Mulder made his way up the steps of the theatre and then stood in a corner. Due to Scully getting caught up in her research, they had decided to just meet at the theatre. So, at this point as he stood fingering his bow tie on his tuxedo, he had no clue what she would be wearing. He truly felt stupid standing there all by himself watching all the people walk by. He shifted his feet as he changed position slightly. He couldn't believe that Fox Mulder was going to a musical! He just prayed that he wouldn't see anyone he knew. If anyone at the FBI saw him dressed in a tuxedo going to a musical, his reputation would be ruined.

"Agent Mulder?"

Mulder turned to see a young dark haired woman staring at him. He instantly recognized her as a data clerk from the Bureau. Oh great. "Holly, hi." He replied with a smile.

"I had no idea you were into musicals?"

"I'm not actually. I'm just here for a friend."

"Oh, a friend? Well, your friend has good taste."

Scully walked up to Mulder after observing his scene from the side. "Agent Mulder." She then looked at Holly. "Hey, Holly."

"Hey, Dana. You're here to see the show too?"

"Oh, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Scully answered as she nudged Mulder.

"I never would have expected Agent Mulder to be here."

Mulder cleared his throat. "Well, actually…"

"He's with me." Scully finished. "I thought it was time that he…get a little culture in his life." She watched as Mulder gave her a look. She knew he would most likely kill her later but she didn't care. This was just too good to pass up.

"Oh, well he certainly should consider himself lucky to be going to this."

Mulder winced as he felt Scully nudge him again. "Oh, that I am." He replied through clenched teeth.

"Well, I'm heading inside now. Enjoy the show Dana and Fox!" Holly then disappeared inside.

Mulder turned to Scully. "You thought it was time that I get a little culture in my life?"

"Hey, I had to think of something. And besides it's true."

"Thanks a lot." He observed Scully's long blue gown. "That is part of your simple attire?"

"Just something I found in the back of my closet. You look good by the way."

"What? Oh thanks, so do you." He held out his arm to her. "Shall we?"

"What about Skinner?"

"Agents?" Skinner asked as he came into view wearing a tuxedo.

Mulder whistled. "Wow, Sir you look great."

Skinner huffed before making his way inside.

"I was just trying to be polite." Mulder answered as Scully took his arm. "God, I hope I don't have to go to another show dressed in a tux to make up for this one." He muttered as he led Scully inside.

Backstage in the theatre was teeming with activity as performers went about getting ready. Voices could be heard as they went about doing their warm-ups both in groups and as individuals. Last minute checks were being done on sets as well as costumes. As for Lysette, she could barely contain her excitement. Knowing that after the show she was going to be able to have dinner with her uncle who she hadn't seen in years. She performed some leg stretches in her Hannibal slave girl costume as Melinda went about putting on her make up.

"Are you ok, Lysette?" Melinda asked as she looked in the dressing room mirror.

"I'm just excited tonight as my uncle will be out in the audience and I haven't seen him in years."

"Really? Well, no wonder you're excited then. I'm happy for you hun."

"He is a great inspiration to me. He's part of the reason I'm here now."

"Well, I guess we can certainly be glad of that with a talent such as you." Melinda replied with a smile.

Lysette walked up and hugged her. "Thanks, Melinda. You've been such a great help to me."

"Us sopranos have to stick together." Melinda answered with a wink. She then pulled back and noticed the choker around Lysette's neck. "Lysette, that's so beautiful. Where did you get it? Is it from wardrobe?"

Lysette touched her choker. "Actually, no I got it at an antique store yesterday. Do you think Mr. Constance will mind if I wear it?"

"I don't think so. And if he does, he'll just tell you to take it off until after the show."

"That's true. Well, I need to get my costume checked to make sure I didn't lose any beads. You know how the costume people are."

"All too well. Good luck tonight."

"You too." Lysette replied with a smile before leaving the dressing room and closing the door behind her.

Melinda went back to applying her make up as she hummed. "She really is such a sweet girl. I only wish I could help her somehow."

"And so you shall." A voice whispered.

Melinda turned around with a gasp. "Who…who is that? Is there someone in here?" Receiving no answer she stood from her chair. "Look, I'm not kidding around!" She then heard a noise toward the back by a door." John, if this is your idea of a joke I am NOT laughing!" She walked over to the door. "If this is you, I won't hesitate to tell Mr. Constance! And then you can kiss your career…" She opened the door and saw a figure standing on a catwalk. She then watched as another figure came up behind the person on the catwalk and placed a rope around their neck. She watched in horror as the person being strangled was then split up the middle of their body by a sharp knife. She let out a high-pitched scream as she started to back up. She looked down and could see blood on her hands. She screamed again before collapsing to the floor.

The image faded and was replaced by the masked figure that had appeared in Lysette's hotel room. He gave a soft evil laugh before disappearing.

Lysette had been practicing with the other slave girls when she heard the blood-curdling scream. It was truly the most horrifying sound she had ever heard and to know it was a female. She wasted no time in running back toward the dressing room area along with the other girls. By the time they got there, a crowd had already gathered. Lysette looked at her fellow chorus girl and friend Maggie. "That's….that's where I left Melinda." She watched as some medics went inside. "What…what could have possibly happened?"

Within a few minutes, Mr. Constance emerged with a grave look on his face. He instantly shushed everyone around him who was talking all at once. "I'm afraid Melinda has no voice and is quite ill. She will not be performing this evening." He glanced over at Lysette. "Miss Willoughby you need to put on your Christine wig and prepare to perform the role this evening."

Lysette looked back at Mr. Constance dumbfounded. "M…me?"

"Well, you are our understudy are you not? Now go to it quickly, we don't have much time until the curtain rises."

Lysette clasped her hands in delight and turned to Maggie. "Oh, Maggie!" She then looked back at Mr. Constance. "But…what happened to Melinda?"

"That is none of your concern, Miss Willoughby. What does concern me is that the curtain goes up in less than twenty minutes and you are not dressed as Christine!"

"Yes…yes, Sir!" Lysette turned to Maggie. "Will you help me?"

"Of course I will." Maggie replied with a smile. She took Lysette's hand and led her down to another dressing room.

"So, what happened, Mr. Constance?" Inquired John who played the role of Raoul. "Is Melinda going to be ok?"

"She'll be fine, John. She just…became very ill all of a sudden. Nothing to concern you. And you best get in your place since you are in the first scene."

John nodded before walking away. He walked up to the dressing room where Maggie was helping Lysette with her Christine wig. "Lysette?"

Lysette turned. "John, hi."

"I just wanted to wish you good luck tonight. Not that you will need it. And don't be nervous ok? I'll be there to help you and so will Steve."

"Thank you, John." Lysette replied with a smile. "With my Phantom and Raoul to help me, how can I fail?"

"Places, please!"

John smiled back. "Oh that's my cue. See you on stage!" He then quickly hurried off.

"I have to check on something but I'll be right back to finish you." Maggie replied giving her a quick hug and then walking out.

Lysette stared at herself in the mirror and began to run her fingers through her wig. "I can't believe this is actually happening." She whispered. "I'm going to play the role of Christine." She fingered her choker. "Please help me get through this and not disappoint them."

Mulder glanced at his program. "Damn, there are a lot of people in this show. Are all of these people supposed to sing? If so, this is going to be a hell of a…"

"Mulder would you please be quiet?" Scully whispered shifting in her seat slightly. "Just TRY and enjoy yourself all right?"

"Yeah, sure."

She looked over at him pointing her finger. "I mean it, Mulder, behave."

A voice then came over the loudspeaker. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to tonight's performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. There will be a slight chance in the program in which Miss Lysette Willoughby will perform the role of Christine. And we would also like to remind you that there is no picture taking or recording devices allowed. Thank you and enjoy the show."

Scully leaned over to Skinner. "Sir, isn't that…"

"My niece." Skinner answered with a huge smile on his face as the lights dimmed.

Mulder eased back in his seat. "Well, at least Skinner got his wish." He muttered as the curtain opened. "God let this be over quick."

The entire auditorium became silent as the first scene opened and backstage, Lysette was pacing nervously. Even though she had wanted this to happen, she still couldn't help being apprehensive. After all, she wasn't just performing for anyone; she was performing for her uncle. She took a swallow as she heard the Phantom theme starting up. The scene had ended too quickly for her. She closed her eyes and folded her hands. "Rose, if you are up there, please give me the strength to get through this." She whispered.

"You have nothing to fear my child." A voice whispered in her ear.

She then heard the song from Hannibal starting up and quickly went to her place.

As the Hannibal scene progressed Mulder rubbed his temples. Well, he had certainly been right about the fat soprano after seeing Carlotta. And her voice? Well, it rang like a screech in his ear. All he could think was that Skinner better appreciate what he was going through. He closed his eyes and sighed as the music started up again. "Great another song." He muttered as he covered his ears.

Suddenly his ears were filled with the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. He slowly took down his hands as the sound continued. His gaze went to the stage where he saw a young dark-haired girl singing. As he stared at her, he became completely entranced. Everything around him disappeared except for the beautiful girl and her voice. As he listened to her soprano voice, images began to flash through this mind. Images of places he had never been to and people he had never seen. And he also saw a large theatre like this but much more elaborate. He also saw himself but not like he was now. What was happening to him?

As the performance continued, Lysette truly felt like she was on air. It seemed as if she had done the role of Christine all of her life. Her singing was absolutely flawless and the applause of the audience deafening. She felt that Rose was actually with her helping her to achieve her notes. And Mr. Constance had said nothing about her wearing the choker, which remained on her neck the entire performance. The whole time she was singing, she felt that she was sharing her musical gift to everyone. And she especially sang to her uncle who she knew was out in the audience somewhere. And…she also felt there was someone else special out there too although she didn't know who.

Mulder sat in his chair with his eyes glued to the stage for the rest of the performance. His eyes never left Lysette except when she left the stage. And even then he could still see her in his mind. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. And he felt as if he had known her forever. And her singing brought joy to his heart. Who was this woman and why did she have this control over him?

He was then snapped back to reality as the production ended and the entire auditorium was filled with applause and cheering. He also found himself on his feet joining them. Particularly once Lysette came for her curtain call.

Bravas could be heard and roses were thrown on the stage as well as a bouquet of flowers brought out to her. Lysette felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she curtsied in her wedding gown costume. It was truly the best night of her life. She raised her head and looked into the bright lights as she took in breaths.

"You were wonderful my angel."

Overcome with emotion, Lysette slowly started to tilt before falling backwards into Steve, The Phantom's arms.