Disclaimer: My ring, my pencil, and Erik I. I also have a duplicate of Erik I named Erik II, but that's it. Other than pocket lint. . .
A/N: Chapter four! ^^ Merci to my reviewers, and. . .That's all I have to say. 'Cept to review, or else I'll unleash the power of the magical NEEDLE! *holds up a sewing needle* Ooith. o_o Oh yes, and I understand why everyone's against me. . . well, maybe, I don't, but it's hard to explain why I don't like them. It's like my thinking Jean Valjean is an idiot. And I probably shouldn't have said that. *foresees many arguments about JVJ* But don't shoot me, and yes, I 'm odd, concerning my thoughts about either JVJ, the MotN poses, or rose-tinted glasses. I just don't know why I don't like them! *sobs* Review anyway ^-^
:Chapter 4 – "Him":
Erik watched her disappear down the hall, soon hearing a small 'thud', and then Kali announcing, "I'm up! I'm alright! Aagh, I hit my nose. . ."
He chuckled slightly, stepping back into the dressing room. Something was different. . . but he couldn't place his finger on what. Stepping towards the mirror, he examined more pictures around the frame. Quite a few of them were Kali and, Erik was guessing, the former Christine. His eyes began to drift towards the other side, but they stopped in the center, staring at themselves in the mirror.
-That- was what was so different. He was normal . . . or, at least, half of him was. The black, full mask that he was so used to was somehow replaced by a white half one. Two mismatched eyes, one blue, one brown, stared at their own reflection as he slowly and carefully removed the mask. The next sight nearly made him gasp.
There were scars, of course, but few; in fact, his face was not even a fraction of how gruesome it had been before. And then there was the strikingly odd fact of how perfect and flawless the other side of his face was. Not to mention that he actually possessed a nose. . .
Replacing the mask with one swift movement, he noticed yet another picture decorating the mirror frame. This one was one of a man, more or less the face of the man. After scrutinizing it for a moment, Erik made an abrupt discovery: he was identical to this picture! {{A/N: The picture I'm referring to is that of MC in the Phantom makeup from The Complete Phantom of the Opera. And there -is- a reason behind why I chose Erik to look like he does in the ALW version. . .you'll see later ^-^}}
Deciding to return to the 'backstage of his life', Erik exited the dressing room, turning on his heel and walking towards the prop room.
Voices wafted through the halls, and Erik could distinctly hear a conversation between Kali and a man, apparently called Josh.
"So, Josh, what you're saying is. . ."
"What I'm saying, Diana, is that if you pretend that he's me and I'm him, the final scene might go a lot easier for you. Seeing as you can't quite get over your little - how do you say - obsession?"
"Hey! Just because Phillip's character can Punjab your little foppish butt any day doesn't mean that -"
"Diana! Josh! Good God, stop acting like children. . ." another male voice said in an exasperated tone.
"But I am a child! Remember, I'm the youngest member in this company," Kali replied.
"Hence the pigtails. You see, Michael, I do believe that we have one of the most cheerful Goths with an actor's equity card in this show. Or punk. Or. . .what exactly are you, Diana?" Josh asked lightly.
"I'm insane," she told him with a grin in her voice.
By this time, Erik had opened the prop score of Don Juan Triumphant and was examining the music, keeping his ears on the conversation between the three. Suddenly, another 'thud' was heard, this one so loud and startling that even Erik himself turned to look.
"What was -that-?!" Kali asked. She too was obviously startled by the sound.
"The elephant fell on its head. . .again. Alright everyone, let's take it from Carlotta's entrance. . ." Michael replied; the shuffling of feet and moving of props soon heard.
"We really need to re-weigh that elephant. . . " Kali muttered, moving towards the wings. {{A/N: *hears crickets chirping* No one gets that. . .ah well, most wouldn't. Don't ask me about the elephant. It's a long and strange story o0}}
Erik, still in the prop room, placed the manuscript back down in its proper place and moved on to the next interesting object: a music box, in the shape of a barrel organ, with a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals resting on the top of it. Carefully turning this unfamiliar object over, he noticed that there was no key, rather, a small, square object on the bottom of the music box. As he lightly ran his finger over it, music continued to echo through the walls.
"With feasting and dancing and song,
tonight in celebration
we greet the victorious throng,
returned to bring salvation!
The trumpets of Carthage resound!
Hear, Romans, now and tremble!
Hark to our step on the ground!
Hear the drums - Hannibal comes!"
Placing that object down in its original resting place, Erik turned on his heel and walked back out into the hallway, turning right. Beginning to walk, he passed doors, some empty, some with name plaques on them. Apparently, he was walking towards the stage, for the sound was increasing. The chorus stopped for a moment, obviously an interlude for the ballet. A 'bang' was heard, and then a few lines were spoken, one by a young woman, the other by someone whose voice quite resembled that of Mme. Giry's.
"You! Christine Daaé! Concentrate, girl!
Christine. . .what's the matter?"
"Wait a moment! Diana, you're supposed to look like a deer stuck in headlights, not lovey-dovey-googley eyed! Try your entrance again. . ." Michael told her, and the interlude restarted.
"You! Christine Daaé! Concentrate, girl!
Christine. . .what's the matter?"
"Better," Michael muttered, although it was loud enough to be heard by everyone.
Three men began to speak, two reminding Erik faintly of Monsieur Moncharmin and Monsieur Richard.
"Daaé? Curious name.
Swedish.
Any relation to the violinist?
His daughter, I believe. Always has
her head in the
clouds, I'm afraid."
"Looking for something, sir?" A short, plump woman, (reminding Erik more of a dumpling than a human) asked him. Practically obscuring her vision was a pile of clothing, with a pair of ballet shoes topping it off. She kicked one of the nearby doors open with her foot, dropping the clothing on the table and turning to look at Erik.
"Thank you, madam, but I am just browsing. . ." he began.
"You're not one of those fans, are you?" she asked, suddenly acting quite cautious. "How'd you get in here?"
"I'm an acquaintance of Kal - Diana's," he replied, drawing out the slip of paper and handing it to the woman.
"Oh yes, Diana, she's a nice girl, isn't she?" the woman stated, glancing at the paper and handing it back to Erik. "Oh, excuse me, I'm Sarah. Sarah Allmand, the costume lady," she said with a laugh and extending her hand.
"Erik, Madame. Simply Erik," he told her, shaking her hand for a brief moment.
"I hope you don't mind my working while we speak. . . I must make sure that everything fits Diana for tonight, not to mention the others. Have you ever seen the show?" Sarah asked, picking up a piece of clothing, glancing at the tag, folding it and setting it aside.
"No, although I do have a ticket for the performance tonight," Erik replied.
"I see. Ever read the book?" she inquired, this time setting a white ballet costume off to the side along with the shoes.
Erik stared at her for a few moments. Kali had neglected to mention that there had actually been a book written about him. Resisting from saying that he had basically written the book, Erik simply shook his head.
"It's a good book. Diana must have it somewhere, if not someone else does. Or you could cross the street to Theatre Circle and buy a copy, if you wish," Sarah remarked, smoothing out a red, gold, and green beaded costume and folding it over her arm. "Will you be watching the rehearsal as well?" she questioned, turning to look at him. {{A/N: Theatre Circle - best shop in the world ^-^}}
"Perhaps," Erik said quietly. "What scene are they rehearsing?"
"I believe it's 'Hannibal' now, and then 'Think of Me'. It's Christine's big breakthrough as the new star. Well, I'd better be getting this to her," she replied, motioning to the costume over her arm. "Pleasure meeting you," she added quickly, walking out of the costume room.
Erik immediately turned around. A clear, perfectly angelic voice wafted through the walls, practically freezing him in his place. Suddenly it stopped, and Erik could hear Kali say to someone, "You're late, Jess."
"Sorry, long line at Starbucks today. But I did get the coffee," Jess replied. Erik noticed how strange the word 'coffee' sounded. . . more like 'cwa-fee' than 'caw-fee'.
"Just coffee?" Kali asked quietly, her voice sounding like she was about to die. {{Coffee. . .Eyuck.}}
"No, Diana, she remembered to get your non-caffeinated frappachino," Josh said in a tired tone.
"Oh goody. Thanks, Jess," Kali chimed joyfully, as a rustle of paper and cardboard was heard.
There was a pause between everyone, before a female voice asked, "Where's Phil?"
"Oh no, not now. . ." Michael remarked, sounding as if he were about to drop dead.
"He's never this late, " Mme Giry's voice commented. "In fact, he's never late at all."
A 'thunk' was heard, and then Kali sighed. "Well, this causes a dilemma, doesn't it? We can't have the Phantom of the Opera without the Phantom. And from the look on your face I'm guessing we can't afford to use one of the understudies for lack of the other understudies, and we can't use the swings as a lack of the other swings, and we can't use the emergency standby in case our other Phantom, whoever that may be, has something happen to him. Why do all the males have to be on freaking vacation!?" she exclaimed, almost missing a beeping sound.
Now, Erik was shadowed in one of the boxes, looking down on a group of mismatched people, either walking or sitting, most of them staring at their nails or at their binders. Kali was prominently sitting on the edge of the stage, her legs dangling over the orchestra pit. Beside her was a handsome young man, with brownish-blond hair and, from what Erik could see, deep brown eyes. He was obviously between his late twenties and early thirties, and Erik had no doubt that this man played Raoul.
Standing in one of the aisles was a man who looked extremely tired, and about ten times older than he actually was. Faint spots of gray decorated his raven colored hair, which matched his deep eyes. He seemed to be in his forties, but because of the extreme fatigue etched in his features, no one could quite tell. In his left hand rested a red binder, and his right fingertips were drumming the side of it, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.
As I have stated before, a faint beeping seemed to be issuing from Kali's pocket, and she quickly reached into it and drew out the cell phone Erik had seen an ad for earlier.
The man in the aisle looked up at Kali, his face stone cold. "That'd better be good, Diana. We have no time."
Kali stood, making a motion as if to say 'be quiet', and she pressed the phone to her ear.
"Hello? Yes, it's. . .Oh thank God," she began, putting her hand over the end of the phone closer to her mouth. "It's Phil," she announced to the crowd on and around the stage quietly.
The man in the aisle gave a sigh of relief, and then demanded, "Why hasn't he gotten here yet?"
Kali uncovered her phone, beginning to speak into it again. "Michael wants to know where you are. Not to mention the rest of us. . ." she suddenly turned paler than she normally was, and then choked two words out.
"Y-you. . . what?"
Michael turned towards the man next to Kali. "Josh, what's happened? Why isn't he here?"
Kali, not hearing any of this, began to speak in a very hurried tone.
"But. . .But Phil, you just can't. . .yes, I know we have James, but that's about it. . .you -what-?! He's what?! No, he hasn't gotten here yet, thanks for informing us," she said sarcastically. "It's not that I don't like him, it's just that I can't work next to him. . .Let's think there, Phil, maybe. . .Michael?. . .No, I don't know who else would be able to. But his voice just. . .isn't. . .well, it isn't the right timber for Erik. . .yes, your voice is. . .yes, it is, Phil. . .Fine. Fine, I'll tell Michael. Not too sure he'll be thrilled with it, though. Alright. 'Get well soon'. Oh, and Phil, you'd better follow those orders or else I personally will kill you. 'Bye." With that, she folded the phone over and replaced it back in her pocket.
"Just for the record, I hate him," she muttered to Josh.
"Well? What's wrong?" Michael demanded.
"Long story short, Phil tripped and broke his ankle on his way here. James was with him, and so he took him to NYU. Now, Phil needs to be in a cast for six weeks and James is on his way here expecting the role," she told them all with a sigh, sitting back on the edge of the stage.
Michael ran a hand through his hair and groaned. "Great. Well, at least we've got someone to take his place. James will have Phil's part tonight and until one of the others gets back."
Kali stared at him, her eyes widening with every word. "Obviously, you didn't hear the end of my conversation. I can't work alongside him!" she exclaimed.
"James is our only choice! And frankly, Diana, I don't care whether you work well alongside him or not. You'll just have to act as if you can. What, do you have any better suggestions? If so, tell us now! Tell us all! I'm sure we'd love to hear from you," Michael replied hotly, closing the binder and resting it at his side.
Now, all attention was focused on Kali. The silence was so stunning that one would be able to hear a pin drop onto one of the heavily cushioned seats.
Kali's face was much paler than usual, and her eyes went from one person to the other, seeking help. The expression and feeling flowing through her very blood was one that Erik knew all too well - the extreme humiliation and helplessness of standing in front of an entire group of friends or, even, strangers, and having none of them at all willing to help you. Her gaze finally met Michael's before she quietly muttered one word into the floor. "No."
Michael nodded coldly. "I didn't think so. Now, once James gets here, we'll begin again-"
"Wait!" Kali interrupted him.
"What?!" Michael demanded, his face flaming with rage. "Care to share some more of your bright ideas?!"
"Why yes, I do," Kali replied coolly. "In fact, I know someone who could pull off Phil's role perfectly."
"Oh?" Michael scoffed. "And who would that be?"
Kali looked towards the box in which Erik stood and simply motioned towards it.
"Him."