Another chapter in the lead up to Christmas :) I am not making promises now...but there may be another chapter before Xmas...but I am stressed out atm with work and life, and so feeling pretty unmotivated atm to do most things. So far my writing hasn't been affected, but it may be affected if the stress gets any worse :( I am having trouble sleeping and getting things done...even my sewing is affected and I love my sewing so much 3 Reviews are welcome and will make my day :) Missing reviews :( I hope my fellow readers are still out there and I haven't done something wrong :( On with the show and I only own my OC and own lyrics; anything else belongs to their respective owners :)


Ange De Soi: Angel of Self

Chapter Eight: He'll Take Me I Know, He Won't Let Me Go...

Third Person's POV

Inside the office, unknown to them, they were being observed, by a figure in black, from the shadows. The Phantom's Opera is lying open on the desk, as André flicks through it impatiently.

[André]

Ludicrous!

Have you seen the score?

[Firmin] entering the room.

Simply ludicrous!

[André]

It's the final straw!

[Firmin]

This is lunacy!

Well, you know my views...

[André]

Utter lunacy!

[Firmin]

But we daren't refuse...

[André]

Not another

Croaking diva...

[Firmin]

Look, my friend, what

We have here...

In his hands he has two notes; one of which he gives to André, who reads it aloud.

[André]

'Dear André,

Re my orchestrations:

We need another first bassoon.

Get a player with tone –

And that third trombone

Has to go!

The man could not be deafer,

So please preferably one

Who plays in tune!'

[Firmin]

'Dear Firmin,

Vis à vis my opera:

Some chorus-members must be sacked.

If you could, find out which

Has a sense of pitch –

Wisely, though,

I've managed to assign a

Rather minor rôle to those

Who cannot act!'

At that moment, Carlotta and Piangi come barging in; each brandishing identical notes furiously.

[Carlotta]

Outrage!

[Firmin]

What is it now?

[Carlotta]

This whole affair is

An outrage!

[Firmin]

Signora, please...

[André]

Now what's the matter?

[Carlotta]

Have you seen

The size of my part?

[André]

Signora, listen...

[Piangi]

It's an insult!

[Firmin]

Not you as well!

[Piangi]

Just look at this –

It's an insult!

[Firmin]

Please, understand...

[André]

Signor! Signora!

[Carlotta]

The things I have

To do for my art!

Piangi stabs the open score with a finger.

[Piangi]

If you can call

This gibberish 'art'!

Once again, everyone is interrupted by three figures entering the room...

Charlene's POV

As I arrived at the doorway to the office, I heard them discussing the score furiously. As I thought about the right time to interrupt their conversation, without being rude or impolite, my musings were interrupted by a voice saying smugly.

"I see you escaped the asylum. But I will have your heart. Now you won't tell anyone what happened, or your Angel will get it!" I stared at him fearfully, before his demeanour changed, as I saw the Vicomte approaching the office.

"Charlene I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you, and so has Christine. Let's go inside, and see this new opera the Phantom has composed." He said gently, before going through the door, the Duke following closely behind us.

[Carlotta]

Ah! Here's our little flower!

[Firmin]

Ah, Miss Dumont,

Quite the lady

Of the hour!

[André] (explaining)

You have

Secured the largest rôle

In this 'Don Juan'.

[Carlotta] (half to herself)

Charlene Dumont?

She doesn't have

The voice!

[Firmin] (hearing this, to Carlotta)

Signora, please!

[Raoul/Duke] (to the Managers)

Then I take it

You're agreeing.

[Carlotta] (aside)

She's behind this...

[André]

It appears we have

No choice.

[Carlotta] (Unable to contain herself any longer, points accusingly)

She's the one

Behind this!

Charlene Rose Dumont!

[Me] (shocked at the accusations being thrown at me, I asked meekly)

What are you saying?

[Carlotta]

I'm not a fool!

[Me]

Why do you

Hate me so?

[Carlotta]

You think I'm blind!

[Me]

I will not do this!

I will have no part

In this plan!

[Firmin]

Miss Dumont, surely...

[André]

But why not?

[Piangi] (baffled, to Carlotta)

What does she say?

[Firmin] (reasonably)

It's your decision –

(suddenly rounding on Charlene)

But why not?

[Carlotta] (to Piangi)

She's backing out!

[André]

You have a duty!

[Me]

I cannot do this!

Duty or not!

[Raoul] (comforting)

Charlene...

Charlene...

You don't have to...

They can't make you...

I turned around, as I heard two sets of footsteps from outside the door, as I saw Meg and Madame Giry enter the room.

[Giry]

Please, Monsieur:

Another note.

I watched as the managers gestured at her to read it, before she cleared her throat and began to read. I watched closely as everyone reacts differently to the note.

[Giry]

'Fondest greetings

To you all!

A few instructions

Just before rehearsal starts:

Carlotta must

Be taught to act...'

I looked around, as I heard my Angel's voice take over.

[Phantom's voice]

...not her normal trick

Of strutting round the stage.

Our Don Juan must

Lose some weight –

It's not healthy in

A man of Piangi's age.

And my managers

Must learn

That their place is in

An office, not the arts.

As for Miss Charlene Rose Dumont...

I have no doubt

She'll do her best – her

Voice is the best

I've seen

In my lifetime. But know this...

Should I hear she

Has been hurt

In anyway,

I will make your reputation

Pay by returning her

To me, her

Angel,

Her Angel...

Your obedient friend...

As he voice faded away, before being taken over by Madame Giry's voice.

[Giry]

'...And Angel...'

Suddenly I noticed, as well as everyone else, the sudden change in the Duke's demeanour, as I saw his eyes light up with a new thought.

[Duke]

We have all been

Blind – and yet the

Answer is staring us

In the face...

This could be the

Chance to ensnare our

Clever friend...

[André]

We're listening...

[Firmin]

Go on...

[Duke]

We shall play his

Game – perform his

Work – but remember we

Hold the ace...

For, if Miss Dumont

Sings, he is certain

To attend...

[André] (Clearly carried along by the idea)

We make certain

The doors are barred...

[Firmin] (likewise)

We make certain

Our men are there...

[Duke]

We make certain

They're armed...

[Duke/ André/Firmin]

The curtain falls –

His reign will end!

I was in silence, as Madame Giry and Raoul, were the first people to react and express their displeasure, after listening intently.

[Giry/Raoul]

Madness!

[André]

I'm not so sure...

[Firmin]

Not if it works...

[Giry/Raoul]

This is madness!

[André]

The tide will turn!

[Giry]

Monsieur, believe me –

There is no way of

Turning the tide!

[Raoul]

I won't let her

Be used like this!

[Firmin] (To Giry)

You stick to ballet!

[André] (To Raoul)

What do you mean?

[Duke] (Rounding on Giry and Raoul)

Then help us!

[Giry/Raoul]

Monsieur, I can't/won't

[Duke]

Instead of warning us...

[Duke/André/Firmin]

Help us!

[Giry/Raoul]

I wish I could/ I wouldn't dare...

[Duke/André/Firmin]

Don't make excuses!

[Duke]

Or could it be that

You're both on his side?

[Giry/Raoul] (To Duke)

Monsieur, believe us,

We intend no ill...

(To André and Firmin)

But messieurs, be careful –

We shouldn't oppose his wishes...

[André/Firmin] (to Giry)

We say he'll fall,

And fall he will!

[Carlotta]

She's the once behind this!

Charlene!

This is all her doing!

[Piangi]

This is the truth!

Charlene Dumont!

[Duke]

This is his undoing!

[André/Firmin] (to Duke)

If you succeed,

You free us all –

This so-called 'angel'

Has to fall!

[Duke]

Angel of Music,

Fear my fury –

Here is where you fall!

[Giry/Raoul] (To Duke)

Hear our warning!

Fear his fury!

[Carlotta]

What glory can

She hope to gain?

It's clear to all

The girl's insane!

[André] (To Firmin)

If Charlene sings

We'll get our man...

[Piangi]

She is crazy!

She is raving!

[Firmin] (To André)

If Charlene helps

Us in this plan...

[Duke]

Say your prayers,

Black angel of death!

[Me] (Vainly pleading)

Please don't...

[André] (To Firmin)

If Charlene won't

Then no-one can...

[Giry/Raoul] (To Duke)

Monsieur, I beg you,

Do not do this...

[Piangi/Carlotta]

Gran Dio!

Che Imbroglio!

[André/Firmin]

This will seal his fate!

[Me]

Please make it stop!

It hurts!

The last thing I remember was darkness, as I collapsed from the sensory overload.

Phantom's POV

I watched as everyone argued amongst themselves, about Charlene's involvement, and their apparent plan to capture me. However, they seemed unaware of the turmoil and pain she was exhibiting. Suddenly, she gave an almighty cry, before collapsing to the ground, stopping everyone in their tracks. I quickly turned out the lights, causing everyone to scream and panic, before quickly slipping out of the passageway and picking her up bridal style. I proceeded to carry her through the door, before switching on the lights, as the passageway closed behind me. I carried her down to my lair, hoping I would be able to rouse her, from her bout of unconsciousness. But what exactly caused her to collapse? The last thing she cried out, before she collapsed was:

"Please make it stop! It hurts!" Was she in physical or mental pain, when everyone was speaking at once? After laying her down gently, I went to my desk, to find some smelling salts, in the hopes it would wake her. After I waved the bottle under her nose, I breathed a sigh of relief, when her eyes fluttered open.

"What...? Where am I?" She asked weakly.

"You're in my lair. I carried you down here after you collapsed in the Manager's office. But please, talk to me, something is wrong, I can tell."

[Charlene]

Angel, I'm frightened –

Don't make me do this...

Angel, it scares me –

Don't put me through this

Ordeal by fire...

He'll take me, I know...

We'll be parted forever...

He won't let me go...

What I once used to fear

Is now reality...

If he takes me, my life

Will end...

But you'll always be there,

Singing songs in my head...

You'll always be there,

Singing songs in my head...

[Me] (to Charlene)

I vowed to you,

I would never harm anyone,

Yet while he lives,

He'll continue to pursue you,

Till he wins...

I watched as she turned away from me unhappily.

[Charlene]

Twisted every way,

What else can I do?

Can I really take a life,

To let us live our lives?

Can I really kill a man,

Who once nearly killed me?

But can I become his wife?

Do I have any choice?

He murdered my mentality,

And killed all that defines me...

But I know I can't avoid this,

Yet, I wish I could...

Oh God – if I agree,

What horrors wait for me

In this, my final performance...?

[Me] (To Charlene, tenderly)

Charlene, Charlene,

Don't think that I don't care –

But every hope

And our love

Rests on you now...

I watched as so many emotions played across her face, before she collapsed against my chest and sobbed heavily. As I stroked her back soothingly, I thought angrily and determinedly.

"So, it is to be war between us! But this time, Chevalier Beaumont, the disaster will be yours!" And I laid her down on the bed, as her breathing evened out and she fell asleep...