Between Mirrors and Roses (A Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction) ✓

25: The Point of No Return

Christine

The day was indeed a point of no return. There was no going back on my decision to be with Erik. I'd made my choice, and now I would face whatever consequences of that choice arose.

I couldn't leave without a goodbye and an explanation to Meg. She had stuck with me this long; she deserved to know what would become of me after I vanished from the stage. I caught up with her as she meandered with some other girls toward the costume rooms.

I pulled her aside. "Do you have time to talk?" I asked.

"Absolutely," she said. "I don't have to be in costume for at least half an hour."

"This shouldn't take long," I told her and led her back to my dressing room so we could speak in private. Meg sat in my chair, and I stood in front of her, wringing my hands. "He did it," I finally said. "He proposed."

Meg gasped with her hands on either side of her face. "Oh, Christine, I knew it! When is the wedding going to be? What will you wear? Where will your honeymoon be?"

"Slow down," I said. "The Vicomte and the police and everyone are going to try to kill him tonight—"

Another gasp.

"—so we've planned an escape. He's going to steal me away after Point of No Return before they can find him. I don't know when it will be safe to contact you again."

"Oh, my love," Meg cried, leaping up and hugging me. "Be careful!"

I hugged her back tightly. "I'm going to miss you," I sniffed. "Thank you for always being there for me to talk to."

"Of course," she said. "Take care of yourself, and call on mother and me as soon as you possibly can. Preferably tomorrow!"

I let out a shaky laugh and let her go, wiping some moisture out of my eye. "Go get ready," I told her. "I'll see you backstage, and then it's goodbye for now."

Meg gave me one last hug then left me to change by myself. I slipped into my first costume and tightened all the strings. The gauzy material left me feeling almost as bare as I'd been only moments ago. It was time.

Since I was looking for them, I saw the guards stationed at the exits of the theater. They blended into the crowds, unique only in their stillness. They didn't look aggressive; mostly they just stood and stared into space, or watched in astonishment the colorful hive activity around them. The rest of the cast ignored them, but their presence was a frightening reminder to me of the danger Erik was in.

I took my place for my entrance far in advance, too nervous to do anything but fidget and run over lyrics in my head—as if I didn't know every role in the entire show by heart.

Everything went smoothly, just as in rehearsals; then at long last, it was time for the anticipated song.

I strolled onto the stage, the picture of naivety, singing about innocent love. I strained desperately to hear who would reply.

"Passarino," spoke a familiar voice. It was velvet, chocolate, silver: anything sensual and rich. "Go away for the trap is set and waits for its prey."

I imagined Erik creeping along the side of the room, his gaze locked on my figure. I envied the audience that could look at him as I couldn't.

He continued to sing, and his voice sent fluttering shivers through me. "You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge; in pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent... silent..." His voice washed over me in a way it hadn't since my first night in France, compelling and hypnotic. "I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge! In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped your defenses, completely succumbed to me."