Le Tragedy:
Silence had blanketed the theatre again. The Belville's wouldn't let Fauxvoix out of their sight. They remained in the office for most of the afternoon and only left when the theatre was opening its doors again to the public. The foyer and other public areas of the theatre were amassed with police officers and theatre head of house staff. The police placed themselves at random throughout the building as the patrons began to arrive for the show. It was a strange presents for the regular theatre goers but they didn't seem to mind to much. It was closing night for a wonderful show and with all of the negative and positive publicity it was bound to be a good show. The foyer was bustling with people and chatter. The topic on everyone's mind were the strange affairs that had begun to make their way to the television and papers. It was clear that many of the people had come, not only for the show, but in hopes of seeing the opera ghost.
The brilliant velvet curtains were drawn once more, closing off the great world that lay behind. Workers were busy, two by two, to prepare the set and the stage for the final show. Costumed men, women and children ran frantically around backstage as the orchestra began to take its place. The building was soon filled with the avantGarde sound of a tuning orchestra and the strange panic that normally took over a cast before closing night. The actors and crew members were filled with all kinds of emotion. It hadn't been the smoothest running show and tonight would probably be no exception to this unfortunate truth. People were nervous about the performance and even more so about the company the theatre once again kept. Superstitions were running high as people crossed themselves and prayed that everything would go over without a hitch. They didn't want to anger the Phantom anymore than he already was.
Gabriella sat patiently in front of her vanity mirror for what seemed like the last time. Maria has stepped out to finished with her duties for the rest of Gabriella's costume changes. She sat alone admiring her costume and the magical work that Maria did every night. Once again she could see the bruises that were there. They were fading but she understood why people were starting to notice them. People turn the other cheek when they are not aware of what goes on. It is easier to hide thing if people were not expecting it but now Fauxvoix's behaviour was being publicised, rumours were starting and spreading fast. Gabriella was being noticed now in a negative light. She wished only for everything to be over.
Matthew paced the grand entrance to the house on the lake. He was nervous and afraid that things would not work as they should. He hoped that no death would come tonight but he feared it was inevitable. Dressed once again in his black formal attire, the mask feeling foreign to him for the first time, he grasped the lasso that he had found on the floor outside the Phantom's room. This was to be his only weapon tonight, the rest would be left for the police. It was strange, though, that he didn't feel the presence of the Opera Ghost in the house. It was a calm and peaceful place once again. He felt comfortable and ready for what was to happen. Everything was clear in his mind, and yet he felt a pain in side him. He hadn't been completely honest with Gabriella as to how things would run tonight, he hadn't really told her anything about it and he was beginning to worry that in her fragile state things were start to go wrong and progress at blinding speeds. But he had to put the doubt out of his mind. I would only make him second guess himself and he didn't need to be doing that anymore than what the Opera Ghost had already made him rethink. Sadly some parts of the evening he would have to fly by the seat of his pants and only hope for the best. Hope was really all he had left now.
High above the stage, box five appeared to be empty. Its red velvet chair and cushions had been the same for many years. But appearances can be deceasing. Seated in the regal chair, waiting for yet another evening of music and horror the Phantom of the Opera sat, like a king over looking his domain. He looked as he did in his youth when Christine Daae had come to live and train as a ballerina. It had been a long time ago and many things had happened in his life to bind him to this place. It wasn't his choice to stay behind and haunt the theatre, he had done enough of that in his life time. He longed now only for rest and believed that the beautiful Gabriella Angelique, the modern image of his Christine, could bring to him his final rest. Tonight he took his seat in box five, a seat he hadn't occupied since the days of his living but tonight he needed to be present in whatever way possible. He hoped that his being in the box would calm the poor girl and unnerve the young man. They needed to have the balance of all of their emotions tonight if everything was going to happen smoothly. As for the evil man that had disrupted the balance of the theatre, the phantom could keep a close watch on him, as he had many people, from high about the stage in his luxurious box five.
Monsieur Philippe Fauxvoix knew that his time was drawing near. They knew too much now and he was giving up his battle with them. He would have to ride out whatever they through at him because in the end he had the new contract that was binding Gabriella to him. He walked silently along side Madame and Monsieur Belville as they headed to take their seats. Victor was granted a box seat for the evening and Jean, the paramedic, had returned as well.
Once the audience had arrived in their seats the door had been shut behind them and an armed police officer stood watch outside each. The emergency exits from the theatre were also guarded by police. The house lights remained the only lights in the great hall as the chandelier had not completely been repaired. It was going to cost the Belville's close to a million dollars to fix the damage that had been done but they knew that what was really happening was worth more than money. It was a life they had been trying to say and the publicity, both good and bad, had brought in much revenue for their theatre. It wouldn't be as bothersome to repair the chandelier as the new was making it out to be but it would provide them with another excuse to over publicise the relighting of the chandelier, perhaps a new performance of some obscure passion would be fitting for the renewal of light in the theatre.
Maria had returned to the young woman's dressing room and found her where she had left her. She looked stunning in her costume and the excitement in her eyes was contagious.
"You are not afraid young one?" Maria asked as the bells of the theatre rang the first warning that the show was about to start.
"Never had I been more ready for a performance," Gabriella smiled, "it is going to be my best," she said and followed Maria to the door.
"I will miss you my young one," Maria whispered into the girls ear as they stood just behind the stage curtains waiting for Gabriella's first cue.
"You will see me again," Gabriella said as she hugged her nurse, "but finally you too will be free from this horror."
"I look forward to it!" Maria whispered as the curtains opened and the overture erupted.
"You much go and be away from this so that they cannot accuse you of anything. I will take it from here," Gabriella said as she kissed her nurse on the cheek and then watched as she disappeared into the darkness of the innards of the theatre.
Gabriella was brilliant on the stage, this night. Her voice rang out like bells, her acting was so real. The pain and the sorrow that she portrayed made even the strongest of men in the audience tear up. She glanced to box five as she sang and could see that the Phantom was happy. The music stirred the audience and yet Fauxvoix sat in the front row with fire in his eyes. Gabriella could see the revenge growing and it frightened her. If ever he would get her back she would surely die. But on this night she was free. The stage and the audience and the presence of her Phantom made her free.
Intermission came and went and she sang on. Everything was moving along smoothly. She wondered when it would happen but couldn't dwell on the subject. Before she knew it the opera had come to its climax and the songs of the performance filled the space. The end drew near and fear began to set in. Nothing had happened. No one had moved from anywhere in any ways. She could see the Phantom in his box and Victor in his. The chandelier hung lifeless and the Belville's watched on as Fauxvoix grew angrier. The end happened, the final song, the final chorus and then the final violin went silent. The curtain closed and the opera was over. The only thing left were the bows.
The cast had arranged themselves backstage to take the stage again when the curtains opened. The great curtains opened again and one by one the cast members took the stage. Applause filled the theatre and soon Gabriella was the last left to take her place. She sighed sadly to herself. Nothing had happened was she doomed to belong to Fauxvoix for ever, their plans would be over by the following morning. The contract between the Belville's and Gabriella would be finished and Fauxvoix could move in again. Tears began to fill her eyes as Armide's theme filled the theatre. She dried her eyes on the sleeve of her costumes, she didn't care anymore, and walked slowly onto the stage. She hung her head sadly as she walked and the audience grew silent. She looked out at them, the tears washing away her makeup and showing her horror filled face. It was a heart breaking sight. Silence enveloped the theatre, the music stopped as Gabriella sobbed in the middle of the stage. She fell to her knees. Madame and Monsieur Belville rose to their feet but before they could move Fauxvoix was running toward her. Up the side stairs on the stage. Gabriella gasped to see him. His eyes were not filled with compassion but anger and hatred. He reached her and struck her. The audience gasped.
"How could you do this to me insolent girl," he yelled.
The Phantom stood in his box but no one saw it, they were to captivated by the horror on the stage.
"It has all gone wrong for you hasn't it! That is why you are crying your Phantom hasn't come to save you! Ha!" Fauxvoix sounded insane now. The police officers had opened the doors to the theatre in time to see him strike her again.
"Please just kill me," she sobbed, "my heart is broken to be left here again. I don't care what you do to me now. I just ask that you have mercy and kill me." she knelt before him her hands outstretched in prayer, "please put me out of this misery."
"You leave me no choice," He hissed at her as he raised his hand to strike her again.
A scream rang out as his hand fell upon her. The police had began to run down the aisles toward the stage.
Like a crack of thunder a rope landed itself in the middle of Fauxvoix's back. He cried out in pain as the rope hung down from the ceiling of the stage. Down from above a black figure was descending. It landed on top of Fauxvoix forcing him to the ground.
"What the hell," Fauxvoix yelled as he spun from under the cape that cloaked him in darkness. He fought with the fabric to release himself. When he finally did the crowd was screaming. He watched as a man in black formal wear, sporting a white masked lunged at Gabriella.
Gabriella screamed in fear as she felt the arms grab her. The police officers were running faster toward the stage now.
"Please don't cry," Matthew whispered into Gabriella's ear as he carried her to the middle of the stage. He turned to the audience and looked frantically around. Pulling the rope from around his waist he flung the end toward Fauxvoix. He cried out in pain again as it hit him in the arm. The lasso fell to the floor as Matthew turned back to Gabriella, his eyes pleading with hers "if you could scream again that would be great," he said.
Gabriella's visioned cleared as she heard the familiar voice she looked up into his face. His eyes were red, his hands shook as he held her. He too looked like he had been crying.
"Please," he whispered his eyes begging her.
She creamed, the most terrifying scream she could as she tried to fight away from he man she loved.
Suddenly the floor fell out from beneath her. She clung to Matthew in fear as they fell. She could hardly breath from the fear as they seemed to fall forever.
Above the stage Fauxvoix scrambled across the stage to the opening in the floor. He reached the edge and caught a look down just as the trap swung shut in his face. He stood in his place as the police reached the stage.
"After him, he's taken her below!" Fauxvoix yelled as he pointed to the sides of the stage. Police officers ran in either direction.
The audience were panicking now. The story of the Phantom of the opera had been very clear to them all, as Parisians. They knew that when ever the Phantom had vowed revenge it ended badly and they began to flee the theatre.
Fauxvoix was furious. He looked up to the flies of the theatre and saw the rope hanging from high above the stage.
"Who is working the flies," he yelled at the Belville's, fury in his eyes, as they two had arrived on the stage.
"No one its all automatic now," Joseph said panic in his voice.
"Lies, this whole place is a well worked lie! All against me!" Fauxvoix screamed, "FIND HER!" he yelled and ran off himself into the darkness the surrounded the back stage.