Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from "Le Fantome de L'Opera", nor from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera". They belong to their

respective owners, and I am writing this out of my deep love and respect for the story which has captivated so many of us.

*Smiles* That does not keep me from admiring the tragic masked one though.

Also, the premise for the title of this phiction is taken from the song "Let Me Fall", from Cirque De Soleil. Some of you may recognize it from Josh Groban's self-

titled CD. I obviously do not own that either.

Author's note: This is set in Lloyd Webber's musical, directly before the performance of "Don Juan Triumphant".

Chapter 1: There's a moment when fear and dreams must collide....

Erik

I watched from my hidden vantage point high above the stage, poised upon one of the shadowed catwalks, as firemen, my incompetent managers, and the Vicomte de Chagny stood, talking in hushed tones of the impending "trap" which the were setting to capture me. I could not keep from smiling at their foolishness. Trap me? In my own Opera House? I shook my head, still amazed at the audacity of it all. And yet... tonight I would be granting them their wish. I would place myself into that trap they had planned so cautiously and carefully, if only for one final chance to see her, and be near her once more before they killed me. For I no longer cared to live.

I had been ready to die the night in Perros, when Christine had fled from me with her wretched young man. I could still see the scene in my mind, him advancing toward me defiantly, and her, rushing forward, dragging him away, fearful for him, and for her. She feared me. Yet I would never harm her, surely she had to know that by now. I had worshiped her for endless hours, never touching her, aside from taking her hand in my own trembling one to lead her safely through the darkness of the shadowed cellars.

I could feel the tension in my throat again, that constricting pain that also had its fist clasped tightly around my heart. I turned my attention back to the stage, unwilling to allow myself to become weak again. I had lain for nearly a week in my home after that night at the graveyard, lain of the floor, and wished to simply die. Yet my faulty heart, which had made me drop to my knees on more than one occasion, gasping for breath, showed no signs of granting me sweet release. So I would have to find another way to terminate my existence. I had gone to my laboratory, filled a syringe with enough morphine to send me into the most spectacular oblivion imaginable... and then I had sat, staring with dumb horror at it. The prospect of that night at Perros being my final memory of her and her final memory of me was not how I wished for it to end. No... I would see her one final time. And then, only after that, would I allow myself to die.

A marksman joined the assembly on the stage, another pawn in this deadly game they were set on playing with me. But it was hardly a fair game. They were more in number... yet I knew every inch, every crevice of this Opera House. I could disappear for days on end and they would never, ever find me. I could see the Vicomte de Chagny giving the marksman instructions of how I was to be disposed of.

"Only if you have to - but shoot. To kill."

I smiled grimly, laughing softly to myself, then let my voice ring out, filling the theater, using my skills as ventriloquist to throw my voice from one side of the empty theater to the other. The firemen ran back and forth, and it took quite an effort on my part not to burst into uncontrollable laughter at their astonished expressions. Finally, I threw my voice into Box Five, and the marksman, who had gone to the orchestra pit, aimed his gun and fired.

The Vicomte flew into a rage, and I made my way off the catwalk back to one of my secret passages, smirking. I would truly miss playing games with people's minds.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * My apologies for the short first chapter. This is my first attempt at phan phiction. Please read and review. I very much enjoy receiving information from readers.

Your shadowed servant, shattered-mask