Chapter 9

"Madame Giry, slow down!" Ashley said trying to keep up with the older woman. "Where are you taking me?"

"Ashley, please. There is very little time and you are in terrible danger." She said.

"But you haven't told me why! What the hell is going on?" She pulled her hand from the woman's grasp. "Please, Madame Giry. Tell me what just happened. What is going on?" Mme Giry sighed then took her hand once more.

"I will explain everything in a moment." She turned towards a door then pushed Ashley inside before entering herself and locking it behind her. Ashley recognized this room. It was the room that she would have brought Raoul into if he fell into the mirror chamber and start talking about the Phantom's past. She started rummaging through some boxes obviously looking for something. Ashley sat down in one of the chairs and just looked around for a moment until Mme Giry came over to her carrying what appeared to be a stack of newspaper articles.

"What are these for?" She asked.

"I want you to read some of them." Ashley looked down at the one on the top of the pile and began carefully reading it.

"The fifteenth annual Across the Universe musical competition began making preparations for the arrival of their up and coming young competitors. The competition will once again be held at the famous Opera Populaire as it has since the beginning…."

Ashley reread some of the passages and was finding it hard to comprehend what it was saying. She placed the article aside then started on a new one.

"Week 2 of the competition has passed and a few more students have been sent packing. But the judges seem to have their eyes on one particular singer named Ashley White. For it seems that for an amateur singer, with each passing show, her voice grows stronger and much more toned than when she began which gets them wondering: 'Is she constantly disciplining herself or is someone teaching her behind everyone's back?'…"

Ashley decided to put this one aside as well and took one from closer to the bottom.

"Turmoil ensues at the Opera Populaire as, when finals have been completed and our champion won, said champion, Ashley White, disappeared after a mysterious smokescreen filled the theater. And amongst the chaos, snatched away by whom everyone believes to be the infamous Opera Ghost himself. At this very moment, police are working hard to find a way into the Phantom's lair to retrieve the missing girl…"

"I… I don't believe this." She said lowering the pile in her hands.

"You had best believe it." Mme Giry warned. "It all really happened. The girl was indeed found by the police, but in an attempt to keep her away from them, the Phantom tried escaping with her. He only succeeded in getting them caught. She pleaded with them to let him go but they would hear nothing of it. Before they were to put him to death, she jumped in front of him and took that bullet that was meant for him. She died instantly." Ashley remembered when she had collapsed on the roof some months ago. She had seen a bunch of images flashing before her eyes, one of them was she lying in a pool of her blood.

"This can't be real." She whispered.

"I just told you-"

"That was only a dream." She said. Madame Giry gave her a questioning look.

"What did you say?" Ashley looked at the older woman and knew she wanted her to elaborate.

"I know most of this. The competition, the smokescreen, my singing improving because of him. He was the reason that I had gotten so far and he was the reason I wanted to stay." Mme Giry's eyebrows shot up after hearing her words.

"Ashley, you mean to tell me that you are the one that Erik was mentioning?" Ashley looked over at her.

"So his name is Erik." She said. "I didn't know if he did have that name in this world." She laughed a little. "But to answer your question, I'm not sure. But I do remember the arrival; my first night at the opera house was when I first met Erik. I had fallen down a trap door whose hinges were obviously old and worn out making it too weak to support someone like me. I fell down much farther an anticipated and wound up down in his home. I heard him playing the piano off in the distance and I followed the music to where he was and… as I listened, I started humming… then he found me and…" Ashley began letting her mind wonder back to that time completely forgetting everything that had transpired. "…he promised me… he would never let me go." Mme Giry could not believe what she was hearing. This girl was able to explain, in detail no less, what had happened.

"Ashley, you are the girl he was speaking of." Ashley looked back to the older woman with shock all over her face.

"But… that can't be. That was only a dream!" She repeated. "I had that dream when I was-"

"Fourteen years old?" She finished. Ashley was beyond words now. Everything was starting to rush back to her.

"If it wasn't a dream… how did I end up back in my bed the next morning?" She wondered.

"Not even I can answer that dear." She admitted.

"He mentioned that I died. But I can't remember seeing myself dying at the time." She pressed her hands to her head trying to remember if there was something she had forgotten.

"Perhaps if you don't remember it now, you will eventually." Mme Giry suggested. But then Ashley recalled the roof.

"Madame, remember how a few months ago I was found on the roof?" She nodded. "I don't think it was from exhaustion like the doctor said. Before I fainted, I saw these images of myself and Erik running from the police. But we were caught. Right before Erik could be killed; I jumped in the way and was shot instead. I saw myself lying in my own blood with Erik shouting my name." Ashley began feeling emotionally drained. All that she believed was just her imagination was actually a faint memory.

"But you have returned." Mme Girl moved closer to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Erik would be overjoyed to know you're alive."

"But he hates me right now." She reminded her. "Or do I need to bring you back to what happened only ten minutes ago." Ashley got up from her seat. "I should get to bed. This really left me tired."

"Just be careful." She turned back to the ballet mistress and nodded before unlocking the door and quietly exiting the room.

While Ashley was lying in bed that night, she thought back to what Madame Giry had just told her. Everything from her dream actually happened. She and Erik had once been in love and wanted to be together. Everything was happening so quickly; she couldn't keep up with what was going on.

"Erik… how can I make you see?"

The next morning, everyone was in the manager's office looking over the Phantom's opera and reading more demands from said Opera Ghost. Christine, Raoul and Ashley all entered to find the managers trying to calm a fuming Carlotta and Piangi when all eyes turned to Christine.

"Ah, Miss Daae, it would appear that you have secured the largest role in Don Juan." Andre said to the young brunette.

"Christine Daae, she doesn't have the voice." Carlotta said.

"So, you've agreed to perform his opera?" Ashley questioned.

"We don't seem to have a choice in the matter." Firmin said. "If we want to keep the Phantom from killing anyone else, we'll have to abide by his word."

A wise choice indeed. Ashley thought. But for Christine…

"I don't want any part in this." Christine said frantically. "I can't sing it." Ashley turned to her friend.

"Christine, Christine," Raoul said soothingly, "you don't have to. They can't make you." Ashley placed a hand on Christine's shoulder.

"I understand how frightened you must be Christine. This man has cause a lot of trouble for us. But, at the same time, he's the man who taught you to sing and he's never done anything to hurt you personally." Christine was surprised at Ashley's words. She didn't expect her to say such things after what he said to her the previous night. "I wouldn't make you do this either." She smiled at her friend and hugged her.

"Wait, I have an idea." All heads snapped towards Raoul. "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."

"We're listening!" Andre said.

"Go on!" Firmin shouted.

"We shall play his game; perform his work, but remember we hold the ace!" Raoul turned towards Christine with determination in his eyes. "For if Miss Daae sings, he is certain to attend!"

"We make certain the doors are barred!" Andre said.

"We make certain our men are there!" Firmin added.

"We make certain they're armed!" Raoul said.

"The curtain falls. His reign will end!" The three of them said with a new determination. Ashley was afraid this would happen.

"You're all mad!" She shouted and they all looked at her. "Do you honestly believe the Phantom is stupid enough to let you use his opera as a means of justice against him?"

"It's the only chance we have!" Raoul said.

"You're going to put Christine's life on the line for this!" She retorted and started getting in his face. "If you're fine with using her than that's your problem. But you're just making his up and not even consulting her first!"

"Miss White, you have to understand. This monster has to be caught. And this is the perfect opportunity. The tide will turn!"

"Monsieur, believe me. There is no way of turning the tide." Madame Giry said entering the room.

"Raoul, please don't make me do this." Christine said nearly falling over from the stress of the situation. "It scares me. Don't put me through this ordeal by fire. He'll take me, I know. We'll be parted forever he won't let me go." Andre and Firmin brought a chair over to Christine so she could sit and Raoul and Ashley were right at her side. "What I once use 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. He'll always be there singing songs in my head…"

You said yourself he was nothing but a man." Raoul began and when Christine made to protest he raised his hand to silence her. Ashley just stood up and walked towards the window. "Yet while he lives he will haunt us till we're dead." Ashley sighed as she looked out at the Parisian streets. She never expected to have to deal with this before and now she was at a complete loss.

"Twisted every way, what answer should she give?" She started saying. "Is she to risk her life to win the chance to live?" She began walking back towards them as she continued. "Can she betray the man who once inspired her voice? Must she become his prey? Will she have any choice? He kills without a thought, he murders all that's good. I know she can't refuse, and yet I wish she could." She stood back next to her friend and stared back at Raoul. "You see if she agrees the horrors facing thee, in this the Phantom's opera…" She hoped Raoul would understand what she was saying. She didn't want to see Christine being used against Erik because it would not only lead to more problems, but she knew there was no hope for the two of them now due to their encounter at the Masque.

"Miss White, don't think that I don't care. But all our hopes and prayers are with Christine now." Ashley just shook her head and rose from her spot once again, only this time making for the door. She left the office and practically stormed down the hallway. She really couldn't stand Raoul at all. The opera would go on as planned and Christine would be the bait. She had hoped that she could figure some way to prevent this from being, but she hoped a little too much.

Erik paced his lair as he thought back to the girl he saw at the ball the previous night. She looked just like her and even said her name was Ashley. But he couldn't bring himself to believe that it was her. He saw her die! He held her lifeless form in his arms! There was no way she could be alive. But then, who was this girl?

Ever since that time six years ago, no more people from the other world dared to venture here. And since then, he continued to mourn the loss of his almost angel of music. But when he found Christine, he thought there may be a new hope for him. But she turned her back on him in the end.

"Ashley, why do you haunt me so?" He said as if someone could hear him. "Was it because I could not keep my promise?" His thoughts returned to the girl from before. He needed to figure out who she truly was. And there was only one way to do so. He reached for his cloak and made his way to the boat.

It was about midnight now but Ashley couldn't get herself to sleep. Her mind was still going back to what Madame Giry had told her the night before. If all that she said was true, then how could she convince Erik that she was who she says she is? She threw the covers from her body and made her way over to her chest where she stored her clothes and pulled out a black shirt and a pair of trousers. She still couldn't get comfortable with wearing dresses plus these clothes were much easier to move around in. She changed from her night clothes to her chosen set then pulled out her cloak from the chest and a small pouch that held a bit of money, just in case. She needed to clear her head. And what better way to get your thoughts straight than a walk. She slipped on her shoes, the ones she still had from her world, and left the safety of the dormitory.

As she left the opera house she never really thought much about where she would go. All she knew was that she needed to get her mind straight. So, she decided to just let her feet take her where they will.

"In sleep he sang to me… In dreams he came…" She whispered, "…That voice which called to me… and spoke my name…"

By the time Erik had reached to mirror in the dormitory, Ashley's bed was empty and her shoes were missing. He began searching the opera house for her from the roof to the cellars, even thought she was smart enough to avoid them. There was no sign of her anywhere in the house which was odd because she never left the opera house, ever. He returned to her room and noticed her cloak disappeared as well.

So, she did leave. He thought and made his way towards the stables.

Ashley wasn't sure how long she had walked for, but after what seemed like an eternity, the sky was beginning to brighten even while covered by clouds.

"Did I seriously walk all night?" She asked herself. She looked around trying to figure out where she ended up and came face-to-face with a large pair of gates. Her gaze wandered to beyond the iron bars and saw tombstones and statues of angels everywhere.

A cemetery? She wondered. Why did I come here? She opened the gates and stepped inside. The ground was covered in mist and snow, almost reminding her of the cemetery in the 2004 film. She pulled her cloak tighter around her body feeling slightly nervous being there, not sure what to expect. Then her mind wandered back to the day before. What was she going to do about Don Juan? Would she have to go along with this plan and watch how it lays out? Would she try to stop what's meant to happen?

"I just hope my choice is right." She said sadly and began to sing to herself.

I sense there's something in the wind
That feels like tragedy's at hand
And though I'd like to stand by him
Can't shake this feeling that I have

She leaned herself against a tree and began looking out upon the empty place as her mind continued its unrelenting battle in her heart.

The worst is just around the bend
And does he notice my feelings for him?

Her feelings for him? He doesn't even know she was the one he met all those years ago. There's no way he could see her feelings for him.

And will he see how much he means to me?
I think it's not to be

Yes, it definitely didn't seem like they were meant to be after all. She felt her heart break at this thought and regretted having such strong feelings towards Erik. Besides, how could she compete with Christine?

What will become of my dear friend?
Where will his actions lead us then?
Although I'd like to join the crowd
In their enthusiastic cloud

She wasn't really too fond of the idea of joining in on the enthusiasm everyone else seemed to share. At the moment, she just wished that her life could return to normal. Or, at least, as normal as it was before she came here.

Try as I may, it doesn't last
And will we ever end up together?

End up together… it would take a miracle for them to be together.

And will we ever end up together?
No, I think not, it's never to become
For I am not the one

Not the one… A stray tear made its way down her face at this thought. She knew there was no hope for them now. If he hated her, that was that. After a while, she found herself standing before the grave of Gustave Daae. Christine's father's grave. Why did I come here?

The song used in this chapter was Sally's Song from The Nightmare Before Christmas and reference to Notes/Twisted Every Way from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

So now you can see the changes I've made. I added a different graveyard scene where Ashley wanders to the cemetery. Plus, when I heard Amy Lee's version of Sally's Song, I just kept thinking about if Ashley was walking through the cemetery singing this song, thinking about what is to come and about Erik. Not bad, right? Plus we don't jump straight to the realization.