HI!
Uuuuuummmm…okay. First, let me explain why I've been gone for like, um…a long time. And, might I say, I have a pretty darn good excuse, if I may say so myself.
To be blunt, I am in summer school. No, I am not stupid, and no, I have not failed any classes that require retaking. I am merely taking two classes during the summer (Health and Communicating, to be exact) so that I don't have to take them during the school year. You see, there are a certain amount of classes that are required for me to graduate, and, well…to be honest, I would much rather NOT waste two hours of my school day doing the classes I could be getting done in the summer. And, also to my benefit, since I am getting Health and Communicating out of the way now, I am free to take my Advanced Drawing and Painting class AND Choir during the school year. YAY FOR ME!
And soooo….since I have classes and go to "school", that means I have homework. Yes, and since our wonderful school is going to be fitting an entire semester's worth of classes into six weeks…well, let's just say that we have a crapload of homework just about every night.
And, ironically, I had two MAJOR projects due on the same day (go figure). For Health I hade to do a 3-5 page report on the Bubonic Plague (sounds fun, don't you think?) and for Communicating I had to recite a 4-6 minute speech on Bonnie and Clyde. Yay for me. So this means that I have had to be doing a LOT of stuff lately, therefore explaining my very extended absence.
My birthday was on July 5 (YAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEE!), so I couldn't even begin to update then because of all the present getting and party-throwing. And speaking of which, for my birthday I got the "Phantom of the Opera" book by Gaston Leroux! I was SO wanting that book! My grandma got the really old-fashioned one for me, so it looks really authentic! I also got the 1943 "Phantom" movie. I still have yet to watch it, but it looks pretty good.
Okay, so now that I am finished ranting and explaining myself to a probably fed up audience of readers who would rather just skip that entire four paragraphs above that just probably wasted your reading time, I can finally continue with my story.
(I just realized how long that sentence was…)
StakeMeSpike04-YOU went to St. Augustine too? That is so weird! I must admit, along with our too many similarities, we also have the same happenings occur to us. That's TOO WEIRD! Dang…what next?
Rose-you go tell this "Cat" person that she is an utter DISGRACE to POTO phans everywhere! No, not really. That's actually funny that she would think Phantom was written by Shakespeare. Did Shakespeare write musicals? Hmm…You haven't seen the play! Dear girl, you SO MUST! It makes the movie all the more better to watch when you have the experience of seeing the Broadway production! And, to answer your question, yes, Madame Giry did read the last note during the play, but the Phantom's voice took over a couple lines through, so it seemed like he was saying it himself anyway. That's why they just made him say the whole thing in the movie.
StarfireFowl-I know, I wish I could go back to Florida any day! And I agree with you, their arguments are always so funny!
GS Dragono-thank you! I honestly hoped I did well with the fitting of characters, your input made me feel more confidant about it.
Laurashrub-HAHA…I can just picture Speedy staring at his stomach…I personally love their arguments and the tension it brings. Sometimes, me and my friend would act out the conflicting Carlotta and Christine part (I was Christine and she was Carlotta). I think it was meant to be funny, since I crack up every time I hear the song.
Wylkin-thank you for being gracious with the wait. I didn't know you had been reading until now, I guess reviews mean more than people think! Glad you like!
Paul P.S. Sullivan-thank you for being understanding about the wait. Thank you so much for thinking so highly of my story! Hope you like the next chapter!
Jaina 12-I'm glad your glad I'm back! YAY! I am so anxious to write the last two songs, it's driving me crazy! I'm gonna put so much action in it, I just can't wait!
RavensAngst-you are a bad reviewer! OO Dear goodness…you are far too hard on yourself…and besides, let's face it, with me (and my incredibly long updates) it is almost physically impossible to have a review that is ever considered "too late". You went to NYC! NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR AT ALL! I hope you had fun, though! I just love the word "confuzzled", it's just so fun!
I would also like to say that if you are incredibly familiar with the movie (and not as much the musical), this chapter may confuse you. The lyrics of songs in this chapter are strictly word-for-word from the musical, and some of you may not be familiar with it. The parts that were in the movie are still there, but they were placed differently. I personally like the musical version better (that's why I wrote it that way).
Okay, okay…I'm done now…
Everyone stood silent, and nobody moved. As the very word "Angel" reached their ears, they all shivered involuntarily, not wanting to know why the name troubled each of them so. After the awkward silence, Richard's face was the only one that seemed to change expression. Instead of a gawking stare into space, he had on his face a look of brightness in his eyes as new thought sprang into place.
He looked to the others, who merely looked back, confused at why he had such a sudden change of mood. A smile widened on his face as a confident voice escaped him.
"We have all been blind,
And yet the answer
Is staring us in the face…
This could be the chance
To ensnare our clever friend…"
Gar's eyes widened in understanding, and in noticing the usual signs of a person with a devious plan, he said excitedly,
"We're listening,
Go on…"
Richard smiled devilishly and continued.
"We shall play his game,
Perform his work,
But remember we hold the ace…
In this moment he turned to the confused Kori who still stood, clutching his arm, but with less force, as to hear what he had to say.
"For if Miss Anders sings,
He is certain to attend…"
Victor soon caught on, and grew excited as well.
"We make certain the doors are barred…"
Gar quickly jumped in, carried along by the idea.
"We make certain the police are there…"
Richard got a cold look that everyone knew as he looked to the two boys. His eyes seemed to turn to ice as he spoke slower and with less enthusiasm but with more venom.
"We make certain they're armed…"
Gar, Victor, and Richard then said at once, some in anger and some in triumph,
"The curtain falls,
His reign will end!"
Raven swept up to the boys in a mixture of anger and plea, saying the first that she had said in awhile. Her face was frustrated but her eyes held worry. She almost screamed at them in her confusing outburst.
"Madness!"
Victor, not one to be pushed around by a girl, returned her outbreak with a calm an collected reply.
"I'm not so sure…"
Gar stood behind his tall friend and looked to Raven, incredibly regretting that he had to disagree with her.
"Not if it works…"
Raven ignored Gar's attempt to peace with her, and continued with her anxiety attack.
"This is madness!"
Gar felt horrible for making Raven feel bad in any way, and attempted to cheer her in any way possible.
"The tide will turn!"
Raven merely shifted her gaze to Gar, and spoke quickly, as if she did not want to address him directly.
"Garfield, believe me,
There is no way of turning the tide!"
Victor stepped in front of Gar and retorted haughtily back to her.
"You stick to ballet!"
Richard moved Victor over, so that Raven could hear him out for once.
"Then help us!"
Her eyes widened, and she began to step backwards slowly.
"Richard, I can't…"
Richard only stepped forward with her.
"Instead of warning us…"
Richard, and now Gar and Victor, said louder, all three stepping closer to her.
"Help us!"
Raven's face did not change its state, but yet again her eyes betrayed her, showing every flustered emotion she would allow to escape. She stepped back further.
"I wish I could…"
Gar and Victor interrogated her further, each tone becoming more intimidating than the next. They said out loud at once,
"Don't make excuses!"
Richard stopped where he was, and studied Raven's expression, as if trying to decode her internal puzzle.
"Or could it be
That you're on his side?"
Raven stopped dead in her tracks, and instead, started moving back forward, this time the angry side slightly overpowering her worried one. Her voice shook the room as her cryptic deadpan became as emotional as anyone had ever heard it.
"Richard, believe me,
I intend no ill…
But Richard, be careful,
We have seen him kill…"
Gar and Victor heeded her words, but not once did they take them into logical consideration. They merely belted out to her together to get their own point across.
"We say he'll fall,
And fall he will!"
Kiona, who had been hushed until now, once again burst out, causing another vicious bicker with her sister.
"She's the one behind this!
Kori!
This is all her doing!"
Steven, one who would always stand in defense of his girlfriend, began to scoff at the younger sibling as well.
"This is the truth!
Kori Anders!"
Richard motioned to Gar and Victor deviously, making a slashing mark with his hand across his throat.
"This is his undoing!"
Gar and Victor slapped their view to lock with Kori's, not caring whether she agreed or not. They now neared her this time, causing the same reaction from her as Raven. The two spoke with excitement but common persuasion.
"If you succeed,
You free us all…
This so-called angel
Has to fall!"
Richard looked away from the boys and glared out the window, where he knew, somehow, they were surely noticed. He squinted his eyes angrily.
"Angel of Music,
Fear my fury…
Here is where you fall!"
Raven saw him. She turned his shoulder away from the agape window with an irritated snap. She seemed more intent to get her point across this time as she stared him down coldly but steadfastedly.
"Hear my warning!
Fear his fury!"
Kiona had not heard Raven and Richard's transmission of shortened words. She just continued to rant and make excuses for why Kori could never ever replace her as the lead role.
"What glory can she hope to gain?
It's clear to all the girl's insane!"
Gar looked to Victor and gestured to the red-haired girl who stood still and silent.
"If Kori sings,
We'll get our man…"
Steven looked Kori up and down disapprovingly, shaking his head between intervals, agreeing with his girlfriend on cue.
"She is crazy!
She is raving!"
Victor caught on to Gar's reasoning. He nodded and looked Kori up and down as well.
"If Kori helps us in this plan…"
Without even realizing it, it hit Victor like a brick. He then suddenly realized what great potential the girl had, musically and physically. He suddenly noticed that it was easy to find a girl like her as pretty, it had just never occurred to him before. This was probably because Richard would throttle anyone who thought even the slightest of impure thoughts of his girlfriend. That point aside, Victor could see that with a girl like Kori, the obvious attributes that made her so appealing to both Richard and the Phantom could be used to their advantage. The ghost was obviously taken with her, and in such a way that she could easily manipulate him if she had it in her.
The only problem with that was that he knew she didn't, couldn't, and wouldn't have it in her. She was too kind, too pure, too innocent to manipulate a man into doing what she wanted. And that was what Victor and Gar needed from her to take down the specter.
Gar, of course, hadn't thought this deeply into the plan, he just figured the Phantom guy thought she was hot and liked her singing. But Victor, being the smart boy he was, was coming up with ways that could allow Kori to be able to do the things expected of her.
Victor's thoughts were interrupted as Richard's angry voice rung out in his ears.
"Say your prayers,
Black Angel of Death!"
Kori, for the first time in a long while began to talk quietly to Richard, hoping and pleading vainly that he would listen.
"Please don't…"
Victor motioned over to Kori again, so that Gar could fully understand.
"If Kori won't,
Then no one can…"
Raven suddenly lost her anger with Richard, knowing at once that her own frustration was not helping his. She got calmer, but more fear edged out of her tone than it should have.
"Richard, I beg you,
Do not do this…"
Gar and Victor were even more invigorated now, beyond the point of sure giddiness, with their boyish restraints, of course. They began to belt out together in unison,
"This will seal his fate!"
Kori's words kept going unheeded. No one would listen. No one could hear. She suddenly became very angry, and tried to yell over them. It was useless. She tried in vain to get in a word in edgewise, and in finding she couldn't, let loose an all out cry of impatience and frustration.
"If you don't stop,
I'll go MAD!"
Her high-pitched shriek left all who heard speechless at wondering what could have made such an angry sound. Kiona herself was shocked at her sister's screaming ability. It must run in the family.
Once the hubbub had been silenced by the shy girl, all turned their surprised faces to the sophomore whose expression had almost entirely changed.
Her face was flushed, showing heavy breathing and improper temper control. Her eyes were now watering from stress and anxiety. Her once angry look now completely morphed into one that was fearful and teary. She ensnared Richard's arm and enclosed her hand painfully into his, he could tell she was nervous.
"Richard, I'm frightened,
Don't make me do this…
Richard, it scares me,
Don't put me through this
Ordeal by fire…
He'll take me, I know…
We'll be parted forever…"
Richard then got lost in her watering eyes. They held so much fright and loss of shelter, he could not look away. The amount of emotion she held only in her eyes could not be described. Richard himself was almost moved to tears at seeing her in this horrified state. He knew she was trapped, and he knew there was almost no way to help her. She bit her lip as a tear slid down her cheek.
"…He won't let me go…"
Richard froze. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He was afraid of what she would say to him next, his own extreme sympathy outweighing any emotion that emitted from him, minus his shock. Between the width of remaining seconds she unlocked her gaze with him, drawing back in her urge to cry.
She curved around Richard again, and dazedly inched into the direction of the window. The grey cloudy sky let only a fracture of the daylight pool into the room but what light that did shine was pale and dim. The bright electricity in the hallway did not clash with the daylight as Kori neared the sill. The dimmingly dead light that pooled into her eyes caused the effect on her face to seem lifeless. She held no spirit in her face, almost all emotion seemed to have drained. When she spoke, she struck pity into the souls of everyone present.
"What I once used to dream,
I now dread…
If he finds me,
It won't ever end…
And he'll always be there,
Singing songs in my head…
She turned around from the window to face them, and all caught full glimpse of her misery. Richard's heart wrenched with pain as she diverted her shimmering eyes to lie on his. Her lip quivered slightly, her voice shaking and cracked.
He'll always be there,
Singing songs in my head…"
Kiona could not believe what her sister was saying. She could not believe it. She would not believe it. Her sister was lying. She had to be. Kiona just stood, mouth agape and eyes wide, until her immediately thought words spilled quietly from her lips as she let out a low whisper that only Raven heard.
"She's mad…"
Richard approached her slowly but comfortingly. He turned her shoulders and stared her down, trying to empty his half-held confidence into her. His eyes softened and he caressed her shoulder as he spoke softly, so almost only Kori could hear.
"You said yourself
He was nothing but a man…
Yet while he lives
He will haunt us
'Till we're dead…"
Kori's eyes watered again, as her nose reddened. She sniffed and gulped down her impending tears as her nervous eyes left Richard's and darted around the area simultaneously. She looked back at him, causing his stomach to lurch again with the sight of her pain. Her voice was almost at a whisper, but everyone heard.
"Twisted in every way,
What answer can I give?
Am I to risk my life
To win the chance to live?
Can I betray the man
Who once inspired my voice?
Do I become his prey?
Do I have any choice?"
Her sorrow and pain quickly turned to panic and fear, as evident fright lit up her face as her eyes widened. She seemed to stare into space again, looking ahead of her but not to anyone in particular. Her entire tone shook with panic as she shook slightly.
"He kills without a thought,
He murders all that's good…
I know I can't refuse,
And yet, I wish I could…"
She clutched her face in her hands, dropping them back down to cover her mouth loosely.
"Oh God, if I agree,
What horrors wait for me
In this the Phantom's Opera…?"
Raven's porcelain face stood stone still, but when Gar took a quick glance at her, he saw her blink suddenly, forcing an otherwise unnoticed tear. Her empathy with others made it even harder for her to watch situations like this, especially when she knew all the reasons and details to a full extent.
Richard cupped Kori's down faced chin into his hand, and brought her eyes to meet him again. He loosened his shoulders and spoke to her softly, but it still reached the ears of the onlookers.
"Kori, Kori…
Don't think
That I don't care,
But every hope,
And every prayer
Rests on you now…"
He then suddenly thrust her into a hug, embracing her shaking soul. The second she was in his arms, her inward stability broke down, and she began to cry bitterly.
Her body shook as tear after flowing tear streamed down her face. She gasped for breath every few seconds, trying to regain her composure, but failing each time. Richard held her tighter as her crying increased. She held it in for so long; and now it all swept out of her like an inevitable storm. She buried her face into his chest, staining his shirt with her tears. She clutched at his shirt weakly, for he was her shelter. In his arms, she could never be harmed. No man could ever rip them apart, Phantom or not. There was only Richard.
As Kori's gasps of breath lessened, and her crying decreased, she merely stood there, poised in his arms. She did not want the hug to end, although she knew it would soon. She knew everyone was still there, still watching, still waiting to see what she would do.
Before she could force herself to think she felt Richard's chest harden. She looked into his face, and there she saw anger. He was not looking at her, but out the same window she had stared out of earlier. She could feel the intensity of his grip on her tighten as he clutched her closer to him, this time in a more protective way. He spoke at a steady pace with steadfast anger and downright malice.
All were surprised at his words, but they all knew why he said it. They all knew who he was addressing. Most were taken aback at how malignant he sounded in the moments that soon followed, his voice echoing off the walls.
"So, it is to be war between us, is it? Well, this time, clever friend, the disaster will be yours…"
Oh my goodness! I finally got to write my FAVORITE Phantom quote in here! YAY! My favorite quote was the "Twisted in every way, what answer can I give...etc." line. Although that was my favorite quote of all time (in Phantom universe), I have other favs too. If you are actually interested in knowing the other favorites then just go to my profile. They'll be there...somewhere.
Sorry I took so long!