I do not own The Phantom of the Opera. ALSO, this chapter is in third person.
The lights in the ballroom are almost blinding. Music streams from direction, words pour from every mouth. After years of work, the opera house has been restored to its previous splendor. The grand re-opening has attracted only the bravest, men and women alike, hoping for a glimpse of the Opera Ghost.
In the crowd, a pair of children weaves between dancing bodies and beneath lifted glasses. One, a young boy, is pulling his twin sister along by her hand, and both are singing quietly from behind plaster masks.
"Masquerade," they sing, voices blending into one, "paper faces on parade. Masquerade. Hide your face so the world won't recognize you."
With a final devious glance, the boy pulls his sister deeper into the mass of people, disappearing behind the waves of swirling dresses and shuffling feet.
The lights are suddenly dimmed, and the entire crowd turns to face the stairs, sure of what is to happen. A few guests even look to the center of the floor, searching for the young star that had once stood there. With longing expressions, they turn away, remembering the story of the burning opera and the star who went down with it.
At the top of the stairs, the most beautiful figure of a woman stares down at the crowd. Everyone is quiet, gazing at the masked belle as she begins to drift down the stairs. She opens her mouth, and the familiar voice that escapes it is enough to bring several members of the audience to tears.
"Why so silent, good monsieurs?" she sings. "Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good monsieurs? Have you missed your lovely opera? Or the man who burnt it down?"
From the opposite end of the ballroom, a booming voice sings, as beautifully as the woman's, "Don Juan Triumphant!"
The voice belongs to a ghost, who is now floating across the floor, closer and closer to the woman. They meet at the bottom of the stairs, walking circles around each other. The man, with one hand on the sword at his side, eyes the woman as though she were his prey, drinking in the sight of her. Their masks and movements mirror one another's.
The woman suddenly pulls the man close to her, holding his face in her hands. Her partner caresses her face in the same way, but more roughly. Together, voices melting together like liquid gold, they sing, "Past the point of no return, the final threshold. Our battle's won, your star, at last, has turned."
With a final warning, the pair disappears in a tower of smoke, their voices echoing throughout the room:
"You've passed the point of no return."
I apologize a thousand times over for this taking so long, but I had to be sure I was ready to end the story. Thanks to everyone who has followed this story and given me feedback. I appreciate every one of you! I think this went pretty well for my first fanfiction! I hope you guys will read what I write in the future. Who knows? We might hear what happened between the proposal and this last scene. I love you all, and thanks for everything! - Alyssa