I AM NOT DEAD!...though I feel like death warmed over. I am so sorry for the lack of updates, guys! I've just been in a really bad way for the past several months. But I think everything is finally getting better. Especially since Christmas is coming up! Goodness, I can't even remember the last time I updated. That's pretty bad. Then yet again, I don't remember what I had for lunch today, either...college, man. Instead of making me smarter, it's dumbing me down. Don't grow up, guys. It's a trap... Anywho, I will catch up on my shoutouts as soon as I can. Lord knows I have dozens of them by now. I hope you like this chapter, even though it's mainly filler. I just felt really bad about leaving y'all hanging like that. so, I will try to update more often than I have been lately. Thank you to all of my supporters and my reviewers. Please keep reading and sending those reviews. You have no idea how much they mean to me. Sooooo...onto the chapter!

Chapter 39

"No! Absolutely not!"

Erik's protest rang through the auditorium. I had asked if we could meet on the stage so I could ask him about the post-show idea. Let's just say he wasn't too enthused.

"Why not, Erik? It's not like you haven't been on stage with me before."

He shook his head. "That's the thing, Mandy. I have already performed on stage with you - twice - already. Don't you think a third time would be pushing it? Andre and Firmin already have the gendarmes at every performance now."

"But that's the thing: no one but me, Christine, and Madame Giry really know it was you. And Christine is already going to be on stage with us." Well, at least I hope she says yes to this...

"Even more reason to be cautious! We never know if Christine will have a change of heart and alert everyone to my presence! I mean, it wouldn't be hard at all to identify me with the mask and all." he argued.

I wasn't going to let him refuse without a fight. "You know she would never do that! If anything, we can introduce you as a special guest. Besides, you have that flesh-colored mask that you wore during Roundtable Rival. Erik, if something is bothering you, you can tell me outright instead of making up excuses as to why you can't. Please talk to me..."

His rigid frame hunched over in defeat as he sighed, his back facing me. "I don't know, Mandy. All the times I joined you onstage before, they were spur of the moment decisions. Knowing that someone will know about me being there is putting me on edge, I suppose."

I nodded in understanding. "Erik, there is nothing to be afraid of. Like I said, the only ones who know who you really are will either be onstage with you or in the wings. No one will suspect anything, I will make sure of it."

He turned to me. "Are you sure you want me up there with you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Well, you never really asked my opinion about it the first two times, but if I wasn't sure, then I wouldn't have asked. Yes, I am sure. Now, let's go over how this is gonna go..."

"What do you have in mind?" Christine asked me. I had just asked her if she would join me and Erik on stage for the post-show.

"First, before I elaborate on my plan, let me explain something. I barely persuaded Erik to do this. He has some sort of fear that you would expose him to the audience and, more importantly, the gendarmes. I was hoping that I could have your word that you would never do such a thing. Of course, I know you wouldn't, but you have to understand where he's coming from, and I do. Maybe we could talk to him later and put his mind at ease, at least on this count." I suggested.

She nodded furiously. "Oh, absolutely! I wouldn't dare do something so...so...there are no words for how awful that action would be!"

I mentally sighed in relief. Good, she isn't of that mindset. So much has been changed from the original story. I wonder what all I've changed...I wonder what else I'll change later on...

"You have no idea how relieved I am to hear you say that!" I told her. "Alright, now here's how I'm hoping this whole thing will work..."

There were only a few hours left before the performance of Il Muto was to start, so I figured I would kill some time in Erik's lair. I wasn't spying, per say, but I was making sure that he was getting ready to be on stage and not planning a way to get out of tonight.

We were sitting in front of the fireplace, as it had gotten pretty chilly, just enjoying each other's company. He spoke of the times that he had played pranks on the opera house employees, but only the ones that were not being "appropriate", for lack of a better term, and I told him more of my world...such as what the terms "genderbent" and "shipping" meant.

I was admiring his face, or what I could see of it since he had that darned mask on again. "Can I take your mask off, Erik?"

He gave me a startled look. "Whatever for?"

I shrugged. "May I want to admire your entire handsome face. Maybe I want to try it on. The world may never know..." Of course I didn't want to try it on. The former choice was all I had in mind.

Erik hesitated, an unsure look crossing his face. "Are you sure?"

"Erik, it's not as if I haven't seen it before. You've been around me with out it by your own choice! Trust me, Erik."

He took in a deep breath before nodding, giving me the go-ahead. I reached my hands up to his face - one to his mask, the other to his other cheek, caressing it as I pulled the mask off. What I saw underneath the mask, though, was not what I expected. At all.

"Erik...your face...it's-"

He didn't let me finish as he jumped up off the couch we were sitting on and went around it. "Mandy, I told you! I knew it would turn out like this one day!"

I didn't let him get any farther in his little tirade. "Oh, no you don't, Erik! You did not let me finish and I am not about to let you go off like you are now. I was going to say...well, I know you take my word for it, so let's just find ourselves a mirror."

Erik's angry face took on a look of horror. "Why? Why would you torture me like this-"

"Just shut up and find a freaking mirror!" I finally snapped.

I think my shout shocked him into silence...and obedience as he went to go fetch a mirror. We ended up in the bathroom, where a little handheld mirror sat on the edge of the sink. I grabbed it before he could so I could give him a bit of an explanation. "Look, Erik, I am sorry for my outburst. I know how sensitive of a subject this is for you, and I would never joke about it or suddenly become derogatory. But I think you will find this very...different...from what you're used to."

I turned the mirror to his face and saw the shock come over his face. "How is this possible?!" he exclaimed, more in wonder than in demand.

I shook my head. "I have no clue, but one this is clear: your face is getting better!"