The Crown Jewel of London Theatre, Drury Lane, had always been whispered to possess a certain mystique. But for the cast and crew of the new production, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the whispers took a sinister turn. It began subtly. A misplaced prop here, a ripped costume there. The once jovial backstage atmosphere curdled with suspicion. Then came the first sighting.

Old Barnaby, the night watchman, with his rheumy eyes and perpetually trembling hands, swore he saw a creature flit across the stage – a wiry imp with fiery red hair, its eyes glowing like embers. The rumor spread like wildfire. Soon, everyone was talking about the Ginger Snap Demon of Drury Lane.

Amelia, the understudy for the lead role of Titania, scoffed at the tales. A woman of reason, she dismissed it all as backstage jitters. Until one fateful night. During the climactic fairy revel scene, a sudden, unearthly shriek tore through the theatre. The stage lights flickered, plunging the audience into momentary darkness. When the lights returned, Amelia found herself face-to-face with a grotesque, red-headed creature, its grin filled with needle-like teeth.

The demon, no bigger than a mischievous child, cackled with glee, snapping its bony fingers. In that instant, the set props – a whimsical hodgepodge of flowers and toadstools – transformed. The flowers became thorny vines, the toadstools sprouted grotesque, fanged maws. Panic erupted. The audience, initially confused, fled in terror as the demonic flora attacked.

Thinking fast, Amelia remembered a forgotten line from the original script, a verse meant to appease the fairies. With a deep breath, she proclaimed it, her voice ringing through the chaos. The effect was instantaneous. The monstrous flora wilted, the demon whimpered, and with a final, spiteful snap of its fingers, vanished into a puff of acrid smoke.

News of Amelia's bravery spread far and wide. The "Ginger Snap Demon Incident," as it came to be known, became a legend whispered amongst theatre folk.  But for Amelia, it was a stark reminder that even the grandest stages could hold secrets, and that sometimes, the line between fantasy and reality could be as thin as a whispered rumor