Disclaimer: I do not own the Phantom of the Opera. It belongs to Andrew Lloyd Webber. I only own the unfamiliar characters and the plot.

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Chapter 13: Halloween: Part 1

xXx Christine

I couldn't sleep, tomorrow was Halloween and Erik's costume would be revealed in less than twenty four hours. I was too excited to do any sleeping so I sat up in bed, reading. Reading always helped me fall asleep quickly, but of course this was one instance where it wasn't going to.

I finally gave up and got out of bed. I grabbed a pair of jeans and put them on before going out to the living room and grabbing my coat off the hook by the door. My keys were in the pocket and I left the apartment to go for a walk.

I got outside where the only light was coming from the street lamps. I walked down the sidewalk in no particular direction. I realized I was heading on my route to the school and I stood in the middle of Lincoln Center. I could see the school from where I stood and the Metropolitan Opera stood right in front of me along with the black marble fountain that was turned off because of the lateness.

The fountain wasn't pouring water out, but the base still held a foot of water in it and I could see pennies, nickels and quarters sitting at the bottom from when people made wishes. I decided, since no one was around to see me, I was going to bathe my feet. I sat on the marble edge and took my slippers off before rolling up my jeans and sinking my feet into the fountain water. It was surprisingly warm and I started splashing my feet around in a playful manner.

I started to think about what I needed to get done tomorrow, as if a check list was running through my head. I thought about how amazing I was going to look in the end and hoped Erik would like it. I strayed my eyes to the opera house, where lights were still on inside to show the beautiful interior to anyone that walked by. If you weren't seeing a play or if you didn't work there, there was no reason to go inside. I wanted to be in there every day; every time I went inside with my parents I had a feeling of rightness. My hand was in my pocket and I felt a small circular shaped object, a coin.

I took it out and looked at the silver quarter before closing my eyes and making a wish. 'I wish Erik and I could be more than friends.' I opened my eyes and threw the coin into the water and watched it sink quickly to the bottom to gather with the other left coins.

As I sat there and hoped for my wish to come true I saw a coin, flip through the air and land in the water from behind me. I turned to see Erik standing there in dark jeans and a black t-shirt with his hand out in front of him from throwing the coin. His white mask glowed in the darkness and his facial expression showed that he knew I just wished for something.

"What are you doing here?" I asked nervously.

He sat down next to me and said, "I should ask you the same question."

I looked at him a moment and then changing the subject I turned to the water and asked, "What did you wish for?"

"If I tell you, it won't come true." He said with a slight smile.

I looked down at my lap and chuckled lightly. I thought about what I was thinking before Erik came and I turned my eyes to the Met. I didn't realize that I started leering with need until Erik put his hand on my shoulder which made me jump and turn to look into his eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" he said as he looked in the direction I was just looking at and saw the large building that lit the area around them. "Come on." He said as he got up and took my hand to make me follow him.

We were heading closer and closer to the Metropolitan Opera House and when he reached for the front door I stopped and pulled on his hand to make him stop. "What are you doing?"

"When was the last time you stepped foot in this building?" he asked when he turned to me.

When I thought about it I realized the last time I came here with my parents was when I was a pre-teen going to see Romeo and Juliet. It was probably five years ago. "A while." I said. He gave me a look and I said, "When I was thirteen."

"You are overdue for a visit." He said as he turned back to the glass door and opened it easily. 'Wouldn't the managers and owners lock the doors at night?' As if he could read my mind he turned to me and said, "Adam Levine works late nights and locks up when he leaves."

"You mean the owner is still here and you are ready to break in and maybe get two years in prison? We shouldn't be here." I said, my heart pounding in my chest from the fear of getting caught.

"Don't worry. Adam knows me." He said as he guided me through the door into the magnificent foyer.

The white staircases were magnificent and when I was little they reminded me of a rollercoaster. They had velvet red mats that made you feel like a celebrity walking on the red carpet. I looked up to see a giant crystal chandelier hanging above and it lit the whole room. Everything was beautiful and it was as if it was the first time I saw this place, everything looked so new.

Erik guided me by the hand and took me through the first floor and opened the large doors that led to the auditorium. When he opened the doors he led me in to go first and I walked in to see a thousand red chairs facing a large stage with red curtains billowing on the side. It was the most magnificent and vast room I had ever seen. It was completely empty and clean. The large chandelier above the orchestra seats lit suddenly and I jumped back surprised.

I felt Erik's hands on my shoulders, steadying me. He quickly took his hands away and stood beside me. I looked over at the stage and admired it for a moment. I didn't notice that my feet started moving without my brain knowing and I felt as if I was floating towards the stage. I reached the stairs that led to the hardwood paneled floor and I walked up before I could stop myself. I stood on the stage for the first time without being locked in my dreams. I was happier than I ever dreamed I could be, standing on this stage looking out at the thousands of chairs and the balconies that contained even more.

I closed my eyes and pictured all the seats being filled with men and woman ready to enjoy a beautiful play or concert. I kept my eyes closed and pictured myself in a gorgeous and elaborate dress. I wore a silk purple dress that hung down to my ankles with a slit that reached my mid-thigh. It was strapless and fit comfortably over my waist and hips. I didn't want to open my eyes; I was in my happy place.

"Sing!" I opened my eyes to see Erik sitting in one of the chairs waiting for my performance.

My heart jumped into my throat and I couldn't breathe. The idea of thousands of watchful eyes awaiting my singing didn't bother me at all, but the idea of performing for one man that I wanted to please more than anything made me really nervous. I cleared my throat and tried to make any noise come out, but it was failing miserably. Any noise that came out was a squeak.

I watched Erik slowly get up from the seat and walk down the ramp closer to the stage till he reached the stairs. He walked up so he was at the same level as me and walked closer till he was close enough for me to reach out and touch him.

"What can I do to make you feel more comfortable?" he asked as he looked into my eyes to see the nervous wreck I was becoming.

I wanted to say 'Kiss Me' or 'Hold Me', but I didn't have the nerve to say it. The only thing I could think of that would help me to sing would be if he wasn't here. Before I could stop myself from being rude, I softly said "Disappear."

He had looked at me with serious eyes and when I said that his eyes softened and he nodded slightly. He walked towards the back of the stage and he melted into the darkness of the wings. I was afraid that he was going to leave me here so I said, "Erik?"

When I looked towards where he disappeared from I became bathed in darkness, the chandelier above was turned off and I couldn't see anything. "Erik?" I said shakily, afraid to move because I knew I would fall or hit something.

I took in a deep breath to both calm myself and call out Erik's name again, but before I could I felt Erik's arm go around my waist and pull me closer to him. I felt his lips kiss the soft skin behind my ear and I almost collapsed from the intense emotions building up.

"I know you don't want me to disappear." He whispered in my ear. "Sing for me."

With that need in his voice I let the beauty of harmony come forth from my throat. The first song that came to my mind at that moment was Angel of Music.

"Father once spoke of an angel

I used to dream he'd appear

Now as I sing, I can sense him

And I know he's here"

I could feel Erik's hand tighten over my stomach and it urged me to keep going.

"Here in this room, he calls me softly

Somewhere inside hiding

Somehow I know he's always with me

He, the unseen genius"

I felt these lyrics were true to me because I always thought of Erik as my inspiration for music since I met him. He was my Angel of Music.

"Angel of Music

Guide and guardian

Grant to me your glory

Angel of Music

Hide no longer

Secret and strange angel"

I stopped singing and I could hear Erik's breathing coming from behind me and I could feel his arm loosening around my waist until it was gone completely.

"We should go. It's late." He said. He walked into my view and towards the stairs.

"What?" I said with a hint of anger instead of confusion.

He turned back to me and said, "I'm bringing you home, it's late." He kept walking and by the time I could get any words out he was by the doors leading to the foyer.

"So you kiss me and brush it off like it didn't happen? Is this some kind of payback for the seduction I did to you? I apologized for that." I said as I ran to catch up with him.

"It isn't payback." He turned to face me and held a restrained face. "I get overwhelmed and I do stupid things." He said talking about the kiss placed behind my left ear. "We shouldn't be together and there is more reasons than the ones you know." He had walked through the foyer and past the staircases and swung open the front door.

"What other reasons?" I asked as I pulled my coat closer to keep out the cold chill that took over the night air.

"I can't tell you, they are personal reasons." He said as he kept his back to me and kept walking at a brisk pace.

"Well, you are definitely not gay. Anything else can be worked out, I can handle it." I said as I grabbed his arm to make him turn to me.

He faced me abruptly and spat out. "No you can't. What is keeping me from you is too dangerous for you to know. It is too dangerous for you to even be around me."

I looked at him, royally confused and pissed off. I was angry because he didn't think I could trust him with a secret and I was confused because now I wanted to know what was making him so angry. Before I hit him, like I really wanted to, I walked past him and headed home.

xXx

I woke really late the next morning to the sound of Meg slamming my bedroom door open and grabbing a fistful of my blankets and ripping them off my body. She then went to my curtains and opened them wide to shine light in my eyes. She wasn't angry of course, I told her to wake me like this if I ever slept past 1:00 in the afternoon. I always thought it was a waste of the day to sleep so I opened my eyes slightly to see Meg holding out a steaming mug of coffee.

"Drink up. It is 1:30 in the afternoon, which only gives you six and a half hours to get ready for the Halloween party." She said jokingly.

I took the coffee out of her hand and started to sip. I got home around three in the morning and went straight to bed. I felt exhausted and angry all at once from the way Erik acted. Meg had left when I took the mug and she just returned with a bowl of cereal.

"Here you go, your favorite, Honey Combs." She said happily.

"Thanks." I said glumly. Not even Honey Combs could get me out of this foul mood.

"What's wrong? It's Halloween, you have been waiting for this day for over a month." She said concerned. She sat down at the foot of my bed waiting for me to answer.

"I guess I am just not in the mood to see Erik right now." I said. Before I eat in the morning everything comes out of my mouth like I don't have a separator.

"What happened?" she asked, getting comfortable on my bed.

I then went into detail about what happened the day she walked in after seeing Erik storm out and saw me wearing only a bra above my waist. Her face was full of shock and she started to grow a blush on her cheeks. I kept going to tell her about the discussion we had and how I apologized and we decided to be friends. I told her that I never wanted to be just friends with him, but he seems to be alright with the idea. I finally told her about last night and how I couldn't fall asleep so I went for a walk and found myself at the fountain outside the Metropolitan Opera House. I had made a wish to be more than friends with Erik before tossing a coin in the water. Erik had miraculously shown up and made a silent wish himself. I told her that I had admired the looming opera house and he had noticed. He took my hand and brought me into the empty building for a small tour. Meg's eyes widened a bit. I kept going to tell her that he brought me into the auditorium and I walked up to the stage and dreamed of being the lead soprano and imagined the seats being filled with people. Erik had told me to sing and I was reluctant and my throat was unwilling. He turned off all the lights and through the darkness he came close and held me around the waist and kissed me behind the ear. Meg was smiling and blushing wildly. I sang and after he retreated and pretended that nothing happened. He told me that he could never be with me and I should stay away from him.

By the time I finished my rant about everything Meg was in complete surprise and was silent for a moment. The blush had slowly disappeared and she looked confused.

"What is wrong with him? He is giving you mixed signals and now he doesn't want anything to do with you?"

"He believes he is too dangerous for me. I don't understand that at all since he is a wonderful person and he saved my life." I spoke too quickly and realized what I said.

"He saved your life?" she asked with a raise of one eyebrow.

I was reluctant to tell her the truth, but from the look in her eyes I couldn't keep it from her much longer. "I was working late one night and when I got out I started walking home. I was attacked by four guys that dragged me into an alley to try and… rape me." It was still really hard for me to talk about it because every time I did the whole event came back in a rush and I became afraid again. "I fainted at some point and woke up in Erik's apartment." I said as I looked to the ceiling where ten floors up he was probably playing the piano. "He told me that he heard me scream and came to see me getting attacked by the men. When they saw him they ran and he took me to his apartment."

"Oh my God. Why didn't you tell me?" she asked as she grabbed my shaking hand.

"I didn't want you to worry. Also that's why I am confused about him thinking he is dangerous. He saved me and after he told me what happened he said 'I don't think I could handle it if anything happened to you.' I mean who says that?" I said with a disbelieving shake of my head.

"A man in love." She said with a slight smile.

I looked up into her eyes and was caught by the unbelievably romantic look she had.

"Now we need to get you ready for the ball." She said as if she was my fairy godmother. She took my hand and pulled me off the bed before going to the bathroom and turning on the bathtub. "You need to make him want you. You should be the only person he looks at tonight. Now take a bath and when you are done I will help you with your hair and make-up." She said as she poured bubble bath into the water and left the room.

I quickly got out of my pajamas and stepped into the rising, bubbly water. I soaked myself into the pool of water and relaxed. I started to think about that morning after the accident and how Erik had told me what happened. He seemed guilty for not getting to me sooner and yet he was happy that I was alright.

As I sat in the tub I washed myself with Dove soap and put shampoo and conditioner in my hair. Once that was done I took my razor and shaved my legs and armpits before jumping out and drying myself with a towel nearby. I went into my room wearing only my towel and grabbed the Olay Quench lotion I had by my bed. I started to put the lotion all over my legs, arms and everywhere else, giving my skin a soft touch and a glittery look.

Meg came in after a few minutes and sat me in front of my mirror to do my hair. She brushed out all the knots and added mouse to my hair to add volume. She then dried it with my expensive, curly hair special, hair dryer. It took a while to dry all of my curly locks, but once it was finished she brushed it out again and fluffed it with her hands.

She came around to my front and looked through my drawers to find the correct color eye shadow and the light red blush, along with a glossy lip stick. She covered my face with a light layer of concealer to make it look nice and smooth. She then added the blush to my cheeks and a quick brush over my forehead and chin.

"Which color, dark grey or light blue?" she said holding out two shades of eye shadow. She knows I usually wear the dark grey to bring out the blue in my eyes and it would make me look more desirable. She also picked out the light blue for if I wanted a change and to go more with the movie version.

"Go with the light blue. I want it to look almost identical to the picture." I said as I looked at the picture of Christine Daae on my mirror frame. The picture was so small and black and white that it was hard to tell if she was wearing any make-up at all. Her eyes didn't have a lot of darkness around them so my best guess was light blue.

Meg applied the blue eye shadow and then took out my water proof mascara to make my eye lashes look longer and more enticing. By the time she was done with my make-up and hair I was hungry. I barely ate my breakfast and I felt emptiness in my stomach and I heard a growl come from it.

Meg must have heard it to since she said, "Come I am going to make you something to eat before I put the lip gloss on."

We headed into the kitchen, me wearing a bathrobe and her already wearing her Legally Blonde costume, no doubt with a sexy angel outfit on underneath. "What do you want, soup, sandwich, pasta?" she said as she opened the kitchen cupboards looking for something to make.

"I'd like Ramen." I said when I saw the packages of chicken flavored noodles on the top shelf.

"Awesome." She said as she grabbed two packs and put them on the counter. She boiled the water and stirred the noodles and chicken powder together until it was ready to eat. She put half in one bowl and the other half in another before handing me one of them with a fork.

"Thanks." I said as I started to eat slowly so I wouldn't get a stomach ache.

When we finished eating I told her to go into her room and put on make-up and do her hair. I could finish putting lip gloss on and put the rose in my hair. The only thing I would need help with was putting my corset on.

I went into my room and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and apply deodorant. I went back to my mirror and grabbed the lip gloss to make my lips nice and shiny with a hint of a strawberry taste. I brushed my hair to be parted to the side a bit and to keep my hair back I took a clip and the rose and tucked it behind my ear. I looked just like the newspaper clipping.

Luckily Meg was quick at putting make-up on and she came into my room to help me put on my dress. The corset was really tight, but I didn't care, the whole thing looked amazing. It was the first time I ever saw myself with the costume, hair and make-up all together. I looked perfect.

"You look hot." Meg said taking the words right out of my mouth.

"Thanks." I said with a hint of laughter. I just hope Erik thinks the same.

xXx Erik

I tried going for a walk to sort through my feelings for Christine only to find her sitting at the fountain outside my destination, the opera house.

I wanted to visit Adam and maybe walk around the auditorium by myself. The Met was so similar to the Opera Populaire. The Populaire inspired my drawings for the new Metropolitan when they needed an architect for the project. Whenever I visited this place I was brought back in time to a rather unpleasant, but loving time. I loved Christine, but her not returning that hurt me deeply.

When I saw Christine by the fountain throwing a coin into the fountain I knew she was making a wish. I came closer and pulled out a quarter from my pocket to toss in as well. 'I wish I could figure out my feelings for her.' When she looked at me with those wide eyes I almost already knew what my feelings were.

When she kept looking over to the Met with sad and wanting eyes, I knew what she wished for. She wanted to step foot into the large light filled building. I decided I wanted to give her that wish. Not realizing what I was about to do.

I didn't sleep at all that night, the memory of her slim waist that I was encasing in my arm the soft, warm flesh behind her ear that I couldn't help but taste and the voice that I craved to hear once again. When she sang Angel of Music, I almost cried from the joy of her voice. Of course the memories came back and I felt as if I was holding Christine Daae in my arms. I could hear her heart pounding rapidly in her chest and her neck was so close to mine and her head was tipped back from the exhaustion of the high note she made. I suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline and my vision changed from black from the darkness to red from bloodlust.

That is the reason I pulled back. I had to get away from her, before it was too late. She tried to change my mind, but nothing could keep me from telling her that I was dangerous. I was thankful that she walked away or else I wouldn't have been able to control myself.

I played my piano viciously through the night and as the sun came up my music got lighter and softer until I couldn't play anymore. I moved to the kitchen and drank some blood before heading to my bedroom to change. The teachers were supposed to arrive earlier to help out somewhat so I brushed my teeth, combed back my hair with gel, shaved my jaw and chin and washed my face.

I left my bathroom and went into my closet to grab my costume. I dressed and grabbed my knee high brown boots to put on my feet. Last, but most important, the mask, I put it on to cover my face, everything but my chin. The time was now 6:00 at night and I had to be heading to the party which officially started at 7:30.

When I got to the opera house I turned before I hit the stairs and went down the hall to reach the ballroom. When I opened the doors I saw workers walking around putting tables and chairs out. There was also a couple people sweeping the tiled floor. None of the other teachers were in the room and it didn't look ready at all.

"May I help you?" I turned to see the Head of the Dance Department standing there wearing a ballerina outfit. "Oh, Erik. I didn't recognize you. Who are you dressed as?" she said as she politely kissed me on my masked cheek.

"Don Juan from Phantom of the Opera." I said as I politely kissed her on her hand.

"It is amazing. All of the teachers are waiting in the auditorium until the ballroom is ready for the students to arrive." She said as she hooked her arm under mine and headed down the hall.

We reached the auditorium where some teachers were sitting in seats and some were standing in the aisles talking, others were standing on the stage and looking out at the auditorium with the same expression Christine had last night.

"Erik." I turned to see Andrew coming over to me after talking with Mike, an acting teacher. He wore similar clothes to what he usually wears, jeans, collared shirt, vest and tie, the only difference is he isn't wearing glasses and his hair is gelled back and curly. "Great costume." He said as he looked over my outfit.

"Thank you, same to you." I said politely. He looked just like the picture of Will Schuester from Glee that he showed me.

"I want you to meet my wife." He said as he turned to a woman dressed in a strapless, princess style dress. The top was covered in gold glitter and it slowly dissolved in the dress as it went down. She wore earrings that shined and hanged down with her wavy blonde hair. "Honey, this is genius that is Erik Damson. Erik this is my wife Penelope."

I took hold of the woman's hand and kissed the back of it politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you. May I ask who you are dressed as tonight?"

"Taylor Swift. This dress is the one she wore on the Red Carpet at the 2009 CMA's. She is my absolute favorite country singer." She said as she fingered her dress and looked over my costume. "Who are you dressed as?"

"I am the Phantom of the Opera in his Don Juan costume." I said.

"Wow, I love it. It is so great to meet you, I have heard so much about you from Andy." She said as she wrapped her arm around Andrew's and kissed him on the cheek.

"Really? He has?" I looked to Andrew for questions. What had he talked about? He better not have told her my big secret.

"We need to keep mingling; I want to show you off to everyone." Andrew said to his wife. "We will talk later, Erik." He said as he headed to another music teacher.

I walked around the room talking to my colleagues and their husbands and wives until the president of the school came in and pronounced "The ballroom is ready."

I walked with Andrew and his wife out of the auditorium and down the hall to the ballroom. When I got to the foyer on the way to our destination I looked at the large clock that said it was 8:00 on the dot. I kept going down the hall and when I reached the ballroom I walked in to see everything was decorated. The floor was swept and cleaned to shining perfection and there were round tables around the edges of the room with food sitting on every surface. There were also chairs placed randomly around the room for people that become exhausted. There was a big empty space, no doubt for dancing. There was an orchestra standing in the corner with their instruments already playing a peaceful ensemble. Everything looked great. I had to admit I couldn't wait to see what Christine was wearing.

xXx

I AM SOOOOOO SORRY! I decided to add that Metropolitan "break-in" scene last minute and by the end of this chapter I looked and saw I am at 5,000 words. I usually only do 4,000 a chapter and I already had so much in mind for this chapter so I need to make Halloween into two parts.

I promise to upload the next part soon! So sorry again.