Marie watched the guardsmen leave with Frederic’s body. Maestro Fouré had arrived during the commotion—another man to make sure they were safe but who couldn’t do anything about the situation. He, Lucille and Iris tried to get Marie to come farther inside into the theatre, but she refused. She had to know Johann was safe. Yes, she could acknowledge the desire as irrational—what was he to her, or her to him?—but she couldn’t sit still in the semi-dark and wait. At least this way she could watch outside for his return.
A woman caught her attention. Not that it was difficult to spot her—the streets were generally deserted, people hiding in their basements and other underground places, and she also wore bright blue, which made her stand out and identified her as a streetwalker.
She must be t
