Act II: The Haunted
The girls who echo, who pray, who linger in shadows unseen. For the ones who remember the castle before it turned dark. When it was a soft palace of decadent parties and days in the garden.
As you walk the woods surrounding the castle, you catch a chill- but it's not just a cold north wind; there's something almost alive in the icy breeze.
You can hear a soft voice whisper in your ear, it almost tickles the way a lover would nudge your skin ever so lightly. Your hair stands up on your neck, how can something so sweet and innocent become, well...so terrifying?
Again you feel a rush, but this time on the opposite side of your neck,
"Hello my sweet, you found me, tell me your fantasy and I'll come to life"
The realization comes to you that this is no typical spirit, far more cunning and coquette, this is
Dream Girl, or now as she is called: Ghost
Myths have her written as The Phantom Lover
A translucent woman, shifting into the shapes of others’ desires. Wearing faces of lovers that men would kill for - die for. And she makes sure they do meet death, only the most tragic part, she never meant to kill.
She's haunted by the question of “Am I enough?” While shape-shifting to keep love, but fading into nothing. Her power?
What could possibly be so dangerous about a love sick specter?
For one, she slowly kills her victims, unsuspecting men who resemble the one who tore her apart, or rather, created a void so deep in her heart she vanished. Her ache of absence creates the opposite effect, ultimately killing her victims (or lovers as she likes to call them) — she lingers forever in the spaces no one can fill in their heart. She calls it fated love, when it's damnation. By trying to fill a void that no one can, she continues to take life after life of men trying to fill the black hole that has eaten at her for years, centuries even. The townspeople warn of her charms, for they are very delicate and alluring.
As you start to walk away, not knowing how to escape such a predator, you can hear her trailing behind you. Ghost starts to speak rather than whisper, and what was once a subtle breeze turns to a gust of wind.
Anytime I’m down, I wish you were near
I don’t know your name, but I call for you through tears
A collage - pieces of love I never held myself
The rain my petals ache for as I wither unheld
I don’t know your name, but I call for you through tears
A collage - pieces of love I never held myself
The rain my petals ache for as I wither unheld
she continues as you stumble over a branch
For the ones who burned me red, then left me cold
For the ones who promised roses, then let go
I asked what I could have changed to make them stay
But silence answers every day
For the ones who promised roses, then let go
I asked what I could have changed to make them stay
But silence answers every day
You almost pity her, but it's enough to drive you mad
Maybe if I was skinnier, edgier, more clean?
Tattooed skin or a face that’s like hers
Tattooed skin or a face that’s like hers
("hers" who is she talking about? you think as you begin to run.)
Darker or lighter hair, skin like gold—
Would I be the kind of dream you have at night?
"I'm not HIM!" you say turning around
she says to you close enough you can feel her breath on your face
Tell me—am I your dream girl?
If I’m not, you can tell me how to be
I’ll play the part, I’ll wear a mask
If that’s what it takes for you to see me
If I’m not, you can tell me how to be
I’ll play the part, I’ll wear a mask
If that’s what it takes for you to see me
"See you? I can certainly HEAR you." you reply with frustration and confusion, it's beginning to dim, and night approaches, and you realize you can't see the path home.
When you fall asleep, am I there in your mind?
Do I look like a vision you can’t leave behind?
The world is cold, and I walk it alone
But if I play her part, maybe I can call you home
Do I look like a vision you can’t leave behind?
The world is cold, and I walk it alone
But if I play her part, maybe I can call you home
Maybe if I was thinner, brighter, bolder
Would your hands finally pull me closer?
If I changed my face, erased my name—
Would you want me without shame?
Would your hands finally pull me closer?
If I changed my face, erased my name—
Would you want me without shame?
You swat the air, as if to hit her, and you start panicking- all the trees look the same.
Tell me honey—am I your dream girl?
If I’m not, tell me how to be
I’ll play the part, I’ll paint a mask
If that’s what it takes for you to hold me at last
If I’m not, tell me how to be
I’ll play the part, I’ll paint a mask
If that’s what it takes for you to hold me at last
As you see embers of smoke you run out of the forest, you're back at the castle, as if the castle lured you back on purpose. The forest as if alive killing other trails or light so you'd have to return. But at least here you can be safe from wolves and the elements. You run down the grand halls of floating mirror pieces, and slip on icing next to Red Velvet's corridor "Is this blood or syrup?" you ask - almost tempted to lick it off your hand for it's sweet smell...."no ew how could I that's so gross." You scramble to your feet and find a room, the only one on the hall with a door open, and the only quiet one without mysterious floating objects or without the walls shifting or oozing strange substances.
"Hell. I just want to lay my head down for a rest." You shut your eyes, the old iron bed frame slightly creaking as you settle in. Thin sheets eroded by moths and age cover you, though oddly enough they smell of vanilla and something unidentifiable but very sweet, almost like marshmallow or cherry. It settles your mind, and you begin to soften.
Drifting to sleep you feel her before she speaks, she lays beside you, your eyes can't see her, but you see a sip in the mattress and hear a familiar voice. As if crying she starts to ask you:
Tell me how, just tell me how, tell me who to be
I’ll break myself into pieces if that’s what you need
Am I your dream girl? Or just your ghost?
I’m here, I’m waiting—and I am wondering who you crave the most.
I’ll break myself into pieces if that’s what you need
Am I your dream girl? Or just your ghost?
I’m here, I’m waiting—and I am wondering who you crave the most.
You realize there is nothing you can do. You're screwed. in more ways than one. The myths were right, her void is so deep not even a life can fill it. Unrequited love is a special kind of hell. And so is the desire to escape voices you cannot see. Strange, but despite her presence, you tell yourself daylight will make her disappear. "I just hope the sun does rise in this place."
