Chapter 5 is now up! Shoutout to bella cullen the original. And before I forget or get sued, either one, I DO NOT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! I do own myself, though...

Chapter 5

"The famous story of the Phantom of the Opera starts with a lonely little boy whose mother made him wear a mask. She was too much of a coward to look upon his face without fear, although there was nothing to fear but his anger.

"One day, he ran away from home, desperate to find a better life, only to be thrown into an even worse one. He was captured one day by a gypsy camp, and was forced to show his face as forms of entertainment to the general populace, or as horror for misbehaving little children. Either way, he was living in turmoil, his 'master' beating him every day. But one day, he escaped from the gypsy camp and went on to travel.

"There are many versions of what happens after he left the gypsy camp, anywhere from Madame Giry rescuing him from the camp and bringing him to this opera house to him traveling to Italy, becoming an apprentice to a stone mason, then going to Persia and becoming a master assassin. Either way, he always ends up here at this opera house.

"Later on, a little girl by the name of Christine Daae is brought here by Madame Giry after her father died. One night, as she is crying for her father, a mysterious voice speaks to her. She identifies it as the Angel of Music, then the voice goes on to teach her how to sing. As she grows up, he begins to fall in love with her, but he can do nothing to act on his love for her as he is still acting as her Angel.

"One day, the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny announces his patronage the same day that the new managers, Firmin and Andre, announce that they are the new owners of the Opera Populaire. Raoul recognizes Christine as she sings in the new opera, Hannibal, when Carlotta walked out. He goes to Christine and they reminisce about their childhood. Christine tells him that her Angel had visited her, but Raoul didn't believe her. He walked out of her room, insisting that he take her to dinner, not considering the protests coming from Christine."

"How inconsiderate." Erik ground out, interrupting the story.

"Yup. Now listen, I'm getting to the good part. After he leaves her room, a voice fills her room, totally ticked off. Christine tries to get the voice to calm down by saying that it was her fault, that her soul was weak, and she begged for forgiveness. The voice told her to look in the mirror. She did, and that's when she saw who her true Angel of Music was: the Phantom of the Opera.

"He led her down to his lair and it was there that he proposed marriage. She passed out from the shock of it and the Phantom carried her to the bed, laying her down in it and leaving her to work on his opera. When she woke up, she recalled that she was down in the Phantom's lair and walked up to him. This is where the story starts to turn for the worst. Are you sure you want to hear the rest of it?"

I saw his jaw clench as he nodded. "Yes, I can hear it."

I sighed. "Alright. She ripped his mask off. He turned on her and began to yell at her. But he later calmed down, putting the mask back on after Christine gave it back. He took her back topside and began to deliver some notes he had written to the managers, the Vicomte, and Carlotta, saying that Christine was to have the role of the Countess in the new opera Il Muto. After a little altercation between these people, they decided that Carlotta would play the Countess.

"The Phantom was not at all pleased, and he interrupted the performance when he found that the Vicomte had taken his beloved Box 5. He then killed Joseph Buquet. When Christine and Raoul found each other backstage, they ran to the roof in hopes of escaping the Phantom there. Little did they know that he was already there. It was on the roof that they professed their love for each other, unknowingly breaking the Phantom's heart.

"Three months later, the opera house held a Masquerade ball for the New Year, also celebrating 3 months of peace from the Phantom's antics. The Phantom showed up that night, dressed as Red Death, presenting his new opera, Don Juan Triumphant, demanding that they perform it and giving instructions, like Carlotta needing to learn how to act, Piangi losing weight, things of the sort.

"Christine needed to get away, so the following morning, she went to her father's grave. There, the Phantom intercepted her and tried to get her back, but Raoul rode in and fought the Phantom. When they returned to the opera house, Raoul proceeded to tell the managers of his plan, which was to get Christine to sing in the Phantom's opera. He was sure to attend and they could get him there. What they weren't counting on was the Phantom killing Piangi and taking his place as Don Juan. He sang his heart out to Christine, professing his love at the end of the song. How does Christine react? She rips his mask off a second time, this time in front of the entire audience!"

I heard Erik gasp. By this time, my eyes were shut, not wanting to see his reactions to any of the story.

"He took her back under, forcing her into a wedding dress that he had made for her. Raoul came to the lair to try to free Christine, but succeeded in getting himself tied to the portcullis by the Phantom. The Phantom gave Christine an ultimatum: choose him and Raoul would go free or choose Raoul and the Vicomte would die.

"Christine made her choice and chose the Phantom. But the Phantom knew that she chose him just to save Raoul, so he let them go. Christine came back to him, but only to return the engagement ring he had given her. He was never heard from again."

I finally opened my eyes, only to see Erik looking at his hands in shock and shame. "Are you saying that I did all of that?"

I nodded grimly. "In the story, yes. There are other versions, but that is the best one. The other ones end a lot worse."

He looked at me, fire in his eyes. "What's worse than having your heart handed to you?"

I looked back at him with the same fire in my eyes. "What's worse is that you die in the other versions! Tears have been shed for your demise, mostly mine. I felt sorry for the man in the mask and every time I watched the musical, the movie, or read the books, I wanted to bash Christine's head against something hard to maybe knock some sense into her-"

Erik grabbed my throat, gently but firmly, and pushed me against the wall. "You will never speak like that again about her!"

I regarded him calmly. "So it's true. You love her."

He sighed. "I do. I have been planning on revealing my true identity to her, but I could never find the right time to."

"Let me give you some advice: let her go. If you try to pursue a romantic relationship with her, it will only end in disaster."

He growled and pushed off of the wall, letting my throat go. "How do you know? What you just described to me were only stories. It may not really happen."

I gave him a look of pity. "Erik, every story there is of you…they never end with you winning Christine's love. I'm sorry, but I think it would be best to just let her go. It would save you – and her – a lot of pain."

His tense shoulders slump forward in a defeated stance. "So how do you suggest I let her go?"

"Well, you can still teach her, just forget about her, if you know what I'm saying"

"No, as a matter of fact, I don't." he said, giving me a confused look.

"Just try not to think romantic or lovey-dovey thoughts while you teach her."

"I don't think I can keep teaching her. Every time I see her, I can't help but think about her and me together."

I huff. "Okay, then you don't have to teach her."

"But I have to teach someone. Who on earth would I teach that would accept me as she has? As you ha-" he broke off, looking at me. "You."

I raised my eyebrow in confusion. "Excuse me?"

His face lit up with a smile. "Yes, you. I will tutor you in Christine's stead."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow that train of thought down. I didn't agree to these lessons. I mean, I haven't disagreed, either, but-"

"Think of it, Mandy, it would be perfect. You could further your musical ability as I continue tutelage. True, you may not be Christine, but you will be fine."

I suddenly got scared. I mean, yeah, I could sing, but not the operatic style of this time. What if he doesn't like my voice? What if I'm not good enough? He was right in one thing…I wasn't Christine, and that worried me. But I made my decision. "Are you sure that you would want to teach me? I can be a difficult student at times…"