Disclaimer: I don't own any of this for the 11th time
~ Clare's P.o.v ~
I was freaking out inside my head. Why is there only a light on Jake and me? This can't be good!
I was looking around confused until I saw Jake get on one knee in front of me and grabbed my hand
"My dear Clare, in one hand I have collided myself with you. In the other I have something I really hope you accept." He then pulled out a diamond ring. Oh no. " Clare Diane Edwards. Will you do the pleasure of marrying me?" everybody cheered and I stood there dumbfounded. This wasn't part of the plan. In fact this just screwed the whole plan up. I started crying which made everybody chewer even louder, but I wasn't cheering from happiness like everybody thought. I was cheering of sadness. If I say no Jake will burst and tell everybody about Eli, but if I say yes Jake will stay quiet but Eli will be devastated. I don't know what to do.
"I- of – errr – umm – Jak-"
"No she won't." I know that voice. I would know that voice anywhere. It's smooth and erotic as always. Even when it's angry and defending me it's just so sexy. My Eli was standing up a few steps away from Jake and I.
"ahhh the Phantom of the Opera. We meet again. Now what did you just say?" Jake said. I knew he would burst any second now. And I know Eli would push Jake too far. It was just the Eli thing to do. And I had no way to stop him.
"Well I just answered for her. First of all she doesn't love you so why would she marry you? Second of all she's mine and third of all your little scheme here is getting in the way of my plans for tonight." Eli said as he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me behind him when he could sense Jake was getting angry. Everybody gasped at what Eli had just said.
"In case you haven't noticed Phantom. Clare has been mine for quite some time now. I mean you gave her up so easily. She needs a real man by her side. Someone who would fight for her until the day he dies. Now you didn't do that so you clearly don't deserve her"
"I love her" Eli said
"So do I " Jake said
Crap.
"Tell him he doesn't deserve you Clare. Tell him your mine now and that's what you want darling. I mean that's what you've been telling me for months now."
I looked Jake in the eyes and I could tell he saw my answer to him. I loved Eli and I always will. Nothing or no one can ever stop that. I don't blame Eli for not fighting for me. He didn't know any better. He hasn't been out in public for many years. Even if he has his mask on.
Just then the police busted the doors open to the theatre. And Eli took my hand and ran as fast as he could to the flight of stairs we didn't stop until we found a place to hide since the police officers were following us. Jake followed them up to the top. They eventually gave up and all went back down to the first floor. So Eli and I quietly ran up to the roof top.
" oh my god I missed you so much Eli." I said as I put my arms around his neck.
" I missed you too. I almost killed myself because I couldn't be with you. But I couldn't do that to you." He said
"I'm glad you didn't. I couldn't live in a world that didn't have you."
He then pulled out a leather bag.
"I planned on presenting this tonight to everybody in the theatre, but my plans kind of got ruined. So I need you to give this to the owners for me."
"What is it Eli?"
"You will find out soon enough. Just promise me you won't open it until you're surrounded by everybody"
I looked him in the eyes for a long moment and then nodded yes.
"okay"
"I don't know how to say this, but I need to thank you. You finally pushed me to come out of my cave. Something I haven't been able to do for a long while. I finally got the courage to come out and fight for you. I won't be here for much longer, but I wanted to make my last night special, so I've made a deal with the owners. That's what's in the bag. You'll find out the details with everybody else." He said
What does he mean he won't be here much longer?
"what do you mean you won't be here much longer Eli?" I started to get tears of anger. He's not going to do what I think he is, Is he?
"Clare" he said sympathetically.
"No, Eli I don't want your sympathy. Gosh Eli after everything we've been through. I even lied to Jake and told him I loved him for you, just so he wouldn't burst and tell your secret." I said and I started to walk away from him. I left him there on the verge of tears.
~ Jake's P.o.v ~
She was lying to me this whole time? She really did love him. His name was Eli. It sounded familiar. I can't believe she lied to me the whole time for HIM. I knew they would've gone up here sooner or later. She forgot to lock her dressing room door and left his note right on top of her dresser. I started crying. I thought she actually fell in love with me. I was about to walk over to the door when I realized her precious Phantom was still up here.
I quickly got my sword out and pointed it to the back of his head.
"How dare you steal her away from me. We were perfectly fine and then you had to show up tonight. I should kill you right now" I said and then I slashed his arm. Blood started falling quickly.
He then pulled out his sword and we started to fight
"She would've never been with you if she didn't love me so much."
"Well from the looks of it she just walked away from you. So much for love Eli."
He stopped instantly and his eyes went black.
"What did you just call me?"
"Eli. That is your name isn't it?" I asked him
~ Eli's P.o.v ~
How did he know? Has he known this whole time? My life is officially over. The little bit of hope I had that I would survive after my debut with Clare is gone. GONE. He is going to notify the authorities immediately, because that's what he does.
"Yeah my name is Eli. Obviously you know about my past. And now you're going to go run to the authorities and get me killed am I right?"
"What are you talking abo- wait a minute Eli – Eli – Elijah Goldsworthy? You're the little boy Randall Edwards saved the day you killed Julia Lockhart. You're a murderer. Does Clare know? Huh? Does she? Does she know you killed your little 'girlfriend' Julia?"
"I didn't kill her. I loved her why would I kill her? Her father killed her and I watched her die. That's the only mistake I made that die. Is I let her die, but I would've never met Clare if I saved her that day."
~ Jake's P.o.v ~
I can't believe it, but I believe him. But just because I believe him doesn't mean the authorities will.
"Even if I believed you the authorities won't. Now I know Clare won't give up on you, so I'm going to have to have every part of this theatre watched by guards to make sure you don't go anywhere near her." I said then I ran into the theatre and called the authorities. I told them I need every part of the theatre watched to make sure the Phantom doesn't harm anybody, especially Clare Edwards. There is no way he is going to get near Clare.
~Cindy's P.o.v ~
Well she got him to come out once. Now I need her to do it again so I can talk to him about his mother who just contacted me yesterday saying she wants to know about her son Eli. She found out he was still alive. I don't know how, but she did. Now it was Elijah's turn to find out his mother is alive. I was deep in thought on how to tell him when Clare came into my office and said to call everybody over to the stage immediately. She had a message from Eli.
I quickly gathered everyone on the stage as Clareabelle handed over a leather bag with a skull imprinted on the front.
I pulled out his letter and read it aloud.
Dear 'owners' of my theatre. Attached with this letter is a list of songs and the notes to all of them. This will be the last thing I do in this theatre, so I want it to be extremely special or else! Now there must be the best dancers on stage in the background, the best props must be on stage; I want real fire! , and Clare Edwards must share the lead role with myself. I will work with Clare personally on the songs to make sure we will both be ready. And Madame Cindy will be in charge of everything else. Show day is June 16th at 7 pm sharp. If anyone gets in my way of this show they will pay the price. I expect the best of the best from this. By the way rent is due. – written personally from the phantom.
And then I pulled out the music and song list he put together.
Everybody stood there shocked including Clare and I. We just looked each other in the eye for a long moment until the owners spoke up.
"I like the idea he has, but there is no way he is going to be a lead in one of our productions. Clare on the other hand is perfect for what we have in mind with this Phantoms' idea." Said Lorenzo.(a/n he's one of the owners)
"You clearly don't know who you are dealing with. The Phantom of the Opera is not one to fool around with. You must be an absolute fool to deny his demands." I said.
"The Phantom isn't going to stop until he gets what he wants, believe me. There are no boundaries when it comes to him getting his way. Let him have it before he does something we all will regret. Sometimes it frightens me that he won't stop until he gets what he wants." Clare said.
"Well than it's a good thing I have authorities covering every inch of this theatre to make sure he comes nowhere in sight." Jake said.
Suddenly a dead body was thrown from the ceiling.
"I strongly suggest you listen to Madame and Clare. I will not stop until I get what I want. And I have no boundaries either. Beware more of this is to come if you don't obey." Eli said from the balcony above and then he went back through his door.
Jake went to go see who the dead body was. It was the chief of authorities. Clare and I looked at each other once more now frightened at what he would do next. This could not be good. Not at all.
~ Clare's P.o.v ~
How could he do this? This isn't my Eli. This isn't the man I fell in love with. And this is most certainly not the man my father assigned to watch over me. My Eli was gone. And I was afraid I wouldn't get him back.
I decided I needed to confront him, so I went into my dressing room, locked the door and went to the open mirror.
I walked through got on his black horse until I was face to face with him.
"Ahhhh the gorgeous Clare what can I do for you this fine evening?" he said. But he didn't talk the way he usually does. Soft. Smooth. Erotic. he was talking like a mad man. Like a man who was pure evil.
"Cut the crap Eli. What the hell was that back there? Have you gone mad? And what's this 'oh Clare' shit? What have you done with the Eli I love? What have you done with MY Eli?" I asked crying hysterically now. I looked him in the eyes that were now black. He looked…..lost? confused?
This was for sure not my Eli. This person just frightened me to death. I started to back away from him not sure of what he might do next. And suddenly his eyes went back to the emerald green I adored. But something was still off about him.
Okay review and tell me what you one is VERY dramatic to say the least! And what has happened to our precious Eli? Wait to find out. ;) 3