Disclaimer: I do not own the song, You Are Mine. I found it in my church's songbook and it fit perfectly with this chapter.
A/N: I would like to say for the record, Emmy's behavior is of her own. I would never do that because I love my Phantom stuff. For Lent, I am doing what no phan as probably done before and so far it's killing me. I gave up speaking and watching Johnny Depp movies, Gerard Butler movies, and Phantom. I can't listen to the soundtrack but I can read and write it. And my friends are being mean and bringing it up whenever they can! It's a sacrifice I'll tell ya!
Anyways…
I'm posting Confessions III after this cuz both are short and I'm being nice. In this chapter, there are going to be three things happening at once—thoughts, song, and prayer. I am not pushing religion on anyone but I thought the concept would fit in to how Emmy is feeling.
Italics is the song. Normal type is her praying and normal plus bold is her own separate thoughts.
Thank you Halley for doing a good job and this author's note is long so I'll stop talking now.
Chapter Seventeen:
You Are Mine
That night when Emmy broke her favorite statue she felt liberated. By morning, she virtually destroyed everything in her room with the Phantom logo on it. CDs were cracked, DVDs were split into two, and the pages in books were torn and thrown into her wastebasket. Posters were ripped from the wall and tossed all over the floor. It was a wondrous feeling and for the first time Emmy felt alive and in control over her mind.
Her parents, on the other hand, weren't as thrilled as she was when they found the Phantom collection eliminated. Those were expensive items and gifts over the years! She was grounded and ordered to pay back to them what she obliterated. But Emmy didn't care. She was free! Free from the little spies of Erik's!
In school, she felt she was on Cloud Nine. The dissolving of the phangirl inside was forever gone and she could rejoice. She had even thought about flipping off the auditorium as she walked by. Gotta to tell ya this Erik baby, but we're through. Sayonara.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. And that is what happened.
Emmy may have not seen or had any contact with Erik in a while, but that didn't mean she was home free like she have wanted. There was still that unwelcome ghost lurking inside her body, Christine Daae.
She was beginning to have her old habits resurface. Every morning, Emmy would wake around five o' clock to do stretches and practice some ballet steps in the basement. Emmy's old instructor had said she had no balance, no sense of grace—now, she was flaunting with agility.
Her brunette tresses were hundred percent curled, deep rich in color and shininess. Emmy would always have her hair up and held by a hair ribbon. And whenever Tony pestered her, she would curse in French under her breath and call him all sorts of names in a Swedish and French combination.
These examples were enough to cause worry in Emmy. She had hoped that Christine's presence could only appear by Erik's command, yet the Phantom wasn't around and Daae persisted.
Emmy figured she must not be at a dangerous point yet. She still relished some ability to keep Christine underfoot, but at times she wasn't too fortunate. And Christine's caustic voice would plague her thoughts. She also realized that the often sardonic tone wasn't her own opinion, but that of Christine Daae.
Though, how was she to deal with this unearthly being?
There was one place Emmy knew of that could offer some solace, if only temporarily.
xxXXxx
"Today's mass is recognized by the good intentions for Gene August, Whitney Whalen, Rebecca Sinaj, Mabel Danford…"
As the reader rambled on with the names, the serene atmosphere had a calming effect over Emmy. Simply gazing at the altar where the twenty-foot crucifix overlooked, the church made her feel protected.
He's always watching over His children, she thought, putting a thankful smile on her face. When in doubt, there's always Him to help chase away the darkness.
"And lastly, Andrew Poe. Today's celebrant is Father Cooney. Mass will be sung today by Gloria Reynolds."
I guess Judy is sick today, Emmy thought as the organ above the worshippers played. She sat back in the pew, letting the praiseful music wash over her. This Miss Reynolds wasn't too bad, but she would have rather listened to the jubilant Judy Taylor.
The mass flew by (surprisingly since the homily was twenty minutes) and Emmy returned to her pew after taking Communion.
Kneeling, she made the sign of the cross and prayed as the cords of a new song began.
(Our father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed by thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Oh God, please help me down the right path)
"I will come to
You in the silence
I will lift you all
From your fears."
(Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses
Lord, I did not know. Forgive me)
"You will hear my voice.
I claim you as my choice.
Be still and know I am here…"
(As we forgive those
Who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation,
I was blind by my selfish needs…)
The refrain picked up, but a new voice had taken over.
"Do not be afraid,
I am with you.
I have called you
Each by name."
A sinister baritone, so smooth and cool, reached her unsuspecting ears, making her blood run cold.
"Come follow me."
(Save me from the beast and show me mercy)
"I will lead you home.
I love you and
You are mine."
(But deliver us from evil)
Amen.
TBC…