A/N: Oh my gosh I can't believe I am almost done with the story.

After I had fallen into the trap door, I took a torch from one of the walls and begun descending down into the darkness of my black despair. If my plan works, Erik would come looking for Helen in my home. I sang dark and coldly:

Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair

Down I plunge to the prison of my mind

Down the path into darkness, deep as hell!

Why, he ask,

Was I bound and chained

In this cold and dismal place

Not for any mortal sin,

But the wickedness of my abhorrent face!

I could hear a mob forming above me, singing:

Track down this murderess

She must be found
Hunt down this murderess

She must be found!

Once I had arrived to my lair, I found Helen still tied up. I quickly grabbed her and tied her up to one of the other gates. Tonight Erik would be mine! He would choose if he would spend his days with me or send his lover to her grave! I continued to sing:

Hounded out by everyone

Met with hatred everywhere

No kind words from anyone

No compassion anywhere

Erik, Erik.

"Why? Why?" I sobbed. I was so broken. I had turned into the monster Erik had once been. I wanted to kill myself. I took the dagger I used to cut the ropes with, out of my bodice. I could see the fear in her eyes, which made me smile. I hurriedly put the dagger back into my bodice. She sang coldly.

Have you gorged yourself…

At last in your lust for blood?

I refused to reply, I only glared at her coldly.

Is Erik now your prey for your lust for flesh?

She returned the same cold glare, refusing to look away. Both of us hated each other. I began to sing not about her, but Erik.

That fate, which condemns me to wallow in blood

Has also denied me the joys of the flesh…

This face, the infection, which poisons our love…

I walk over to the mirror, hating myself.

This face, which earned an Angel's fear and loathing

A mask, this unfeeling scrap of clothing

I turned around to look at her straight in the eye.

Pity comes too late
I must turn around and face my fate!

An eternity of THIS…

I point to my deformity.

Before my eyes

I began to silently cry. Helen looked down and then she began to cry hysterically. I could hear in the distance someone singing:

This haunted face holds no horror for me now

I then see Erik treading through knee high water, coming up to the gate. He continues to sing:

It's in your soul that the true distortion lies.

Erik finally reached the gate, his clothes were soaked. I wanted to get him a blanket or something, but I knew I had to control myself. Helen was still crying and hadn't noticed Erik's presence. I yelled at her, "Stop crying!" I began to sing:

I think, my dear, we have a guest.

Helen instantly stops, to see Erik. I sing coldly.

Sir

"Erik!" Helen cried. Tears of happiness and relief trailed down her face. I sang:

This is indeed and unparalleled delight

I had rather hoped that you would come

And now my wish comes true

I put my hands over my cold heart and faked a smile, pretending that he had truly made my night.

You have truly made my night!

"Let me go you monster!" Helen screamed. Erik grasped the iron bars of the gate, pleading:

Free her

Do what you like, only free her

Have you no pity?

Me (To Helen, dryly):

Your fiancée makes a passionate plea

Helen:

Please, Erik it's useless.

Erik:

I love her

Does that mean nothing?
I love her

Show some compassion.

I snarled furiously at Erik:

The world and you showed now compassion to me!

Erik:

Helen…

Helen…

He looks up at me and sang:

Let me see her

I smirked. This was what I had been waiting for. I sang dry again:

Be my guest sir…

I pull the lever, opening the portcullis, allowing enough room for Erik to stagger in.

Monsieur, I bid you welcome

I curtseyed.

Did you think that I would harm her?

Why would I make her pay…

For the sins which are YOURS!

I reached into my bodice to pull out the dagger I had been hiding. Erik starts to run towards me, but I swiftly ran over to Helen and held the knife to her neck. In a taunting voice I sang:

Say you'll love me every single moment

Turn my head with talk of a better life

Say you want to be your love

Promise me that you will always love me

Otherwise nothing can save Helen now, except perhaps you, Erik!

Start a new life with me

Buy her freedom with your love!

Refuse me, and you send your lover to her death!

This is the choice

This is the final step!

Erik and I stood there looking at each other. I could see the terror and hurt in his eyes, those eyes that I had gotten lost in so many times before, 'those pleading eyes that both threaten and adore', I thought. He had given the same choice to Christine, 8 years ago, now it was his turn to decide. He sang more coldly than I have ever heard him sing before:

The feelings I might have had

For your dark heart,

Grows cold and turns

From love to hate!

Tears began to form in his eyes. He sang despairingly to Helen:

Helen, forgive me, please forgive me

I did it all for you and all for nothing…

Helen (Overlapping):

Farewell my fallen angel and false friend

She then looks at me and spats:

We had such hopes, and now those hopes are shattered.

Me (Overlapping and singing to both):

Too late for him to turn back,

Too late for prayers and useless pity

Helen (Overlapping):

Say you love her

And my life is over!

Me (Overlapping to Erik):

Past all hope of cries for help

No point in fighting

For either way you choose,

YOU cannot win

Erik tried coming closer, but I held the dagger closer to Helen's neck. She sang, overlapping me:

Either way you choose,

She has to win

Me:

So do you end your days with me?

Or do you send her to her grave?

I put the dagger even closer to her neck, barely piercing her neck.

Helen:

Why make him lie to you to save me?

Me (overlapping):

Past the point of stepping back

Erik (overlapping):

Angel of darkness…

Helen (overlapping):

For pity's sake Erik, please say no!

Erik (overlapping):

Who deserves this?

Me (Overlapping):

The final step…

Helen (overlapping):

Don't throw your life away for my sake!

Me (overlapping):

Her life is now the price which you must earn!

Erik (overlapping):

Why do you curse mercy?

Helen:

I love you forever…

Erik (overlapping):

Angel of darkness…

Me (overlapping):

You've passed the point of going back!

Erik:

…you deceived me

"I gave you my mind blindly." Erik and I starred at each other once again.

"It's the same as what you did to Christine." Erik's face paled. "My patience is running thin, Erik. Make your choice!" I bellowed. I don't know if my mind was playing tricks on me, for then I saw that same look Erik had given me before; that look in his eyes that showed love and desire, but hatred and horror, all at the same time. He slowly began to move towards me. He sang quietly at first, and then it grew with emotion:

Beautiful Angel of Darkness

What kind of life have you known?

God has given me courage to show you,

You are not alone…

Erik did something I will never forget. He kissed me long and full on the lips. I instantly drop the knife letting it bounce off a rock and land into the water. It had echoed throughout the entire cave, reminding me of what the fate could have been for Helen. My eyes closed only to find an image of the old gypsy woman smiling at me. She then whispered, "Too long you've wondered in darkness, far from the light." I didn't know what she meant, she then disappeared. My body was tingling inside, but Erik and I continued our embrace. I could only imagine that Helen was in shock and horror.

After the kiss ended I began to cry silently. Our foreheads rest against each other. He then slowly pulled my chin up to have me look into his eyes. He gasped. "Emily." He softly breathed. I could only nod. Before I could say anything, the voices and shouts of the angry mob, echoed in the cavern. We knew it all too well:

Track down this murderess

She must be found!

Hunt out this animal, who runs to ground!

Too long she's preyed on us,

But now we know:

The Phantress of the Opera is there,

Deep down below…

Who is this monster, this murdering beast?

Revenge for Sean! Revenge for Helen!

This creature must never go free.

I began to walk away from Erik, up the stairs. "Take her, forget me, forget all of this… leave me alone- forget all you've seen…" Erik hesitated a moment before he ran to Helen to untie her. "Go now, don't let them find you!" I began to sing and cry at the same time:

Take the boat,

Swear to me,

Never to tell
the secret you know, of the angel in hell!

I watched as Erik and Helen hug.

Go now!

Go now!

GO NOW and leave me!

The kiss had stunned me. I could have melted into his arms. He remembered me. After all this time, he finally remembered. I passed by the mirror not even noticing what had happen to my face. Thinking it was a trick of my mind. I didn't care, but then again, was it my imagination that I saw the old gypsy woman. I slowly walked back to the mirror.

I gasped. My face… it was itself again. I cried even more, not believing what was happening. Then suddenly the magical music box mysteriously began to play. I listen to the tune. I keep touching my face, making sure this was not a dream. I was about to sing when I heard another voice behind me:

Masquerade

Paper faces on parade…
Masquerade

Hide your face so the world will never find you…

I turned around to find Erik standing at the bedroom door. His look was of immense longing and helplessness. It was the same look I knew was in my eyes. I sang sadly and desperately:

Erik, I love you…

He walked over to me, pulling something out of his pant pocket. I gazed with curiosity. He took my hands and put a ring that I remembered all too well, in my hand. It was Christine's engagement ring.

I close my hand tightly, never wanting to let it go. He takes my closed hand and kisses it softly. My heart was beating rapidly. Afterwards he kissed me on the lips, gently, looked at me and the room one last time, before he left. Tears slipped down my face. I knew where his heart truly belonged, and I knew that I would finally rest in peace one day, maybe not in hell like so many have said, but maybe, just maybe, in heaven. I then heard Helen begin to sing:

Say you'll share with me every single moment, ever day.

I come out of the bedroom and see, through the descending grill, the boat disappearing into the darkness of this underground world. He sings:

Say the word and I will be with you forever

Helen:

Share each moment with me, always

Erik then looked back at me, singing only to me:

Let me be your voice, forever

He then disappeared. I continued to look at the spot where he just was, sadly. I sing:

You and I can make your love take flight

I run a bit down the stairs, picking up a golden goblet. I sing loud enough for all to hear:

It's over now, the sounds of day…

I furiously and sadly smash the mirrors; coming to the one mirror that opened up a tunnel.

…Light!