Phantom's Fate 《Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction》

25

A/N: Buckle your seatbelts, this chapter will take you for a ride ;)

Enjoy!

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《Alia》

The weeks count down like minutes, landing us on the very day Don Juan Triumphant premieres. Tonight is opening night, and my pent up anxiety for tonight is nearly bursting at my seams. Meg has been very supportive of me, holding me close whenever we had to practice with Christine in the room. Countless times, I've gotten subtle glares from her, a flick of her eyes raking my body. Who the hell is she to judge? After all the pain she's caused, she has no purpose in judging me. Then, there was Raoul. The man would not leave me alone. Whenever I was with Meg anywhere backstage, he would come by and loom around us as if Erik would come out of the shadows at any point. Seriously, dude, back off! He has the gall to call us freaks.

Voices hush others around us as the lights behind the curtain glow to life. We are already partially into the performance, the Point of No Return coming up shortly, too quickly for my liking. I await anxiously in my chocolate ballerina dress, gripping the three tier skirt with sweaty hands. The gold and red accents glisten as the stage lights shine on the two men singing on stage. Piangi finishes his lick and disappears behind the curtain, and this is where my heart starts to ache. Please don't kill him, I repeat in my head. Please, Erik, don't kill him.

"Relax, Alia," Meg whispers near my ear while she grips my shoulder. "He has a plan, and it's for you."

For me? I cast a curious glance at my blonde friend, and the silent twinkle in her eyes says it all. What are they planning? Before I can ask, Erik's voice immediately catches my attention, and I watch him emerge in the black anonymous costume. "Passarino... Go away for the trap is set and waits for its prey..."

I swallow hard, my nails digging into my palms. If his voice is already swooning me, I can't imagine what this new-leaf-Christine will be feeling. I just hope to God everything goes smoothly tonight, and Erik remains loyal to his word. My eyes raise again and follow Erik as he sings like a Spanish angel, his accent rolling perfectly from his lips. I know one thing for sure; I wouldn't hesitate to hear Erik sing for me with a Spanish accent. It suits his voice quite nicely.

Anything suits his voice, actually.

Falling in and out of a trance, I watch Erik as he glides across the stage, his heavenly voice filling my soul.

"You have come here,

In pursuit of your deepest urge,

In pursuit of that wish which till now,

Has been silent...

Silent..."

My eyes wander to Christine as she sits with her legs spread on the bench by the table. Instant disgust falls over my face. Of course she'd be sitting like that. Our play in my time wouldn't allow such a position, despite being a college act. Now, I can very well see why. My disgust melts away as Erik sings again, toward a rising Christine with an apple in her hand.

"I have brought you,

That our passions may fuse and merge,

In your mind you've already succumbed to me,

Dropped all defenses,

Completely succumbed to me..."

He advances toward her, but for some reason, his cloaked face persistently turns in my direction, as if looking straight at me. I fidget in my costume, uncomfortable watching any of this, but his obvious concern helps melt the anxiety away. Meg's arm around me also eases my tension.