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

Chapter 20: The Phantom's Opera

*AUTHOR'S NOTE* Once again, everything leading up to Christine's entrance in Don Juan is made up. Also, until Christine realizes that the Phantom has taken over as Don Juan, she will refer to him as Piangi.

Well, tonight is the night. Don Juan Triumphant opens to the public. I am in my dressing room putting the finishing touches on my costume. Why am I doing this? I am putting my life on the line just to make the managers happy and end the Phantom's wrath. Why didn't I just explain what I know to them while I had the chance?

Out of nowhere, I hear the Phantom's voice booming "NO BUTS! FOR ONCE, MONSIEUR LE VICOMNTE IS RIGHT" Right about what? I can't help but tremble in fear. The voice continues 'SEAL MY FATE TONIGHT, I HATE TO HAVE TO CUT THE FUN SHORT. BUT THE JOKE'S WEARING THIN. LET MY OPERA BEGIN!" I hear the music start and decide it's time to finish getting ready.

My dress is very Spanish looking. It's pink with black lace accents and tiny silk roses. I have a black shawl that I walk out with and on my feet are black boots. I look at myself in the mirror and think for a second that the Phantom is behind the mirror looking back at me. I shake the thought out of my head and realize it's time to face the music.

Piangi says my cue "Passarino, faithful friend" so I have to take my place. I walk over to my dresser and pick up my father's photo. "This is it, Father. I am facing the Angel of Music. Wish me luck." I kiss the photo, grab my shawl and head out to take my place. I am sitting off stage and I hear Passarino and Piangi (Don Juan) talking. Piangi sounds cheerful. "If I do not forget myself and laugh! Ha ha ha" I start my entrance, shawl wrapped around me.

I start my entrance via stage right singing "No thought within her head, but thoughts of joy. No dreams within her heart, but dreams of LOVE!" I walk over to the table, put the shawl down, pick up and apple and sit on the bench. I hear Passarino say "Master", to a room that is blocked by a curtain, and I take a deep breath. From inside the room, I hear Piangi say "Passarino, go away for the trap is set and waits for its prey!" The curtains open and Piangi comes out dressed all in black, a hood covering his face. Closing the curtains behind him, he starts singing.

"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge. In pursuit of that wish which til now has been silent, silent." I stand up and strut away from the table, still holding the apple. He walks over to the table and picking up the gold goblet continues, motioning to me as he does "I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge. In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me."

He walks over and stands behind me. "Now you are here with me, no second thoughts." I lift the apple up to my mouth and he takes it from my hand saying "You've decided." He walks around me and hands me the goblet saying "decided". I take another deep breath as he continues. "Past the point of no return" I turn my head away and feel his hand underneath my chin. Wow, Piangi has cold hands. He draws my face towards him. "No backward glances, the games we've played til now are at an end." He puts his hand below the goblet and raises it to my lips. I pretend to drink out of it and lower it back down.

"Past all thought of if, or when" I wipe my mouth with my sleeve and as my arm moves in front of him, Piangi grabs my wrist. When did his hands get so cold? I turn and look at him and he continues "no use resisting". We start moving towards the curtain as he sings "Abandon thought and let the dream descend!" Before we reach the curtain, I break free of his grasp and run over to the table, put the goblet down and sit on the bench again. He walks towards me and continues. "What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door?"

I feel him behind me and he leans up against my back and as he runs his hand across my chest singing "What sweet seduction lies before us?" He stands up and we move our arms in sync as he croons "Past the point of no return" I run my hands down my face and body as he continues "The final threshold". He sits on my left and places his hand on the edge of my skirt. I feel the chill of his hand on my leg. He raises his hand, rubbing it across my body seductively singing "What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn, beyond the point of no return." As his hand brushes my chest, I turn towards and he suddenly looks away. I stand up and run away from the table. 'Breathe, Christine, Breathe' I say to myself.

Taking a deep breath, I start singing.