The end of the month was getting closer! Only three weeks left! Erik couldn't wait! His plan was genius…of course everything he did was genius. Soon, oh so very soon he would have his revenge! On Raoul on the world! He was making some finishing touches on his costume for tonight. Tonight there was to be a masquerade and he would show up as a special guest. Oh the irony he thought. They think of me as just some stupid ghost! Oh how stupid they will feel when I show up at their little party tonight! My opera is finished! Just for her it's finished! And when she begins to sing, oh when she sings, she will get the biggest shock of her life!

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Christine was getting ready for the masque. She was getting nervous. She hadn't seen Raoul since last week when he proposed. She wore the ring around her neck on a silver chain. She was fixing her dress. It was red. It had short sleeves with red gloves and it tied up in the back. Raoul bought it for her. He said that he wanted to look like a rose (in other words like her ring). She felt and looked beautiful but something was bothering her. A strange wave of being nervous had started this morning and wasn't going away. She heard a knock at the door. It was Raoul. He leaned in for a kiss but she turned as if she didn't see him.

"Is something wrong Christine?"

"Oh, no just nervous. I've never been to a fancy masquerade."

"Oh it's not that much different from having a get together. It's just that you're wearing a mask and you're in formal wear."

"Yeah I guess you're right. Let's go!"

It was only five minuets into the masque and Christine wanted to leave. She had the feeling that someone was watching her and she was sure that it was Erik. She was forever looking over her shoulders expecting to see him.

About an hour later people were watching a magician doing a trick when loud music started playing. Christine listened carefully…it was an organ. Where had she heard this music before? Then it hit her. It was Erik's opera! She backed away from where everyone. Raoul noticed her backing away and asked if something wrong. Before she could answer him there was a loud BANG! Everyone looked up on the stairs where fire shot from the floor. Out from the smoke came a man dresses in red with a skull mask on looking like death itself. Everyone was wondering who it was but Christine knew exactly who it was Erik. HE came down the stairs coming right towards her but then stopped and turned to the managers,

"Good evening gentlemen. I beg for a moment. Oh how rude of me I haven't introduced myself. I am your opera ghost!" there was a gasp through the whole room (and a couple of screams)"Oh now come come. Am I really that scary?" Then he made a growling noise right into the face of a woman, which made her faint, "Oh I guess I am! Now I come to you with good news! I, The Phantom of the Opera am going to let you perform his opera. Don Juan Triumphant! That is the name of the opera. But now for my instructions." he turned to the managers again "I have already assigned the roles. Our Don Juan will be Piangi unfortunately. But he must lose weight it's not healthy for a man of his age! Carlotta has only a chorus part because first she must learn to act and sing before performing in an opera as perfect as mine! And as for the lead…Christine Daae! It's true that her voice is good but if you all will let her return to me her teacher…her teacher."

Everyone looked at Christine. Erik started to come towards her. Raoul tried to get Christine to run but Christine was entranced with her angel and refused to move. Erik came closer. He held his hand out asking her to come. After she didn't take his hand he got angry and closer but then he saw…her ring. Under his mask tears were forming on the corners of his eye. He held the chain in his hand. Then he ripped it off her neck yelling,

"Your chains are still mine! You will sing for me!"

He went back up the stairs and wrapped his cape around him. The floor around him burst into flames and he disappeared into the darkness.