Hybristophilia (Phantom of the Opera x Reader)

2.1

Tired, I walk back to my room. On my way, though, I notice Christine's door is open. I step inside and look around, but no one is here. Did something happen? I lock eyes with myself in the mirror, one that's much bigger than anyone should need, really. The sides are uneven and I need to fix it immediately, not that I can really move a mirror, but I try anyway and the mirror moves back into place. I gawk, not moving for a moment. I then try again, but moving the mirror the opposite direction this time. The door slides heavily, almost like it's weighed down, but I manage to open it enough to slip through. The door suddenly closes again on its own and I know I've really gotten myself into something suspicious. Could Christine be involved with a drug gang, or something equally as odd but serious?

Even though I feel unsure about this, I follow where the hallway leads. It seems relatively long and dark, but that just makes it all the more cooler. I turn a corner and something strange catches my eye. There's a staircaase leading down to a lake. A lake underneath an opera house. Who would have thought of that? I carefully make my way down to the edge of the lake and poke a finger in the water. The coldness I'm met with causes me to pull my finger back quickly.

The lake starts to emit a sound. It sounds like a man singing inside the lake itself, but the voice is clear, music accompianing it. "Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defences." It was almost too perfect to be real. "Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour. Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender. Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light - and listen to the music of the night." I sit down and lean my back against the staircase, entranced by the song. "Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams! Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before! Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!" My chest lightens, as if someone is holding it up for me. "And you'll live as you've never lived before." I am overcome with a yearning for something new, some kind of adventure. I wish to know what this man speaks of. "Softly, deftly, music shall surround you! Feel it, hear it, closing in around you! Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind, in this darkness which you know you cannot fight - the darkness of the music of the night. Let your mind start a journey through a strange new world! Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before! Let your soul Take you where you long to be! Only then can you belong to me." Oh, how I wish I was there with this man! "Floating, falling, sweet intoxication! Touch me, trust me savour each sensation! Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write: the power of the music of the night." The voice becomes much more gentle, "You alone can make my song take flight. Help me make the music of the night."

My eyelids feel like weights and I can hardly keep them open anymore. The song, now over, has took my soul with it. Without song, my soul can never return. The darkness consumes me as I drift off into a peaceful slumber.

I open my eyes and yawn. This is probably the best night's sleep I've ever gotten, but where am I? One glance at the lake reminds me I am underneath the oper house. My memories of the song flood back into my mind and fill me with warmth.

A splash comes from the lake. Then another. My heart begins to race. I'm far too close to the water! What I had heard must have been a siren's song, and now it is coming to get me!

I jump up and retreat back up the stairs, stumbling a few times from careless foot placings. I race back down the halls. My mind begins to rush. My breathing is far too loud, what if it catches me? I don't want to die, not like this!

I finally reach the back of the mirror again and grip the side. Instead of pulling, though, I look through the mirror. I can see the whole length of Christine's room, clear as glass. Chills race up my spine and I shudder. If the wrong person finds this place, it could mean bad things for Christine. It's important I let Christine know about this. Unless she already knows, and the drug gangs use this to make sure she isn't keeping any of their goods for herself! I have to mentally slap myself for that one, it's too ridiculous. My vivid imagination often gets the best of me.

My thoughts are interrupted by footsteps. My panic returns and I pry the mirror open, just enough for me to fit through. Forgetting to slide the mirror back, I run out of the room into the halls and go to the safest place I can think of at the moment: backstage. There will definately be ballet dancers practicing, so I can stay near people at all times and not just suddenly disappear.

Sure enough, I find the ballet girls, but Buquet is there as well, a noose in hand. The look I gave him must have been enough to let him know I am uncomfortable because he begins laughing. "Like yellow parchment
is his skin! A great black hole served as the nose that never grew! You must be always on your guard, or he will catch you with his magical lasso!" The sound of the ballet girls' screaming hurts my ears, but my attention is directed elsewhere. Two figures emerge, hidden in shadow. I squint to try to make out their features, but they are gone. Madame Giry enters the room and begins reprimanding Buquet. For some reason, everyone here keeps skeaking of ominous things, such as some "opera ghost." A fan of ghost stories myself, these rumors intrigue me more than anything. I usually push them to the side, though, since stories like this can't come true. As much as I'd love some spooky ghost boy, I'm going to have to just deal with weird stagehands and bossy ballet choreographers.

Deciding I have waited long enough, I go back to my room, careful no one is following me. I turn again to glance behind, but something hits me in the front. My fight-or-flight response kicks in and I whip forwards, about to fight the siren. I halt at the sight of a man's body. My eyes flicker upwards to get a look at the man's face and I let out the breath I had been holding in.