Death's Mask- Prologue: Before the Curtain Rises.

A dark, clear night in early autumn, a young woman takes a jog through the city park. With the moon as her only source of light, she weaves through the stone paths. Dim figures of bushes and trees slip past her on either side. As she rounds a bend, she hears the sound of rustling of bushes behind her. Stopping to look, a large man dressed in dark clothing emerges from the bushes. Frightened, the woman turns back and runs as fast as she can down the stone pathway. Her heart pounds in her chest as she hears the sound of heavy steps pounding of the pavement behind her.

The young woman darts into the woods in an attempt to elude him. Dodging and weaving through the trees, she heads toward the heart of the park. She makes her way through the forest and winds up at the fountain in the center of the park.

To her relief, she doesn???t hear the man behind her. She decides to lay down on the edge of the fountain to catch her breath. Just as she does, several men appear from several sides, all dressed in the same dark attire of her previous pursuer. Before she has a chance to run, the men grab her and hold her down. She struggles, but the men overpower her.

???Help me!??? she screams as the men pull at her clothing.

???No one is coming so don???t bother,??? says the man holding her legs. He then turns to the man holding her arm and says, ???Take off her shirt. Then we can have some fun.???

Just as he follows his comrade order, he stops. They all stop as they hear a strange, repetitive thud against the pavement in the distance. The unknown noise grows louder as it grows closer.

Over the horizon, an enigmatic figure approaches. A snake-head cane thuds against the pavement as he walks, generating the strange sound. Closer the figure comes, until he is only a few feet away from the men. The men in dark clothes stare dumbfounded at the man standing in front of him.

The man is dressed in a black tux with a white vest and black bow tie. The tails on his coat flutter behind him in the autumn breeze as he stands there. He keeps his head down, causing his top hat to conceal his face.

???Well well, what is going on here???? the enigmatic man asks, his white gloved hands reaching for the brim of his hat.

One of the men leaves the young woman and approaches the enigmatic man. Towering over him, the man swings a punch, but the mysterious man dodges with ease and steps past the man.

???I suggest you let the girl go,??? the mysterious man says.

???Who the hell do you think you are???? shouts the man behind him.

???If you must ask,??? says the enigmatic man as he removes his top hat. ???I go by the name Gentleman Phantom.???

His face is covered by a white mask. Two big blue circles for eyes, and a red smile is painted upon the mask.

The man behind him swings at him, shouting, ???Take this you freak!???

Again Gentleman Phantom gracefully dodges. A white glove reaches for the cobra head. He draws a sword hidden within the cane. The blade pierces through the man???s chest and he collapses instantly.

???How cowardly to attack me with my back turned,??? Gentleman Phantom gleefully says.

The other men charge at Gentleman Phantom in retaliation. In one fluid motion, he cuts down all of his attackers. They fall where they stand, blood gushing from their wounds like a fountain. Grabbing a handkerchief, Gentleman Phantom wipes the blood off his blade, and then sheaths it back in its cane scabbard.

The young woman gets to her feet and approaches Gentleman Phantom.

???Thank you for saving me sir,??? she says happily.

???Come now, my dear,??? Gentleman Phantom responds. ???This is only the interlude. The curtain has yet to be raised for the grand performance. And I must apologies, but there can only be one player introduced for the opening act.???

She looks at you oddly, asking, ???What do you me???????

Her voice was cut off as a bullet passed through her chest. Gentleman Phantom places the magnum back into his coat pocket. Gazing at her lifeless body, he moves the mask off of his face. A maniacal smile appears across his lips.

???Now,??? he begins, ???It is time for the first act to begin.???