I do not own anything except for Brie and Adam. Enjoy the chapter!

BRIE'S POV

"Gustave!" I called as he ran far ahead of me. "Please slow down!"

"Leave me alone!"

I could hear the tears in his scream, and it broke my heart. I forced my legs to move faster, but there was no such thing as sprinting in heels and floor length ball gown. At least I wasn't wearing a corset. I probably would've passed out by now. I continued to call to Gustave, hoping he would stop and let me try to explain, but he would only cry harder as he fled from me. Not that I would give up. Even after tripping a couple of times, I kept following behind him. I'm not sure how long or how far we ran until Gustave finally fell to the ground in sobs.

I took a deep breath to slow my heart rate and sat down next to my nephew. "Gustave, what you heard... I know you're confused and scared, but please, let me explain..."

He turned and looked up at me, eyes red and full of tears. "Why were you with Mr. Y? Why would you say you're not Brieanna Daae?"

I suddenly lost all words and felt my own tears start to fall. And then he asked me the most terrifying and heartbreaking question of all.

"Have you been lying to us, Auntie?"

I reached out to him but paused when I saw him flinch away. Gustav's movement suddenly overcome with a memory that was kept in the shadows of my mind for years.

"Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?" Erik turned around to see me slowly walking down the stairs. His eyes widened at the sight of me in the beautiful wedding dress he had made for me, a dress that fit my body perfectly.

"Am I now to be prey for your lust for flesh?"

Erik walked up to me as he sang out, "That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood... Has also denied me, the joys of the flesh."

His fingers reached out to caress my face, but I recoiled in fear that he might lash out at me again. I kept my face turned away from his fingers as he sorrowfully sighed and felt him caress one strand my long brown hair.

"This face…the infection which poisons our love."

His lyric brought my eyes back to his in shock.

I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth. Gustav looked at me curiously but still scared. His reaction reminded me of how I acted with Erik. I could feel the guilt, the pain, the remorse.

I looked into Gustav's eyes and said softly, "I am so sorry."

I found myself crumbling to the ground as my legs trembled. I wanted to take him into my arms to comfort him, but I knew we both were too emotional. After a few moments, I took a deep breath and said softly, "Remember how much you love coming to all my performances? How each song tells a story and a completely different world comes to life on stage?"

Gustav slowly nodded his head and replied meekly, "Yes, my favorite one is when you were Carmen."

My eyebrows rose up in confusion. Carmen? Like Carmen Sandiego … Oh, he means the opera 'Carmen.' Cool, I was in Carmen! No, focus Brie! Go back to helping Gustave understand. I smiled at him as I saw he finally calmed down.

"Yes, exactly like Carmen. So, imagine you make a wish to be in your favorite show. Close your eyes and tell me where you are."

He looked at me skeptically before obeying. He closed his eyes and said softly, "I see a battlefield. I am standing in the middle and someone is pointing his sword at me. Someone pushes me away and it was my best friend. I was crying and angry that my friend died in my arms."

I was curious. Which story is he thinking about? Then I remembered one of my favorite classic plays and that particular scene.

"Are you Romeo from Romeo and Juliet?"

Gustav immediately opened his eyes and smiled at me. "Yes! That's who I was in my mind!"

I slowly reached over and was relieved when he allowed me to hold his hand.

"My real name is Brieanna Molitor. I'm from the 21st century. Well, the 21st century of my world... and in that world this is a famous show called, 'The Phantom of the Opera.' It was a beloved story. I loved the show with all my heart. I wished I could be a part of it more than anything and suddenly, I was. And being here allowed me to be your mother's sister. I remember what happened in the show, but I have changed many things."

Gustav looked at me and asked, "Do you still love me? Or were you just pretending?"

"Oh, Gustav, of course I love you! I was never pretending that." I looked into Gustav's eyes to see he was shocked. I took a deep breath and continued, "I know you must feel so confused and betrayed, but Gustav, I am still your Aunt Brie. I just felt like I needed to protect you."

Gustav looked down at our hands and asked quietly, "If what you are saying is true… does that mean you will have to go back to your world?"

My eyes were cast down as I replied softly, "I don't know. I wish I could live in both places."

Gustav's eyes began to water again as he asked, "What if… you leave, and I-I never see you again?"

I instantly gathered my nephew into my arms. I shushed him as he cried into my dress. I took a deep breath, trying not to cry myself.

"Oh Gustav, it's ok. We… we will figure it out, I promise." Before either of us could say anything, our ears heard someone calling.

"Gustav! Where are you?"

"Son, are you here?"

"Brieanna, please answer us!"

Christine, Raoul and Adam! They were here… Oh no, if they find Erik or if Gustav tells them the truth…

I immediately grabbed Gustav's shoulders and whispered quickly, "Gustav, you have to promise me that you won't tell them about me or tell them that the Phantom of the Opera is here."

"But Aunt Brie-"

"Please Gustav, I am begging you. I promise I will tell you more and I will show you more of Phantasma. Please do not tell them."

Gustav stared into my eyes, contemplating What I had asked of him. I was nervous that he would run away and scream, 'He's here, the Phantom of the Opera!' I would understand, he was bound to be overwhelmed, but I hoped he wouldn't. Please Gustav, I am begging you. Do this for me.

"All right, I trust you Aunt Brie."

I sighed with relief before giving him another hug. I helped him up to his feet and called out, "Over here! We are fine!"

The door immediately opened as Christine, Raoul and Adam rushed in. I didn't even notice there was someone else following them. Adam smiled at me, before hugging me. I gently patted his back. Well, this is still awkward. Raoul ran over to me to check me on while Christine fussed over her son.

"Gustav, where have you been? Why did you run off? Do you have any idea-"

"Mother, I am fine."

Raoul looked at his son and said, "But we heard you scream?"

"Oh that, I was…" He paused and slowly looked at me. My eyes widened and I silently pleaded to him. He's going to tell; I just know it. They were his parents after all. I closed my eyes and tried to come up with some kind of excuse to argue Gustave telling the truth. "I found Aunt Brie after she rehearsed her singing. We were allowed to explore a secret museum and I screamed when I saw a mannequin. It just gave me a fright."

I opened my eyes. He stayed true to his word! Oh my gosh, I love this kid. Without the others noticing, Gustav secretly winked at me.

I cleared my throat to get their attention. "Well, since that is all sorted out and we are all here, why don't we all go to lunch. I have a break until I have to rehearse again."

I did not notice Adam and Raoul shared a look of nervousness. I felt Adam touched my shoulder and said, "Brieanna, I was wondering after lunch if you would accompany me to the Butterfly Gardens. While we were looking for you, I found one of the gardens that I know you would enjoy it as we did together in the past."

My eyes widen and my heart stopped. I did want to see the Butterfly Gardens. However, it feels like Adam is asking me out on a date. Oh boy, if Erik gets wind on this… well I don't want to know what he will do.

I took a deep breath and said, "Adam, I would-"

Before I could say anything else, Christine grabbed my hand and said, "That is a lovely thought Adam. Brie has been talking about seeing the gardens for a while."

"But what about-"

"I believe that is a good idea. You deserve a break and can get back to rehearsing later. You can spend time with Adam," Raoul interrupted me. He looked right into my eyes and asked sternly, "Don't you agree, Brieanna?"

Now I am stuck. I had a bad feeling right now. The look that Raoul was giving me gave me bad thoughts. Why is he looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong? Does he… know that Mr. Y is Erik?! I looked at Gustav to see he was nervous for me. He did not want me to get into trouble. I looked at Adam to see he was waiting for my answer.

I cast down my eyes and took a deep breath. I looked back up and had a weak smile. "I would be honored to join with you in the Garden."

Adam smiled as Christine sighed with relief. I was unaware that Raoul was looking around in the room, as he was expecting someone watching us.

Gustav stared at me, and he bravely touched his Mother's arm and said, "Mother, I am hungry. Can we eat lunch now, please?"

Christine nodded her head. She and her son walked out of the room. Raoul held the door for us and nodded his head for us to follow his wife and son. Adam offered me his arm and smiled at me. I smiled weakly before accepting his arm. I could feel someone's eyes watching me before Raoul followed behind us and closed the door.

3RD POV

After Brie left with her family and Adam, Erik slowly entered the room from the shadows. His blood was boiling when he saw the fop and his angel's sister again. What made it worse was when that boy, that Adam is forcing his love to accompany him to the garden. Erik saw the look Raoul and Adam shared. He knew that they were up to something. He would love to use his friend and choke the life out of both of them.

However, Erik closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He cannot take this negative energy and thought corrupt him. He did not want to lose Brie again. He slowly sank to the ground and was lost in his thoughts.

"From out of ugliness, such light! From out of darkness, such a flame! She was mine ten years ago… Until she was taken away from me!" He suddenly remembered her telling him the truth. She is not from this world, from this time. She lied to him. She had played him. His anger grew and grew. Was she really an angel or not? "Her secret, her life, her lies! I felt my heart again dies." He stopped and remembered Brie saying that she might have to go back to her world… and never see him again. Erik realized that this must be hard for her. "Will she leave me yet again, or will she remain in my place. Yet shall she be my saving grace…"

Erik looked back where is angel left. The thought of Brie never coming back or seeing him again scared Erik to the core. No, he won't let that happen. He stood up as an idea came to him. What if he could find a way to make Brie stay in his world permanently? Then she will never leave him! A new fire sparked his heart. Brieanna will sing for his music again.

"For Brie –My Brie –If it's true I've no reason to live, then, Brie… I will find a way for you to stay, that's the promise I will give! Ah, Brie! I will never let you go!" Erik ran up the stair to his workshop as he sang loudly, "No power on earth will take you so. You will be mine for evermore! So, the Phantom of the Opera says, and his Angel of Music will soar!"

Erik smiled as he opened the door to his workshop. He has a lot of researching to do. He is determined to find a solution to making Brie stay. However, he was unaware there was a spy in the room everyone was in before. A secret door in the wall slowly opened. Walking out in a shock manner was Madame Giry. Her hand holding her cane was turning white as well as her face. She could feel tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. Not only did she hear what Erik just said, but she knows the truth about Brie.

"Ten long years and he casts us aside. Ten whole years, this is how we're repaid. Ten dark years of toil and tears. And now what we've worked for will go to that girl!" She remembered the eight-year-old little girl she brought her and her older sister to the Opera House. The little girl's joy as she sang and dance. The little girl Madame Giry considered her as another daughter. Now Madame Giry can see that her little girl is a phony and a lair. She is a complete stranger. What did this imposter do to the real Brieanna Daae? "A girl who lies and is not who she says.All our hopes were at last in our grasp."

Her tears of sorrow turned to anger. Everything she and her real daughter Meg has worked for is completely gone! Who was the one who helped Erik escaped from the circus, Madame Giry. Who was the one who helped him escaped from the fire and the mob from the Opera House, Madame Giry and Meg. Who helped him create his world and worked hard to make his shows the talk of New York, Madame Giry and her daughter Meg. But do Erik thank them or give them what they wanted? No, he did not! All he wanted was his Angel of Music! Now, Erik will cast them away and make Brie the star of this world. Oh my gosh, what will she tell Meg? Her daughter's heart will be broken. This is all that girl's fault! Madame Giry has to stop this once and for all!

"All the dreams and the plans that we laid. Everything is vanishing. And we get discarded, rejected, reviled. All of the bonds in between is now torn. All of the love that we gave him forsworn. All would be ours if Brieanna Molitor would disappear and was never born!"

And there you have it, another chapter done! Again, I am so sorry for the wait. Sadly, the next chapter will take some time so please have patience with me. I do not want to rush and have a bad chapter for you to read. The next update will be my "My Magical Wish" story and then I will be back with "Red Rose Nightmare." I do have a job and a life. Do not forget to favorite, follow, review, and until then…

Grapejuice101