The stage bore the haunting testament of its grim history, marred by a tapestry of both old, dried splotches and fresh, glistening puddles. The oppressive scent of death hung thick in the air, a suffocating presence that dared to overshadow all else. Amidst this macabre setting stood a solitary figure, a woman poised as if the very essence of the stage's tragic tale.

Her graceful form beckoned to the audience, a lone dancer daring the shadows to join her in a mournful waltz.