Chapter V: The Final Act Begins
When Adam returned to the Opera House, he went to the manager's office; he had a plan to lure this phantom into the open and bring him to justice.
"We are idiots, we have been searching for someway to get this phantom out into the open but the solution is right in front of our noses." Adam told the managers, he had a plan that he was sure was to work.
"What do you mean, M. le Vicomte?" Mekaneck asked he was eager to do away with the phantom and bring some normalcy to the Opera House.
"We shall play his Opera, but we have the advantage, if Teela sings he is sure to be there watching." Adam explained to the managers, calmly.
"We'll lock the doors, that way no one gets out!" Mossman said catching on to the plan.
"We place constables all over the opera house, to arrest him as soon as we see this phantom" Mekaneck chimes in knowing that the phantom will be arrested and this madness will end.
"We also make sure that they have guns, this phantom is tricky and I don't want to take chances," Adam said as he walked towards the door.
"His number is up tonight," Mossman told the Vicomte excited that the phantom was done for.
Outside the door, Mme. Angella was listening; she heard this plan and knew that it could only lead to disaster.
"This is folly, Messieurs, utter folly" Angella told the managers, she knew what this Phantom was capable of and also knew that managers and the Vicomte were doomed to the same fate as Ram-Man if they continued with this plan.
"But if it works, we can end his curse he had on the Opera House" Adam told, assured that his plan was the best course of action.
"This no way to end the curse, believe me" Angella protested, she knew that the Phantom would have a noose ready for them all if they went through with this.
"You go back to ballet!" Mek snapped at her angrily, he was enraged that she would even dare to question them.
"If you don't think it will work then help us figure out a new plan," Adam told her, he knew if anyone could help them it would be Angella.
"I want to believe me, but I can't," she pleaded with the gentlemen, she wanted more than anyone did for this waking nightmare to be over, after all it was her it was she who freed him so long ago.
"Don't make up such pathetic lies!" yelled Mossman, slamming his fist on his table, he was begging to think that Angella was conspiring with the Phantom, and to him that was unacceptable.
What Mossman thought Adam spoke "I'm begging to wonder who's side your really on Angella?" the Vicomte de Grayskull exclaimed to the ballet mistress.
"Monsieur believe me my intentions are benign but I warn you, he has killed and will do so again" she told the young man.
"That is why we must do this," Adam said as he left the room to tell Teela his plan to lure the Phantom out of hiding.
Teela was in a secluded corner of the Opera House, a small temple built to honor the deceased family members of those who work at the Opera.
It was there, that Adam found Teela lighting a candle for her father. She was confused about everything; her angel was a madman, and now this scheme of Adam's had her terrified, what if the Phantom took her away or even killed her.
"Adam, please I don't want to do this, he'll take me away, and we'll never see each other again," She said scared out of her wits.
"He's only a man" Adam reassured her as he took a handkerchief and dried her eyes. "Teela it's not that I am thoughtless, I don't want you to get hurt, but you're our only chance of catching this Phantom" he said comforting Teela in his arms, "will you be okay if I go back to my house Teela?" he asked Teela, who nodded in affirmation.
Adam kissed Teela goodbye, got up and left for his carriage, "farewell my love" he said as walked out the door.
When he arrived back home he was tired, he climbed out of his carriage and went inside where Adora was waiting for him. She was worried about her brother, especially after seeing the large cut on his right arm
"Are you all right?" Adora asked as she pointed to the wound, she called for the servants to come and tend to Adam's injury.
After a light supper, Adam decided to lie down and go to sleep, but sleep did not come to him. He tried to relax but he kept thinking about this Phantom and his plan to capture him, what if it fails and he takes Teela away, this whole affair was enough to drive man crazy.
As he was laying in the dark, he thought he saw what appeared to be a skull. Terrified, Adam jumped out of bed and ran to get his blaster, and taking careful aim, he fired at the 'eyes'.
The shot was so loud that it woke up Adora who raced into her brother's room and found him in a state of delirium.
"Adam what happened?" she asked as she helped Adam back into bed, she thought that a burglar had tried to break into Adam's room.
"The Phantom was here and if he's not dead it is a shame," the Vicomte told the Comtesse looking at trail of blood that ran to the door and outside.
"There is no Phantom of the Opera, you probably shot an animal of some type," Adora told examining the blood trail.
"Wait until tomorrow, then you'll see that he does exist!" Adam said he had a hysterical look on his face.
"Adam, there is no Phantom remember what I told you that one night, everyone knows it just a myth" she said as she helped Adam relax. "Now get some sleep" she said she turned out the light and left the room.
The night passed slowly passed and day finally came. Adam woke up, got dressed, made a quick breakfast, and left for the Opera to see the managers tonight was the night of their plan to capture this Phantom and end his rule over the Opera House.
When he arrived at the Opera House he found the managers acting strangely, they kept walking backwards and when they reached, their office they locked themselves in and hung a sign out on their door that read 'Do Not Disturb'.
When Adam knocked on the door, there was no answer. "Hello? Is anyone there?" he asked as he knocked again, this time, Mossman opened the door "What do you want?" he shouted at the Vicomte, who was quite perplexed.
"I want to know if everything was ready for tonight." The Vicomte asked as he tried to enter the office.
"Yes! Yes! Now go, we have work to do, unless you have a safety pin!" Mossman exclaimed as he slammed the door in Adam's face.
Adam couldn't figure why they were acting so strange, but he knew the Phantom was behind it one way or another.
The manger's eccentric behavior began a day ago, when the managers found a note on their desks. The note was from O.G. reminding them that he has yet to be paid for the month. The note told them to place 20,000 gold coins in an a bag which O.G. had provided for them and give it to Mme. Angella who would place in Box 5 where O.G. would pick it up.
They were getting fed up with losing 20,000 coins every month to this O.G. chap so they decided to set a trap so they could get the money back.
They placed the 20,000 gold coins in Box 5 and went to hide, so they could find out who was behind these notes.
When they returned they found theta the bag was still there but it was filled with fake gold coins, O.G. had struck again.
The next day the called Mme. Angella to their office, she thought it was about the next payment for O.G., but she was soon shocked to find out that she was going to be arrested for theft and that the Commissary was there.
She told them that she didn't have the money and that it was in his coat pocket, the whole time.
The managers were astounded and asked her to explain how she did it. She explained how she would take the real form box 5 and slip it in to Mossman's pocket when he wasn't looking.
So she couldn't do it a second time, they locked Mme. Angella in a supply and fastened the bag of gold coins to Mossman's coat with a safety pin, what they did not see was the Phantom unfasten the pin and take the bag of cold coins from the manger's pocket.
When Mossman checked his pocket the second time it was gone, O.G. had taken the money.
Meanwhile on the stage, the cast was getting ready for tonight's performance, if everything went as planned the Phantom would be brought to justice and Teela would be free of his influence.
"Those who dare to trifle with Hiss" Man-E sang, he was sure he was doing right.
"No, the line is Th-ose who dare to tri-fj-le with Hiss!" Angella corrected him.
Man-E tried again, but to no avail.
"I like his way better, at least he makes it sound like an opera" Catra chided to which the whole company laughed with loud hearty laugh.
"Would you speak like that if the piece's composer were here" Angella warned her, waving her finger in the air.
"The composer is not here and if he was I would give a piece of my mind!" Catra hissed.
"Are you sure of that?" Angella asked her, trying to cool her down.
While they were practicing, Adam was busy checking all the locks and doors, making sure they could be secured and making a list of them to give to the police so they can post guards at them.
When he is done, he heads to the manager's office, where Mossman, returned from his investigation has summoned to commissary of Eternian Police.
"Ah Monsieur Le Commisaire, just the man I was looking for" Adam said as he walked into the office. "I have the list of all the doors and openings in the Opera House will your men be here?" he asked handing the list to the police leader.
"While I don't believe in the Phantom of the Opera, they will be here, Monsieur Le Vicomte" the commissary assured him.
"O.G. will go down" Mossman and Mekaneck, said in unison as they begin to think that the thief of their 20,000 gold coins would be apprehended soon.
Later that night, everyone was getting ready for the opera, the police marched in the Opera House and took they're places, Adam along with his sister and mangers sat in their respective boxes, and backstage the actors were getting ready, but what they don't know was that the Phantom was getting ready as well.
"So they think they can outwit me tonight, well won't they be in for a surprise" he cackled as he placed a false face over his skull, glass eyes in his eye sockets, and a wig on his head.
When it was show time, the Phantom emerged from his lair and went backstage where he snuck behind Signor Man-E-Faces and killed him with the Etherian Lasso, and when it was time for him to go on, the Phantom went on instead.
No one notices except the managers, Adam, and Teela.
When the scene where King Hiss asks a princess to be his wife came up, Teela prepared to reveal the Phantom for what he truly is.
The scene broke Adam's heart because he dread to think that Teela might choose the Phantom.
The Phantom got down on his knee and said "Teela will you marry…" he was cut off for at that moment Teela ripped off his mask, glass eyes, and wig revealing his hideous skull in front the entire audience
Overcome by rage, he grabbed Teela by the wrist with one hand and loosed the rope holding up the Chandelier with the other sending it crashing down and revealing the body of Man-E-Faces, creating chaos throughout the building.
"Oh my Goddess, we're done for Mekaneck! Done for!" Mossman exclaimed as looked at the chaos.
Meanwhile Adam rushed from his box and went to Teela's dressing room; he barged in and searched for Teela, but in vain.
Just then the dark skinned man came in, "I can take you to Teela, but you must do exactly as you say," he told Adam.
"Who are you?" Adam asked looking cautiously at this man, fearing he might be an agent of the Phantom.
"You know that answer already, I am the Enforcer" the man introduced himself cryptically.