Chapter 8: All I Ask of You
"Hurry monsieur, She'll see, she'll see!" Christine and James raced through the Hungarian Opera House. Up flights of stairs, across hallways, and through dozens of rooms they raced. James was utterly confused but Christine seemed to know where she was going. So he followed.
Ja: "Why have you brought me here?
Ch: "We can't go back there!
Ja: We must return!
Ch: He'll kill you!
His eyes will find us there!
Ja: Madame, don't say that.
Ch: Those eyes that burn!
Ja: Don't even think it.
Ch: And if he has to kill a thousand men
Ja: Forget this waking nightmare!
Ch: The Phantom of the Opera will kill and kill again!
Ja: This phantom is a fable, believe me!
Ja: There is no Phantom of the Opera!
Ch: My God, who is this man who hunts to kill?
Ja: My god who is this man this mask of death?
Ch: I can't escape from him I never will!
Ja: Whose is this voice you hear with every breath?
B: And in this labyrinth,
where night is blind
the Phantom of the Opera is here/there
inside my/your mind."
Ja: There is no Phantom of the Opera."
They had reached the roof of the opera house. When James said this, Christine turned on a dime, looking angry. Although she was shorter than him, she was much more intimidating at that moment.
Ch: "Child, I've been there
to their world of unending night!
To a world with the daylight dissolves into darkness,
darkness.
Child, I've seen him!
I will never forget that sight!
I will never escape from that face
So distorted, deformed, it was hardly a face
in that darkness,
darkness."
She paused here, not so angry now. She turned away from him and looked off the roof towards the party far below. But she was not looking at the twirling dresses and merriment, she was looking far beyond with her soul. She was staring deep into the past and present at the face which would haunt her forever.
Ch: "But his voice filled my spirit
with a strange, sweet sound.
In the night there is music in my mind.
And through music my soul began to soar!
And I heard as I'd never heard before…
Ja: "What you heard was a dream and nothing more.
Ch: Yet in their eyes
all the sadness of the world.
Those pleading eyes,
that both threaten and adore."
Ja: Madame, Madame."
"I can see you still do not believe me." Christine stated rather acidly. "Is the fact that she is dancing with HIM not proof enough?"
"He's probably just a man who came to the party. Have you seen how many people are drunk down there?"
Christine was extremely offended by this remark. "My daughter would not be enjoying herself that much with a drunk man! She may be his child but she was raised a lady!"
While they were arguing, they were not aware of a shadow that moved and then was still. Erika was more observant than they had given her credit for. She had just arrived on the roof and was now hiding behind a statue near them. She smiled silently when she heard her mother defend her. Dancing with a drunk! Justine had poisoned his mind for sure.
"Fine! If you refuse to listen to reason, I will not try!" Christine was utterly fed up with his stubbornness, and turned to leave. "He can kill you for all I care!" she yelled over her shoulder. She disappeared down the stairs.
Erika was about to reveal herself when someone appeared where her mother had just gone. It was Justine. She could not reveal herself with THAT here. She stayed hidden and waited.
"That woman is mad." Justine sneered. "She almost knocked me down!"
"Mm."
Justine glared at him. "What are you thinking about?"
Not you, that's for sure! Thought Erika.
"Sorry. This whole darkness talk really has me spooked."
"Oh, James. It's all a bunch of talk!" but he wasn't paying attention.
Ju: No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you
my words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here with you, beside you,
to guard you and to guide you."
Ja: "Say you love me every waking moment,
turn my head with talk of summertime.
Say you need me with you now and always.
Promise me that all you say is true
that's all I ask of you.
Ju: Let me be your shelter
let me be your light
You're safe, No one will find you
your fears are far behind you.
Ja: All I want is freedom,
and no more talk of night
and you, always beside me, to hold me and to love me.
Ju: Then say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
let me lead you from your solitude.
Say you need me with you here, beside you.
anywhere you go, let me go too
James, that's all I ask of you.
Ja: Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime.
say the word and I will follow you.
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning.
Say you love me.
Ju: You know I do.
B: Love me - that's all I ask of you!"
They kissed, and Erika's heart broke. She loved him, and this sniveling girl believed that she could just come in and take him for herself! No!
B: "Anywhere you go let me go too
Love me - that's all I ask of you."
James and Justine started back down the stairs. Erika came out from her hiding place, and fell on her knees. She bent her head over her hands.
E: "I gave my mind blindly,
Loved you with my heart
And now how you've repaid me
Denied me and betrayed me.
She was bound to love you
When she heard you speak.
Oh, James."
From inside the opera house she heard echoes of James and Justine.
Ju&Ja: "Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
say the word and I will follow you.
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning."
Erika's sorrow froze and hardened, twisting into anger and rage. She stood and all but leaped onto the nearest statue, leaning into the wind.
E: "You will curse the day you did not do
All I asked of you!"