Chapter 1
The full moon shines brightly on a starless sky. The tree leaves move softly against the winds as a figure in a hooded cloak walks. The figure stops when it hears the rustling of a bush, and out pops a cat. The figure glares at it.
Stupid creature, the figure thinks as the cat looks at the figure and hisses. The figure hisses back to scare the cat. It then runs away. Now that that creature is gone, my bigger prey awaits. The figure walks down a stony path to come upon a couple. The figure observes them, waiting for the man to leave. The young woman watches as her boyfriend leaves, not knowing that someone was watching her. The figure moved towards the woman and accidently stepped on a twig, causing a loud crack.
The woman heard the twig crack and yells, “Who is there?” She searches for where the sound came from. “I have pepper spray,” she said while reaching into her bag. Suddenly, the figure appeared behind her and grabbed her tightly. “Please, let me go!” she screamed. She struggled to get free, but she could not escape from the figure’s grasp. The woman screamed for help, but no one was around to hear her. The figure takes out a jagged dagger in a threatening manner. The moon is shining on the blade. The figure then removes its hood to reveal who was under it.
“You? Why?” the woman asks. Her eyes fall on to the dagger high up in the sky. “Please! Let me go!” she begs as the figure starts to stab the woman in the heart. The scream of the woman begins to fade as the figure laughs.
The figure lays the body on an old green bench.
“Now, here is a rose for good luck, for you are going need it….in hell” the figure tells the body like it was still alive. It then lays a single rose on the body. Now no one will be in my way to be the star of the show, the figure thought as it walks away. The next day, the body was found by a jogger during their run in the park.
The next morning, the sun is shining through a window and is casting light on a sleeping woman. The woman groans and buries her face into the pillow as the sound of her Pandora radio went off.
Man, I hate getting up early, she thought as she turns off the radio and stumbles out of bed. The woman has white blonde hair in a pixie cut, two different color eyes, and a slim body. Her name is Martin Cleopatra Rosemary Hawkins. She notices the sheets on her bed are moving. Oh, I forget he was sleeping down there, Martin thinks. She pulls back the sheets to come face to face with a chocolate American cocker spaniel. “Sorry, buddy,” she laughs, ruffling his fur. The dog licks her happily. “Let’s go get some food,” she told him. She walks to the door and the dog follows.
In the kitchen, Martin starts to pour some dog food into a bowl. The dog squirms excitedly at her feet, and then put his front paws on her legs. She looks down at him.
“Hold on, CocoMoe” Martin orders as CocoMoe removes his paws. “Here is your breakfast,” Martin says as she bends down to put the food bowl on the floor. CocoMoe went to his bowl and started munching down all his food. Martin smiles and starts to make her breakfast.
She went back to her bedroom to take a quick shower and changes for work. She then goes back to the kitchen to let CocoMoe out to do his business as she cleans up the kitchen. She hears scratches at the door.
“I am coming” Martin yells while opening the door for CocoMoe. “Slow down, buddy,” she says as she closes the door and locks it. She hears her cell phone go off in her room, so she runs to see who it is calling her at this time in the morning.
In her room, Martin grabs her phone from the nightstand to see a picture of her adopted brother. She answers the call.
“Hey Dustin” Martin greets him. “Yeah, I got up…You know I have to get ready for my job at the theatre…How is Kanna and the parents? That good…Yeah, I was letting CocoMoe come in when you call…Oh, mom birthday’s come up right.? Yeah, I will make it…We are doing Beauty and the Beast for next mouth…Listen, I got to go…Tell everyone I said hi and I love them.” She then hung up the phone
In the living room, CocoMoe was laying down on a couch as Martin came in.
“Come on, Coco, time to go to work” Martin says as she grabs a special vest for him. CocoMoe was more than a dog to her, he was her support dog as well as the theatre support. CocoMoe came from a puppy mill, so when the Hawkins family got him, he was afraid of everyone around him. But with the love and care from the family, he came around. Later on, Martin was diagnosed with anxiety attacks, and CocoMoe was trained to be a support dog. She put him into the vest. They both went to the front door as Martin grabs his leash and her stuff. She puts on his leash and opens the door.
Outside, Martin locks the door behind them. They walk to a black, 2000 Chevy Cavalier which Martin then unlocks.
“Jump” Martin orders CocoMoe to get in the car, but he looks at her. “You are stubborn.” She picks him up and puts him on the passenger seat. “You got it from me,” she comments as she walks to the driver’s side of the car. Martin gets in and puts her messenger bag in the backseat, starts the car and drives off to work.
At the theatre, Martin parks her car, she grabs CocoMoe and her bag, and gets out. She then puts him on the ground to lock her car. Martin starts to walk to the door while she spots a police car outside the theatre doors.
“What going on?” Martin asks CocoMoe, who looks at her for a second, and then hides behind her. “It’s okay” she says as she picks him and walks to the door.
“Excuse me” a police officer calls out as he spots them.
“Yes?” Martin asks looks at him.
“Do you work here?” he asks.
“Yes, sir” Martin answers.
“That’s good. I am here to talk to the manager of the theatre.”
“Why? Did he do something?” Martin says as she put CocoMoe down at her feet so he could hide behind her.
“No, but I am here to ask if he knows a young woman”.
“He knows a lot of women”
“Does he know a young woman about 25-years-old with brown hair?”
Martin thought for a minute. “Like I said before, he knows a lot of women, even with brown hair”
“How about a woman name Regina Kyle?”
“Regina? By Ra, what did she do now?”
“Does she work here?”
“Yes, she is playing Belle in our show Beauty and the Beast” point to a poster. “What happened? Is she okay?”
“Her body was found this morning, she is dead!”
“Dead?”
“Yes, it appears she was stabbed to death”
“Come in, I think the manger is in his office” Martins says as she opens the door to the theatre.
In the theatre lobby, Martin lead the police man to the manager’s office and left to check in.
“That is sad, CocoMoe” Martin calls check in. “She got the part that she works it get, now she dead” walks backstage of the theatre. “I wonder if we go still did the show?” she calls got a clipboard to see what she was did today. “He may want me around everyone up to talk about what happen”
“I really did understand why you talk to him” a voice call out from the shadow. CocoMoe start to break when the owner walk out. It was a woman with hair like fire and blue eyes that could scare anyone. “He did not talk back and if you want to get to work on the stage, you can not be see talk to a dog” she calls look at CocoMoe, who was still break. “Shut the hell up, stupid dog” she yells about to kick him when Martin stand in front of her.
“CocoMoe is the theatre company’s support dog as well as mine. Try to kick him again, and you be walking with a limp.” Martin says as she walks away with CocoMoe at her heel. “And, Lois, if you want to work on the stage, be a star, lose the attitude. If you did not lose it, no one would put on the stage, you still in the costumes department.” She adds as her cell phone being to vibrate. She looks to sees who was calling and saw it was the manager, RJ. “Hey RJ, what up? Ok, I get the deck crew…see you in 10” Martin said end the call to see Lois left. She shocks her head and grabs a pair of headset. “Crew, RJ want everyone in the theatre in 10. It is mandatory” she speaks in the mouthpiece. She gets response from the crew that they are on the way. Martin whistles for CocoMoe to come and walks to the auditorium.
In the auditorium, Martin saw everyone from the crew and actors in the show already warm up. CocoMoe starts to run to the actors to give them some love. They stop when they saw him. They all pet CocoMoe, who loves the attention. Martin smile and walk over to a young woman about 20 years old walk her. Her hair was silver like the moon and eyes were hazel that show love to everyone.
“Hey, Luna” Martin greets as the woman look up. She smiles when she saw Martin.
“Hey, Martin” Luna greets while she gives Martin a hug then a kiss on the lips.
“How many time I have told you? I did not like be kiss…your girlfriend will kill me” laugh.
“I cannot help it; your lips are so irresistible”
“And you know I am into men”
“Yes, I know”
“However, if I was into women, you be the first one I call” Martin jokes. Luna and she were the closes friends. Luna first come out to Martin about be a lesbian couple week after kiss her. They talk for a way as CocoMoe come over to them and jump into Luna’s lap. Then a hush fell onto the stage. Everyone turn to see a shadow of a man across the stage.
“Thank you all of come here for this meeting” the man thanks walk to center. “I was giving some news today”
“What the news?” a stagehand asks from behind Martin.
“Our leading lady, Regina Kyle, was found dead this morning” the man answers. There were gapes across the theatre. Someone start to sob so bad that CocoMoe jump out of Luna’s lap and went to the person. The person pick CocoMoe up and start to pet him.
“How, RJ?” Luna asks the man name RJ.
“I did not know” RJ answers.
“Who will be play Belle?” Lois demands.
“Lois, have a heart, someone who is part of this family is dead and you want to know who is playing Belle” Luna said.
“She dead, the show needs to go on” Lois said. “And no one wants to hear from you, frag” she hisses while everyone gabs at that.
“That it” Martin yells get up. “I have told you to never call her a frag” Martin says get into Lois’s face.
“She is freak, she did not belong here” Lois argues.
“That is enough, Lois” RJ yelled sick of Lois’s attitude to everyone was different in her eyes.
“My grandfather said that the theatre people are family when he owes this place” Martin called. “He loves everyone in this theatre family”
“Your grandfather was freak too” Lois accused.
Martin turn away from her then punch her right in the face, broke her nose. Everyone was shocks.
“NEVER CALL HIM THAT” Martin screeches. Her breath was come hard to her. CocoMoe come run to her. He starts to lick her hand and she picks him up and pet him. Lois get up. She holds on to her nose to stops the bleeding.
“You bitch, you broken my nose” Lois curses. The theatre doors open with a slam, echo thought the theatre. A 30-year-old man walk. He was 6’5 tell with hazel eyes and hair that dark as night.
“What is going on, RJ?” a voice demands. “I got a call from the police about Regina’s death and I come to see how what is going. But I only see my godchild almost have an anxiety attack”
“Sir, Lois said something about Martin’s grandfather” RJ answers.
“Did she now?” the man says walk to the stage.
“I fine, Uncle Jason” Martin announces put CocoMoe down.
“I am not, she broken my noise” Lois yells. “I can taste the blood”
“Is it sour?” Luna jokes. Everyone laugh.
Lois glares at her. “Mr. Smith, Martin punch me in the noise. Are you going fired her?” she asks.
“No, but Martin knows better” Jason says looks at his godchild. Martin looks away, she was ashamed to look at him in the face.
“Mr. Smiths, we need to know who will be playing Belle now so we change some things. You are the director, it is your call” a voice asks from the crowd.
“I will think on it. I believe we all need a break from rehearsal to remember Regina” Jason answers. “But I want everyone back here around 1 clock so I can announce who will be replaces Regina.” Jason adds. Everyone starts to leave the stage. Lois glares at Martin then walks.
“Come on, Mart, let’s go to lunch, I pay” Luna says pick up CocoMoe.
“Wait for me outside. I feel Jason wants to talk” Martin orders gives Lina CocoMoe’s leash. She watches them away. Martin takes a deep breather. “Say it, I know you want to say it”
“What did she say” Jason asks lays a hand on Martin’s shoulder.
“He was a freak” Martin answered. “He been dead for a year and she had to says that.” Martin’s eyes start full up with tears, remember her grandfather that she was name after.
“Lois was try get under your sink. She wants you fired, she feels threatened” Jason calls.
“Because I am different from her?” Martin asks.
“No, kiddo, because you know what you do. Put people’s need in front of yours. Bring CocoMoe work so everyone can feel safe” Jason answers. “And your grandfather would be proud of you” Jason says giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Go catch up with Luna, and joy lunch. I be in my office” he orders walk way. Martin smile and run off to catch up.
Outside, Luna and CocoMoe are waiting for Martin outside the theatre. The doors open and Martin came out.
“That was fast” Luna call give Martin back CocoMoe’s leash.
“He need to work” Martin answers as they walk to a small café that was not far from the theatre.
“Who did think be playing Belle now?”
“I do not know, but I hope it is not Lois. If she got that part, haft of the crew will quite as well as I” Martin answers sat down at a table.
“I join you” Luna adds sat too. CocoMoe lays under, take a nap.
“Hey, you two” a sweet voice call out see Luna and Martin.
“Hey Sarah” Martin greets as CocoMoe looks to see who was and went back to sleep. Sarah work at the café and was the girlfriend to Luna
“Hi love” Luna smile kiss Sarah.
“What can I get you guys or the usual?” Sarah asks.
“Usual” Luna and Martin answers as Sarah smiles and nodded.
“Back in couple” Sarah calls give Luna a kiss then walk into the café. Martin’s phone start to going off. She looks to see who it is.
“It is Jason” Martin smiles. “Yes, dear uncle…yeah, we at the café…are you joking me? I tell her…see you.” Martin hung up.
“What?” Luna asks as Sarah come back out.
“Luna, you need to change your hair to…brown” Martin answers.
“You mean I play Belle?” Luna questions.
“Yes” Martin says as they hug.
Unknow to them someone listen in to her and Luna conversation. She was mad that Jason was pick Luna over her like he did with Regina.
She may sleep with him, like I said before none will stand in my way. the figure think walk away with a grin that would making little kids scram.
Back at theatre late that night, Martin and CocoMoe were the last people in the theatre and did a check to makes should everything was in order for the next day.
“Man, what a long day” Martin yawns. “We get home, making dinner then cuddle up in bed and watch some TV, that sound good, Coco” Martin says look down at CocoMoe, who was stiff the ground. Martin was about lock up when CocoMoe starts to bark. “What wrong?” she gapes as CocoMoe run to something. “CocoMoe, get back here!” orders run after him.
On the stage, CocoMoe was barking so loud that it echoed throughout the empty theater. Martin caught up to him.
“Coco, what is it?” Martin asks kneeling down to him when she spots a lump on stage. “I thought I told everyone to put their things way” Martin groans while getting up to see what it was while something silver caught her eye. “Luna, this that you? Why are you lying on the stage?” she asks while walking to Luna. Martin stops to see a rose on Luna’s body. Martin then reaches down to wake Luna up, but she saw a rope around Luna’s neck. She knew that Luna was dead. “No.” Martin cries out as CocoMoe walks over to them. “Who did this to you?” she hugs Luna’s body and cries
End of Chapter 1
