The Phantom's Melody (The Phantom of the Opera)

28. The Point of No Return

The night was here. The Phantom's Opera was about to begin.

My nerves were wired tight as Madame Giry applied my makeup and did my hair. I had a hard time breathing, and for once it had nothing to do with the bone crushing corset I wore, but instead it had everything to do with the Phantom--Erik.

Dozens of armed police officers had entered the building and took up positions near all the exits. Raoul and the managers were keeping a couple guards close to each other at all times and were ready and waiting for the Phantom of the Opera to make his first move. Raoul promised he wouldn't hurt Erik, but I don't think the same could be said for Andre and Firmin.

Erik would show up whether Christine performed or not. I knew he wouldn't miss his own work being performed for everyone to see. His ego was just too big. But I also knew that he had some greater plan at work. He always did. Which was why we planned on being two steps ahead of him, or at least we were going to try.

Just as we had discussed, I would take Christine's place in the opera, keeping her safe from Erik and whatever he planned to do tonight. Christine didn't exactly seem happy about the idea of putting me in danger, but I had to do something. I wasn't going to just stand by and watch as terror fell upon all of us.

Despite our plan, however, and despite everything I knew, I couldn't change how I felt. Yes, Erik was completely mad and more than a little obsessed, but he was just a man. A broken man who had encountered nothing but hate and loathing everywhere he turned. What else could you expect from someone who was shown not even one ounce of compassion? It only made sense that he would fall in love with Christine. She was the first person whoever listened to him. But that didn't change the situation we were confronted with. Erik wouldn't give up until he had Christine and I feared just how far he would go until he did.

I had to shove my worries away, focusing my thoughts on the matter at hand. I didn't know what Erik planned on doing tonight, but I only hoped that it wouldn't end with more death and disaster.

"Lucille?" I was dragged away from my thoughts when Christine walked in. She was wearing a costume identical to mine: a beautiful, dark brown corset with an off the shoulder lace top and a ruffled golden skirt that stopped at her ankles. A delicate red rose was pinned to her hair, much like my own, and her makeup was soft but glamorous.

Madame Giry looked over at Christine, the girl she saw as her own daughter, and sighed. "Make it quick. We don't have much time," she said before leaving the two of us to speak alone.

I bit my lip for a second before standing up. "Christine--"

She cut me off before I could say anything else. "Lucille, you don't have to do this." She walked over and took my hands in her's. "He wants me, not you."

Don't remind me.

I sighed. "Christine...I have to do this. Putting you out there on that stage will only make things worse. If we want to stay two steps ahead of him, then we have to do this."

She looked at me for a long moment before shaking her head. "No. You don't have to be a part of this, Lucille. It's not fair that we're dragging you into this." She met my gaze. "He could kill you," she said quietly.

I swallowed hard, not letting myself believe that. "He won't," I reassured her. "The Phantom won't expect me to be in your place. Perhaps that will be enough to throw him off. Two steps ahead, remember?" I managed a small smirk before looking down. "Besides, I dragged myself into this mess."

She didn't look too confident in my plan, but she nodded anyway. "Okay. But please," she squeezed my hands, "be careful."

I nodded, "I will." I gave her hands a gentle squeeze as well before letting her leave. I took a deep breath, working hard to try and calm my nerves again.