[Phantom of the Opera] Ragdoll

In the black sky, the bright red sun crossed the black waves and appeared in the sky.All the darkness receded, and all the cold stars disappeared.The sunlight inlaid the clouds in the sky with golden edges, and it was full of brilliance for a while.The bright sunshine sprinkled every corner of the world, and also sprinkled on Lottie Butler's fair face.She opened her eyelashes under the rising sun, her dark eyes were full of confusion, but her whole body was shrouded in the golden light of the early sun.Sunrise, it's a new day.

little bell

The golden, scorching sun shone on Lottie's pale face, she raised her head absentmindedly, looking at the hot sun.

Lottie.Eric opened his mouth, but still couldn't pronounce the name.He followed the woman far away, lingering and unwilling to leave.

In Paris in the early morning, the nobles were still sleeping, but the commoners had already got up early and worked hard for their lives.The place where civilians gather in the east has gradually become lively.Those who sell breakfast and sell small items come out early to be busy.The hustle and bustle of human voices, this is the breath of the world.

Lottie followed the crowd blankly, not knowing where she was going or what she was going to do.She is like a newborn baby, pure and ignorant.Her soul was transparent in the sunlight, as if she had returned to before she was four years old.

At that time... what happened?

"Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" The crisp ringing of the bell attracted Lottie's attention, and she walked towards the source of the sound involuntarily, as if her soul had been absorbed.Her splendid evening dress was incompatible with this place, but Lottie didn't notice it at all, she just walked over with an inexplicable anxiety, and she pushed through the crowd.

It was a middle-aged man who was a performer, thin, with shining eyes, and he was leading a little golden-haired monkey with a playful smile on his face.There is a yellow copper bell hanging on the monkey's neck, which looks cute and clever, very cute.However, there was a thick iron chain that locked the monkey in the man's hand.The thin man greeted the surroundings and shouted triumphantly:

"Come and see the show! Come and see the show! The monkeys are performing for everyone! Everyone, please support us!"

He greeted around with a smile, and then his expression changed, he picked up the whip and slapped the little monkey's butt: "It's a show!" He pointed at a silver ring and asked the little monkey to climb up.The little monkey was in pain, and he didn't know whether it was losing his temper or he was really uncomfortable. He lay on the ground and squeaked for a long time but refused to move.Seeing the onlookers talking non-stop, the skinny man became more and more uncomfortable. He felt ashamed and furious, picked up the whip and slapped the little monkey: "I told you to be disobedient! Hairy bastard! Call you disobedient! Can't get up? Can't get up!"

The little monkey screamed in pain, twisted its body and struggled desperately, and the little bell around its neck jingled.But it was tied by an iron chain, and the monkey man wanted to clean it up deliberately, so the little monkey couldn't escape at all.The whip fell on him one after another, and the little monkey screamed in despair.The dark golden hair twirled and flew up, and bloodstains appeared one after another on his body.Some of the good citizens of Paris who were watching couldn’t bear it, but most of them were enthusiastic about it, and there were even applauding people, which made the monkey joker even more excited: "I told you to be disobedient! —— Get up!"

Lottie began to tremble after the first shrill scream from the little monkey...Big tears rolled out of her dark eyes, ran across her pale cheeks, and hit the ground.She couldn't control her urge to cry, she was trembling, her worst nightmare was unfolding, she was that helpless little girl again, suddenly thrown by fate into that cave, forced to face what she never knew Dark and sinful... the monkey is crying, screaming and she can't do anything... no, no!Lottie Butler woke up suddenly, she strode forward from the crowd and said, "Stop beating, I bought this monkey."

There was a moment of silence, and everyone looked at the woman who spoke, as if they didn't believe that someone was so idle and kind.The woman was wrapped in a long black velvet cloak, revealing a red tulle tulle skirt inside. The ruby ​​around her neck was bright, pure, and brilliant.Obviously born in a wealthy family, but somehow managed to get to this low-class place.And, with tears in your eyes?

The monkey joker laughed a few times in embarrassment, and stopped what he was doing embarrassingly, neither hitting nor not hitting.The petty bourgeois' awe of money prevented him from speaking ill of a meddling woman, but his own interests obviously came first.He rolled his eyes: "Miss wants to buy this monkey? But I have raised this little monkey for more than half a year, and I have a deep relationship with it. Besides, my whole family will point at me to eat with it, this... can't be sold!"

"Please quote a price." Lottie said briefly, pressing her heart.She was afraid that she was going to cry again, she was very uncomfortable, very uncomfortable.

"Two hundred francs." The monkey tricker ruthlessly quoted a high price.

"Deal." Lottie nodded lightly, and before the man could react, he handed over two hundred francs, and then took the iron chain.Under the dull gaze of the monkey tricker, she frowned and touched the little monkey's wound, then said, "The key."

"What?" The monkey-player was obviously still immersed in the surprise that fell from the sky and couldn't recover.

"The key." Lottie pointed to the chain tied around the little monkey's neck.

"Oh, this!" The attitude of the monkey player changed suddenly. This is a big customer, a rich man!Seeing her posture, I knew that I had asked for a little more just now... But thinking about it, the monkey man is still very considerate to the woman who has just made a generous move. He took out the key and said, "Miss, I can't unlock it. This The guy is wild and unruly, what if he runs away..."

But Lottie ignored him, and after she got the key, she directly opened the iron chain around the little monkey's neck.The iron chain fell to the ground with a clatter, revealing the deep red marks on the little monkey's neck from being strangled.Lottie burst into tears, and she hugged the little monkey with sobs.The little monkey seemed to feel her kindness, and it just struggled twice with its paws raised, without biting or moving, which surprised everyone.

"Blood!" Suddenly someone screamed, and Lottie lowered her head slowly, only to find out why the little monkey didn't struggle—the little monkey was already very weak from the violent beating just now. It was dripping with blood.

It seems something is repeating itself.Lottie stood there holding the little monkey in despair, ignoring the crowds around her.She was dazed, flustered, and didn't know what to do.Looking for a doctor?Find a doctor!But another voice seemed to tell her that it was useless, and it was useless to go to the doctor, the little monkey would die.Why?She asked anxiously, another voice repeated subconsciously, making her gradually believe that she would forget even the first thought.Lottie didn't know what to do.She was even more desperate than before, as if she knew that what she was heading for was a doomed death.

"Is your name Little Bell?" She lowered her head in a daze and asked stupidly, "Can I call you Little Bell?"

------

Where are you going?How to do?Lottie's heart went blank.She didn't even know how many tears she shed, and then, a man separated everyone and came to her.Lottie looked up and saw anxious light green eyes.

"...Eric," she called absently.

"Let's go." Eric wanted to hug the monkey, but Lottie hugged her even tighter with a terrified expression. He could only grab her arm.His palm was dry and warm, and the heat slowly spread to Lottie's body, "Let's go to the doctor."

"Go to the doctor?" Lottie asked blankly.

"Go to the doctor." Eric replied affirmatively, "Let's go, there is still time."

"It's not too late." Lottie repeated, a pale smile suddenly appeared on her face scorched by despair, "It's not too late." Her face was covered with tears, but she smiled big, "It's not too late .”

Eric smiled at her and grabbed her arm.The two ran together through the streets of Paris.

Everything seems to be overlapping and different from 15 years ago.They are eager to catch up, chasing after what has been missed.Time travels back to 15 years ago at this moment, whether it is a repeat of fate or mutual salvation, no one can know at this moment.

------

medical hall.After spending a lot of money, a doctor was willing to treat the little monkey. He grabbed the doctor's hand and asked him repeatedly, but the doctor simply replied, "The wound looks scary, and it's not life-threatening." He was rushed in to treat the little monkey.Originally, that little monkey was a tool used by the monkey juggler to make a living. It was possible to blow it out, but how could it really break it?That is, the bleeding looked scary, and Lottie's memories overlapped in a trance, so she thought that the little monkey's life was in danger.Such panic made the doctor dumbfounded.

But Lottie and Eric couldn't think of that level, and after they both breathed a sigh of relief, they were actually still vaguely concerned.In the corridor of the medical building, Lottie sat on a bench, her elbows resting on her knees, her face covered with her hands.Eric half-kneeled in front of her, stretched out his hand to push her hand away, and held her face.

"Lottie," he called softly.

Lottie's unfocused eyes slowly focused on Eric's face, the woman's complexion changed drastically, her lips twitched, and the truth seemed to be revealed.She looked directly at the man's light green eyes and white mask, and suddenly asked:

"Can I see your face?"

song of love

"Can I see your face?"

As if she was sleepwalking, she spit out these words lightly, but all of a sudden let Ai