Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera or any of its songs, script, etc.

A/N: Back to Andrew's POV again. This chapter happens simultaneously with chapter 8, just a different POV.

Showstopper

Chapter 9 – Phantom vs. Phantom

I ran a hand through my hair, more than annoyed. Now I was just pissed off. Elise was going out of her way to avoid me.

"This ends now," I muttered, glaring after her out the door.

"Indeed."

I spun around. Mr. Marshall was nowhere in sight, and everyone else was straggling out the door. I shrugged to myself and headed back to the stage. I ran into the wings to grab my bag and heard Marshall turn off the lights. I didn't have a problem with the darkness, and besides, the emergency lights were always on.

But as I walked behind the backdrops, I realized the place was pitch black. No emergency lights were on.

"Can someone hit the lights real quick?" I called, coming out to center stage. There was a slight thud behind me. I turned and found myself face-to-face with the real Phantom of the Opera once again. I took a few steps back – he was a little far into my space bubble – but he kept coming.

"What do you want?" I said, putting on my acting face again. He smirked as I balanced carefully on my heels on the edge of the orchestra pit.

"I merely wish to discuss your position," he growled.

"What, the fact that I'm hanging over the edge of the pit about to fall and break an arm?"

"Fool," he hissed, and his tone turned ugly. "Do you even realize what you are dealing with?"

I snorted. "I think I should ask you the same thing."

He sneered. "I'm dealing with a pathetic teenager with a reputation for womanizing because he enjoys the pleasure of it all."

I glared at him. "That's not true. Girls get boring, what can I say? It's not my fault."

He threw back his head and laughed. Chillingly.

"You would have fit in so well at the shah's court in Persia. A different woman every night. But that's not why I'm here."

I folded my arms. "Well, I'm not waiting around all night."

"Oh, but I think you are."

As fast as lightning, he flicked a thin rope noose over my head.

"I'm not interested in your magic tricks," I said, "We did this last time, remember? It's old."

He smirked. "But you have never experienced this. Your life is literally on the line."

And he threw the rope end up into the catwalks. It wrapped securely around the railing and fell back down in front of my face.

Now I was scared. He could really kill me if he wanted to.

"Back to business," he growled. "If you ever harm Elise Garnierai again, I will personally make sure that you rue the day you were ever born."

I tugged futilely at the rope. "I was trying to set her straight because she's never been in a musical before and in order to focus on her part – which is a lead – she needs to focus on who the other lead…s are. In this case, me."

I couldn't help smiling a little as I finished the sentence, but he only glowered all the more.

"Yes, and you are always the lead. I see where you wish to take this entire production: you are simply using it to get her for yourself." He pulled on the rope a little, smirking at my obvious discomfort. "Oui?"

I only glared at him.

"I assume that means my deduction was accurate. Perhaps this will teach you a lesson, however…"

"NO!"

But he didn't listen. Instead, he began to slowly raise me into the air. I could feel the rope tightening even more and became aware that I was beginning to gasp.

"Wait… don't…"

He stepped back. "I prefer to watch this drag out as slowly as possible."

I pulled on the rope over my head, trying to give myself more breathing room.

A door slammed somewhere in the back of the theater, and when I looked up he was gone.

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A/N: ooo, a life-and-death morbid scene, lol. This one was a bit difficult because I wasn't sure how to set up for next ch. and I was a little uncertain about how dramatic I made it. Let me know what you think! Thanx!