A rough day didn't even begin to describe it. A bad month. A bad year. A bad life. He'd given up everything to be here and it was all falling apart around him. His music was being twisted and corrupted by a vile man. His muse was being stolen from him. She didn't even love the Duke. He knew she hadn't meant those words. Why had they cut him so deeply?

He'd show them. He'd show ALL of them! When he pulled the gun as had been planned from the start, there'd be blood on the stage! Did it matter whose? The Duke's would have been preferred. Maybe Satine's. Maybe his own. That would be the best option. At least it would stop the ache inside him.

He stopped as the man ran towards him. Anger eclipsed everything in his expression for a moment.

"Get out of my way," was all he said as he moved to step around the man.