Disclaimer & Author's note: I soooo wish I that I owned The Phantom of the Opera, but (sad to say) I do not. Now I will begin my story with a little story within the story. Enjoy!

Chasing the Phantom

I ducked behind an old broken down building and walked through a dark alley. As I hurried through, I carried a big black folder holding the papers that could change the face of humankind. One of the sheets started falling out of the folder and I had to stop to put it back in. Then I continued running.

My hands were shaking by the time I finally reached my destination. I knocked on the mahogany door and, sure enough, my friend Kristen was there. She asked me, "Do you have them?"

I nodded and broke out into a wide grin. I came inside and couldn't contain my excitement anymore.

"I can't believe I actually got the original script!"

"I feel so geeky yet awesome at the same time! We're just two overzealous nerds who managed to steal the original edited libretto of the Phaaaaaantom of the Opera…"

"…is here, inside my miiiiiiiind."

Yes, we were two American geeks living in London. Our "day job" was the scientific study of futuristic devices such as light sabers, (I know, nerdy right?) rocket powered shoes, and, of course, a time machine.

Okay, maybe the original copy of the Phantom of the Opera can't change the entire face of humankind, but if it was altered or destroyed, I know some "Phan" faces that would be changed forever. It took us almost two years to both build a fully, functioning time machine and also figure out a master plan to steal The Phantom of the Opera libretto from Andrew Lloyd Webber's mansion, Sydmonton. I wound up going to the estate during the preview of the sequel to "The Phantom" and slipped in with a large group of invited guests. Eventually, I found the safe holding the original manuscript with Kristen's aid. Together, we managed to figure out the combination and the rest is history.

"Is the time machine ready, Kristen?" I asked her.

"Aye-aye, captain! Ready to time travel when you are! Back to the future, uh, I mean the past!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, but first things first, I still need to change the end of The Phantom."

Kristen froze, turned around and snatched the libretto from my grasp. She yelled at me as we walked into the lab. "What?! You had a long taxi ride back here! I thought you would've done that by now!"

"Okay, I procrastinated." Kristen gave me an impatient look. "You know, all I really have to do is change some of the lines on the last page of the script so the story comes to an end-forever. No chance for any sequels to emerge. MUAHAHAHAHAAA!"

"Oh, speaking of sequels, did you catch anything form the preview?" Kristen asked me.

"Well, I caught a couple of snippets before I left. Something tells me that the characters wouldn't get themselves into those kinds of situations. It just doesn't feel like The Phantom of the Opera."

Kristen started to go off on me again. "Well, it's not The Phantom. It's the sequel. You know how many great works have a sequel or more that insult the original masterpiece. That is precisely why-"

"…why we have to alter the script and bring it back in time before the first performance ever occurred. So, fan-no-phan's lives won't be torn to pieces from the tragedy of a mediocre musical that is supposed to be the official sequel to the phaaaaaaantom of the opera is theeeere…"

"…inside my miiiind." Kristen finished the phrase, adding a hint of vibrato. "This is why you need to change the script, now!"

I sighed, knowing I couldn't procrastinate any longer. "All right, let me have the libretto back." As I toward our study, I told Kristen, "Just give me fifteen minutes, and I'll have the alternate ending ready for you."

After fifteen minutes of plotting and writing, I came up with the perfect ending. I presented my work to Kristen who gave me a curt nod.

"Hmm."

"What?"

"The ending is good-no worries-but I'm kind of disappointed."

I asked her, "What do you mean?"

"I expected better of you. I mean, this is your chance to change anything that you don't like about the musical. Surely there's something else you'd like to change."

I considered what she just said. There was a part in the play that I felt that could be altered to my liking.

"I'll give you until tomorrow to think about it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch The Phantom of the Opera."

"Usually, I would jump at the chance to watch The Phantom. However, I had made my decision already, and that excited me even more than watching The Phantom. While Kristen searched for the DVD in our living room, I sat down at my desk and began to write…

***

Christine sat in her dimly lit dressing room distressing over her current dilemma. In two hours time, she would be performing Don Juan, a dark opera written by the Phantom, himself. Knowing how the phantom was devoted to Christine, he probably had a scheme in mind to win her over. Christine shivered just thinking about him and his dark, cold lair below the theater.

On the other hand, her fiancé, Raoul, had a plan to capture the Phantom. Members of the local police were to be stationed throughout the theater during the show. Then, when Raoul gave the signal, the police would open fire on the Phantom ridding the theater of its menacing ghost-forever.

Christine knew that Raoul's intentions were for the best. After all, the Phantom acted like he owned her. His enchanting voice and disfigured spirit haunted her nightmares. If the masked murderer lived in the world outside of the opera house, he would have been arrested (maybe even executed!) for his evil actions. However, part of Christine did not want the life of her Angel of Music to end.

Her mysterious angel had been singing to her ever since she first came to the opera house. After her father died, Christine's soul was filled with sorrow and her beautiful voice had no heart in it anymore. That all changed after she heard that eerie yet enchanting voice.

The Phantom had captured her wildest dreams every night when he sang to her. It was almost as if he was hypnotizing Christine with his mysterious melodies. Thanks to the Phantom, Christine sang with her heart and soul for others to hear on stage. Also, through the Phantom's work, she was going to star in an opera again. His opera…

As Christine sat thinking about it, a tear rolled down her cheek. She loved Raoul and respected his decisions, but how could she forget about the Phantom? It was undeniable. Christine deeply cared for both of them.

Breaking into her silent reflection, someone rapped on the door. Christine called, "Come in."

Meg entered the dressing room and slowly shut the door behind her. She betrayed no emotions as she walked toward Christine. However, Christine knew what Meg was thinking.

Meg asked her, "Are you frightened?"

Christine couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst into tears. Meg hurried over to Christine and held her tightly.

"I don't know what to do!" Christine cried in between sobs.

Meg tried to console her as best as she could. "Oh, Christine, you'll do great tonight! Everything will turn out alright."

"No it won't!" Christine exclaimed, "He won't give up until he has me in his grasp! He'll probably even kill Raoul if he's desperate!"

Meg asked her, "Do you believe that Raoul's plan will work?"

Christine answered, "I hope not! I mean, I know that this needs to end soon, but I can't bear the thought of soldiers-" She burst into another fit of sobs and Meg gently rubbed Christine's back.

"So, you can't decide between the two of them?"

Christine stopped crying just long enough to say, "What?"

Meg gave Christine a minute to take a couple of deep breaths. She said, "Don't think I don't know how you feel about him. You told me yourself that he was you 'Angel of Music'. He helped you become who you are today and the phantom has been with you all these years." Meg paused for a moment. "It must be terribly difficult to even imagine leaving him behind."

Christine detached herself from Meg's embrace. "It is." She said, "I think I will go to the chapel."

"And pray to your Angel of Music?" Meg asked.

Christine was silent for several moments before she answered, "No, this is one time I cannot ask my Angel of Music for guidance."

Then, without saying a word, Christine rose from her seat and walked out of the dressing room, leaving Meg sitting in silence.

A/N: I know that my story within the story was longer than the main story itself. I'm sorry if that bugs anyone. I don't think that will happen in any later chapters. This is my first story so please review!