Opening night seemed to come to soon!
Helen sat in her inn's room and was slipping on some shoes for the Masquerade. Gen was hustling to get there, or so said the letter. Helen stood and looked in the mirror. Over her shoulder's reflection, she saw Rich smiling at her. He nodded and Helen smiled back.
"You look beautiful…" he walked up to her. She turned and looked at him as she slipped her mask in her bag.
"Thank you! You're looking handsome…" Helen said. She gave Rich a hug, "Where were you all day?"
"Well, shopping, somewhat." Rich broke the hug as a tired-looking mess tumbled into the room.
It was Gen.
"GEN!" Helen dropped to the floor and gave her friend a huge hug, "Let's get you cleaned up! Rich? Will you…?"
"Say no more… I'll meet you two downstairs then." He left, closing the door behind him.
"H-hello…Len…" Gen was out of breath.
"Did you run here from the docks?" Helen laughed, "Or just up the stairs a hundred times?"
Gen smiled innocently, shrugged, and started to undress and give herself a sponge bath behind the privacy wall.
"So! You going with Phan?" Gen asked with a laugh and a gasp as Helen tightened her corset.
"Yes. You can go with Rich…how's your mother doing?" Helen finished the last tie and pulled out her friend's dress, slipping it over Gen's head.
"She's better… I'll have to go back in a month or so…She says hello and good day and good luck!" Gen laughed as she fit the dress over her underskirts.
"Ha. She's always been like that, hasn't she? How do you want your hair?" Helen asked as Gen slipped into the chair in front of her.
"Hmm, The usual up do for weddings and things!" Gen laughed. Helen joined in. That had been a joke between them ever since they met and were going to a wedding.
When they were simultaneously done… they put on their masks and walked down the stairs to see the Phantom standing over by the fireplace and Rich in a chair on the other side of the room, and Helen's parents by the door.
Helen walked over to the Phantom and tapped him on the shoulder. He stood strait and turned to her. He was shocked at first; he felt he was looking in a mirror. She had the same mask as he – only on the other half of the face.
"Ready?" Helen asked. He nodded.
He wore a red suit with gold and black trimming and his normal mask. (A/N: that sounds so like a fashion trouble… 'He has the normal mask, the death mask, and a black one… which one reflects his complexion the best?' LOL – sorry, continuing…)
He offered his arm, she accepted it, and they walked their way to the Opera House with her parents, Gen, and Rich following.
Helen glanced over her shoulder to look at her friends and family. Her mother and father, without a doubt, were glaring at her and the Phantom. Gen and Rich were talking and laughing. She looked up at the side of the Phantom. He was concentrating on something,
"What are you contemplating?" Helen asked, breaking his train of thought.
"Hmm?" he looked down at her, "Oh. Nothing…"
"Liar!" Helen whispered playfully. He rolled his eyes and gently laced his fingers around her's. She squeezed his hand and released slowly. They reached the stairs of the Opera House and were greeted by some other people dressed in masks and big dresses and fancy suits. Helen curtsied to the men and the Phantom to the women. Her parents and Rich and Gen did the same.
"It looks elegant!" Helen smiled as she hugged a young girl. She did and did not know her; Helen gave a guess as she whispered in the girl's ear, "Nadine?"
"Helen!"
They broke apart and smiled, as they knew that they need not worry about removing their masks before midnight. Nadine laughed,
"Helen! This is such a splendid party!"
"The churn out of a bright, new life! I couldn't be more excited!" Helen turned around to talk to others. The Phantom followed around shacking hands with a few people and kissed the hands politely of women he was introduced to.
As the grand clock struck eleven, the Phantom turned to Helen,
"May I have the honor of a dance with you, fair lady?" he bowed. Helen smiled; she smiled and took his hand, picking up her skirt and placing the hand full-of-skirt on his waist. They chatted quietly as they danced to the music and drank a small glass of fancy champagne.
"It's time!" Helen hugged him and scurried off to the top of the stairs trying to shush everyone. When that failed, she held out one, long, high note. Finally; everyone stopped and looked at her. She smiled, "Thank you! I hope you have enjoyed the party! Since the play will not be until Tuesday… we'd, the cast and I, would like to act out a scene for you as a glance to what the real play's turn-out may be! So if I could have, Nadine, Lilyann, James, Phan, and Killeen. We will start soon!"
Helen led Nadine, Lilyann, James, Phantom, and Killeen to the back rooms to changed into costume and warm up their voices. Helen was to be in a corseted dress that was rag-ish and had no straps. Everyone was ready and Helen walked out on the stairs with Nadine and Lilyann beside her.
'Tell us once more what he looked like!
We're anxious to know!' Nadine and Lilyann sang in unison. Helen spoke her part gently,
"He face was the creamy color of sand! His eyes," she sighed, as she did in the play, "His eyes…reflected the light like a glass lake. He was the perfect gentleman…"
'You've told us nothing!
What is it you hide?' Lilyann sang.
'You've told us nothing!
Don't be full of pride!' Nadine sang grabbing Helen's hands. James walked out onto the stage asking in song,
'What is this I hear of?
A devil buying a dove?' he stopped beside them.
"A devil, I say, young man!
Is that how you respect me?" The Phantom came down the stairs slowly as he spoke. James sang,
'Away from her! I won't let you have her!
Away from her! Paper can't buy you her love!'
'Ignorant fool!
Does a slave mean that much to you?' the Phantom asked, in play, as he stopped beside James. Killeen ran down and stood in-between James and the Phantom,
"STOP! STOP!"
The lights were blown out, they scurried off, and then the lights were lit again. An applause could be heard from where they rested and changed. Helen smiled as she slipped back on her mask, and walked out to the Phantom and nodded as they began to dance again.
Twirling, twirling, around and around.
Half of Helen wished this could go on forever and the other half was saying that, that was enough dancing for one night. Helen fought against the stopping side for an hour or two, but finally gave in. She was tired and this dancing made her a bit dizzy. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the dizziness that lay there. The Phantom noticed and grabbed her arm in support.
"Thank you." Helen pushed her free hand to her head. It was pounding, throbbing!
"Are you all right?" The Phantom led her into the Auditorium, and set her down in a chair.
"Lights…bright… can't… ahhhh…" Helen fainted into his arms. It wasn't that she was drunk; it was just that she was dizzy… The Phantom looked at her in his arms. Something came over him and he felt as if he should scoop her up and run away. But he knew that she'd react angrily to that. He laid her down across a few chairs and went back into the Fourier to find Gen or Rich. He bumped into a young lady with a butterfly mask covering the left side of her face. She smiled and said hello.
"Gen?"
"Phantom…of course!" Gen pulled off her mask and looked at him, suddenly turning worried as she saw the look on his face, "What's the matter?"
"Helen…she fainted… She's laying in the back row of chairs…" He walked towards the doors and Gen followed quickly. Seeing Helen lying limp on the chairs, Gen laughed.
"She have a little to much champagne?"
"No. She had only one glass at eleven…" The Phantom sat at Helen's feet and looked at her lovingly.
'Why do you hide your love?
Have you not fallen for this dove?
She needs a good life and guide!
You need her at your side… don't you?" Gen sang, quietly kneeling beside him. The Phantom gave her a quizzical look and asked,
"Why do you ask?"
"You're love is not well hidden! Take her! Adore her! And love her abundantly!" Gen pulled him to his feet, standing with him.
"I –,"
"Gen? Phan? HELEN?" Nadine came in rushing to Helen's side.
"She's fainted." Gen and the Phantom unitized.
"Fainted? And you did not fetch her a damp cloth and water?" Nadine stood still looking as her friend.
There was an awkward moment.
Gen, Nadine, and the Phantom stood silently staring at Helen.
"Well?" Gen broke the ice.
"We could take her to her room, here…" Nadine suggested.
Another awkward moment of silence; but this time, Gen and Nadine looked at the Phantom. He sighed,
"You two want me to carry her…don't you?"
"Thank you, Phan!" Gen smiled and started towards the stage, Nadine at her heals. The Phantom scooped her up, as a groom would carry a bride, and he began to see water forming on the bottom of his eyes. He followed Nadine and Gen quietly, trying hard not to let the tears roll away from his eyes; until out of sight.
"Here…" Gen turned-down the covers, the Phantom placed her gently in the bed and pulled the covers over Helen's fragile body, keeping her face visible.
"So she just fainted?" Christine asked, undirected, for the tenth time in the past twenty minutes. Gen sighed and kneeled beside her chair,
"Assured. She's fine…just tired. You should go to bed…in fact we should all go to bed…"Gen raised, escorted Christine and Raoul to their room, and returned to Helen's room to see Rich still standing there. She walked forward and set her chin on his shoulder,
"Time for bed, friend…. She'll be there in the morning; I promise. I'll sleep in here and keep watch! Go to bed, Rich…" Gen sat on the end of Helen's bed, Rich merely nodded, and left closing the door.
Gen was confused.
What was up with Rich tonight?
Ever since he found out that Helen had fainted and the Phantom tended to her, he was moody. Gen didn't like it when he was like this. Not one bit. She made it her goal to fix it.
Helen turned over.
Good.
She was asleep, not blacked out anymore.
Feeling her head becoming heavy and her eyelids to droop, Gen laid across the end of the bed, with her knees to her chest to keep warm.
Helen woke, suddenly and wide-awake. She looked at Gen who was at her feet and smiled. Her head was a little better but her vision was blurry. What had happened? She was fine, dancing, and having a good time when… oh. She fainted.
While blacked out, she had a dream. A dream where the Phantom's hurt and hate became overthrown again and he tried to take her as he did to her mother. People died, Ladies lost their wonderful voices, and a fire ate the Opera House. She shivered at the thought. Could her dream be a glance at what lie ahead? Or was it glimpses of the past?
She stood and walked over to her mirror and vase, which was full of red roses. She smelt the flowers, looked in the mirror, and frowned. They had not washed off her make-up and now… it was smeared all over her face. She grabbed a cloth and dipped it in the water, whipping it off her face.
Minutes later, a voice was heard:
'You need not to worry, Madame… The Angel Of Music is kept safe…'
Helen spun around and looked at the wall mirror.
No one was there.
She wrapped up in her robe, slid open the mirror, and ran down the hall of candles, down the stairs, and to the boat. She picked up the paddle and pushed her way, quickly, to the gate. It was open! She jumped out of the boat and tried to run to the shore, but the water made her slower. When she was there, she looked around.
HE was gone!
"PHANTOM!" She yelled. Her voice just called back to her.
She still didn't believe it! She rushed around the mess turning covers, moving desks and bookcases, looking for him. She had no luck. She fell to her knees, weeping silently as papers and feathers floated around her, lifeless.
It was all her fault! If she hadn't taken him to the world, he wouldn't be gone and that man's voice never would have told her he was gone. She knelt there as more paper landed around her. One, however, caught her eye. It was an envelope addressed to her. She grabbed it and ripped it open, reading the contents carefully.
'Dear Helen Daae,
You want your Phantom? We want ten thousand franks. Good trade? We're at the old church, just outside the Cemetery. Bring the money by noon, or you'll never see the Phantom again!'
Helen was shocked. They wanted money for him! This was like hunting down a nail in a haystack! The church used to be a castle! How was she to find them in there? She stood, whipping away the tears, she walked all the way back to her room. Gen was still asleep. Helen was soaking. She tapped Gen on the shoulder.
"What?" Gen sat up rubbing her eyes, then looked at Helen, "Helen! You're soaked!" Gen stood grabbing a towel. Helen pushed the towel away.
"HE'S GONE!" Helen stated, "People came and took him to the Church outside the Cemetery! And they want ten thousand franks for his return!" Gen saw that she must have been crying,
"It's okay. We'll go…" Gen stood, begging Helen to come along. Helen nodded and followed her friend.
An hour later, after they had visited the bank, and arrived to the Church, Helen stated,
"Gen… I'll do it… they normally want the rescuer alone. Stand out here and if you hear a scream…call for help." Helen hugged her and took the pouch with the money in it, and pushed through the heavy doors, shutting them behind her. She took a few steps and felt something rough under her bear feet. She looked down and there was another note.
'Dear Helen Daae,
Head into the cathedral and sing. If you sing to our liking, we'll bring him for the money…'
Helen was scared. She looked out the window to see if Gen was still there. She was gone! Helen heard a laugh. It was loud and deep. She ran to the Cathedral and stood where the priest would stand and searched her memory for a song. One came to mind that she was good at. 'Think Of Me' from Hannibal.
'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
We never said
Our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the sea
But if you can still remember
Stop and think of me
Think of all the things we've shared and seen
Don't think of the way things might have been
Think of me
Think of me waking
Silent and resigned
Imagine me
Trying to hard to move you from my mind
Recall those days
Think back on all those times
Think of the things we'll never do
There will never be a day
When I won't think of you
We never said
Our love was evergreen
Or as unchanging as the seaBut please promise me that sometimes
You will think
Of…
Me!'
Helen ended with confidence. She looked around and still saw no one. She sighed shakily, and thought of another song, 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again'.
'Little Lottie…
Thought of everything and nothing
Her father promised her that he would
Send her the Angel of Music…
Her father promised her—
Her father promised her…
You were once
My one companion . . .
You were all
That mattered . . .
You were once
A friend and father -
Then my world
Was shattered . . .
Wishing you were
Somehow here again . . .
Wishing you were
Somehow, near . . .
Sometimes it seemed
If I just dreamed,
Somehow, you would
Be here . . .
Wishing I could
Hear your voice again . . .
Knowing that I
Never would . . .
Dreaming of you
Won't help me to do
All that you dreamed
I could . . .
Passing bells
And sculpted angels,
Cold and monumental,
Seem, for you,
The wrong companions -
You were warm and gentle . . .
Too many years
Fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past
Just die . . .?
Wishing you were
Somehow here again . . .
Knowing we must
Say goodbye . . .
Try to forgive . . .
Teach me to live . . .
Give me the strength
To try . . .
No more memories,
No more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
The wasted years . . .
Help me say
Goodbye.
Help me say
Goodbye…'
Helen looked around. She saw a man staring back at her. He wore a full-face mask that was black and gray.
"Where are they?" Helen started to cry softly, "Please…don't take them from me. I- I couldn't loose friends again…" Helen dropped to her knees. The man snapped his fingers and the gagged Phantom and Gen, who had their hands tied and were struggling against the men that held them back, appeared beside the man. They saw here and smiled best they could. Helen heard the bustling and struggling and looked up, seeing them; she stood and walked towards the man. Stopping in front of him, he looked at her, quickly removed his mask, and pulled her into a kiss. Helen struggled against him, but his arms were to tight.
She did the only thing she could; when he tried to french her, she bit down, hard on his tongue, and kneed him in the pants. She pulled away as he fell to the ground bent over, she yelled,
"You take my friends again and I'll make sure of it that you have neither of those!" Helen glared at the other three men that were holding back Gen and the Phantom and they backed away slowly.
Helen untied the Phantom first and then pulled the ropes from Gen's hands and feet next. They un-gagged themselves and hugged her, each at a turn. She glared at them once more and they left. Jumping into the carriage, Helen snapped the reigns and the horses sped off.
They rolled to a stop in front of the Opera House. Helen climbed down and slipped in the carriage.
"What happened? I was so worried!" Helen asked the Phantom. He looked at her.
"They came and fought to get me. When they pounced on me and gagged me tying my hands behind me, and my feet tight together, I was helpless. I couldn't yell, and I couldn't fight, so I had to go silently. I thought about falling over and hitting the door when we past your room, but there was a man between me and door so I couldn't do that either…" the Phantom replied.
"So… were they just making you hop along or…?" Gen asked, "That's what the made me do!"
"Yes. They made me hop along…" the Phantom recoiled because he thought that Helen thought of him weak. She nodded understanding,
"That guy must have not brushed his teeth in months!"
They all laughed.
"Well… I suppose our night time is up… time to get ready for the day…OH MY GOD!" Helen sprung to the other side of the carriage, sitting beside the Phantom, "Your lip and cheek!" she began to dab it with her handkerchief. It was bleeding.
"They were hitting and punching him, while you sang!" Gen started.
"Let's get you inside and cleaned up!" Helen pushed open the door and they all went inside.
Gen got some water and ice from the kitchen and brought them out to Helen. Helen dipped the cloth in the water and began to, once again, wipe away the blood. There was no way the Phantom was going to sing today or tomorrow… Helen sighed,
"You can't sing with a swollen lip and bruised cheek. You go and rest. We'll cancel practice and I'm going to talk to the police…" Helen stood, as she handed him the bag of ice. He stood and grabbed her in a huge hug.
Gen grinned and slithered out the doors.
Helen sighed heavily and hugged back. He began to sing softly,
'Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude
Say you'll want with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Helen…
That's all I ask of…'Helen cut him off, placing a finger to his lips to hush him. She dropped her hand and kissed him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He spun her around. When both of their feet touched the ground, they sang in unison,
'Any where you go
Let me go too!
Love me…
That's all I ask of you!'