Part Three

Crystal and The Phantom hurried off to her dressing room. They started getting ready for the show. About an hour later there was a knock on the door. The Phantom quickly hid behind the dresser.

"Who is it?" called Crystal.

"Crystal, it's me, Danny." She quickly walked to the door and let him in.

"Crystal, you didn't come and see me this morning. You never forget."

"I'm sorry; I was so busy getting ready for the show…"

"It's ok, I forgive you. It's your big day."

"Danny, how would you like to be my little helper today?" she said with a smile.

"Sure!" All of a sudden, there came a noise from behind the dresser.

"What was that?" asked Danny.

"Nothing. Danny, will you come and…"

"No, there is something behind there."

He slowly walked toward the dresser and peeked behind it. Nothing was there.

"Ok, you were right. Nothing."

He turned around and gave a scream for now The Phantom stood behind Crystal.

Crystal turned around, knowing why he had screamed, and met with The Phantoms eyes.

For a minute or two, they just stared at each other. Crystal pulled away and turned to Danny.

"Danny, this is my friend. He can be your friend too. You must promise me you won't tell anyone."

"Who would I tell, you're my only friend. No one except you knows I exist."

The Phantom walked over to Danny and knelt beside him.

"Don't be frightened of me," he said, "I'll be your friend if you want me to."

"Really? I do. I do," said Danny.

"Crystal, the show is about to start, we must go," said The Phantom.

Crystal got out on stage and sang as she never sang before. The show was over as soon as it started. When the curtains shut she ran backstage where Danny was waiting.

"You did a great job," said Danny.

"Thank you, but I have to go change. Meet me up on the balcony."

Danny ran to the balcony and Crystal quickly hurried off and got changed. When she came back she told Danny that she wouldn't be around for little while and would try to visit as often as she could. After the goodbye, Crystal grabbed her cloak and ran off to meet The Phantom.

They met inside the old dressing room. There was The Phantom, waiting for her at the mirror. The Phantom turned and looked at her as if she were an angel. To his surprise, she was wearing the dress that he had made for Christine years ago. It was a long white dress and her brown, wavy hair hung down to the middle of her back. Her skin shone in the dim light making her look like she was a goddess from the heavens. It wasn't until she spoke did he come out of his trance.

"I'm ready."

"Let's go then," he replied.

"How long will I be with you?" she asked.

"I don't know, Crystal, but for a long time. That is, if you don't run away," he said harshly.

"Trust me, I won't," she said.

They climbed through the mirror and The Phantom slid it shut behind them. You could faintly hear their voices.

"You were brilliant tonight."

"Thank you, Phantom."

What they didn't know was that they were being watched by Raoul. He followed them to the lair and took Crystal back with him while she was asleep. What Raoul didn't know was that The Phantom was watching him. When Crystal awoke, she found herself in her room. Raoul walked in as she was waking up.

"Father, why am I here?" she asked.

"I took you here last night while you were asleep."

"Why?" she asked angrily, "I promised The Phantom that I would stay with him."

"I know, but I don't want to lose you," he said now getting angry. "You will stay here, where you belong, forever, never to see that man again."

Raoul quickly went out the door and locked Crystal inside. She ran to the door but was too late.

"No! Let me out. I promised I wouldn't leave. He trusted me." Now turning into a whisper, "I promised him."

Crystal slowly walked over to her bed and just sat there, not knowing what to do.

Quietly, The Phantom unlocked the door and saw Crystal sitting on the bed. He quietly walked over so Raoul wouldn't hear him in the room. Crystal was his now. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She reached her way to her shoulder where his hand lay. She held his hand and got up to turn and face him. Her eyes fixed with his. After a moment they sat down on the bed.

"I have come to take you back."

"I know," she said. "Please, I didn't run away from you if that's what you're thinking."

"I know you didn't," he said. "We must go before Raoul comes and finds me here."

"My father loves me and is only trying to protect me."

"Well, he does a very bad job at it. He let you wander into my home and become a prisoner," he said angrily.

The Phantom looked at her with pity in his eyes, and then quickly got up. They started out the door when Raoul appeared. He had a sword with him.

"Let her go!" he said as he grabbed Crystal away from The Phantom. He pushed him up against the wall ready to strike. Crystal quickly threw herself in front of The Phantom.

"No, don't hurt him. He has done nothing. He is my friend and would never harm me. Please understand when I say I must stay with him. I'm…" she said turning towards The Phantom, "his prisoner."

The Phantom felt horrible. The sad expression on her face was too much for him, so he looked away. He couldn't let her go. He didn't want to.

"You won't get away with this," Raoul said with a sneer. "I will get her back, no matter what it takes."

"So you think, my fine man," The Phantom said angrily.

Raoul hurried off to his room. He had a plan. As soon as The Phantom and Crystal were alone, did she dare to speak.

"Phantom, please, may I go and see my mother and Danny for a short time?"

"Can I trust you to come back?"

"Of, course," she said surprised.

"If you don't, I will come and find you. Then I will never trust you again," he said harshly, even though he didn't want to. He didn't want Crystal to be frightened of him again and he didn't want to make her unhappy.

Crystal approached The Phantom slowly. She wanted to let him know she'll return. She kissed him on the cheek. It only lasted for a moment, and then stopped.

"I will come back," she said and ran off, leaving him alone.