Sophie's POV
7:30pm
I stood nervously while Fleck finished tying the back of my gown, trying to get my breath. Christine was sitting at the vanity table with a full length mirror behind it. She was vocalizing to herself as Fleck tied the final bow. I stepped out from the bathroom where I was dressing, checking myself out in the mirror. I nodded at Fleck, letting her know that it was okay to leave. She nodded, quietly leaving and closing the door behind her. Christine continued to vocalize, her voice eerily reminding me of Gustave in my dreams. I made sure that my hair was just right, smiling at the small jewels that graced it. However, something was missing. I smiled, turning to Christine, seeing that she was playing with my make-up.

"Christine, could you hand me those earrings," I asked, pointing to the sapphires. "The sapphires on the left." She nodded, picking them up and handing them to me. I quickly put them in, smiling as I did so. "There," I said, turning to look at her. "How do I look?" She turned, smiling at me.

You look so beautiful
So very beautiful
Like a queen in a book…

I took a tiara that I had in my make-up case, putting it on for show and pranced around the dressing room, which made us giggle. I took the tiara off, setting it on the vanity and kneeling in front of her.

You, too, are beautiful
So very beautiful
Once this performance is through
We'll spend some time
Just us two
Won't that be fun?

She smiled, hugging me tightly. I hugged her back, standing up to start putting on my make-up. "I really do think that you look beautiful, Sophie. You're going to take everyone's breath away."

"Indeed, she will," a voice said from the door. I looked up, my make-up falling out of my hands. Drake was standing at my door, and he looked amazing. Not only that, he was completely sober. His grayish-blue eyes were completely clear. He was dressed in appropriate attire for the performance; a sharp tuxedo with a white bow tie. His blond hair was smoothed back and he was clean-shaven. He completely took my breath away. "She is taking my breath away as I stand here, just as she did the first time I saw her on the first day of high school."

"And look at you, Drake," I said as Christine stood up from the vanity, coming around behind me and taking one of my hands. "You look just like that handsome boy that I knew once. The one who would always give me a single red rose after every performance that I ever had."

He nodded at me, and then looked at Christine. "Please, Christine, if you don't mind, would you wait outside a while?"

"But when is Sophie going to sing? I don't want to miss it."

I smiled and walked her to the door. Drake stepped aside to leave access to the door, holding it open for her. "Go and wait backstage, my dear. Soon your father will fetch you there. You can watch from the wings." She smiled at me, and trotted away backstage. I turned and looked at Drake as he closed the door. "You say what you have to say and go. I have nothing to say to you." I went back to my vanity and began putting on my make-up. I heard him clear his throat, his footsteps walking around behind me.

*Since that fateful day
Things have gone astray
I'm not proud of the way that I acted
The demands I made
All our hopes mislaid
I'm aware of the price they've exacted
Though I have no right to ask you to
There's one thing more I'd have you do
If you love me as I love you…*

I stopped putting on my make-up, finding him in front of me. He was on his knees, pleading with me. He actually had tears in his eyes. But how was it that he could still love me after all of this time? I put my make-up brush down, taking his hands in mine. "Drake, I'm not sure that I can do what you want to ask of me. But go ahead and ask me and I'll see what I can do. However, if you want me to hire you back, that's not going to happen." He leaned down, kissing my hands, then he looked back up at me.

*Don't sing the song, dear*

"What? But Drake –"

*You have to know that something is terribly wrong, dear*

I shook my head. "But I have to do this. It's what I agreed to." He shook his head.

*That hell-spawned demon
He's had us playing his game all along, dear*

"Let me just get through this. Listen, please…I need to." He cupped my face in his hands, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs. His touch was so soft, just as I remembered it. All of these old feelings that I once had for him came flooding back. The question was could I stop them from taking over.

*You need so much, it's true
And I denied you
You need the man in me
Back here beside you
You'll have him back, I vow
Just ask it of me
But we must leave here now
If you still love me…*

He pulled me down, kissing me gently. Lovingly. His scent flooded my mind. I shook my head, pulling away. "Drake, I can't leave. I'm due on stage in fifteen minutes. I'm not going to leave him like this."

"Listen to me," he said, taking my hands again. "I've booked plane tickets for the red-eye to Paris. It leaves in an hour; we'll have just enough time. I'm begging you. Let's be on it for both our sakes. And for Christine's." He took my left hand, slipping my ring from Erik off of my finger, resting it on the vanity before taking my hands again.

*Leave this place behind…*

He leaned forward, kissing me again. I placed my hand on his cheek, not able to control myself as he held the kiss. Suddenly, I felt as if I was being watched. I looked out of the corner of my eye to the mirror, seeing a silhouette of a man in the mirror, as well as a glow of a mask in the light. I pulled away from Drake's embrace, shaking my head. "Go on backstage. Tell the stage manager not to disturb me. I need some time." He nodded, getting up and leaving the dressing room immediately. I moved my hands over my face, contemplating over what I should do. How did I know that this was the real Drake, and that he wasn't trying to get back on my good side after everything that has happened? And was he really sober? Or was he just playing me because he was out of funds? I had to find out. I bolted up from the vanity chair, running to the door. But I was locked in. I tried to turn the handle and it wouldn't budge. I was locked in from the outside. I knew that he had been watching me with him. I slowly turned around, feeling his presence inside the room. He was wearing his mask, and a black Victorian style suit. I backed against the door as he approached me. He stopped at the vanity chair, placing one hand upon it before offering his hand to me.

You know his love is not enough
You know it isn't what you need
You know you're made of finer stuff
I think, on that, we're all agreed

It's time to leave him in the dust
It's time to be who you should be
It's time to do now as you must
And set the music in you free

I let out a low sigh. I knew that he was right, and I couldn't resist him. I walked to him, taking his hand. He stood me in front of the mirror as I took a breath.

In moments, mere moments
Drums will roll

He smiled at me, gesturing with his hand.

There you'll stand
Just like before

The crowd will hush
And in one sweet rush

I will hear you sing once more

He reached into his jacket, pulling out a gorgeous necklace that matched the dress perfectly. It was encrusted with sapphires and black stones and it was in a choker style. He smiled and led me back to the vanity as we sang.

And music, our music
Will swell and then unwind
Like two strands of melody
At last, entwined
Fulfill us, complete us
Make us whole
Seal our bond forevermore

He took the ring that he had given to me ten years before, slipping it back onto my left ring finger, singing to me as he held my hand.

Tonight, for me
Embrace your destiny
Let me hear you sing
Once more…

Suddenly, just as quickly as he came, he disappeared. I fell out of his trance, breathing softly. There was a soft knock at the door, followed by the stage manager's voice. "Miss Day, five minutes." I looked down at my hands, folding them in my lap as I bowed my head.

Twisted every way
What answer can I give?

I pressed my fingertips to my lips, feeling the lingering thought of Drake's kiss. My hand traveled downward to the necklace, followed by my eyes, staring at my ring.

I know I can't refuse
And yet, I wish I could
Oh God…

I let out a soft sob, completely torn about what I should do. Then, from the shadows, came their voices.

*Sophie, Sophie
Don't think that I don't care…*

But every hope, and every prayer
Rests on you now…

I took a deep breath, touched up my make-up and pulled on my gloves, leaving the dressing room. I could hear the soft whispers of the stage hands communicating through head pieces that I was coming to the stage. I stood at the center in front of the peacock backdrop once I arrived, placing my hands at my sides. I could see through the curtain that the lights were beginning to dim, and the audience grew quiet.

The curtain began to open.