About a month after Demetrius turned five years old, Gustave and Bella decided to let him roam the opera house. They gave him his own little mask and Gustave guided him through the catacombs.

"Destler!" A man called.

"Yes, Monsieur André?" Gustave asked.

"Is this your boy?" André interrogated.

"Yes, he is. This is Demetrius Destler. Demetrius, this is Monsieur André," Gustave introduced.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Monsieur," Demetrius greeted.

The Destlers finished their chat with Monsieur André and Demetrius ran off to go meet some new people. That...well, let's just say that didn't go very well.
Demetrius went up to the first kid he saw. He introduced himself. The kid stared at him for a second and then ran away. Another kid asked Demetrius why he was wearing a mask. Demetrius told him why and the kid ran away screaming. Despite this, Demetrius didn't give up hope.
He saw a group of about five kids and walked over to introduce himself.

"Hello. My name is Demetrius," the boy greeted.

"Did you just come from a masquerade or something?" One kid asked.

"I...um...no," Demetrius stuttered.

"Take off that mask. You look stupid," said another child.

"Yeah. Take it off," another urged.

"No," Demetrius said firmly.

"Come on," the first child persisted.

The second kid walked up behind Demetrius and pulled off his mask briskly. The children screamed in fear. Demetrius ran away in tears.
Demetrius ran and hid in a dark corner of the opera house. There he sat, silently crying.

"W-Why am I d-different?" Demetrius sobbed.

"You're not different," came a young voice.

"What? Who's there?" Demetrius asked.

The girl stepped forward as she sang, "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you: you are not alone." The girl walked over and slowly kissed Demetrius on the cheek. "Let's get you out of here."

"Who are you?" Demetrius questioned.

"Shh shh. All in time," the girl replied, leading him away.

The two moved in and out of the shadows like a couple in a slow waltz, smooth and graceful. They made their way to the dormitories and found a vacant room. The stranger locked the door and the two engaged in conversation.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" The girl asked.

"My pride is slightly bruised, but I'll be okay," Demetrius replied, brushing off his suit jacket. "By the way, you never told me your name."

"Taylor. Mia Taylor," The girl replied with a friendly smile.

"Lovely name."

"Thank you. I was named after my mother. She passed away last year."

"I'm sorry to hear that. That must be really hard on you and your father."

"I don't have a father. He left the day my mother got pregnant with my sibling."

"I'm sorry. Where is your sibling now?"

"Dead. My mother was pregnant when she passed. The baby died with her," Mia explained.

"I don't know what to say," Demetrius said, embracing the girl.

"You don't need to. Just don't let go," was Mia's muffled reply. The girl buried her face in the boy's shoulder and began to sob gently.