His Voice as Soft as Thunder

Act 1 - Scene 6: The Phantom of the Opera/Music of the Night

His grasp was soft as their hands connected, his gentle strength pulling her closer toward him. As their gazes laid on eachother, a smile formed at _________'s lips. She began to move with him as they slowly walked away from the dressing room and down the torchlit corridor that never seemed to end.

The sounds of water dripping accompanied the soft scuffing of his shoes on the stone as they walked on in silence, their hearts beating out of their chests.

"In sleep he sang to me," _________'s tender voice echoed in the emptiness, taking her strange partner by surprise. He looked back to see her staring intently at his face.

"In dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. And, do I dream again? For now I find... the Phantom of the Opera is there... Inside my mind..."

Hesitantly, the man looked back around as his mind raced with thoughts of different kinds. His heart beats becoming erratic, his head becoming light as he tried to breathe at a normal pace. As he inhaled an excited breath, he overtook the echo of her voice with his own.

"Sing once again with me, our strange duet. My power over you, grows stronger yet. And, though you turn from me, to glance behind! The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind..."

Their journey down led them to a singular horse, it's black main shining in the torchlight that illuminated their path. They came to a halt as _________ was gently lifted onto the horse, his eyes looking up at her for a reassuring look that she was secure. She smiled and began to bounce gently as the horse was guided down the path by her mysterious new friend.

The ride was fairly short, and they soon found themselves reaching the edge of a large lake. _________ slipped off of the horse, into his arms again as they prepared to board the small boat that was moored nearby.

"Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear." she smiled sweetly as she held onto the man's shoulders, keeping her balance as he gently rowed them across the softly lapping water.

"I am the mask you wear,"

"It's me they hear."

"Your spirit,"

"And your voice,"

"In one combined..."

"The Phantom of the Opera is there..."

"Inside my mind..."

_________ looked around, entranced by the flickering candlelight that seemed to appear from the lake's surface. As they drew closer and closer to their destination, she glanced at his face. The battle to keep himself from smiling evident in the scowl he pulled. Her eyes looked at him softly, and longingly as she held herself closer.

"He's there, the Phantom of the Opera..." she moved her head back so that she was following their direction as her voice once again filled the room with its entrancing tone, the scale increasing it's pitch as they drew closer and closer to the other end of the lake, the fine decorations of old and unused props transforming a rocky cavern into a habitable living space, its many entrances closed off by regal curtains, and countless golden candelabras creating an adequate light source.

As she vocalised, the man beside her encouraged her, his voice filled with adrenaline and joy as they came to a stop at a small, makeshift staircase.

"Sing for me..." he began in a gentle whisper as she walked up the stairs slowly, her voice raising it's pitch once again as she looked around in curiosity and wonder.