allowing himself to feel a thing for what happened to the poor woman. 

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Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn