Chapter 4
The performance time came quickly, and Erik was ready. He made his way to the balcony, Box 5 to be exact, ready to perform.
Carlotta came onstage on cue with snobbish victory shining through her ugly eyes. It was disgusting.
When she sang, Erik closed his eyes and covered his ears. It was obvious the audience was disappointed with the change in leads.
Finally, during her final aria, "Think of Me," Erik decided it was time.
With evil menace, his voice rose through the crowd and covered Carlotta's. "Ladies and gentlemen, you are now hearing the voice of a toad! Standing ovations will not come tonight! They would, though, if Ms. Daae were singing. Damn the ones responsible for her absence! Damn those responsible for her illness!"
With that, he ran from Box 5 and made his way to the cat walk above stage. This will be all too easy.
He ran towards Joseph Buquet, who barely had time to blink before cold hands and a Punjab lasso were around his filthy neck.
"You will never hurt Christine again," the Phantom whispered before the sound of a crack could be heard, indicating Buquet's broken neck. The man was dead.
Then, Erik tied the rope of the lasso to the wood of the cat walk floor and threw Buquet's dead body to the stage below, his neck still in the lasso's hold.
Screams could be heard everywhere. They were music to Erik's ears. He wiped his hands clean and walked away, back to behind Christine's mirror.
Christine could feel her angel's presence once more. "Erik?"
"Yes, my angel. You will sing tonight. You will."
"But, how do you-"
"Christine!" a voice yelled from the doorway.
"Raoul?" She turned towards him confused. There were people running in every direction past the entryway behind him. "Raoul, what is it?"
"Christine." He was completely out of breath. "I heard about earlier. I think you are in danger. Someone has been murdered. They want you to sing. I cannot let you! I believe you are in trouble. Please, come with me! We will find a quiet place- the roof! We can talk there!"
Christine listened but did not look like she wanted to go anywhere with him. "Why can we not talk here? Hmm? You do not wish for me to sing? You do not control me, Raoul!"
"Christine, did you heard what I said? A man has been murdered!"
She hadn't comprehended that part and gasped. "A man? Here? Who?"
"Someone named Joseph Buquet." Her eyes widened. "Did you know him?"
"Yes… My God, why? What happened?"
Raoul closed the door and sat on Christine's couch. "A man people call the Phantom of the Opera insulted Carlotta in front of the whole audience."
"You mean, you saw him?"
"Wha-, we, no, we did not see him. We only heard him. He had a strong voice, and he seemed to want you to sing."
She gasped again. "Me? Are you certain?"
"There is not another Daae in this Opera House. The important part remains that a man was murdered moments after his speech. There is a murderer in our midst, Christine."
She sank onto the couch next to Raoul trying to take in the information. "What about the managers? What do they have to say about this?"
"Well, I was sitting with them when it happened, and I volunteered to get you."
"Get me for what?"
"They want you to sing. They are complying to the Phantom's orders! They want the show to go on. It is insane! I said I would get you, and I have. But, not to sing. We must leave. Together."
"Leave? Raoul-"
"Christine, this place is not right. I can find more work easily enough. I am through with being patron. We can be happy together."
"We? Raoul, there is no 'we'. I have only just met you after being apart for ten years. Why must you act as if we are a couple?"
He touched her cheek. "Lotte, I have not forgotten you after all these years. You are always on my mind. This meeting was not chance. It is fate that we have seen each other again."
"Yes, yes, it might be fate, but not in the way that you think. We are not meant to be, Raoul. You are meant for another. I am a performer. You cannot possibly think that your family would be proud to have a singer as your wife."
Raoul's confidence slipped. "You really wish to continue singing here?"
"Of course."
"But, why?"
"Raoul, there is a powerful force which holds me here, and I do not want that to change."
His boyish charm finally turned into a cool business-like manner. "So, this is your decision, then?"
"Yes… I am sorry, Raoul."
"Think nothing of it. Good day, Mademoiselle." With that, he left the room.
Christine stood and sighed in frustration. "Well, that went well," she said sarcastically.
"Yes, it did," Erik answered.
"Angel, how were you so sure I would sing. I do not understand."
"I just was, Christine."
"But, I am still here. I am not onstage."
"Someone will come for you soon. Now, let us warm up."
"Wait. Someone is dead, Angel. I cannot just sing while there is a tragedy going on elsewhere."
"Others will tend to it." He was becoming impatient.
"Angel, you.. didn't.. arrange what happened, did you?"
"How could I? I am not capable. Now, sing."
"No." Christine put her hands on her hips persistently.
It was the first time she had ever defied him. "What? Christine, I said, sing!"
"No, not yet. Angel, I must see you! I do not believe you cannot take human form. There is a body behind that voice. I know there is."
Her demands were becoming intolerable. "There is no body, Christine! There is only this voice! Sing! Now!"
Suddenly, Christine broke down in sobs. "Why will you not show yourself? I feel like I am worthy of seeing. I do everything you ask! Everything!"
Everything. This, Erik knew, was very true. She would probably kill someone if I asked it.
He could never stand it when she cried. His defense was fading.
"I just want to see my angel!" There was a pause with only heavy sobs filling the air.
Erik could say nothing.
Christine finally whispered. "I love you…"
This proclamation caused Erik to take a step backwards. "You what?" He did not care to show shock in his voice.
Christine backed away and covered her face with her hands. "I- I cannot believe I just said that! I am so sorry, Master! Please, forgive me!" She fell to the ground in tears while begging.
In all of his wildest dreams, he never thought-.. She- she loves.. me.. He could take it no longer. "Christine, stand."
Even when she cried and tried not to obey, she did so anyway.
What am I doing? I mustn't. But, I must.. "Come to the mirror, Christine."
Christine turned towards her mirror with questioning and tear-stricken eyes. She took a few steps forward. Her reflection was all she could see.
Then, suddenly, her reflection disappeared! In its place stood a tall, skinny man clad in all black attire. He had black hair, oddly golden eyes, and a mask- a white mask that covered the entire right side of his face.
Dazedly, Christine moved forward towards her false angel.
