Chapter 3
The Phantom of the Opera Returns
By: Joycelyn Driscoll
Disclaimer-I do not own The Phantom of the Opera though I wish I did!
The boat glided across the water through the dungeon. It was his dungeon of black despair. "Christine this should seem very familiar to you my dear. You have been here many times before." The Phantom said in his usual eerie tone.
"How many times do I have to tell you I am not Christine I am Joycelyn. Christine was never real you're just an obsessed fan." Joycelyn tried to explain to him, not knowing that anything that was happening was the truth for way back when. That Raoul, Christine and La Carlotta and the whole story of the Phantom of the Opera was reality not fiction.
"If I was an obsessed fan then maybe you can explain my face!" He screamed in fury at her words. How could she believe that he was lieing to her and with that he pulled off his mask revealing the face of all the story's told. He looked down in shame as his abhorrent face was revealed to her.
Joycelyn screamed in fear and horror as she saw his face, no this couldn't be could he be real, could all the story's be true? Could Christine and Raoul all have been real? "You are real…Christine Raoul they were all real….but you, you never died, why!?" She asked in horror and question why he would never have died. It had been so long he should be dead should he not?
"That fate which has condemned me to this horrid face has also condemned me to eternal life. Oh how I hate it so, but now I have found you again Christine and my life has been filled with the joy of your return!" A small smile came to his face.
She looked at him with sadness in her eyes though his face was horrid he still looked like an angel as he smiled. His smile was so sincere and pure he truly believed she was Christine and that she had returned to him it made her want to cry and though she would not show it on the outside her heart was crying out for him. She understood this mans pain. All her life she had been rejected by those who had known her even though she had not such a horrid face. She understood the feelings of being rejected and unwanted in this world but she would never live an eternity and yet he would. He would feel the rejection all his life. "Phantom…what..is your name?" Joycelyn asked wondering this mans name could be. She wanted to know so much more about him it was unreal
"Christine my angel, do you not remember my name?" He said looking at her sadness in his eyes.
"No…please…remind me my Angel of Music." She said smiling trying to comfort him in some way.
"Erik…my name is Erik." He said looking at her kindly a small smile gracing his lips.
"Erik…so…may I call you Erik?" Joycelyn asked in question and wonder.
"Yes my angel call me whatever you may like." As he said this the boat pulled to his lair. He gestured his arm out to her welcoming her into his home.
Joycelyn slowly walked out of the boat and into his lair. She looked at all the candles and archetecture in awe. She saw the old organ which she had read about in all the story's and a smile came to her lips as she slowly touched it with her fingers humming the tune to The Music of the Night her favorite song which the Phantom had sang to Christine.
"I knew that you were Christine!" He exclaimed putting his mask back on and sitting at the organ. "You remember the song that I first sang to you!" He said as he started to play it for her softly as he sang to it for her.
Joycelyn was transfixed by this Phantom listening to the words a smile coming upon her face. She remembered this song so well and now it was being sung to her, a dream which she had dreamed of for so long. She walked to the Phantom and laid her head on his back. "You really are the Angel of Music." She said with a smile.
The Phantom felt her lean against him and a small smile came to his lips. "Oh, Christine." He said as he turned and embraced her in a hug. "I love you." Was the words he said. He saw the clock that said 1:50 p.m. "Come Christine we must return or that fool Vicomte will be missing you." He said sweeping his cloak over her and then they were gone.
Raoul paced back in forth all he could think about was Joycelyn. She was gone and it was his fault he should have saved her but he was useless, he was a fool! "Why couldn't I protect her why!?" He screamed out loud to himself, but why did he even care? This girl was in some way special to him.
"Raoul!" All the girls screamed as they ran to him in anticipation of the audition. Hoping that one of them would play the part of Christine and be able to kiss Raoul.
Joycelyn slowly walked down the hall and into site silently she couldn't say anything after what had happened.
Raoul looked and he saw Joycelyn walking through the hall and he pushed through the girls and ran to her. "Joycelyn!" He screamed as he ran to him and held her in his arms. "Oh, God I was so worried."
"R…Raoul…" She said in surprise at how gentle he held her, this feeling was amazing.
"You worried me so much; I was so scared I had lost you forever." He ran he hands through her hair in affection not letting her go.
"Raoul I…" She couldn't finish the sentence; she didn't know what to say. She just buried her face in his chest resting in his arms.
"Come on we should get to the auditions." He said as he pulled away from her hold her shoulders with a smile. Then he let go and the feeling had changed. "EVERYONE TIME FOR AUDITIONS CHRISTINE WILL BE AUDITIONED FOR FIRST!!!!!! THE ROLE OF RAOUL SHALL BE PLAYED BY ME!!!" He screamed informing every one of which role would not be available to tryout for. "Who would like to tryout for Christine first!!!" He said looking around.
"I would!" Joycelyn said boldly this was her chance to shine, her one chance to finally sing in this play.
Raoul smiled brightly this was what he was hoping for and now he would have the chance to finally hear her sing. "Then you may Madam Joycelyn." He said politely.
Joycelyn blushed at the Madam comment but she still walked up there ready to sing. The music for Think of Me started to play and she began to sing showing the passion she had for the music through her voice.
Raoul stood there in awe he had never seen nor heard anything so beautiful as when Joycelyn sang, she had such a passion for the music.
Slowly the music ended and Joycelyn stood there waiting for her response.
"Bravo!!! Bravo!!!" Raoul screamed as he clapped he knew this was his Christine she had the part there was no use for any of the other girls to tryout. "You have the part!" He screamed not being able to hold it back.
"R…really!?" Joycelyn said in question and surprise.
"Yes!" He screamed smiling happily for her.
Joycelyn smiled happily as well her dream coming true. She was finally going to be able to play this part. She ran down and hugged Raoul tightly laughing. "Oh, thank you so much!" She had never been quit this happy in a long time.
He picked her up and twirled her in a circle, when he finished he put her down and looked her in the eyes. "You are very welcome." He just continued to stare deeply in her eyes.
She stood there staring into his eyes it was like before when they had first met. It seemed like hours but it had only been seconds, it didn't make any sense she had just met the boy and yet she all ready felt something for him. It wasn't certain to her what it was though it was just that she cared about him and that she felt that he cared about her. She couldn't say anything to him just this moment in itself was perfect. Nothing could ruin it.
"What is this!?" The phantom said in anger, he wondered if all that Christine had said to him was a lie but yet the affection she showed could not have been that of a lie he knew she was honest with him. But yet here she was showing some affection to that fool Vicomte! He could not let this happen he would not lose to Raoul Vicomte de Chagny again!
End of Chapter 3AN- Hey everyone I am back with chapter 3! I hope that you have been enjoying it so far it is starting to pick up slowly but surely. I am very excited about it and want to continue writing it even more. I have gotten one review which is just enough for me and I hope to receive more in the future but I am working on Chapter 4 right after I finish this note so I hope you enjoy and continue reading The Phantom of the Opera Returns! And have a good Christmas and a happy holidays!
Signed, Joycelyn Driscoll!
Aka- Youko Chan!