NOVEL NEXT Chapter 80 - Ellie: Getting ready
Slipping into the room cautiously, I cast weary glances at the mannequin while advancing forward. When it does not react to my presence I relax slightly, before chiding myself for that. Stupid. If there are moving mannequins here they can simply stop moving and blend in. Well, if it is going to throw itself at me in this cramped space, I am not that worried, at least. Very well, my curiosity is getting the better of me, let's check out these scrolls.
Blessedly, I am not assaulted as I reach the desk and begin inspecting the documents. It quickly becomes obvious that these are… stage directions? Huh, you know, I don’t really know why I expected anything else. These seem to be lines and instructions for a role simply titled “The Wizard”. The play seems to be named “Throne of Liars”.
I take some time to study the instructions, which seem to be fairly straightforward. The directions are clear, and although this document lacks the other roles lines by and large, I feel like I get a decent understanding of what is going to be happening in my scenes. Wait a second… I already accepted that this is my role, huh? … Fine. Might as well own it.
Skimming over the contents of the directions, I don’t find anything that immediately stands out as problematic to me, but I am kind of confused at the final notes on there. It simply reads “Improvisation”. With a smiley drawn next to it. Well. I suppose that is a bridge we can cross when we get there.
Just as I finish looking through the script there is a knock on the door that startles me out of my concentration. I had not even realized the door behind me had been closed… that's dangerous, Ellie. Thankfully, nothing bad happened. This time. I already got kidnapped once… This is not an experience I want to repeat, necessarily.
The knocking repeats, insistently. Right. Should do something about that. Maybe like… getting up and opening the door.
I do just that and see a mannequin in a maid’s uniform. It bows to me and indicates down the hallway. Is it time already? Damn, I barely had time to memorize any of the lines…
Sighing, I nod at the mannequin maid who insistently points down the hallway again.
“Right, yes. I am coming. How do I look?” I ask as I exit the dressing room.
The mannequin does not have eyes, and yet I still feel its perception sweeping over me as it slightly inclines its head, before giving me a nod and turning to lead the way down the hallway without waiting for me to follow.
I hurry after it down the hallway past several more dressing room doors, its swift steps leading me around a bend in the room and up a small staircase towards several doors in different directions.
Opening the rightmost one, I am led to a dimly lit area backstage, behind the stage curtain, off to the right hand side, hidden from sight by wooden dividers. Several mannequins in servants uniforms and maid dresses shuffle around, arranging set dressing in the center of the stage. Several more humanoid figures are standing there, out of sight of the curtain, and as I look them over, I recognize some costumes that were on display in the costume shop, although it is hard to make out details in the dim lighting while my eyes need a second to adjust.
There is the ballgown, once more being the most striking piece. It is hard to miss. The person next to the one wearing the ball gown could be wearing the dress uniform, judging by the occasional golden shimmer. There is a chef's hat adorning the next person’s silhouette, and white robes on the next person in line, possibly the priestly vestments?
At my entrance the figures turn towards me, and as my eyes finally adjust to the light, my jaw drops.
“Wait… what are you all doing here?”