Sing Once More (A Phantom of the Opera Phan Fic)

Chapter 4

Reagan had spent the rest of the afternoon in the shadows with Erik, snooping around here and there and scoping out the Opera Populaire.

Erik, of course, knew the place by heart and could have gotten away with about anything. But, he realized Reagan wasn't as fast on her feet. She also just wanted to snoop around in his business.

They walked along the rafters above the stage, watching as the dancers performed their number from Hannibal.

"So...what do you suppose you're doing right now?" Reagan asked.

"What do you mean?" Erik countered her question, rather confused.

Reagan looked over the edge of the railing at the ballet girls. "I mean, what do you suppose the past Phantom is doing right now? Like, do you remember what you would be doing at this exact moment."

"Yes...I remember." Erik replied somewhat dryly.

"What where you doing then?" Reagan prodded.

Erik didn't respond. He just kept walking, giving an occasional glance at the ballet girls.

"Why don't you talk about your past? I hear that it actually is better to discuss it than to keep it to yourself." Reagan said, walking close behind Erik.

"Well, I think that's a false statement. All my past does is bring me pain." Erik said, stopping suddenly.

Reagan smacked into his back, not expecting him to stop so short. "Hey! What the...

Erik put a hand over her mouth. "Shh..." He whispered. "We have a bit of company." He pointed to the adjacent rafter.

There stood the past Phantom, looking down over the ballet girls. Reagan's eyes widened in curiosity. Her eyes darted between the past and present, noting the similarities and yet the many differences.

Erik slowly pulled his hand from her mouth. "Keep quiet. If he sees us, mainly me, that could mess up the present." He whispered.

"He looks so similar and yet so different from you." Reagan whispered, standing still and motionless.

"Well, time still has its affects on me..." Erik replied, looking at his past self.

Reagan watched as the past Phantom dropped a letter from the rafters and began to walk off. "Where is he going?" She asked.

"Back to the lair, of course. He, or I, merely wanted to give a cordial welcome to the managers." Erik said, a little bit of joy and laughter in his voice.

"Yeah cordial. Like, scare the crap out of them cordial." Reagan smirked.

Erik nodded and moved on, walking over to the side wall off the rafters.

Reagan paused, watching the past Phantom a moment more before following after Erik. "I wish I could meet him."

"You have..." Erik replied over his shoulder.

"No not you. Him. You're different than he is. Sure, you may be the same person, but your interests have changed and you've almost become separate individuals." Reagan noted.

Erik stopped, turning to look at Reagan. "He would not have cared to meet you in the first place. He is possed by one thing and one alone. It was a mistaken thing. Something that ruined his life. Something that ruined my life..."

Reagan kept quiet a moment, just looking at Erik. "Why do you wear a full mask instead of a half?"

"Why do you dress like a tramp instead of a lady?" Erik countered.

Reagan crossed her arms and scowled at him. "I do not dress like a tramp! These are modern clothes thank you very much. I just haven't taken time to change."