Death and Opera

Cheryl POV

Things ended up happening and soon I had to accompany Gerrik and his grandson to the theatre. The interview itself was not much. It was just listening to Gerrik Carte’s ‘stories’. Normally that would have been the cue that the interview was over; but since his grandson appeared, Gerrik has been in an immensely good mood and offered an invitation to the theatre. I tried to reject him, but his grandson kept looking at me with those puppy eyes- even though there were not any interactions between us. That is why I had to accept the invitation.

The theatre was very chaotic and crowded. Both nobles and commoners flocked to the theatres to watch the opera by the famous musician, Florine Stein. Even the cinemas were never this crowded compared to the theatres that day.

Gerrik buys a ticket for the VIP corner and I accompany him along with his head butler. And all the while he kept talking to grandson while ignoring me very one-sidedly.

“Say mister, Lord Gerrik doesn’t he dote on his grandson too much?” I ask the butler out of boredom while waiting for the show to start.

“Indeed, miss.” The butler answers, “His son, our young master was born with low brain parameters, so Lord Gerrik was always disappointed in him. Even the young master’s position in the army was bought by Lord Gerrik’s connections. So when, the young master’s wife gave birth to young Gerome, the first thing Lord Gerrik did was to test his brain parameters using the latest parameter checkers, that are not even available to the public. He was extremely blissful when young Gerome’s parameters where normal.”

“I see, but then if Lord Gerrik’s son’s brain parameters are lower than normal, then would not he have a lot of problems carrying out tasks in the army?”

“You see miss,” The butler replies while recalling things, “Our Lord Gerrik is a very vain man. To him his face and go are what matters the most. To save his pride and reputation, he had to pull a lot of strings and give his son a position in the army. In fact even though the young master is a lieutenant, he only works in the logistics. His post is merely in name.”

“Ahem!” Gerrik coughs as I break out in cold sweat.

“The show is about to start.” He retorts without saying anything more as the curtains open up.

He probably did not hear us talking about him and his family. I think in relief.

The show soon starts as Florine Stein sings in the background as the actors with their mask puts up a play. The story of the play was pretty clichéd if you ask me. It was about two lovers who elope since their families were against the marriage and then die to save each other. Even then I would not say that these two hours were wasted. This was the first time I saw a theatrical performance, since the only thing I can afford is a matinee show in the local cinemas; my current wage being only enough to live on humbly.

Soon the show ended and the shutters were closing. Then without any warning the dark side took over. It might seem as an exaggeration but everywhere, as far as human eyes could see was complete darkness. I hear a child screaming suddenly and a coarse voice trying to calm his grandson- probably Gerrik and Gerome. The butler accompanying squeaked in fright. There were simultaneous shouts- asking people to calm down. So simultaneous that they interrupted with each other froming only an inauspicious shouting whose meaning would be comprehendible only when concentrating on it. I was not scared.

I was only surprised but I did not dare to move and panic; like the rest of the people. I had grown up in the countryside where there were frequent electricity surges every summer. That’s why such blackouts were common cases for me although I have not experienced one in a long time of four years since I moved to the capital.

The sudden dark must have been due to an electricity surge. But even then, why were not the backup electricity working? Seemed odd unless-

Bang!

As soon as I was thinking of a possible scenario for this darkness, my worst hypothesis- that I did not yet get to complete hit spot on- as a sudden very loud gunshot springs on my ears. A sudden silence reigns as I smell the sharp smell of iron and rust.

The silence breaks as the young voice of a child calls out hysterically.

“Grandpa! Grandpa!” He calls out with his innocent worry-filled voice.

The light soon returns and what waits was more of death and chaos than the after show celebration and gossiping that everyone should have been having.