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

A/N: Onward!

Showstopper

Marisa

Chapter 16 – The Phantom's Hold

"Elise? Where are you?"

I did a quick scan of the stage; she wasn't there.

Same thing with the auditorium – nothing.

"Doggone it!" Marshall yelled. "If it isn't the techies, it's the stars! What is going on?"

The cast broke out in murmurs.

"Where'd she go?"

"What's going on with the lights?"

"Is it some sort of fake magic act?"

"Wait a second, where's Andrew?"

I did a double take from my corner of the stage. He wasn't anywhere around either. Granted, he was supposed to be out in the audience, but…

I sighed, rolling my eyes as the chorus erupted in chatter. Here we go again…

Someone grabbed my arm and yanked me behind the curtains. I was too surprised to scream, but it was better that no one noticed.

I turned to face the 'someone' and found myself glaring at Andrew. "What the heck is going on? Where's Elise?"

He stared at me. "I thought you might know."

"How would I know? I thought it was you."

His eyes got big. "Ohhh snap. This isn't good."

I looked at him again. "Do you know something I don't?"

He didn't meet my eyes, choosing to watch the floor instead.

"You're not gonna believe me. Never mind."

"No—" I grabbed his arm to stop him leaving. "What is it?"

"It's the Phantom. The real one."

I would have laughed, but he actually looked fearful.

"You're really serious?"

"Yeah."

"What are we gonna do? We can't do the show without her."

He eyed me.

"We have to find her somehow."

"Where in the heck is Marisa?" Marshall's voice yelled.

"Let's get this show on the road! I want to get through this tonight!"
I gave Andrew a last look, then ran back onstage. To my utmost surprise, Elise stood in our corner, waiting for me.

"Sorry Mr. Marshall," I called.

He shook his head at me. "Let's just keep going. Phil, start with –" he flicked through his copy of the script – "Ladies and gentlemen, Mme. Giry, thank you…'."

I tuned out most of what Phil was saying and edged closer to Elise.

"What's going on?" I hissed out of the corner of my mouth. "Where were you?"

She bit her lip, and I knew she was trying to figure out how to say it.

"Andrew was right. He is real."

She narrowed her eyes at the ground; she hated saying he of all people was right about something.

I wasn't sure what to do. My gut feeling had been telling me he was real this entire time, but the rest of me finally believed it.

"Look… straight up," she whispered, almost inaudibly.

I didn't tip my head straight back – that would have gotten me yelled at for not paying attention. Instead, I raised my eyes as far as they could see. Sure enough, there was a gleam of white that seemed to be hanging in midair.

I snapped back to what was happening onstage when Maureen screeched, "SI! THEESE THEENGS DO 'APPEN! AND UNTIL YOU STOPPA THEESE THEENGS FROM 'APPENING, THEES THEENG DOES NOT 'APPEN!"

I barely caught myself before I burst out laughing. Who said she couldn't be diva-ish without singing?

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A/N: oooooh my gosh, I'm sorry guys! Thanks for the reviews in the meantime, but school has taken hold and I have kinda been running low on ideas for this fic… just cuz it's going through the script and all that stuff. And I've been involved in a Harry Potter RPG recently – one of my friends roped me into it. I hate to leave you all hanging like this! I'll get back on it ASAP, and if you have any plot ideas that you want added, let me know!

Phantomstar07

Ash