HAHA
You guys are funny. For those of you who believe that you are obsessed, well, you're not alone. Would I really make an entire fanfiction on this musical if I wasn't obsessed as well? Hee hee. Well, yeah, I think the same as all of you, I absolutely LOVE the movie and the Broadway performance. I have seen the live performance once and the movie once, but I am SO BUYING IT THE MINUTE IT COMES OUT! And, I also have the soundtrack, too, so yay! It's awesome, really, and I just adore the movie more than ever!
For all who care (aka me) "The Phantom of the Opera" was nominated for 3 Academy Awards, but lost two to "The Aviator" and once to "Finding Neverland". It was nominated for: "Artistic Design", "Cinematography", and "Best Original Score—for the song 'Learn to Be Lonely'".
I, of course, thought that they should have won ALL of them, but hey, at least it was nominated.
Now, time for review answering—
Robin and Star Fan-I'm so glad you like it! I hope you like this chapter too because it took me awhile.
Rose- I love Music of the Night! It's just so…BEAUTIFUL! Yes, the Phantom is awesome, and in the movie he is so HOT! But, besides that, you and I both know who she's gonna end up with, and I don't think you like the answer to that one…
StarfireFowl-even though I do have a freakishly accurate memory, I did not memorize the entire thing by heart. I have the soundtrack, which has the entire script of the play in it, so that makes it a bit easier!
Jabberbabi13-wow, you saw the play when you were one year old? No wonder you like it so much now!
Another Freakish Fan-you lucky person! You got to see the movie again? SO NOT FAIR! Where I am, the movie isn't in theatres anymore, so I have to wait like a slug for it to come out on dvd. Again, not fair!
TitansFan-the song "Phantom of the Opera" is my favorite song in the whole play! I just love it! I also love "Masquerade," and yes, believe me, it is very easy to keep in your head for three days…
EmeraldShine-yay, I'm so glad you like it! I'm glad people appreciate the musical/movie for how beautiful it really is. I hope you like this chapter!
StarfireRobin-thank you! I hope it hasn't been done before, because I like to write stories that are different from everyone else's.
Laurashrub-I'm glad you were nitpick-free last time, but I think you will find something wrong with this chapter, I just know it. There is something about it that I want to fix, I just can't figure out what it is. I know you'll tell me about it, but still, I am having a hard time with this one…
XxtearsxofxbloodxandxhatexX-I'm SO happy that you like it! I have never seen Le Miserables, but I have heard of it, and it seems really sad (thus, the title), but I still wanna see it!
Robin+Starfire-no, it's not all that sad, I do it too. It makes writing the story a lot easier.
Well, that's all for reviews! Now, I am really flattered to those who like the story as much as they do, and I'm really happy for that. You guys make me feel happy!
Also, I would like to point out that the italicized bold lettering is the Phantom singing. And when both singing parts are on the same line, it means they are singing at the same time.
And, yes, I am finally getting back to the story now….
Kori looked blindly at the tall man holding her hand. He had a long, black cape, with bits and pieces shredded on the end. He had piercing eyes that she could never quite describe for a color; all she could tell was the immense emotion emitting from them. He also had black hair that she never paid attention to. But what struck out in her mind of him most of all was his pale, white mask. She was never quite sure, but if she looked close enough, she could see a long, thin layer of red line going across his left cheek in the shape of an X. It always intrigued her, but she always ignored it.
The mask covered almost all of his face, from his forehead down to his nose. Below his nose was visible skin, and a mouth that she could see, as he spoke to her. The half of his face that was visible looked like that of any other man. From what she could see, he looked completely normal, only with the white mask covering the top half of his face.
He kept a firm but gentle grip on her frail hand as he swiftly walked her through a series of winding pathways and passages. For the first time she caught a good look at her dark surroundings.
She had no idea that her school had so many underground hallways, and all made of dark grey brick and stone. Her school itself had been made many years ago, in the early 1800's. Her World History teacher would always tell her that these tunnels were made for runaway slaves to escape through. The tunnels went over a mile or two, expanding past the school grounds, but the real estate owners considered it school property. Her teacher told of how the old building, after many years, lost its use of escape routs, so it was left undisturbed and unnoticed. Because of this, water would drain into some of the large clearings that would be entered, making it somewhat of an underground lake, with giant walls surrounding.
Many students tried searching for the pathways, but they had been so well hidden throughout the school, not one teenager or teacher was able to sneak in to really see it for themselves. This gave the underground place a sort of ghostlike reputation.
Kori breathed heavily in the dank air. He was beginning to walk faster tugging her gently along with him, down and down and further still.
"How far do these things go?" Kori wondered, looking about herself uneasily.
She then suddenly lost all strain of thought as she saw the Phantom look into her eyes. She felt her brain suddenly go blank as she let him lead her further and further into the darkness, a light still in his other hand to lead them.
"In sleep he sang to me,
In dreams he came."
Her voice was unusually deep, not normal sounding for a usual soprano. She stared in wonder as her darker side of her voice flowed from her mouth.
"That voice which calls to me,
And speaks my name."
She suddenly changed her mood, seeming to slip ever so slightly back to the reality that she now stood in.
"And do I dream again?
For now I find
The Phantom of the Opera is here,
Inside my mind."
She stopped singing, and suddenly felt an energy source leave her momentarily. She felt droopy and did not want to move, for fear of tiring herself more. She then heard the ghostly voice sing out to her, just as her energy had failed her. As he sung, she began to move again, continuing to walk with him.
"Sing once again with me,
Our strange duet.
My power over you…"
He paused and spun around, seeing the girl looking all about her. He gently stroked her neck, slowly moving her chin to turn and face him. She obeyed easily, and he smiled.
"…Grows stronger yet."
The girl suddenly widened her eyes in realization of her immediate submission and jolted her head and eyes downward, to make sure he did not think he had complete control over her. Although she obviously had no say in that.
"And though you turn from me,
To glance behind,"
He made a sort of a frown that indicated temporary defeat, but it wouldn't last long. He led her further.
"The Phantom of the Opera is there,"
He said this loudly and almost superiorly, as if to teach her to mind him. He brought her up to walk at the same pace as him, so that they were walking side-by-side. He then brought his left hand to the side of her cheek near her ear, so that his arm was almost around her shoulders. He moved his hand over her temple and through her hair, causing her to roll her eyes involuntarily. She moved her head backwards towards his touch, exposing her neck. He then gently let her go, releasing her hair and smiling down at his prey before him.
"…Inside your mind."
He led her slowly to a large clearing with a more pond-like appearance. A small boat waited for her, as usual. There was no other way to cross the water, so he had made the boat for her. How he made it, she never knew, she was too entranced by his touch.
He placed her in, took a giant oar, and began to row the little boat toward another dark tunnel. She was sitting towards the front of the boat, with him standing directly behind her, rowing. She felt cold shivers run up and down her spine as they passed through, yet another dark path of brick and stone. She looked over her shoulder cautiously to look at the man, to see him facing a different direction. He looked so much calmer when he wasn't looking at her.
She took advantage of his looking the other way as a use of examining his profile. By what she could tell, he seemed awfully young, looking no older than his early twenties. There was an eerie sense about him that terrified her, but not a bone in her body refused to trust him.
"Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear."
In hearing her voice the Phantom turned his head back towards her turned one. He said nothing for the moment, but let a mischievous smile tug at his lips.
"I am the mask you wear,"
He finally spoke, his voice having a touch of arrogance.
"It's me they hear."
Kori turned back around to her normal position, facing forward as she had earlier. And at every note that escaped her lips, he would be in perfect unison.
"My spirit and my voice,"
"Your spirit and your voice,"
"In one combined."
"In one combined."
"The Phantom of the Opera is here,"
"The Phantom of the Opera is there,"
She then turned again and cocked her head confusedly. Her confused brain was trying to comprehend how he could sing the exact notes as she could without her consent. She ignored it, and turned back around.
"Inside my mind."
"Inside your mind."
Kori shifted her eyes nervously across the hallow walls. She could vividly remember her frightened friends tell tales of horror of this man. She remembered their worried reminders of what she knew was true. If she listened close, she could still hear their confused cries of anguish.
"He's there,
The Phantom of the Opera.
Beware,
The Phantom of the Opera…"
She snapped back to reality when she heard the ghostly figure sing again.
"In all your fantasies,
You always knew"
He put one of his hands on her shoulder, causing her to move her head to look at his hand.
"That man and mystery,"
She turned her head upwards to look into his darkly shadowed face.
"Were both in you."
She saw something move across the walls and jerked her head in that direction, loosing her eye contact with him. She shivered again, drawing her arms closer to her chest.
"And in this labarynth,"
"And in this labarynth,"
"Where night is blind,"
" Where night is blind,"
"The Phantom of the Opera is here,"
"The Phantom of the Opera is there,"
"Inside my mind."
"Inside your mind."
They went down further, further, and further still, and Kori began to feel slightly light-headed. She clutched her head in one of her hands, trying not to pass out.
"Sing, my Angel of Music,"
Her drooping eyes soon flickered wide, unblinking. She lost all sense of wooziness and focused her face straight ahead of her. Kori suddenly dropped her hand from her forehead and loosened her tightened shoulders. She barely moved.
"He's there,
the Phantom of the Opera…"
She felt his cold hand on her shoulder as she began to sing loudly and strangely, as if under his influence. Her high voice echoed malevolently off the long and endless walls of stone. The longer she sang, the more ghostly her own voice began to become. And every note she sang, she went higher. Some would say the highness she was reaching wasn't healthy for a singer of her age. She could now no longer sense what was going on, but only felt a cold hand stroking her neck.
"Sing for me…"
She continued her outlandish song, as she neared yet another clearing. There were candles scattered aimlessly as the only source of light, a stolen organ in the middle of it all. She wondered where he had found it, but never really thought of it before. The place had long curtains, sheets of mattresses, and cloth strewn about. It was his sanctuary, his home, his lair. He had fashioned it to his will, setting cushions and stolen dressers where he wished.
"Sing, my Angel of Music…"
She neared the landing as he kept his hand on her neck, reaching her throat. She only sang louder. He tightened his grip on her neck as his own eyes began to roll as her voice became smoother and viciously beautiful.
"Sing for ME!"
He impulsively clutched her neck harder than he should have, causing her final note to sound almost unnatural. She yelled at the top of her voice, almost like a scream, partly from his influence and partially from the pain. He released her throat and stepped out of the boat, onto the landing. She gasped and grabbed her neck at his release. She took big gusts of breath to breathe at a normal pace. After a surge of shivers, she raised her confused green eyes to the man. She looked straight into the masked face of her teacher, as he held out his hand to her, to help her out of the boat. She reluctantly reached out her shaking hand, and he took it.
"I have brought you
To the seat of sweet music's throne."
He lead her hand up to the landing, and looked around, seeking her approval of what she saw.
"To this kingdom where all must pay homage to music,
Music."
He dropped her hand without realization, and as he walked around, passing candle after candle, he looked back at her obliviously beautiful face.
"You have come here,
For one purpose and one alone."
He walked back over to her, took both her hands into his, and gazed into her eyes, which now looked close to lifeless. She did not have the logical part in her mind to tell her to look away.
"Since the moment I first heard you sing,
I have needed you with me to serve me,
To sing,
For my music,"
He breathed a deep breath, and never left his eyes from hers.
"My music…"
He suddenly felt the impulse to look somewhere else. An awkward feeling of embarrassment swept him. He soon overcame it, and forced himself not to look at her body. He finally looked back at her face, changing his mood. He walked on into the candlelit place of wonder, and she followed him, every step tracing his own.
"Night-time sharpens,
Hightens each senstation…
Darkness stirs,
And wakes imagination…"
She stopped following him, breathing heavily.
"Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses…"
He closed his eyes for a short second, then fully realizing that she was no longer walking behind him. He turned around, and began to approach her, the longing in his eyes becoming almost too much for Kori to stand.
In a split second the man had let down his guard of controlling the girl, his own desires clouding his brain from focusing on much else.
In this moment, her brain partly became aware of where she was, and why she was there. Her eyes enlarged and she began to back away slowly, realizing all too much at one time.
The Phantom stopped in his tracks as he saw her reaction. He evened his eyes to an almost blank expression and continued to progress towards the girl. She continued to step back, but at a much slower pace. Her pace soon came to a stop as her worried eyes involuntarily made contact with his. The minute she met his gaze she was almost rendered senseless, her open eyes the only sign showing she wasn't unconscious.
His eyes held a sort of victory in them as a small triumphant smile spread across his face. He walked up to her, but this time, she didn't resist.
"Slowly, gently
Night unfurls its splendor…"
He was very near her now, and gently reached his hands around the sides of her arms, drawing her closer to his body.
"Grasp it, sense it,
Tremulous and tender…"
Although she was succumbed in his trance, she still impulsively turned her head towards the opening of the clearing where they had entered. Her eyelids sagged at the sight of the exit, almost in a longing for it now.
The Phantom did not like this at all; any persuasion to promote her leaving was a bad one. He made a slight frown, and gently put his hand to the side of her face looking onward. He brought the hand towards him, moving her cheek back in his direction, causing their eyes to link once more.
"Turn your face away
From the garish light of day,
Turn your thoughts away
From cold unfeeling light,
And listen to
The music of the night…"
Kori tried to look away from him again, partially for her safety, but found that, no matter how hard she tried, she could not tear her eyes from his face. He sounded so…peaceful, and…entrancing. She listened on in wonder.
"Close your eyes and surrender
To your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
Of the life you knew before!"
He gracefully spun her around, so that her back was against his stomach. He held her by the arms as she fluttered her eyes closed. But a few moments later her eyes opened, still dreary. In response to this he took his hand up to her face and gently stroked her eyelids downward, causing them to stay closed.
"Close your eyes,
Let your spirit start to soar!"
The ghostly man then wrapped his arms around her and clutched her body to his softly, still with his stomach to her back.
"And you'll live
As you've never lived before…"
Having her held to him, he sunk her to the floor slowly, remaining in the position which they stood. He now sat on the ground with her, his arms still enveloped around her. He began to whisper into her ear, seductively taunting her in her state of control.
"Softly, deftly,
Music shall surround you…"
The specter proceeded to stroke her arms up and down, her having no more will power to stop him.
"Feel it, hear it,
Closing in around you…"
He brought both hands to her head, swaying it back and forth, his fingers sinking into her vibrantly ruby hair. Her eyes remained closed, and she didn't even try to open them again.
"Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind,
In this darkness which
You know you cannot fight,"
He brought her head backwards, near his, and whispered into her left ear.
"The darkness of
The music of the night…"
He then suddenly released her head from his grasp, sending her eyes flying open. He put one arm around her right shoulder, crossing his own arm across her neck.
"Let your mind start a journey
Through a strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
Of the world you knew before!"
He moved his arm from her neck to rest around her arms again. The ghost then sunk her lower, so that the top of her head lay right beneath his chin he clutched her tighter, almost seemingly in the form of a hug-like motion.
"Let your soul
Take you where you long to be!"
He smoothly moved her from where she sat, and cradled her in his arms. She seemed so frail in that moment; so pure and innocent. Her big green eyes looked up at him, the windows of her soul revealing sadness, an attribute he had not noticed before. He looked down at her lovingly in his arms.
"Only then
Can you belong to me…"
Just as she was about to close her eyes again, he swooped her upward, making her head fall back as he swept her up. He put her into the position they were before, only she was closer to his side this time.
"Floating, falling,
Sweet intoxication!"
His lustful eyes wandered up and down her body. He snaked his arm around her thin waist, and caressed her thigh. He swept his hand up and down her torso, each touch threatening to block out her consciousness completely.
"Touch me, trust me,
Savor each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
Let your darker side give in
To the power of
The music that I write,"
He cradled her into his arms again, but this time kept one arm holding her up over the floor. He stared longingly into her eyes, hoping she would respond.
"The power of
The music of the night…"
As he kept his arm wrapped around her back, he did not falter his gaze into her eyes. As he kept her immovable he slowly brought her body backwards, nearing the floor. He inched his mouth closer and closer to hers, praying she wouldn't move. Just as their lips were about to meet, her eyes rolled back and her head fell backwards, falling with the quickness of a second, only centimeters from hitting the cold ground.
He picked her up bridal style, her consciousness long gone. Realizing that he had put too much submission into her mind while controlling her, the intense pressure of it had knocked her out. He cursed his horrible timing, but compensated for his bad luck with the chance of getting to put to sleep the woman of his desire.
He sighed at her limp figure in his arms. He gently carried her over to a large cushioned swan bed that he had stolen just for her. He placed her in gingerly, stroking her cheek one last time before leaving her to sleep in peace.
"You alone
Can make my song take flight.
Help me make
The music of the night…"
Aaaw, that song is just so…BEAUTIFUL! "The Phantom of the Opera" is my favorite song in the musical/movie, so I am really happy I got to write it!