Angel of Music

Chapter Twenty-Four: Submission

For a final confirmation, the Phantom sings, "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude..." Slowly, he takes out a small delicate ring that glistened brightly towards Elsa. Holding out the ring for her, happily and gradually Elsa accepted the ring and placed it on her finger.

"Say you want me with you, here beside you. Anywhere you go let me go too -Elsa that's all I ask of ..." He never reaches the word 'you' as Elsa calmly and soft places a kiss upon his lips before returning to them again. Her hand wrapped around his neck while he closed his eyes and snaked his hand around her waist.

Bang!

The sound of gunfire broke the special moment the Phantom and Elsa shared. Hoping the shot would miss Elsa, her Angel brought her close to his chest. The shot, fortunately, missed its target.

Both their heads turn to observe the individual who had taken the shot. To Elsa's astonishment, Hans was the only one with a rifle. He had tried to kill her. He had tried to destroy her happiness. He had tried but failed.

Hans stood in box five, furious. He had missed. The gun in his hand he retrieved, with force, from the chief officer that was standing in his box. He was enraged that Elsa betrayed him. He was enraged that the shot had missed and hit an object that was most certainly wasn't his target.

How could she betray him like this? How could she make him look such a fool? How could she?

Screams of fear entered the atmosphere. The guest all began to make their way towards the exits but only to find that they were barricaded by the police. The police officers tried to calm the guests as they made their way forward. The officers tried their best to make their way towards the stage, but the guest held them back. If the police pushed, the guest pushed harder. If they pulled, so did the guests. The guests were adamant about getting out while the police were fixed on getting towards the stage. No one was going anywhere. Not for the moment.

Another shot was taken. Again, he missed. It hit the metal frame and shot into the air, towards the chandelier. Slicing through one of the ropes that kept the chandelier in place. The crystals shuddered as the chandelier began to move.

The Phantom quickly grasps Elsa, while cutting a rope. Holding tightly onto her Angel they flew and soon disappeared beneath a trap door that was hidden. The two were safe from the falling chandelier, unlike the guest above.

The guests screamed as the chandelier came their way. Rushing, screaming and running were the only things the guest could do. They did all they could to get away from the falling chandelier. Pushing, shoving, pulling and screaming. Humanity was not comprehended at the moment. All that mattered were their own lives. Nothing more, nothing less.

Vladimir is discovered by his dear wife. Blood seeped through his white shirt like a shattered glass of red wine. Grimhilde collapsed next to her deceased husband and cried as she never cried before. Pressing her hand to the bullet hole that was in his chest, she wept continuously. Her husband was dead.

"Vladimir, my love. Da hast mich zuerst verlassen," Grimhilde cried out, as her maiden tried to pull her away from her husband. With all her force, the maiden was able to remove Grimhilde away from her husband's body and direct her towards the exit of the burning building.

The chandelier swung forward. Leaping away, the orchestra ran for their life. The chandelier's direction was the stage. Growing closer to falling, the chandelier carried chairs, curtains and candles along with it. Luckily, no one was carried within the chandelier's grasp, only objects. However, more was to come. The candles that were carried along with the crash, had dropped. Flames burst to life, and promptly the flames consumed the fallen curtains. Fire came to life.

"Oh, my God," Lumier yelled as he watched from their box. They watched the chandelier fall, the fire start and the guest run. They watched it all. Oh, what a fool he was. Oh, how he wished he had listened to the Opera Ghost.

"We're ruined, Lumier-ruined!" Cogsworth yelled as he and his friend made their way swiftly towards the exit. As much as they were ashamed, they had no intention of dying along with their opera. No, they would live with their travesty.

Red, yellow, orange, seemed to be the most dominant colours. The colours consumed half of the first platform as if it was only the start. Soon, it advanced towards the second, the third, the fourth, and last but not least, fifth platform. The Opera was lit to life. Shortly the theatre would be demolished and gone forever. Fire and light would consume the building. No more darkness.

The corridors were crowded with frightened cast and stagehands. It was rather challenging for Hans to catch sight of a running Terpsichore. With a swift movement, he was in front of her and stop her from advancing.

"Take me to him!" Hans demanded in a rough and harsh tone. He was in no mood for negotiation.

Madam Terpsichore looked at him as if he was mad. She spoke plainly and quickly, "I will do no such thing!"

She knew now, that he was not a man to be trusted. Elsa had chosen the Phantom over the Vicomte. She chose beauty and music over power and wealth. If Elsa did not trust him either would she.

Hans, realising that Madam Terpsichore wouldn't give easily, grasped one of the ballet girls. Anna witnessed how the Vicomte seized Rapunzel and held a sword to her neck. Both Madam Terpsichore and Anna gasped at the sight and glared at the Vicomte.

He wouldn't dare, would he?

"I won't ask again, Madam Terpsichore," Hans stated as he pressed the blade harder against Rapunzel's neck. Letting out a whimper, Rapunzel glanced over at Anna who was on the verge of crying.

"Very well, follow me, Monsieur, I will take you to him," Madam Terpsichore stated as she bowed her head in submission. Her only hope that the Phantom would be prepared for the Vicomte's visit.

Hans let go of Rapunzel, allowing her to leap into Anna's arms, crying. Anna held her friend closely and watched how the Vicomte and Madam Terpsichore hurried down the corridors. Calming Rapunzel, she spoke soothing words to her.

"Everything is going to be okay," Anna whispered to Rapunzel, "the Phantom won't let him get away with this," Anna reassured as she continued to stroke her friend's hair as she glared daggers at the Vicomte.

The Phantom will punish the Vicomte, that Anna was sure off. He would not get away with burning the Opera and hurting her friend. Anna was sure and positive.