Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to Wicked's "As Long As You're Mine".
A/N: Hi everyone! Break is over and back to school… -cries- I don't want to! Well, to answer a few questions of what's happening Thomas Myers is alive in body but Erik controls his movements and sadly Thomas isn't strong enough to fight back unlike Emmy. Willow Hospital acts as a buffer for Emmy. For the most part, she doesn't experience as much freak-outs than at home. And as RoSeQuEeN put it nicely, it is the calm before the storm. Dun dun dun! Thank you Halley for doing a great job! Please don't forget to review!
Chapter Twenty-Three:
The Voice that Calls to Me and Speaks My Name
The next weekend came and Emmy once more stayed at Willow's facilities. She didn't suffer any more breakdowns of any kind and the nightmares were gone. At home, she was subjected to the horrors of the night—Christine trying her best to scare the girl to stay home by making Dr. Stanton and the whole staff to be demons that were torturing her through insanity.
But Emmy didn't fall for the ruse.
She told Dr. Stanton the differences of staying at Willow and home. Her confidence and trust grew in him and Emmy knew the man to be a savior. He believed her when no one else had and he did all that he could to make her feel protected. There was no doubt in her mind that Christine's influence over her was weakening considerably. She was becoming less and less controlled by the Delilah herself.
And Erik…
Well, he appeared to have disappeared without a trace. There were no gifts, no letters, and no nightmares with him starring. Without him, she was nothing. Emmy ruled.
Several weeks passed and Emmy showed signs of incredible improvements. The nightmares were completely gone and Christine rarely made a comment or two. At long last, for what felt like an eternity, Emmy was her own person again. Christine was nowhere to be found.
Such was her good fortune, Emmy reluctantly had to let her visits to Willow Hospital and Dr. Stanton go. As much as it saddened her, she was cure from the manipulative singer and Phantom lover. Her life was piecing itself to its usual routine and her family could look back at the dark episode as a door closed forever.
Everything was fine for Emmy.
All except Maggie and Trey.
The redhead still refused to speak to her and Emmy made herself scarce in Trey's appearance. She couldn't bear to look at him without thinking back to that day and his obliviousness. What a fool she was to think he could have been her Knight in Shining Armor.
Yet, it was a fool in love who allowed her emotions to see what she wanted and in turn struck her down.
Never again, she vowed. No male will cloud her sense for she will keep a clear mind and judgment when it came to certain matters. She would not be duped again.
Second chances…
Emmy was fortunate enough to secure one and she dare not let it slip through her fingers.
xxXXxx
The night of the Variety Show came.
Emmy and her family bought tickets and settled into the middle row in the center section, fifteen minutes before the show started.
Breezing through the program, Emmy recognized a few classmates participating in song or dance and a couple stand-ups. She rolled her eyes once she saw Sarah's name along with Trey's the fifth act in the first half. They were singing Elphaba and Fiyero's duet "As Long As You're Mine" from Wicked.
Of course. Count on those two to do a love duet.
Closing the program, she gazed around for any familiar faces and to her surprise; there was Maggie and her parents down in the first row at the far left end of the auditorium.
She badly wanted to call out her name, but fought against it. It was better to pretend she wasn't there. No hard feelings will transpire that way.
Sighing, Emmy continued to let her eyes wandered as her parents gab to other parents and Tony was busy fidgeting in his seat and mumbling complaints. Raising her head up, her mouth formed an "o" in wonder at the dazzling sight above.
This year's theme for the Variety Show was Musicals put on by the junior student council. Posters of various Broadway productions decorated outside the auditorium and the brick walls inside. The National Art Honor Society took it upon themselves to add a spectacular decoration of a chandelier of metal, clay, and light bulbs from whom else? The Phantom of the Opera.
The realization behind this caused a frown to form on her countenance and a chill down her spine. The thinking behind the idea was completely innocent, but it did nothing to suppress the attached discomfort from her. Nevertheless, Emmy told herself to forget it and she was here to enjoy the evening with her family. The past ghosts be damned. Nothing will ruin her fun.
The lights were beginning to dim as a student emerged from the closed curtain to announce the first talent—a monologue entitled, Tick-tock, Tick-tock.
xxXXxx
Emmy found herself laughing and shivering at the same time through the different performances. The first was a bone-chilling story that could definitely be seen as the next Stephen King novel about a perverted psychiatrist in a mental institution meeting a new female patient. The twist at the end was very ingenious, shocking the whole audience. Despite it being close to home (except Emmy didn't have visions of Death) she overlooked the irony and focused on the next act—Ode of My Pathetic Life, a stand up by a sophomore.
The stand-up routine was hilarious and was true on so many levels. Isn't it true how unusual that some tests require the use of a Number 2 pencil when there really isn't any other number? And don't forget the highly dramatized MySpace.
After that was a girl from choir singing "My Heart Will Go On" provided with some swaying light from cell phones in the crowd, another stand-up (lacking relatable topics), and then it was Sarah and Trey.
Much to her vexation, Emmy found herself longing to be on the same stage as Trey. She tried affirming that she was over him, but as it were, she was not. The corner of her eyes was moist as the two sang the final chorus:
"And though I know I may know
I don't care
Just for the moment
As long as you're mine
"Come be how you want to
And see how bright we shine
Borrow the moonlight
Until it is though
"And know I'll be here
Holding you
As long as you're mine…"
"What is it?" Trey spoke, his hands intertwined with Sarah's as he gazed lovingly at her.
"It's just for the first time, I feel… wicked," was her reply before she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Whistles and cheers broke out as the couple bowed and hurried off stage. Tony was making gagging sounds making Emmy smile mournfully. It maybe revolting to him but she wished she was up there being gushy with Trey. Sighing, she leaned back in her seat and counted how many more was left until intermission.
Two more…
Briefly shutting her eyes, Emmy fantasized the previous song with her in itinstead. In her daydream, at the end after she kissed Trey's cheek, he got down on one knee and said—
(Amelia)
Emmy's body jolted with a start. She looked at Tony, thinking it was him, but he was too busy absorbed in a guitar battle. Frowning, she laid back and recalled her dream back again.
(Amelia…I'm waiting…)
Her eyes snapped open and darted around in the darkness. She couldn't see anyone looking in her direction, but that didn't pacify the sudden apprehension flooding through her.
(Amelia…)
It couldn't be… Could it?
Her nails dug into the plastic armrest, ignoring the pain as the silk voice repeated in her head.
(Come to me…)
(Come to me…)
She bit her lower lip and whimpered. No… no. He's not here. He's not here. I'm imagining it. It's over. It's over.
As quick as her panic came, an odd calmness took over. It's only his voice, not hers. She's not here anymore. She lost… not him. Not Erik.
Trey's face appeared forefront in her eyes and next to him was Sarah. Her brow furrowed with contempt.
I can never have Trey. He belongs to Sarah… but Erik…
Christine was gone leaving Erik susceptible to any girl. And any girl could be her. Despite all that he's done, Emmy couldn't help but have one small part of her heart reserved for the Phantom. In her mind he still was the lonesome, poor Erik she grown to love over the years. His corruptness was due to her and her insipid fop. It was her fault that drove Erik to madness.
And she could win him over…
She could be the Angel he never had…
She could teach him love.
You must go to him…
"Yes," she whispered her mahogany eyes glazed over as a tiny smile blossomed on her lips.
The final talent finished and intermission was announced.
Caught up in her reverie, Emmy leaned across Tony to reach her mother.
"I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back."
TBC…
The climatic confrontation is coming up! Keep your eyes open for His Modern-Day Angel! I'll be posting that real soon. Thank you!