Inside My Mind: The Phantom of the Opera as told by Miss Christine Daae

Chapter 13: Love Duet

I am still pacing on the rooftop of the opera house when Raoul comes up the stairs and asks me "Why have you brought us here? We must return" "Don't take me back there," I plead, "he'll kill me, his eyes will find me there, those eyes that burn". Raoul responds "Christine don't say that, don't even think it". Clearly I'm not paying attention, since my mind is racing. I go on "And if he has to kill a thousand men, the Phantom of the Opera will kill and kill again."

Raoul tells me to "forget this waking nightmare" and that "this Phantom is a fable, believe me. There is no Phantom of the Opera" What does he know? He wasn't taken to his lair in the middle of the night through a mirror. I keep pacing saying "My God, who is this man? Who hunts to kill? I can't escape from him, I never will". Raoul is trying to understand what I'm saying. He repeats what I say "My God who is this man, this mask of Death, Whose is this voice you hear with every breath".

Our voices in unison now, I hear him say along with me "And in this labyrinth, where night is blind. The Phantom of the Opera is here (there)". He stops and I scream "inside my MIND". Again, and he seems so certain of this, Raoul abruptly announces that "There is no Phantom of the Opera!" I take a deep breath, and with my voice shaking, tell him that "Raoul I've been there, to his world of unending night. To a world where the daylight dissolves into darkness, darkness. Raoul I've seen him. Can I ever forget that sight? Can I ever escape from that face, so distorted, deformed. It was hardly a face in that darkness, darkness."

Then suddenly, I feel my mood change, and the tremble in my voice disappears. "But his voice, filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound. In that night, there was music in my mind. And through music my soul began, to SOAR! And I heard, as I'd never heard before." Raoul comes up to me and tries to assure me that what I heard "was a dream, and nothing more." I turn away from him and continue. "Yet in his eyes, all the sadness of the world. Those pleading eyes, that both threaten, and adore."

Raoul starts walking toward me saying "Christine, Christine". In the distance I hear the Phantom's voice say "Christine". In a panic, I shriek "What was that?" I walk around looking for the origin of the voice, my face stricken with fear and finally I collapse onto the ground, my head in my hands. Raoul walks over to me, extends his hand and says "Christine, come with me". I take his hand and he lifts me off the ground. He reaches up and removes the hood from my hair and pulls me close.

He calmly starts singing "No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here, nothing will harm you. My words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you beside you, to guard you and to guide you." I look up at him, suddenly feeling less panicked, and sing back. "Say you'll love me every waking moment. Turn my head with talk of summertime. Say you need me with you now, and always. Promise me that all you say is true. That's all I ask of you.

Taking both of my hands in his, Raoul starts leading me away from the dome of the opera house singing "Let me be your shelter, let me be your light. You're safe, no one can find you. Your fears are far behind you." I turn away from him and exclaim that "all I want is freedom, a world with no more night. And you, *I turn back around to face him* always beside me, to hold me and to hide me!" I hold out my hands and he comes and takes them in his. "Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me with you here beside you. Anywhere you go let me go too." He releases my hands, drops to one knee, looks up at me, hold up his hands and says "Christine, that's all I ask of you".

I am in shock. Is this really happening? Nodding, I take his hands in mine and crouch down so that our eyes meet, singing "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you!" We stand and he spins me around, letting go of my hands. We are a significant distance apart but we can still hear each other singing in unison "Share each day with me, each night each morning!" I ask him to "say you'll love me" and he assures me that "you know I do". Together, we sing "Love me, that's all I ask of you." My heart and mind still racing, Raoul comes closer to me and kisses me. I wrap my arms around him and he lifts me off the ground, my dress flying around me. He lowers me gently and kisses me again before we take each other's hands and sing "Anywhere you go, let me go too! Love me, that's all I ask, of you." We kiss again, sending my face into a big smile and Raoul's laughter echoes across the rooftop. He lifts me up again and spins me around.

As he lowers me to the ground again, I realize that I'm in my countess outfit and we must have been up on the roof for a good 20 minutes. I let go of Raoul's hands and laughing, say "I must go, they'll wonder where I am. Wait for me, Raoul." He follows after me and says "Christine, I love you. As we make our way to the doors of the opera house I say "Order your fine horses, be with them at the door!" Raoul adds, happily "And soon, you'll be beside me." I coo "You'll guard me and you'll guide me.

As we head down the stairs, we start singing "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you. Share each day with me, each night each morning".

My happiness is completely overshadowing the fact that the Phantom heard every word of what we had said to each other on that rooftop. But that doesn't even cross my mind. I am going on as the countess! I get my wig on, go out on stage, sing my heart out, and the curtain falls. The audience erupts in applause and the cast comes out to take their final bows. The company parts and I come through and bow. I back up, I hear the Phantom's evil laugh. The chandelier starts swaying The Phantom's voice screams "GO!" and before I have a chance to move, the chandelier comes crashing down and lands at my feet.