Prologue
The year was 2000, in Calgary Alberta, the Backstreet Boys were on top of the world, successful far beyond they dreamed. Nothing had stood in their way and they knew it. Each boy with his voice, his personality, and his voice, they were loved everywhere in the known world. Kevin Richardson-the serious one, tall, dark and handsome, Kevin was known as the father figure of the group. Howie Dorough-the sweet one, short, latin, and charming, Howie was the prince charming of the group. Brian Littrel-the nice one, blue eyed, religious and nice, Brian was the one that every girl wanted to bring home to their mother. AJ McLean-the wild one, multicoloured, sweet, and cool, AJ was the one that every girl learned the meaning of don’t judge a book by its cover from. Nick Carter-the cute one, tall, shy…and handsome beyond words. Each boy was humble and respectful… until they grew big. Kevin, Howie, AJ, and Brian all kept their head. But growing up in a world where he was continually admired for his looks Nick quickly grew arrogant… conceited, he waved off anyone who tried to be kind and let every compliment sink into his head. Until one day…
Lightening struck over the small city, rain came down hard and many ran to become warm and dry. Among those a large rented house with a gate around it. Inside Nick lay on his bed thinking over the day, loving the cheers that the women would give him, knowing they wanted him beyond doubt. He smiled.
Knock! Knock! Someone pounded on the door. He sighed and got up, then walked to the door. He opened the door to find a soaked, big, dirty woman standing there, “What?” he asked.
"Please sir," the girl asked "In exchange for this rose here, could I please stay with you the night?"
Nick sneered at the rose in the ugly girls hand "No way!" he exclaimed "I’m not having some ugly, fat, muddy looking woman come into my house and fuck it up."
"I must warn you Mr. Carter," the woman said "Don’t be fooled by apperances…true beauty lies inside a person…not on them."
Nick laughed "Well it looks like the only thing that lies in you is an ugly stick!" he laughed.
The girls eyes narrowed and she suddenly stood up straight, a light burst from around her, and Nicks eyes widened as he saw she’d become a beautiful angel.
Nick fell to his knees "I’m so sorry!" he apologized "I…I…"
"There shall be no excuses for you Nickolas" she said in a powerful voice "You’ve shown me the blackness, and arrogance in your heart…and for that you must be punished."
She saw the fear in his eyes "Your punishment shall not be to die" she told him "But to live…as ugly as your heart…"
Nick jumped up and ran, when suddenly lightning struck the house and it sparked, the fire quickly consumed his house quicker than he’d ever seen before. He ran up to his room, and quickly tried to jump out the window, but the fire had taken his room and he suddenly realized that he was surrounded. He turned and saw the woman standing there "Please!" He cried.
"Please?" she asked "Please? Isn’t that what I asked you downstairs? Before you turned me away for not looking like this? And had I looked like this I know you would have tried to bed me. No Nick, you shall not receive the mercy you wouldn’t give me."
Nick looked around for a place to say when suddenly a spark flew at him…and landed on his face. He screamed out in pain and terror and felt the fire begin to consume him. She watched and shook her head in pity, she never wanted to do this…but in order for him to understand the pain he’s inflicted on others…he would have to face it himself…it was the only way.
Nick cried out in pain as the fire surrounded and burned his flesh, suddenly he felt it begin to go away…it was slowly fading away. When it had all gone he was almost completely burned, half his body had been burned. He was in too much pain to move but then he heard her voice "Nickolas" she said "This is your punishment for your pride and arrogance, you shall remain like this until the end of your days…unless…"
"Unless what?" he asked from the ground, now not in pain…but in shock.
She looked down into his eyes "Unless you learn to love" she told him "Only when you have learned to love unselfishly and have your love returned the same way shall this curse be lifted, and your body returned to normal. Remember Nickolas…true beauty lies within the heart and body…not outside of it…remember that and your lively hood shall be returned."
She then disappeared.
Nick waited a few minutes before slowly climbing to his feet. He then realized that he wasn’t in Calgary anymore, he was in a large, strange castle-like house. He was inside a living room, leaning against a unlit fire place. He then noticed the large mirror that was across the room, he looked to it and slowly made his way. He walked up to the mirror, head down…scared of what he’d see. Nick then slowly looked up at his reflection…and screamed.