14
Chapter 5
A couple of months had pasted and Gen needed to go back home for a while then return when the Opera House opened.
"Are you sure you have to leave?" Helen asked. Helen had been much better the last couple of months. No more Phantom attacks or her "singing in sleep" problem.
"I have to! My mother is ill! I'll be back in a month or two…keep me posted," she paused, "Both of you…Well! I don't think I can swim all the way to England!" Gen threw her arms around Helen and hugged her tightly, "I'll be back!" she let go and then hugged Rich, "Take good care of our little friend here, all right?" Gen smiled at them both and waved as she climbed into the boat.
"We'll see you in a while then!" Helen waved as the boat pulled away from the dock.
"Good-bye Len! Take care!" Gen sat and looked at them.
Helen and Rich stood there until they couldn't see the boat anymore and then rich said,
"Want to go to dinner? I mean…there are some great diners along the coast here!"
"Dinner sounds wonderful…then we need to go back." Rich rested him arm on her shoulder and she rolled her eyes as they began to walk down the boardwalk, laughing about some of the events of the day.
"Your meals." a waiter stated as she set their plates before them.
"It looks delicious. Thank you." Helen smiled.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" she asked.
"Oh. I think we're good. Thanks again."
"Sure thing Helen." She left and went to clear off some tables.
"How do you think she knows my name?" Helen quizzed.
"Fromph facktey bais sdo!" Rich said with his mouth full.
"Chew and swallow, Hun'." Helen scorned.
"Sorry. You're jacket says so," Rich pointed at her front shoulder, "Remember? Gen got it for you…" Rich rolled his eyes.
"Oh. Yes…I remember…that was fun!" Helen looked back at the day Gen had bought her the jacket. There was a fair in town and she had bought Helen the jacket as a birthday gift. They then began to eat their meals quietly.
"Madam. Home?" the coach-driver asked as they came out from the restaurant.
"The Opera House, yes." Helen climbed in, followed by Rich.
A few hours past and it was dark when they finally rolled up to the Opera House. Helen and Rich jumped out, paid and thanked the man, and went inside.
"You're right. Three more months in this place and saving three million franks is a lot to be saved from…"Rich looked around.
"Do you not like it here?" Helen stated as she pushed open the auditorium doors. She gasped.
There, on the stage, stood the Phantom.
She had not seen him in a month or two…could it have been longer?
"Hey!" Rich said, jumping in front of Helen.
"No Rich! It's okay! We have unsettled business!" Helen pushed past Rich's naturally tanned arms and made her way to the stage and stood beside the Phantom.
He held out a script and music to Helen,
"The art is done," he said sadly.
Helen and Rich had gotten a lot closer over the past months and Helen knew she was putting both of them in danger.
"I still trust you…" Helen pulled the white mask, he had given her, out from the jacket, "And I still go with you…"
He smiled weakly at her and then disappeared in a blare of smoke. Helen hid the mask as Rich came up.
"What did he give you?" Rich said resting his chin on her shoulder and looking at the things, she had in her hands.
"An Opera and a trust gift…" Helen stated, hypnotically.
"Let's get back to the inn…" Rich took her hand and led her out of the Opera House.
Phantom's POVI watched her walk out of the building with that pathetic fool that was falling in love with her. I knew. She didn't love him back as much as he wanted to her…. At least I gave her the chance to choose!
Ignorant fool! I'll have my way with him. He can't be around forever!
But…if I do be rid of him…will Helen be with me?
I sat there still watching them walk down the street. I had placed myself beside the window and out of sight.
Damn that Christine! She meddled with me!
"To bad Christine! You're not here to protect your young!" I chimed.
Normal POV"Good-night, Rich. I'll see you in the morning! And we'll start the work without Gen tomorrow!" Helen closed the door, and locked it. She leaned against it and rubbed her forehead, closing her eyes, "What do you do Helen?" she began to walk to her dresser, "You can't love two… and you know that one is stronger than the other…and that you can't put either one in danger…"
There was a note posted to her mirror.
"Hmm?" Helen took it off and began to read,
'Dear Helen,
I realize that you love Rich. I see it every day! Are you for him…or him? I need to know. Tell me in an ASAP note in England! I love you both and I hope to see you soon!
Love,
Gen'
Helen smiled and then realized that there was a P.S.,
'P.S. I was just thinking that if you were for him and not him I could go with him and you could go with the other him…'
Helen couldn't help but laugh. She slid the note in her desk drawr, beside the other letter that lay there, and pulled out some paper and an ink pen.
'Dear Gen,
I got your note…'
A knock came to the door.
"What is it?" Helen asked.
"It's Rich…can we talk for a minute?"
"I'm not decent!" Helen yelped.
"Ah. Perhaps at breakfast?"
"That's fine. Sorry. See you in the morning!" Helen undressed and changed into her pajamas and slid into bed, "That's. Just… fine."
She felt herself falling asleep, and she finally gave in. She had a funny dream:
The Phantom sat, in a chair, on the other side of the room, dressed in his black suit and black cape, white mask in place, and arms and legs crossed.
He just sat there.
Didn't move about.
Didn't utter a single word.
Just sat and stared at her.
'Why do you not move or speak, master?' Helen asked him.
He still didn't budge.
Helen stood and walked towards him. When she reached his side, she sat on her knees beside him,
'Master?' she reached forward to touch his cheek; and in a flash he grabbed her hands and stood her up as he stood. She looked up into his eyes and he began to sing,
'Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness wakes and stirs imagination…' he began to lead her out of the room and down the stairs, still holding both of her hands,
'Silently the senses abandon their defenses…' he paused and looked at her,
'Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it; sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the Music of the Night
'Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge all thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes; let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before…
'Softly, deafly music shall caress you
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you
Open up your mind let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know, you cannot fight
The darkness of the Music of the Night…
'Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be…
Only then can you belong to me…
'Floating, falling, sweet intoxication…' he pulled her into a hug, placing his hands on her stomach,
'Touch me, trust me; savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the Music of the Night…
'You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the Music of the Night…'
Helen looked up at him; she knew that this would not last forever. She hugged him one last time and as she was going to go upstairs, he held her hands and kissed the back of them softly.
"Helen? Are you up?" Rich's voice chimed from the other side of the door.
"Almost…"Helen groaned, slipping out of bed and falling to the floor, "Oooch!"
"Are you all right?" Rich knocked.
"I just fell out of the bed…I'm fine…" Helen yawned. She went over to her dresser and pulled out her clothes for that day.
At breakfast, Rich was just wanting to ask how long the reconstruction was going to last.
"A month or less!" Helen stated happily. She was so glad that the play, (which practice had started two weeks ago), was well under way. The cast had voted her into the leading role.
They had practiced everyday under and surrounding edifice.
Charming.
That was the title of the play. It was a play about a four-fingered man that had killed girl's parents, and she did not know it. He kidnaps her and she falls in love with him.
The Masquerade was being worked on. Invitations had been sent out three days ago and they awaited reservations, the masks were made for the actors and actresses to wear there, and they had everything set.
"Opening night…your names in lights! I can picture it now!" Rich stated absent-mindedly. Helen laughed,
"You just want to see pretty girls in their ballet outfits!"
"What?" Rich asked, snapping back to life, "No!"
"Liar!" Helen teased.
"So what? Whoa! Who's playing the main guy in the play…?" Rich asked perking up. Helen put it simply for him, since he seemed a little slow today,
"The man who wrote the play." Helen turned; one of the actresses was walking up to her.
"Morning, Madam… May I speak to you alone?" she, Natalie, nodded to Rich.
"That's fine. Excuse me Rich." Helen pulled Natalie into a separate room, in which, she thought they were alone, "What seems to be the problem?"
"You said the main male character would be here today! I see him no where!" Natalie began to pace.
"Natalie! Sit and be calm! He takes his own time…" Helen sat down and smoothed out her dress on her lap.
"How can I? If you didn't observe…we only have two weeks left! How can he learn that fast?" Natalie sat down anyways.
"Because, Natalie… he wrote it."
"The Phantom." Natalie whispered. Helen nodded. Natalie shook her head,
'Look at your face in the mirror! He is there inside!'
Helen looked and saw the Phantom in the mirror, with his one hand, leaving the other by his side, pressed against the glass, watching them. She smiled, stood, and asked him to leave.
"Well! At least invite that despicable thing to the stage and we'll," she sighed, "Practice…" Natalie stated, reluctantly.
"Don't!" Helen glared. She turned to the Phantom, "Meet us at the stage. You need to show your talent!" Helen turned to Natalie and took her hand, "Let us go to the stage. Practice starts in a few minutes…"
They walked out of the dressing room to the hall and down the hall to the back of the stage, where the other stood and waited for them.
"Madam! You are not dressed for the practice!" The conductor stated, hurrying up to them.
"We practice in regular clothes today!" Helen smiled. She then turned to the rest of the cast, "Can I have everyone's attention? Please? QUIET!" Helen yelled and got everyone's attention, "Thank you! Now. As you all know… I've said for a few weeks that the main male character would be here today. Well…he is. Do you want to meet him?" Quite a few nodded or said yes, "All right. I'll go get him…"
Helen turned from them and walked out of site behind the stage and props to the point when she finally found him.
"Good Morning." He stated sheepishly.
"Good morning. Are you ready?" Helen asked, with a smile.
"I think so… they'll just hate me…" he avowed. Helen shook her head,
"You have to give people a chance. They all want to meet you! Come on!" Helen took his hand and led him out to the stage. A few people gasped and other drew their hands over their mouths, some nodded, and the conductor pulled Helen aside.
"Do you remember what this man has done?" he whispered in pure disgust. Helen looked at him,
"Would not you want another chance? Let him have the part with a demonstration! Please?" Helen glanced at the Phantom, whom was backing away slowly. The conductor sighed unsteadily,
"I guess… if he's got the voice and the talent…" he walked over in front of the orchestra pit and had the musicians begin the song for him to try. Helen, meanwhile, walked up to the Phantom and pulled him front and center,
"Sing your heart out! Take no heed to those around you! Close your eyes and let them know that you can sing…" Helen slipped off to the side of the stage and watched with total trust. The Phantom's jaw quivered and he started to sing as the point of the song was reached,
'Say you'll share with me one love, one life time
Say, the word, and I will follow you…
Say you'll share with me each night, each morning
Promise me that all you say is true
Lily, that's all I ask of you…' he stopped and Helen joined in, since it was her part anyways,
'Say you'll share with one love, one lifetimeSay, the word, and I will follow you
Say you'll share with me each night, each morning
Say you love me…'
'You know I do!' he sang for his part. They continued together,
'Love me –That's all I ask of you!'
As they ended the cast behind them were cheering and clapping for him.
"Brava! Brava! You will get the part Miser Phantom!" the conductor clapped and walked up to them, "Well done. Everyone! To your places! We take it from the top! Miser, I'm guessing that you know the play…haha…well…since you wrote it…"
Helen smiled at the Phantom and took her place behind the curtains, until it was her time to go on, but someone was there all ready, "Oh! Rich! I'm sorry…Rich?"
Rich had his hands on her shoulders and look really hurt, as if someone had stabbed him in the leg.
"Rich? Are you all right?" Helen supported her friend as he fell to his knees; she knelt with him. He was breathing unsteadily and was shaky. Helen looked for some cost of pain but she found –
"OH MY GOD! HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Helen screamed with her singer lungs. A few actors came over and the conductor, along with the Phantom.
Rich's back was bleeding as if someone had whipped him. Rich looked up at them, and then saw the Phantom,
"You! You did this! You monster!"
"What? I did nothing of the sort! I was here the whole time! How could I?" the Phantom defended himself. Helen agreed with a nod,
"That's right. How could he?"
"Lay still, miser!" one of the actors, who happened to be also a doctor, instructed. He laid Rich on his stomach and ripped the shirt open off the back, reveling a long but thin and not deep cut along his back, "It's not bad. Can you grab me my bag?" A stage worker brought him his black medic bag and set it down beside him, "Thank you."
The doctor pulled out some wound cleaners and bandages. He cleaned the cut and then began to patch it up with some gauze and medical tape. He told Rich to go sit in one of the chairs and relax for a few minutes. Helen helped him down the stairs and to a front row seat. Seating him down, she walked back up and told everyone that they could continue.
The Phantom noticed that Rich was not watching the play, but glancing around the floor, as if angry that his lesion did not cause enough attention. Then it hit the Phantom. Could he be doing this to just get attention? He shook off the idea and sang his part in the opening act where he kills the parents of Lily.
When practice was done, Helen, accompanied by the Phantom, came down to Rich, "You doing all right now, Rich? she asked.
"Could be better…" he replied coldly.
"Well…Phantom. Are you staying? Or do you want to accompany Rich and I to dinner?" Helen turned to him. He grinned,
"Coming out for practice was enough for one night…I don't think dinner tonight…" the Phantom looked around. To the ceiling, at the seats, at the stage, and finally back to Helen, saying quietly, "I never thanked you for the work you've done…"
"You're welcome. All right… Maybe in a few days then?" Helen helped Rich to his feet. The Phantom nodded and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke, "Hungry Rich?" Helen questioned.
"Yes…I am…" Rich saw the act of kindness from the Phantom that none other could see…
/With the Phantom/
He sat down at his piano with his back to the keys and looked around at his cavern. It was not dressed it impress, so to say, but it looked elegant in some aspects. The lake reflected the candles that were placed all around the cavern, the black curtains hung loosely from the frame around the bed, and the white dress, still stay on it's stand, all though, it meant less now. It was older and fragile.
"Gah!" he turned to the Organ and began to play a few soft notes, just for fun.