Disclaimer: Still the same not owning anything….and I apologize for this chapter taking forever but the phantom took it down to his lair and wouldn't give it back….

Chapter 20

She didn't sleep at all that night; how could she? All she kept thinking about was what was going to be happening at the first performance. She woke up late which meant she was probably going to be late for rehearsal. She pulled herself out of bed and just slipped into a regular dress; she was going to have to change into the costume anyways to make sure everything was perfect. When she finally made it to the stage, Carlotta gave her a nasty look and half the cast looked scared. They were all in make-up and performing the songs that didn't need her in it. She slipped into her costumes and rehearsal went on without too much drama. Of course, Carlotta was being annoying and trying to upstage everyone with her movements and her voice; and whenever there was a break she would complain about the lyrics or the notes or the tone of Christine's voice and how she could go higher. Orianna thought she was going to kill someone. Finally Carlotta said the wrong thing by asking why Christine was even there.

"That's it! I can't take it anymore, I'm going mad!" She snapped. Everyone turned around and stared at Orianna. "If you say one more thing, you horrible woman, about anything or anyone I don't even know what I will do!" Everyone in the cast and even the crew members stopped and looked at her.

"That will be enough for today, the opera is tonight. You are all excused." Andre said. Orianna took a deep breath and shook her head, putting her head in her hand. She looked at Raoul, who was standing in the audience with Firmin and Andre and some of the police men about the plan for tonight. Orianna quickly left the stage; she needed to be alone.

She sat in front of her vanity mirror, just staring into it. She couldn't even focus, being incredibly nervous and anxious about the performance. But, most of all she was worried; worried about herself, about Raoul, the audience but most of all…him. She was afraid of what may happen when she does what she had to do. She looked up at her face and didn't even recognize it. She looked down at her elaborate costume, which would normally intrigue her with detail and brown color, but now she couldn't even think about it.

"Christine, it is time." She didn't even notice Madame Giry enter the room. Orianna nodded, sighing, she stood up and glanced down at the red rose on her desk. She quickly ran her fingers over it and then turned to Madame Giry.

Orianna stood on the wings of the stage looking around. Still no sign of the phantom and there were guards everywhere. Raoul was sitting in box 5 and the managers across the room from him. She watched the rest of the scene play out then waited for her cue, which came. The set was finally finished and decorated. It was a large table with fake food and such. She needed to be in characters now and try to focus on the moment.

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy,

No dreams within her heart but dreams of love."

She sat down at the table and waited for Piangi to come out. She looked at one of the apples on the table and picked it up, taking a bite out of it. The music changed to the next song Point of no Return, everything was working out...at least she thought it was.

She wasn't really paying attention and then she heard him sing.

"You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge,

In pursuit of that wish which 'til now has been silent..

Silent"

Orianna looked around and none of the people in the audience or in the orchestra knew what was going on, not even Raoul. She looked at the wings and Madame Giry knew but none of the other cast seemed to notice.

"I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge-"

He came closer to her, walking towards her slowly. Their eyes had locked and neither of them was going to look away.

"In your mind, you've already succumbed to me

Dropped all defense, completely succumbed to me

Now you are here with me…"

He seemed to smile at that line and glanced up at Raoul, then back to her.

"No second thoughts, you've decided…decided

Past the point of not return- no backward glances

The games we've played 'til now are at an end!"

Now, he was right in front of her, she had stood up and faced him; they're eyes still locked.

"Past all thought of if or when- no use resisting,

Abandon thought and let the dream descend…"

He pulled her up against him, his arm around her waist and the other one on her cheek.

"What raging fire will flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us?"

He let go of her and she backed up a little, staring at him. Was he trying to win her by force she thought? But, was that the only way he knew?

"Past the point of no return, the final threshold

What warm unspoken secrets will we learn?

Beyond the point of no…return…"

She understood what he was trying to do; he was making her pick. No more games, no more tricks, nothing; just a straight up decision, out in the open. She looked up at Raoul and smiled then over at him, locking eyes with him again. For a split second, he didn't seem as tough as he looked a second ago.

"You have brought me to that moment when words run dry

To that moment when speech disappears into silence…silence!

I have come here hardly knowing the reason why

In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining

Defenseless and silent, and now I'm here with you

No second thoughts…I've decided…decided…"

She smiled and realized what this play was about; it was about him. This song was created for this specific moment…or that's what she felt at least. He wanted her to choice him, obviously, but he made it for her.

"Past the point of no return

No going back now, our passion play has now

At last begun…

Past all thought of right or wrong

One final question, how long should we two wait before we're one?"

This time she came towards him and he raised a brow. She didn't even notice the fact that Raoul and some of the cast had noticed that it wasn't Piangi playing the part.

"When will the blood begin to race?

The sleeping bud burst into bloom,

When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

He had started walking towards her now, too while singing along.

"Past the point of no return,

The final threshold…"

They finally met in the middle of the stage and stood in front of each other, he threw his cloak off to the side and all Orianna could see was him and her, that were all that mattered.

"The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn…

Beyond the point of no…return…"

By this point, it looked like they had fallen into each other. The intensity and the tension between them was so thick, everyone could feel it. He had twirled her around so she was facing the audience and he stood behind her. Her arms limp and to the side he put his arms around her waist as if he were hugging her; she just closed her eyes.

"Say you'll share with me one love…one lifetime…"

He sang it so gently, Orianna could feel it the sadness. She opened her eyes and turned towards him, staring into his eyes. He put his hands on her cheeks, caressing them and she put her hand on his cheek.

"Lead me, save me from my solitude…

Say you'll want me with you, here beside you…"

Orianna then realized where she was and what she had to do. Inside, she was screaming at herself not to do it because of the words and the look in his eyes…but she had to. It was history.

"Anywhere you go, let me go too…

Christine, that's all I ask of…"

Before he could even finish it, she took off his mask along with the wig he wore. She heard the screams and such from the audience but she just stared into his eyes. She had done the worst possible thing, she could have…but it was necessary at least that's what she told herself. He stared right back at her and seemed to be in shock.

"Why?" was the only thing that came out of his mouth.

Suddenly, the stage was swarmed with police men. The phantom looked around and grabbed Orianna, he threw something down on the stage and a huge thing of smoke came up and they were gone.

They had gone through a trap door and he was now pulling her down to his lair. He was muttering things but she couldn't hear him because she had started crying and looking back to see if anyone was following to help.

"Please, stop…" she finally squeaked out. "Where are you taking me?"

"Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair,

Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!

Down that path into darkness deep as hell!"

"Please, don't do this! Why…" Before she could even ask, he stopped walking and turned around, yelling in her face.

"Why you ask was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?

Not for any mortal sin but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!"

He then continued to pull her down…to face the music.

(A/N-Again a million apologies for taking so long! But, I think it was worth it! Don't worry there's only like one or two chapters left! And then that's it! Please keep reading and reviewing and thanks a lot for reading….i know its not the best chapter but I like it…it needed to be a little different than the play! Or movie!))