Chapter Ten
Disclaimer: I don't own The Phantom of the Opera or any of the lyrics that appear in here.
Maska- I'm glad you liked it. Something just wasn't there for me when I wrote it. And I thought Matthew and Erik sitting together was funny too.
Emma-J-Riddle- Hope you enjoy this.
Chelsea applied her stage make-up with a shaky hand. She didn't know why she felt so strange. She felt nervous and like something was going to happen. Chelsea shook the feeling off. She had a show to do. After warming up her voice Chelsea slipped into her first act costume. She still had an hour until curtain.
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Erik's flight had landed a few hours ago and he and Matthew were now checked to their hotel. Matthew had gotten tickets to go see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Matthew thought it was funny. Erik was interested of course, but he felt nervous about going out in public. And he felt funny, like something was going to happen. Erik shook off the feeling and dressed in a black suit with a white dress shirt and a red tie. He decided to keep his white mask on. Erik wondered what Chelsea was doing. Was she going out? Could she be going to the play as well? If she saw him would she recognize him? Would he recognize her?
"Erik, we have to go if we want to be on time." Matthew's voice broke though Erik's thoughts. Erik walked into the adjoining room. Matthew was sitting looking out the window.
"Ready?" Erik asked. Matthew jumped three feet in the air.
"Erik, I have to tell you something."
"What?"
"I- I'm sorry for sending Chelsea away. I don't want you mad at me; it could be bad for my health." Matthew smiled a bit.
"Matthew, I was so angry at you when she left. It broke my heart. She was the only good thing in my life and you took her away. But, it's alright. I'm not mad any more, as long as you help me find her." Matthew nodded. "Good" Erik said. "Now let's go to that play."
The two men caught a cab to the theatre. Erik thought it was nice enough, but nothing compared to the Paris Opera House.
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Chelsea was in her dressing room when the first few notes of the overture started. She was no longer Chelsea. She was Christine Daae, now. She made her way backstage.
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Erik wasn't really paying close attention to the first few minutes of the play. But when "Think of Me" stared he jumped a few feet into the air. That voice, he knew that voice, but the lights were dim so he couldn't see the play bill.
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"Think of me
Think of me fondly when we've said good-bye
Remember me once in a while; please promise me you'll try
When you find that once again you long to take your heart back and be free
If you ever find a moment spare a thought for me." Chelsea sang. She felt her heart lift. Her voice soared over the audience. The stage lights were strong enough to see the people in the front row. There right in front was a man in a white mask. No, it couldn't be him. Chelsea thought to herself.
"We never said our love was evergreen of as the sea
But if you can still remember stop and think of me
Think of all the things we've shared and seen"
The girl's voice surrounded Erik. Suddenly if hit him. Chelsea. The voice that haunted his dreams. No one else's voice could have stirred him like that. He could finally make out the name in the bill. It was her. Chelsea, as Christine. She looked different, but yet, still the same. Her eyes were still a stunning green, she was still very small. Her hair was curly now, but still a dark chestnut. Her face, beautiful and kind, but her eyes held a look of sadness, and then for a moment a look of astonishment crossed them, but them it was gone. Had she seen him? Erik leaned over to Matthew.
"It's her"
"Who?"
"Christine, its Chelsea." Erik whispered.
"What!"
"Look at her."
"Mon Dieu! You're right. Did she see you?"
"I don't know, but we are taking a trip backstage." Erik's heart beat faster and faster. She was here. He was so close to her.
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No, it couldn't have been. Chelsea thought. Erik can't be here it was just some obsessed phan who wore a mask. Chelsea sang the rest of her song with her normal enthusiasm.
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As the show continued Erik couldn't take his eyes off Chelsea. She was amazing and the man who played the Phantom wasn't half bad either. Carlotta was just plain funny. But Chelsea was amazing. Her vice was so pure and she was so innocent.
At intermission Erik could hardly wait until the show was done. Then she would go see her.
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After Past the Point of No Return, Chelsea ran backstage for her quick change into the wedding dress. It had been tailor- made to her. The white made her hair look even darker and the tapered waist-line made her figure look even smaller.
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Erik was stunned when he saw Chelsea in the wedding dress. She was spectacular. She looked every part a bride, except she was crying. Yes, crying. He watched the tears fall down her cheeks as she sang, begging for Raoul's freedom. Her face a mixture of pain, rage and yet in her eyes the audience could detect a sense of hope. The Phantom pushed her away as she clasped her hands in front of her as if in prayer, her tears running freely now.
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Chelsea walked confidently towards the Phantom.
"Pitiful creature of darkness
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you
You are not alone!" Tears ran down her face as she slipped her hand around his neck and brought his lips down to meet hers. The kiss lasted for a long moment. The audience was completely silent, breath-taken as Christine won her freedom as well a Raoul's.
At the end the audience rose to its feet. Erik was stunned. Chelsea came out arm in arm with the Phantom and Raoul, her smile dazzling. The three clasped hand and bowed together. The applause was even more thunderous (if that's imaginable). Chelsea had been amazing.
Erik grabbed Matthew by the arm and hauled him backstage. It took a minute to cut though all the people. When they reached the room they saw a girl go into Chelsea's dressing room, Matthew's eyes bugged out. A man was standing outside the door.
"Can I help you?" He asked.
"We're here to see Chelsea." Erik said.
"So's everybody else in the hallway." The man stated.
"But we need to see her, its very important." Erik couldn't believe it, here he was so close and he couldn't get in to see her. Come on man, think, you're the Phantom of the Opera you don't need permission to get into one measly dressing room. But then Matthew stepped forward.
"Sir, I am Matthew Andre. I own the Paris Opera House and I'm looking into buying this theatre. Now, I need to talk to Chelsea." Erik looked at Matthew in disbelief. Matthew had never said anything about this theatre. The man looked surprised at the statement, but then nodded and said"
"Just a moment, while I check with her." Then he opened the door.
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Chelsea was talking with Alice when Josh came in the room.
"Chelsea, you were wonderful!" Alice exclaimed.
"Excuse me, but there are two young men outside and they insisted on seeing you."
"Who are they?" Chelsea asked. "I wasn't expecting anyone coming tonight."
"I only caught one of their names. It was Matthew Andre. The other man didn't tell me his." Chelsea paled. What was Matthew doing here? Her heart beat faster. She steeled her nerves and nodded to Josh.
"Send him in, in a moment please."
"I wouldn't keep him waiting."
"You're right." Then Alice rose to leave.
"No, Alice stay here, I need you." Chelsea clasped her friend's hand. Josh left.
"Who is Matthew Andre?" Alice asked.
"Matthew is the man who took Erik away." Alice nodded.
"Ohhh. And he's here?" Chelsea nodded. Just then Matthew entered.
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"Chelsea" Matthew greeted her. He noticed she was still in the wedding dress.
"Matthew" She replied.
"You were wonderful tonight! I was amazed. How did you do that? You weren't you up there you were-"Then Matthew looked at the girl on Chelsea's right. She was taller than Chelsea and had long blond hair. Matthew recognized her to be the girl who played Meg. "And who is this?" He asked.
"Oh, this is Alice. Matthew, I have no idea why you are here. Tell me, where is he Matthew! What have you done with him?"
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Outside Erik couldn't take it anymore. Chelsea was getting more and more distraught as Matthew talked.
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"Who?" Matthew asked clearly surprised. Then the door swung open, slamming against the wall. Chelsea, who had her back to the door spun around. She gasped.
"Erik" She breathed.
There she was, still in the wedding dress. Her stage make-up had been removed. Her hair hung down her back in curls. She stood looking at him in disbelief.
"Chelsea" He whispered. Her eyes, sparkling with tears, searched his face. "It's me" She picked up her skirts and ran into his waiting arms. He lifted her small body off the ground and hugged her as if he was never going to let go. She wrapped her slender arms around his chest.
"Oh Erik" Chelsea said, her tears spilling over. "Don't let me go."
Matthew and Alice looked on at the couple. Alice wiped her eyes. She had never seen such joy her best friend's face. All the pain and grief in her friend's eyes and disappeared in a split second.
Matthew smiled. He had and righted the wrong he had done.
"Well now that you've had your reunion what do you say about going to get something to eat?" Everyone laughed at this.
A few minutes later Chelsea and Alice had changed into their own clothes and the group walked to a nearby coffee shop. Chelsea and Erik walked close together, hand in hand. Alice and Matthew seemed to be getting along fine, as Matthew had his arm over her shoulder. Once seated in the coffee shop Matthew spoke up.
"Chelsea, there is something I must tell you. I am so sorry for, well, kidnapping Erik and for forcing you onto the plane."
"Matthew" Chelsea replied leaning against Erik. "I forgave you along time ago. I couldn't carry the baggage of hating you." Matthew smiled.
A/N Whew! That was my longest chapter yet! Well how was it? I still have a few more chapters to go before the end. Let me know what you think of it, or if you have any ideas.