The Royal Ballet proudly presents the return of a beloved Christmas The Nutcracker His eyes stick to me, burning my skin as I twirl across the stage. My legs ache with exhaustion, and my head spins, but his hunger pushes me to excellence. His voice echoes in my mind with each step, reminding me that my best isn’t enough anymore. This Christmas he’s the only thing between me and rock bottom. Mikhail is the only director brave enough to take a has-been like me, but I’m not foolish to think his acts are born out of kindness. His price is high, and his demands are darker. Snow flurries, sugar plums, and sweet magic. I'm the broken nutcracker’s doll, and I enter his world willingly knowing there’s no coming back.

My back end spins out as I pull down an alley that’s nearly too tight for the car to pass. My grip on the stick shift tightens as I drop gears. Trash cans, hit the bumper, and fly over the top of the vehicle, but I can’t stop. The pointé is not the only thing I’m balancing over. I’m in too deep this time, and they are coming after me. I arrive at the door of the only person in the world I trust, but it’s not my ex-stepmother who answers my call. It’s her son. Diego. He’s all grown up now, nothing like the boy I once knew. He promises to protect me, and I sign my life away without reading the fine print. Secrets. Lies. Revenge. I’m too far gone, and Diego’s protection has a price that might be too high to pay. \*Scream, Snowdrop is a Swan Lake dark retelling. It’s part of the Royal Ballet Presents series but it’s a standalone and can be read on its own.