Cheapest Glamour

Mercedes thought a lot of guys in school were sexy. None of them would have her, because of her size and attitude. No one was ready for her jelly. The last tine she was close to getting a boyfriend, he turned out gay. Ironically, the person she was into now was a girl. She hated being in love with her, she would never date her.

"She's half the woman you are," Mercedes told herself. "Rachel is straight and is dealing with invites from men: she won't want you."

Mercedes always wanted to be the lead singer, but the more prettier and sweet-faced Rachel was the Prima Donna of the glee club. Suddenly she felt stripped from her shine. Mercedes knew she was a star; she just had to find the right time to show it. One day it was going to be her time, her moment and she won't let go.

Rachel marched to the center. She bent over and smiled at Mercedes. Her heart bounced as if she was an attractive prince nibbling her ear. Her hair, long and brown like most girls would envy. Eyes like a movie star in a pale girl-next-door face.

"Hello," said Rachel.

"Hey girl!"

"What you doing here sitting by yourself?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I came here to practise."

"Really?" Mercedes asked.

"Why would I lie?" Rachel laughed. She patted her shoulder and stood on stage. "Do you wanna sing with me?" She held out her hand and grinned. Mercedes jumped up and nodded. Mercedes' stomach churned: both good and bad. Her sweet vocals stung her ears and pumped her heart. She wished she could hate her or make her shut up for once in her life. An invisible force stopped her, it wasn't instinct, it was love. A typical teenage crush gone overload: giving a soul sound. Fantasies about a lush life swirled in her mind.

The petals flew away
The night has turned to day
I'd never have thought I'd find
A cure so pure for my mind

An angel has arrived
I'll witness it take flight
To see the mastermind
Before I turn blind

This is the cheapest glamour
Behind the drama
Singing sets me free
When I'm with glee

"I love singing with you," admitted Rachel.

The minute she stops singing is the minute Mercedes hates her voice again. She forced Rachel on the floor and planted kisses on her lips. Mercedes was too busy rubbing Rachel's lips and dancing with the tongues. So much she didn't notice the astonishment frozen on Rachel's face. Mercedes was doing all the actions and Rachel followed.

Just the way she liked it.

"Two for the price of one!"

It was the voice of a man that shocked back to Planet Earth. They got up. Nobody but them could be seen.

"This must be my lucky day!" The man hissed again. They couldn't detect the voice. Was someone playing a trick on them? Would the kiss have been snapped and leaked all over the school's walls by the end of the week? Whoever the voice was had terrified Mercedes.

"Who are you?" Mercedes screeched.

"Oh Rachel and Mercedes my dears," the mysterious man whispered. "There's no need to fear. Just glance behind and you will see a man of many talents." Rachel and Mercedes twirled around. Before them was indeed a man. A man who's body was covered in a black cloak, whose face was half hidden in a porcelain white mask. "Rachel Berry, we meet at last." He bowed and kissed Rachel's hand.

"Who are you?" Rachel said.

"I am a composer," the man said. "I compose the music of the night."

"What's your name?" Mercedes asked.

"My mother named me Erik," the man confessed. "Others called me the Phantom Of The Opera or just simply a monster."

"So Erik," Rachel murmured. "What do you want from us?"

"I originally intened to come just for you," Erik whispered. His voice was sinful like a ghostly snake. "But since I've heard Mercedes sing, I can use her too. After all two is better than one."

"That doesn't explain what you want from Mercedes and I..."

Erik's hands flew out from his swaying cloak. With open arms he requested, "Come with me. All will be made clear."

"Where will we go?" Mercedes asked.

"A place only I know."

Rachel, breathless took Erik's hand. He gripped onto her arm and it remained tight until Mercedes held his hand too. The two of them didn't know where they were going to or for how long, but Erik had a charm that couldn't be denied. Where they stupid to trust this stranger? The pair of them were brought into a room of darkness, death and decay. Erik lit up a candle and placed it above Rachel's face.

"Now sing!"

"Sing?" Mercedes asked. Fury wreaked in her voice. "This place gives me the creeps. I don't want to sing here." She screamed and hid behind Rachel. "It's so gross in here. Let me out of here."

"As you wish Mercedes," Erik said. He pressed a wooden lever and a door opened. Mercedes scurried to the door but was swallowed by a hidden hole in front of the door. Erik smirked. "Perhaps it was not a good idea to bring her down after all."

"So what did you want me to sing about?" Rachel asked. Part of her wanted to leave, but her heart was telling her to stay.

"The last song you were singing," Erik requested. "The lyrics are interesting."

The petals flew away
The night has turned to day
I'd never have thought I'd find
A cure so pure for my mind

An angel has arrived
I'll witness it take flight
To see the mastermind
Before I turn blind

This is the cheapest glamour
Behind the drama
Singing sets me free
When I'm with glee

"That was beautiful," Erik confessed. "Your voice has turned this wretched sewer to a blue lagoon. You look stunned. Would you like a drink."

"I'm fine thank you."

Erik stroked Rachel's face and gazed into her eyes. "Yes, you have Christine's eyes. You are truly her great-great-great-great granddaughter."

"I can't believe it!" Rachel screamed. "I'm related to The Phantom Of The Opera?"

"Yes it would seem so."

"Just wait until I tell everybody," Rachel said with excitement lead by shock. "They won't believe it."

"You will tell nobody," Erik demanded. His mask slipped off and revealed a wrinkled disfigured face. "Nobody will care about the beast that is me."

"I do," Rachel said in confidence. "You're my great-great-great grandfather and you're part of my family. Family means nobody is left behind. Everybody is loved."

"Would you like to know more about your ancestors?" Erik croaked. Rachel nodded and hugged him. "Then you shall stay with me for a while. We shall start our music lessons."

"But what about the Glee Club?"

"It shall be safe," Erik whispered.