Stories of the Night (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 17: One Day

I sit with my eyes closed, the music flowing through me. I breathe with the music as it swells and then comes down from its soaring height, my heart still racing as it comes to an end.

The audience erupts into applause.

"There you are." Erik interrupts the final moments of the piece that still rings in my ears.

I can feel him sit down next to me. I had been in box five, listening as the orchestra had played a concert.

"I just needed music." I sigh. I open my eyes and glance at him.

He just nods.

"Oh I miss it Erik! I miss being able to dance and feel the music flowing through me. I lived on that rush!" I exclaim.

"I know, my love. I know, and it's my fault you will never be able to do such a thing again, I never should have left you alone at the Masquerade." He sighs, looking down into the audience.

"It wasn't your fault, Erik. It was my father's." I shake my head as I reach out and take his hand.

"I'm scared." He breathes.

"Of what?" I ask as I stand from my seat and gently sit down on his lap.

"I'm scared that I'm going to lose you. Our wedding is tomorrow, and what if you change your mind? What if you decide you don't want to marry a monster?" He strokes my cheek.

I lean into his hand as I reply, "Erik, I would never leave you. For me to leave someone would either have to take me against my will or kill me and bury me six feet under."

He smiles, "And to do that, they would have to kill me first, my love."

I nod, glancing away as I watch the audience leave the opera house.

He drags his fingers through my hair, "I still can't believe it. A living bride to call my own. What shall we do after we are married, my love?"

I turn back, "Not a clue."

"We could travel the world, or stay here in Paris. We could stay here and run this Opera House together. With my new mask, no one would know who I am, I could be any rich patron I want." He grins and looks at me, "I could buy this Opera House!"

"That is a wonderful idea!" I laugh.

"Then I could run this place correctly. I would never have to deal with mindless managers again!" His eyes gleam with excitement, "And you could help me! With you by my side I could do anything!"

I smile, shaking my head, "We have to get married first."

"Do you have everything ready?" Erik asks, "Your dress? Your mask? Your jewelry?"

"Of course I have everything ready!"

"I just want to make sure. This is as important for you as it is for me. I want all your dreams to come true," he whispers.

"And they will. I am marrying a man I love dearly. What more could I ask for?"

"The world and I would gladly give it to you." He lifts me up and sets me on my feet. "Shall we head back down now?"

I nod, glancing back and taking one last look at the stage, the longing in my heart to perform growing stronger with every passing minute.

I turn back around and slip my arms through Erik's. We slowly make our way back down into the depths of the Opera House. 

"You know..." I start, "It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride the day of the wedding."

"I don't believe in bad luck. If I did, my entire life would just be a stroke of bad luck," Erik chuckles.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

We stop in the dark, damp, stone hallway. "I am. Besides, I don't know how I could spend a night without you."

"True." I nod in agreement as we start walking again.

Within minutes we are back down in Erik's lair. The shadows from the many candles dance on the walls.

"Just think," Erik starts, "One day I won't have to hide down here. One day we will both be able to freely walk the halls of the Opera House and no one would question us." He comes over to me, wraping his arms around me, "One day we will get our happily ever after, and that one day will be tomorrow."