Hey guys! So, potentially starting a new story. This one is first person... for the moment. Let me know what you think about that and if it works. I haven't written in first person in some time and i haven't uploaded any in first person at all.

This is just a short one to see what people think. If it goes down well, i will continue it. Its just an idea I've been playing with for a while and thought id finally publish it. I guess I saw the demise of Buquet as somewhat of a turning point in the story (the movie at least). To me, its when The Phantom completely ruins things for himself because up until then, Christine was kind of like "Ohh... maybe..." And then he killed Buquet and she was like "SO MUCH NOPE." So this is a story that explores that.

So, yes. Please let me know whether i should continue this. :)

Phanty belongs to Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Weber

I had seen Buquet; had seen that he had been following me. He had been running from me; using the rigging above the stage to evade me. It would be only moments before I caught him... I saw him run clumsily onto one of the small bridges in front of me and disappear into the darkness.

I was about to pursue him when I heard a noise behind me and spun around to see her standing before me; my angel clad in the costume she should have been wearing from the very start; that of the 'Countess'. I had poisoned Carlotta, yes. Nothing serious of course, just a little potion of my own creation that would render her unable to sing... would render her... replaceable. I did this so as to give Christine the chance she so desired, never in a million years had I expected this encounter to come from such an action.

"Angel?" She asked, almost a statement.

"Chris... Christine." I cursed myself for my unusually clumsy speech; I wasn't expecting to see her at all. I realized how I must have looked; a complete clod standing there with my mouth agape... I was utterly beside myself with both elation and surprise. "You... Ahem." I cleared my throat and straightened my jacket, in the hopes of seeming more appealing to the woman before me. Perhaps I believed that straightening my clothing would miraculously straighten my thoughts... I was wrong, for when I spoke the second time I was just as nervous. "You should be on the stage."

Christine took a step forward. "I heard you speaking before... That was you, was it not? ...I wanted to see you." She replied, casting her eyes down on the last few words as if they were taboo.

She wanted to see me?

I allowed myself a smile before the recognition of my selfishness hit me. Smiling was proclaiming that I would rather her be above the stage with me than be on it, being the star I trained her to be... But god, how I wanted her to stay with me. There was so much I wanted to say to her. So much I wanted to explain, I wanted to tell her all about myself when there wasn't a person alive who knew more than two facts about my life. I wanted her to know it all; my pleasures, my fears... my memories. And I yearned to know hers.

She wanted to see me.

"I... Christine you really should be on the stage. Your audience awaits you." I had to derail this train of thought; it would only serve to wound me. I took a step back.

"It was you." She said. "You... are the Phantom?" She stared at me then, eyes wide, mouth agape. At that moment I wanted to be anywhere else except under her scrutinizing gaze. She made me feel like a child again; no power, no control. She had well and truly captured me with that gaze of hers and she wasn't the slightest bit aware. She had complete power over me.

I took another small step backward and held onto the wooden railing for support. Of course, my balance had always been perfect... undoubtedly I was holding the railing for other reasons.

"Christine... I did not want you to find out like this." We were directly above the stage now, below us the Opera was continuing. I could hear the soft notes of the ballet music from Act 3 soaring up into the rafters; music I had often heard while watching her... I wondered how often she had come up here or if she knew how often I did simply to watch... To gaze down on her in awe and wonderment at what I could never have.

"It's... alright. I think... Just unexpected. You are... just a man...?"

"Yes." All I could offer her was one word. Just being around her again was intoxicating, and this time there were no illusions between us; no barriers at all. Truthfully I did not know what else to say. In a way I had revealed myself as a man the night before but it had all been shrouded in mystery; the way I liked it to be. I had not planned on revealing myself completely for some time and I certainly had no plans of revealing myself as The Phantom...

"I want to... explain myself." There was so much I needed to say to her before she ran away which she undoubtedly would... I wanted her to know that I was sorry for lying to her all this time and that I was sorry for how I had treated her in my home. I really wanted to tell her that it was good to see her, but It felt so strange talking to her as a person. No doubt she felt the same way... probably more so. Prior to last night Christine and I had spoken through the mirror but our conversation never really stretched further than that of our lessons.

"Yes." She replied pensively. "I would like to... apologize for last night." At these words I felt as though I was shrinking before her. Of course she had been referring to my face... removing my mask. An offence, yes but certainly not one warranting such behavior on my part. She had to know that... I needed to tell her.

"Christine... it is I who should be apologizing. My behavior was ghastly." I looked down, truly ashamed of my actions. "You really should be down there. The ballet has almost finished. La Carlotta is not... indisposed for nothing, after all."

"That was you?" She gasped.

"Of course." I said with a smug smile upon my face. There was no point in hiding anything... She would come to realize that I was responsible for a great deal more... She looked at me; I was expecting something closer to fear or disgust but again she stared at me in awe.

"Christine, you must make haste. You must be on that stage." I said sternly, momentarily channeling my role as her teacher and regaining some of my composure which used to be second nature... At that moment Christine seemed to recall where she was and where she was meant to be. I had meant to aid her in her journey to success... not distract her.

"Yes! The opera..." She turned to leave. Just as I exhaled; a sigh both of relief at being released from her gaze and disappointment at seeing her leave, she turned around and spoke. "Angel, can we meet? After the show? I... would like to talk with you... as a person."

At those words I felt as though my knees would fail me and I was never more thankful for that wooden railing than at that moment. I could not believe that she would willingly ask to see me... Of course, It was the ideal scenario and I had pictured the moment in my head more times than I could count but even so, I was not quite prepared for such a moment. I do not think that anything could have prepared me. I wanted to shout, I wanted to cry, I wanted to hold her... I wanted to express myself but I could not. I could not let my emotion ruin this perfect moment in time. I took another deep breath before I spoke. This woman would not get the better of me.

"If that is what you wish." I said calmly.

"It is." She smiled.

"Go." I said, attempting to contain my overwhelming sense of euphoria at the prospect of spending time with Christine.

Go and play the role that you deserve.

Buquet could wait... his time would come. I had other matters to focus on but i found that i could not focus at all...

When she left I turned around in somewhat of a daze to face the stage again. I felt as though the music from below had captured me just as she had. I felt as though i wasn't there; i felt as though the music and I were one. It was embracing me, enveloping me in its splendor just like the night. It was soaring up through the rafters and into the heavens, taking me with it. Taking me to heaven when i was convinced i belonged only in hell.

The auditorium had never looked so beautiful and i found that for the first time in what could quite possibly have been years, i was smiling.