Stories of the Night (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 13: Giselle

He cradles me in his arms as I lay there limply, people gather around us staring.

He shakes me, trying to revive me, but it is to no avail. His face is contorted in pain and agony at what has happened.

The audience stands cheering and clapping as the first act comes to a close. I just found out that Erik could dance, and quite well I might add.

The mask he had invented hiding his face, giving him the chance to step in as the male lead after the original had quit the company just this morning. No one was the wiser, everyone just thought he was a new dancer they had found in the nick of time.

Erik leads me off stage and I don't even have a chance to speak to him before I am rushed to my dressing room to change.

I grin as I look in the mirror while redoing my makeup. The first act was perfect, I had nailed my final solo where Giselle goes insane after finding out that the man she is engaged to is actually a Duke who is betrothed to someone else.

She then dances starting very slowly at first, trying to calm herself but she continues to get more and more upset until she is dancing so quickly she dances herself to death.

I was so into my character that I had started to cry, thinking back to when I had seen Erik with Christine. I still fear what she has planned.

I jump when there is a knock on the door. "Come in." I call.

I grin widely when I see Erik walk in behind me as I look in the mirror. "You look beautiful." He says as he comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

I put the finishing touches on my ghostly make up and turn around in his arms. "Thank you Erik."

His lips brush the tip of my nose as I wrap my arms around him. "Are you looking forward to the masquerade tonight?" He asks.

I nod, "I am very much, what were you going to dress up as again?"

He smirks and shakes his head, "That my dear is a surprise." He pecks my lips, "We better be going, the second act will begin any moment now."

I sigh and take a final glance in the mirror and leave the dressing room with Erik.

Suddenly Erik stops before rounding a corner, on the other side I hear a voice I would recognize anywhere. Christine. "The witch is going to the masquerade with him, I want you to ruin it for her."

I glance at Erik, pale as a sheet. His hand tightens around mine as he whispers, "Everything will be fine, I'll find out what's happening and fix it."

Erik pulls me around the corner and we walk on like nothing ever happened. "Erik why does she hate me so? She left you, she should know that it's over."

He just shakes his head and  walking, "Even I haven't figured that one out yet."

We stop as we come up to the wings of the stage, he pecks my cheek and whispers, "Break a leg, my dear." He then takes off heading to the other side to get ready for his que.

I sneak on and crouch down behind the fake gravestone ready to dance and finish the ballet.

The second act goes smoothly and we all exit the stage and prepare for our final bows. First the corp goes on and then the soloist, after them the minor characters, and then the queen of the ghosts takes her bow. Finally Erik runs out and takes him bow he then comes back to get me.

I grin as we bow once again and back up for the curtain to close, applause echoes through the theater. Erik gives my hand a squeeze and winks at me, mouthing, "Now for the real fun to begin."

Erik escorts me offstage, I continue to glance around worried that whoever Christine was talking to would jump out an do something terrible.

Erik suddenly stops and spins me around towards him, setting his hands on my shoulders, "Stop worrying everything is going to fine and if it's not I will make everything fine."

I nod, "Alright, alright."

"Now let's go get ready." He smiles.