Disclaimer: I still don't own RENT, or the lyrics used anywhere in the chapter (look closely, you'll find them). Those are from The Phantom of the Opera, and belong to Charles Hart and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Authoress Note: A special thanks to Harper's Pixie! The plot ideas were worked out between the two of us. We're pretty much writing this together now, and this chapter wouldn't be as good without her! The italic thing is used here, too. Lyrics, flashbacks, a dream and thoughts.

Please Review

P.S. Does anyone recognize the dream sequence? (Hint, hint, it goes with the Chapter title)!

Chapter Three: Past the Point of No Return

Past the Point of No Return,

No backward glances.

Our games of make-believe are at an end.

Past all thought of if or when,

No use resisting.

Abandon thought and let the dream discern.

What raging fires shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks it's door?

What sweet seduction lies before us?

Past the Point of No Return,

The final threshold.

What warm unspoken secrets will we learn,

Beyond the Point of No Return?

Alexia had somewhat unwillingly let Roger walk her back to Mark's room. The filmmaker looked like he'd gotten worse just since she'd left.

The doctors had told Alexia that talking to Mark may help him wake up, if he ever would. She'd whispered the proverbial sweet nothings in Mark's ear. "Marky," she pleaded as she stroked his blonde hair "please wake up. Marky, I love you."

Then, she began singing softly. " Think of me, think of me fondly, please don't say goodbye." Still no response. "Come back to me, please promise me you'll try... Mark, please promise me you'll try. Flowers fade, the fruits of Summer fade, they have their season, but do we? Oh please promise me that our season isn't done." She and Mark loved the Phantom of the Opera. They had seen it together so many times that they had both lost count, and"Think of Me" was their song. She would always sing Christine's part, and he would come in as Raoul.

She sang on and on, until she was so tired that she fell asleep again, holding Mark's hand. Holding him to her, to this world. To life.

Her dream was fitful, and inspired by her anxiety, and her song:

The power was out in the loft. Mark and Alexia were sitting on the red-plaid couch that was held together by duct tape and sheer determination. Alexia had her head on Mark's chest, listening to his heartbeat. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump. She felt his chest rise and fall on it's own with every breath.

But, then she sat up with a start, remembering what had happened last time the power went out. She had Mark back and didn't want to run the risk of possibly letting him slip away. He stirred next to her, "What's the matter?" He asked, his electric blue eyes making her melt. He kissed her passionately, and she returned the kiss until she pulled away.

"Marky, we need to get out of here." She answered hastily, "Mark, you're not safe."

"What?"

"Mark, someone's trying to kill you. Let's go."

She got up and opened the door, but as soon as she did, a dark, masked figure grabbed her, pulling her out of the loft, and into a dark catacomb built of cold, unfeeling stone, lit by frightening sconces.

The masked figure had Alexia's wrist in it's grip quite tightly. The voice was singing, but Alexia could discern whom it was, or even it's gender. "Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair! Down we plunge to the prison of my mind! Down that path into darkness deep as hell! Hounded out by everyone, met by hatred everywhere, no kind words from anyone, no compassion anywhere, why?" God, Alexia thought, this sounds familiar.

They had reached the grand room in which the masked figure worked. Manuscripts lay littered about the could stone floor that gave way to a canal blocked not far ahead by a wrought iron gate. It seemed to go on forever, but Alexia couldn't see very far, or very well for that matter, in the dim candlelight. "Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?" she sang back.

The masked figure looked at her, and then to the iron gate. "Ah, it seems we have a visitor."

Mark stood at the gate. "Let her go. You want me." he said calmly. "Alexia," he shouted to his girlfriend, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She answered, worry almost getting the best of her as the masked figure raised the gate to allow Mark passage. He stepped in, up to almost his knees in water, and before Alexia knew it, the figure had him tied to the gate, a noose around his neck, threating to strangle him.

"Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to level of your eyes! Nothing can save you now except perhaps, Alexia! Start a new life with me, buy his freedom with your love! Refuse me and you send your lover to his death! This is the choice! This is the Point of No Return!" The figure shouted, moving the knot closer and closer to Mark's throat, who was practically struggling for breath.

"Any tears I might have shed for your dark fate," Alexia answered, tears welling in her eyes, "grow cold and turn to tears of hate!"

"Alexia, forgive me, please forgive me." Mark rasped, "Take your freedom, don't worry about me."

"You try my patience." the figure interrupted "Make your choice." It moved the knot yet closer. "Stay here with me, or he dies! Time to prove your love to Mark!"

"Angel of music, you've deceived me. I gave you my song, blankly-"

"MAKE YOUR CHOICE!"

Mark's blue eyes pleaded with Alexia to take her own freedom, to let him die. She couldn't do that. She loved him too much.

"Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you you are not alone!" The figure didn't let go of the rope around Mark's neck, but it didn't tighten it anymore. Alexia waded through the water, her billowy gown deflating, giving herself over to their captor. Her freedom for Mark's life. There was no choice in the matter. She crossed to the figure and reached for it's mask-

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

Alexia awoke with a start, and immediately glanced at Mark's heart monitor.

He was flat lining.

It's over now, the Music of the Night!