The Phantom's Guardian (the Phantom of the Opera fan fiction)

Part 16 - A fallen Chandelier

       

Part 16 – A fallen Chandelier

Two more chains gave out from the weight as the chandelier started swinging wildly in the air. Bits and pieces of burning wick and candles fell onto the stalls, starting small fires in the auditorium.

The chains holding the chandelier creaked and the ceiling cracked as more chains are yanked out by its weight. Halfway towards the stage, the chandelier stopped, suspended mid-air by two thin chains tangled in it. Shouts filled the hall as the audience ran in every direction, ball gowns toppling and people stepping on each other. The orchestra emitted strange sounds as the musicians ran over their instruments. Desiree shouted at the cast onstage.

"Run, get off the stage!"

As she was helping Christine get off, Desiree heard anther scary sound of metal groaning. When she looked up, one of the two chains holding up the chandelier gave out and sent the suspended chandelier into another direction with renewed momentum...

Towards the other corner of the stage where Clara stood frozen like a statue.

"Clara, look out!", Desiree shouted and started running at the same time. She enfolded Clara in her arms and rolled both of them out of the way, while the chandelier tore into curtains and canvas, finally crashing with a horrific noise on the stage.

Wind knocked out of her chest, Desiree wheezed and blinked her eyes rapidly to clear her vision and stared up into the dumbfounded face of Clara.

"Oh my God, Clara, what were you doing freezing like that? You could have died!", Desiree started ranting.

However, she stopped her tirade when she noticed Clara was still looking at her with a flabbergasted expression.

"What is it, Clara? Are you hurt?"

Instead of answering, Clara slowly looked down to where her hands laid on Desiree's chest,

And said,

"Derrick, you are not a man!!"

_ _ _ _ _ _

(Oh, s**t! *&^&^$!!) Desiree's conscience spewed some of Sharon's choice profanities.

"Umm, I can explain, Clara! Come with me, please.",

Ignoring all the pain in her body, Desiree got up and dragged Clara into the back of the theatre. Fortunately, everybody was still running around and Clara was still too dazed to protest.

Desiree stumbled out the back entrance of the theatre into an alleyway when Clara suddenly wrenched her hand away from Desiree's, her eyes filled with accusation.

"Where are you taking me? Are you some kind of criminal?"

"No, I am not!"

"Why did you pretend to be a man then, Derrick? Oh god, is Derrick even your real name? Who are you?"

"I promise to answer all your questions if you calm down, Clara."

Clara seemed to stop and took several deep breaths.

"Go on."

"My real name is Desiree. I wanted to work at Opera Populaire so I decided to dress up as a man."

"If you wanted only a job, you could have gotten the position of a seamstress like me as a girl. Moreover, of all the places in Paris, why did you want to work here?", Clara interjected.

('Yup, answer that, you genius!') Desiree could hear her conscience mocking her in Sharon's voice. This was not a good time for a discussion like that, she sighed wearily. Her body is still aching and adrenaline caused her heart to beat wildly, scrambling her thoughts. At last, Desiree decided to give Clara the half-truth.