Hi, again.
Yes, it took me awhile to finish this chapter, too, but hey, I have a good excuse this time.
Okay, so I have a very eeeeeeevil English teacher. She is making us read the book "Great Expectations". I'm sorry to all who like Charles Dickens, but that book is so dull I can barely follow it. And, don't get me wrong, there are times in the story where I think to myself, "Man, that's cool," or "Wow, I never would have thought that." But during the entire rest of the time, my small brain has trouble comprehending the extremely long sentences that are jumbled into a description. No, this does not mean that I hate English class, it just means that I do not favor "Great Expectations" all very much. And also that it causes EXTRA homework.
EmeraldShine-thank you! Some thought that it was hard to understand who was singing what, but I'm glad you understood. And I'm very happy you thought it was organized!
#14 is easy on the eyes-HAHA…good one, violet. I LOVE the name, and I totally agree…sometimes I think he should have won Mr. Irresistible instead of James, but hey, I knew James better. And, besides, Liz would have MURDERED me if I chose #14 over him…wow, I can see it now…
reggaeshiko-tama-why, thank you! This story has not yet been referred to as highly recommending yet, except by you, so now I feel special!
Violet-haha, yes, I love that part too. "Notes" is actually a pretty funny song when you get to hear it closely.
Can't use my old name b/c I'm at school-very subtle, Blair. Heehee…why can't you use your normal name at school? Is it because you don't want Justin (or someone particular who sits by you—hint, hint) to see? That's probably it, I'm sure. How could you forget about those songs? I'm sure "Magical Lasso" is on the 2-disk version, that's why I want it so bad!
Person-sorry if you were confused. In case you didn't know, the person who is doing the actions right before the verses is always the one who is singing.
Another Freakish Fan-sorry about the confusion. If there are two or three people being explained in the non-italics, it means those two or three people are the ones singing.
StakeMeSpike04-not to worry, everything I put in there is original, and from the musical/movie. I didn't recognize a lot of them either, but I put them down anyways, since they are obviously supposed to be there. But, yes, all are fully original and from the script.
Sphinx-well, I am sorry you think that. And, if I do recall, I am pretty sure that I said specifically in the first chapter that I did not want ANY flames for this fic. I stand still to that rule, by the way. So, if you don't like the story, please don't read or review it.
Christine Pfiefer-I can't believe that I still haven't gotten your first review. Well, anyways, that is so cool that your middle name is Christine. I almost forgot, actually. I had SO much fun on Saturday! Wow, I didn't know that we could make walking around fun! And your brother's videos are definitely very disturbing. I still can't use your bathroom anymore because of him! Darn that Icabod. I really liked the cat video he made, though. I didn't know he was so good at photography. I liked that verse from "Music of the Night", but I never really saw it as sultry until you told me (heehee). When I think about it, it kinda does sound seductive…And yes, having tunnels beneath your school would totally rock! And, if my first him was at the bottom waiting for me (remember, the second him will save me! Lol!) that would be sooo cool!
Laurashrub-nope, I checked, and the spacebar worked perfectly. Everything was where it was supposed to be. There were a LOT of lines, that's probably why you thought otherwise. Thank you! I'm very flattered that you would find my version better than the film's! That, I find a great accomplishment. I honestly have no idea what an "ingénue" is. I have tried, but I can't figure it out. I'm sure it's somehow related to a word that means a person that you would favor over the others.
TitansFan-I know, several people didn't like that song, but I'm just glad I can move on to the next one!
Jaina 12-I must admit, the voicing is pretty cool in that song. And boy, it DID take long! What, may I ask, is your favorite part?
Rose-thank you! And, if it makes you feel any better, all I ask of you is not until the next chapter. Heeheehee. You really don't like that one, do you? I LOVE "Masquerade"!
StarfireFowl-yay! I'm happy you liked it. I was hoping it wouldn't confuse as many people as it did.
Robin and Star fan-hehe, glad you liked. Well, here's another chapter for you, enjoy!
Oh, and by the way, after "All I Ask of You", and as the story moves on into "Masquerade", I am going to switch a thing or two. First of all, I'm going to change it from 6 months later to 1 month later. In a schoolyear, I find it a whole lot reasonable for the plot.
Alright then, moving on…
The school had just paid several thousand dollars on a new chandelier for the old auditorium, as hopes to make it seem newer and more elegant. All of the teachers had been fussing over it for months, as the students usually didn't even care. Each teacher had warned and pestered each student to be grateful for the thing, that it was practically drilled into their heads that it was a very special and new addition to their very old and memory-filled auditorium. After this, most were at peace.
It was now about two months after the decided occasion that Kiona was to be the lead in the upcoming play. Since then, all were in a giant frazzle to keep the show in order, which was promptly done. Very extravagant decorations were made for this musical, "El Muto", for it was an eighteenth-century styled performance.
When the night finally came, all were in bustles of nervousness and cheer. Most liked working on this set, for all the girls gawked at its beauty and ornateness. Most of the cast members were found huddling in bunches, furiously reciting lines in a surge of whispers, so that the awaiting audience could not hear.
Kori peeped around the corner backstage in full costume. She crept around the wall to glance at the rest of her classmates behind the curtain. She wore an eighteenth-century outfit of a teenage boy, covered in frills. She had not come to care whether she was the main character or not, just as long as she did well. She was actually genuinely surprised that she would have any role bigger than a background cameo. She scanned the backstage quickly, searching for her friend.
"Jinny!" She squealed in the loudest whisper she could muster, at the sight of the pink-haired sophomore.
Jinny looked over from her spot. She scurried quickly over, with a Cheshire cat smile spread as far onto her face as it could fit.
"Oh, Kori!" she squeaked in delight, "The show's about to start!" her big, bright eyes all aflutter, "I'm so nervous and excited and nervous and happy and worried and nervous and…"
"…and I think you'll do wonderfully." Kori smiled back, "You have a pretty good part, yourself."
Jinny had been placed as the Jeweler's assistant. And as such, she was one of the main "town gossipers" of the story. And that also meant that she had a pretty big singing part.
"True…" Jinny said with a look of uneasiness, "It's just that, I'm afraid I'm gonna mess up in front of everybody!"
"Do not worry, you will not…"
"…and I am in that ballet part in act three, remember?" Jinny said with a nervous twitch.
"Yes, I did remember. I think you should consider yourself lucky that you get to be in the Dance of the Country Nymphs. I believe that you will be glorious."
"Easy for you to say," Jinny said with a teasing smile, "you don't have any lines!"
"…And I am glad of that!" Kori said with a sigh of relief.
"Why?" Jinny's confused face almost made Kori laugh.
"Well," Kori began, "I do not think I am ready for all that wondrous of a character anymore. Maybe next year, though, when I have more experience."
"You had no problem in 'Hannibal'". Jinny said with a raise of her eyebrow.
"Yes, I know," she returned, "but it made me…um…sick…afterwards…" her mind trailed off when she thought about what really did happen afterwards.
"Again, maybe next year." Kori said with her normal, cheery tone.
"I still think you should put yourself out more," Jinny glanced her friend up and down, "you have a lot of potential, you know."
"I disagree." Was all Kori had to say after a split second of silence.
"Well, no use worrying about it now," Jinny suddenly turned pale with a look at the full audience awaiting, "we have different things to be concerned of."
Kori chuckled at her friend's first reaction to stage fright.
"Do not worry, you will perform beautifully."
Jinny smiled weakly. Alan approached her in full costume as well. He was playing as the Jeweler, the same which Jinny was to be the assistant of. His wardrobe consisted of an identical replica of the others' bright costumes.
"Ready?" He said to Jinny.
Jinny made a faint whimper, then shot her head back around the curtain to look at the crowd again. She made a face of nervousness to Kori that was evident beyond measure. Jinny made a quick nod, and a straight look came over her. She tried as hard as possible to keep her poker face useful while she could. She glanced back at her friend, who gave a reassuring grin. She then heard Alan's voice yell out to every thespian in earshot.
"Curtain opens in five!"
In the same scene with Jinny, there was a boy who was to be playing the Hairdresser, and was to be singing with her and Alan. She did not know him very well, but remembered that she had a class with him. She pondered a few moments, trying to recall whether he was in her Chorus class, or in her same Algebra hour. She was becoming more frazzled every second, so she let the mediocre thought pass. Thus, putting all other distractions out of her mind, she continued to prep, becoming even more of a nervous wreck.
Richard stood in the dark, decorated high school hallway, conversing with his two friends, Victor and Gar. The trio saw the lights flicker, as a symbol that the play was about to start. Richard turned and headed in the other direction.
"Well, we've gotta go to our seats anyways," Victor said with a grin.
"Alright then, see you after the show, guys! If you need me, I'll be in the balcony with a few of my friends," Richard said, pointing towards the staircase before him.
"Um…dude," Gar's eyes widened, "are you sure that's a good idea?"
"I can't help it," he returned, "the balcony has the only seats left."
"…and for good reason…" Victor said with a shift of his eyes across the hall.
"I'm sure there's nothing to get all worked up about," Richard said. "Now, we're all gonna miss the play if we don't hurry to our spots."
"True, true, true…" Gar said, peeking into the auditorium, and spotting Raven near the stage, talking to the orchestra conductor. "We really should get moving…"
The boys all resided into their seats, all content with where they sat. At least, for the moment. Gar and Victor sat next to eachother, obviously, and became intensely hyper when the curtain began to open. Gar saw Raven standing backstage and quickly shut up, afraid she would notice them and be annoyed. The curtain was stretched, and the play began.
An extravagant, and again, eighteenth century styled bedroom was ornated across the stage. The Countess and the Pageboy were hidden behind the humungous drapery of the velvety canopy bed. The Hairdresser, the Jeweler, and the Jeweler's assistant stood in the room, giggling in their gossiping glory. The three pointed to the curtain-drawn bed and strutted around, astonished at the news.
The Jeweler's assistant threw her hands to her overly powdered cheeks and gasped.
"They say that this youth
Has set the lady's heart aflame!"
Jinny was nervous beyond belief, but hid her anxiety and went on with the play.
The Hairdresser came up behind her, wigs atopped onto his head.
"His lordship sure would die of shock!"
The Jeweler approached them both, with a smile on his tan faced puffed white.
"His lordship is a laughing stock!"
The Jeweler's assistant took on a fake look of worry, again showing a face of astonishment.
"Should he suspect her?
God protect her!"
They leaned toward eachother all at once, and shook their fingers all together in their little huddle.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!"
This fair lady's
Bound for Hades!
Shame! Shame! Shame!"
As the play went on, the Countess remained behind the curtains of the canopy. She remained all the while taking the apparent idea that she was kissing the pageboy from behind the drapes.
As Gar and Victor watched in pure enjoyment, almost bursting out laughing when specifically told not to, they stuffed overly buttered popcorn into their faces.
"I love these things!" Gar said in a very loud whisper.
"Yeah, they're funnier when they're old fashioned!" Victor said with a covered laugh. Gar widened his eyes with a broad smile.
"If ideas like this are old fashioned, I would love to see the plays the guy who wrote this could have made up nowadays!"
"…I agree…" Victor said, looking at Gar with eyebrows raised. They said together at the same time, as if they shared the same mind,
"THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!"
A loud hiss enveloped from the row in front of them.
"Ssssshhhh!" they heard someone squeal in a subdued hush.
"Ooops," Gar whispered, waving his hand, "Sorry!"
"Anyways, as I was saying," Victor continued, "all the seats were sold out! Can you believe it, man?"
"Dude, I know!" the junior brightened, "I didn't expect to sell so many."
"This is definitely gonna earn me some thespian points…" Victor said quietly.
"And, and and…" Gar said, his grin spreading, "not a 'disaster' in sight! That was a lame prank, I have to admit…"
"And it had better be a pretty bad one if it's coming from you…"
"What was that, Vic?" Gar said sarcastically.
"Oh, nothing…" replied the senior, with almost a hint of a fake whistle. They both immediately hushed as they heard the continuing dialogue of the play.
The Countess had emerged from behind the bed, as had the Pageboy. The Pageboy, who was disguised as a maid, followed her.
"Serafimo, your disguise is perfect," the Countess said loudly, smiling broadly.
A stern knock was heard at the door.
"Why, who can this be?" she said with a look of shock and ignorance.
Don Attilio, her husband, was being played by Steven. He waltzed into the room, and embraced her.
"Gentle wife, admit your loving husband."
She did so, revealing him to be one that is described as an "Old Fool". He kissed her cheek and took her hand in his.
"My love, I am called to England on affairs of State, and must leave you with your new maid." He then said aside, to the crowd, "Though I'd happily take the maid with me…"
The Countess then said aside to the audience,
"The old fool's leaving!"
The "Old Fool" then took his turn to converse with the audience again in another aside.
"I suspect my young bride is untrue to me," he said in almost a whisper to the crowd, "I shall not leave, but shall hide over there to observe her!"
He turned back to his wife, and made a fake wave of his hand.
"Addio!"
She waved back, with a smile as untrue as his.
"Addio!"
He pretended to leave the room, then quickly hid and gazed on, to see what action awaited his departure. The Countess, at thinking him gone, approached the "maid".
"Serafimo, away with this pretence!"
She tore off his dress to reveal his manly outfit, with breeches and a puffy shirt. She went on.
"You cannot speak,
But kiss me in my husband's absence!"
She drew out her fan, and the two drew their heads behind it, to make it seem as if they had kissed. During the quick split seconds behind it, Kiona hissed at her sister,
"Don't even think about messing this up!"
"What?" She whispered back, appalled, "What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean!" the mean girl swiped back the fan, and withdrew it back into her frilled pocket, becoming the Countess once again.
"Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Hahahahaha!
Time I tried to get a better, better half!"
The three gossipers aligned into a strait direction, smiling and holding a slight hand to their mouths.
"Poor fool, he doesn't know!
Hohohohoho!
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!"
In about mid sentence, a loud, booming voice echoed over the auditorium from nowhere. It's tone had the balanced blend of cryptic haunting and maddening anger. All who heard had been frozen solid, and nobody moved.
"Did I not instruct that the balcony was to be kept empty?"
The Jeweler's assistant immediately broke out of character. She shuddered visibly, and looked about frantically.
"He's here, the Phantom of the Opera…"
The Pageboy took a quick switch from character and shifted her eyes worriedly. She swung her hand to her mouth in true fear. She shook quietly, hoping no one would see. Alan did. He walked over to her, beginning to put his hand on her quivering shoulder. She did not see him, and said shakily,
"It is him…I know it…it is him…"
Kiona swirled around and rounded on her, viciously pointing the fan and an accusing finger in her direction.
"Your part is silent! You little toad, you can't do anything right!"
The voice paused, as if sinking in what she had said. It boomed out again over the walls with an increasing frustration and anger.
"A toad?" the haunt repeated, "A toad? Perhaps it is you who are the toad…"
His overpowering voice was as cold as ice and dripping with venom, as if she had no idea who she was dealing with. All knew that this was undoubtedly true, so they said nothing. An uneasy silence followed. Kiona stood, in the middle of a dramatic pose, she herself having no idea what to do next.
After about thirty seconds of looking around, half expecting to hear someone speak again, Henry looked as if he was about to loose his head. He threw his arms in the air, out of the view of the audience, to frantically get the senior's attention.
In her state of unwanted confusion, she finally swung her head in the direction of the director, her black hair falling a bit askew from her wig. He made notions with his hands as to signal her to start the song over. She nodded her overly pruned head and tossed her hand to the musicians, who in turn started the song from the beginning.
"Serafimo, away with this pretence!
You cannot speak, but kiss me in my CROAK!"
She gasped for breath, as surprised as all. She had not sung the last note, but her throat had made a horrible low croaking sound, like that of a toad. A look of shock came over her, and she frantically looked to Steven, who stared right back at her, just as astonished. She regained her composure and signaled to the musicians again, her patience shorter than the last.
"Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Hahahahaha!
Ha...CROAK!...CROAK!...CROAK!"
She tried her hardest, but could not get a sound. All that came out was the awful croak. She became more frustrated, and swung her arm, trying in vain to sing her song. In such a fit that she was about to explode, she stopped.
Someone was laughing. No, it was no one from the audience, although several were sniggering. As her frustration went on, she realized that the voice who's laughter was increasing with every note was the same tone as the thing who had taunted her minutes before.
"…CROAK!...CROAK!...CROAK!"
She was now going in circles, about to cry as embarrassment filled her pale cheeks. She stopped in fear, for the laughter was becoming more psychotic, more hysterical. The insane maddening voice rung out, now drowning all other sound.
"Behold! She is singing to bring down the chandelier!"
Kiona, as well as everyone present, had heard this, as his maniacal taunt continued. Kiona looked fearfully to Henry, and with her face flushed with humiliation, swished off the stage, with saying in a shaky voice,
"I can't do this!" she squeaked in between tears.
"Oh, man!" Victor quickly said to Gar, "We'd better get up there!"
"OH yeah…" Gar nodded with extreme emphasis, "This is gonna get ugly, I can tell…"
Steven watched the horrified girl swing off the stage, and rushed after her in attempt to console her in her upset manner. He ran backstage where she fled, ran to catch up with her, and approached her comfortingly. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight.
"…It's okay, Kiona, I'm here…"
"No, it's not okay!" she said sadly, with an extra dose of drama added in it, "I was humiliated!"
"Sshh…" he said soothingly, still in her embrace, "I'm here, it's alright, you'll be fine…"
He continued to calm her as she settled down slowly.
Victor leapt onto the stage and hissed to the curtain boy,
"Shut that thing, will you?"
They immediately did as they were told, and Gar joined his friend on the now curtain-closed stage. Victor grabbed a microphone, and addressed the stirring crowd.
"Uh, ladies and gentlemen, the play will continue after a ten minute…intermission…when the role of the Countess will be performed by Kori Anders." He said this, all the while remaining in a shaky voice of uneasiness. Gar quickly interrupted him, snatching the microphone worriedly.
"…In the meantime, everyone, we will be giving you the ballet from…Act three, was it, Vic? YES, Act three. Here's the ballet…sorry for the uh…inconvenience. Okay then," he said, looking at the band, "here's the ballet…" he then set the microphone down and hurried off the stage after Victor.
Henry practically screeched to all the ballerinas to get on stage immediately. Jinny, being in that performance, had to change in extra speed to get there on time. She ran onto the still covered stage, the curtain hadn't been opened yet. She thanked her luck and waited for the curtain to open.
Before she could count her blessings, she found that the curtain had been drawn, and the music was about to play. It started up, and she danced with the rest.
Jinny had to take more concentration tonight because of the rising tensions that had enveloped the cast. Although she constantly scolded herself to remain calm and to concentrate on nothing else, she could not prevent herself from seeing the threatening shadows of a cloaked man up in the lofts. They were not stagehands, for none went so high up, especially during a performance.
She tried not to think about it, but faltered and fell out of step. She tried in vain to forget the shadows and continue on, but could not.
She danced faster and faster, all going with her, swirling and twirling and spinning around. The music was getting faster and faster, each note adding quickness in a step, some hers, some unknown. She whirled and spun and swung, faster and faster until…
"AAAAAAAAAHH!" her scream was the loudest trill imaginable that could send a chill of horror down a person's spine, them knowing that a true terror only could have made such a scream.
Jinny stared into the lifeless eyes of Mark's garroted body. He had fallen from the shafts high above, and he hung there, dead, on the rope. His frozen body hovered feet from the ground, and his limp face fell only inches from Jinny's. She screamed again, and ran from his hanging figure, as it swung slightly from side to side.
Richard stared in horror. He had also seen the shadows, but had said nothing of it. He knew all to well, as well as any other, that it was nearly impossible to just fall from the loft above the stage. It was obviously well protected, and the ledges were well barred, so that things like this couldn't, and wouldn't happen. He knew that this was intentional, and that he himself had a reason for its happening.
The audience full of students began to scream and scurry from their seats in a state of pandemonium. Victor jumped onto the stage, he himself in a widespread panic, and tried to calm the crowd.
"Everyone, please! It was an accident! It was only an accident!"
Richard fled from the balcony as quick as he could, when the next thought entered his mind. Kori. She wasn't safe, and he knew it. He ran down the aisles and onto the stage, passed the body, and into the back, searching, scanning the area for the girl. He saw her, running, in a state of fright like the rest.
"Richard! Richard!" she cried, almost sounding like a plea for help.
He didn't notice the tinge of helplessness in her voice, for he threw her into his arms.
"Thank God! You're alright!"
He released her and grabbed her hand, both of them quickly moving away, but Richard leading her.
"Kori, come with me…"
"No," she said pitifully, in a cry of anguish, "no, it is not safe…we have to go to the roof…"
He nodded his head quickly, as Kori darted her eye in a different direction. She had seen another shadow shoot across the wall nearest to her. She shivered and hurried off with Richard, heading for the roof.
WELL, that certainly took awhile! It actually took a lot longer than I thought, but oh well…hope you liked!