A/N: Okay folks… the last two chapters are here. I'm so happy that this was enjoyable and I had a lot of fun writing this. Thank you Halley for being my beta and a great friend. You encouraged me to work faster and I appreciated it. Thank you to everyone who's been reviewing and not, you guys have helped me a great deal. –hands out Erik-shaped chocolate covered lollipops-

And for a little shameful self promotion… I have an account on fiction press. com under the name Heather Grey. So far I have mostly poetry with several suspense/horror short stories. Feel free to check them out. I will also start putting up some original novels too and I would really appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Six:

Aftermath

News coverage of the disaster at Cherry Hill High School lasted for months. It was the single biggest event for the media ever since the disappearances a year and a half ago. Everyone wanted to know the scoop about the young girl and her obsession with The Phantom of the Opera that led to a terrible demise.

To them, it was a story worth sharing to homes across the state, perhaps the world.

But to those first-handed effected, it was a tragedy that could take possibly years to recover.

Seven were wounded, five were killed, and among those were Margaret Walker and Anthony "Tony" Sawyer. Tony had no chance when the chandelier fell on top of him. Not him… not brave Maggie who tried to save her friend… nor the three other casualties who were trapped in their seats with fear.

The blood stained chairs in the auditorium couldn't be washed off and had to be replaced for future attendees wouldn't know of the deaths. Unfortunately, this was one story that could never be forgotten among the staff and students. And was often whispered to incoming freshmen with a deadly warning—beware of the voice in the auditorium, lest you seek to go to Hell.

Some students took leave early, before graduation, and some transferred to a neighboring high school. They couldn't stand to look Emmy in the eye or be in her presence. Even if they didn't know her, students wanted to leave because of her and in case he returned.

Erik was indeed gone. The police searched long and hard for him. His sketch was shown on televisions everywhere, including John Walsh's America's Most Wanted with a discreet explanation that he was wanted for a series of kidnappings and murders of college girls in Michigan. Cherry Hill was left out.

Though no one could find him, he was still there. Maybe lurking in the shadows or in basements and auditoriums or he found a new host for his beloved Christine in a different phangirl—one more willing.

Either way, Erik was alive and could be anywhere. He could disappear should he wish it and reappear on command. The Phantom would never stop.

A terrible fact that eventually kept Emmy from leaving home. She had nightmares every night, constantly reliving that dreadful night and the deaths that occurred. An event that could have been prevented had she only stayed in her seat or, better yet, had she never heard Erik's voice in the beginning.

Everyday she was faced with the loss of her little brother, annoying and infuriating he was, but that didn't mean she didn't love him with all her heart. Everyday she was faced with the loss of her former regained best friend who fought Christine and who had finally believed her.

But at what costs?

The guilt ate her alive. She was at fault for all of this and no one had the courage to tell it in her face.

Not her parents, who shielded their mournful moods from her, not her former friends Jenna and Madison who were kind enough to drop by for a visit, and not Sarah and Trey, who were very much in a steady relationship and rumors of an actual nuptials to take place when Sarah graduates.

Trey Michaels… such a hero and tragically a fallen one too. He lost his respect in Emmy's eyes.

She had thought that the experience might have brought them closer… and it did. In a shaky friendship that could never expand to nothing more. It was much to her regret that Emmy eventually let him go; she couldn't bear to see the love he had for her locked away and transferred to Sarah.

It was for the best…

How ironic for another couple to be denied the happiness and joys of true love.

Yet, wasn't that how Fate plays along?

And how just like Fate to remind her that she belonged to the darkness now and forever.

She wasn't welcome that she knew. Even if no one said a word or shown her, Emmy knew how much of a burden she truly became. She was no better than Erik.

But her resilience refused to submit to the dark depths of her soul. There was only one other place in the world that gave her light, a place she was quite willing to return.

The night of her eighteenth birthday, Amelia Sawyer checked herself into the psychiatric ward of Willow Hospital under the care of Dr. Ivan Stanton.

TBC…