Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch. The idea of Phantom of the Opera belongs to its rightful owner(s).

Claimer: I own all of my original characters.

Well it certainly took me a while to get this chapter typed, but I'm pretty pleased with it. I wanted to add more emotion into it, throw some more tension in, and add another one of the songs I had left out. So I think I pulled it off pretty well but please read and review and let me know if you agree or disagree. And I think I forgot to mention this earlier, like chapter 1 early, but this actually takes place after Bentley is in his wheelchair and Murray leaves but before he comes back and the Sly 3 story plays out. So that's why Murray's not in this story, or the last, and for some reason not many of the ones I right. Personally Murray is actually my favorite character but it's so hard to write for him! But, please leave me and questions, comments, thoughts, suggestions, etc.

Chapter 6: A Secret Confession

I slowly drew in my breaths as the pushing on my throat got tighter and tighter. The Phantom said nothing as he kept pressing my cane against my throat and I still tried to push the Phantom away. I couldn't talk and there was no one on the streets to see the two of us. Even if it was the late afternoon, the shadows concealed the cloaked man from the outside world. I turned my head to the side so I could hopefully breathe a little better but I still felt him press harder. This was one of the few times where I regretted that my cane was solid metal, wood, and heavy. I finally felt him stop pressing against my neck but his hold was still tight. We were standing in absolute silent which was broken suddenly by the Phantom.

"I told you to stay away from Ramona, but I see that you still refuse." I opened my mouth to reply but he kept talking, "She's been safe and secure at my home and you're trying to take her away from me. I heard you talking to her sister and you will not have her. And I will tell you right now, Ramona is mine, she belongs to me and there is nothing you can do about it. You already have one strike against you, Cooper and you're heading for another one. Either you say or no nothing until after Saturday or not only will you pay the price," he paused and his voice got deeper and more venomous, "but she will too." I that General Tsao was horrible when it came to finding a bride, but this guy ten times worse.

"You can't make her love you! Your control over her won't last forever! She'll come to her senses sooner than you think and she'll fight back! You don't know her like I do!" he smirked.

"I know her well enough to know that once she says her vows she'll never even look at you again. She already thinks you're stalking her; you can't possibly changer her mind now. Everything you try only confirms what she believes and drives her closer to me." I gripped my crane even tighter and growled.

"What did you tell her?" I roared. I tried to push back again but the raccoon was stronger than I'd thought and pushed me back again.

"I've told her enough. Right now, she loves me more than I could have ever hoped and she hates you more than you could ever imagine." I knew he was trying to eat away at my jealousy trying to get me to snap and it was unfortunately working.

"But she doesn't really love you! There is no way her 'feelings' will last forever!" I shouted back. He was really starting to eat away at my nerves and my temper and there was no way I could keep up a shouting match much longer.

"You know absolutely nothing about our love," he retorted, "In fact, I'm the only one who truly loves her for who she is! So why are you trying so hard, Cooper? What's your motive?"

"That is a lie!" I shouted slowly, making sure every word was forceful and venomous.

"Really, then who else loves her, Cooper?" he sneered and smirked again.

"I do! Alright, I'm the one who loves her, not you!" he said nothing else but simply chuckled to himself and gave one final yet forceful push to my cane before disappearing into the darkness.

I picked up my cane from the concrete ground before making my way to her apartment. After that incident, I wasn't going to give up on getting her back and sending that psychotic mask wearer behind bars or somewhere else that he deserved to go. I was still fired up and wasted no time climbing up to her apartment door and picking the lock. After I was successfully inside, everything was pristine, like it normally was, that is until I got to her bedroom. Everything was a mess and a fight had obviously taken place here. The source of the mess seemed to be coming from her closet and I had a feeling of what had happened. I stepped inside the small closet and my fears were realized. The sealed off passageway that lead to the Phantom's sewer home had been torn down and I now knew how he had gotten in. It was obvious that the two had fought but apparently the Phantom had won. My thoughts we frazzled when Bentley's nasally voice screeched in my ear.

"Sly! You've got to get here and fast! I think she's coming out of her daze! She doesn't know what she is!" I quickly bolted from her apartment, locking the door behind me, and ran as fast as my legs would carry me. If she was coming out of the Phantom's control, this might be over now. It only took me a few minutes before I burst through the front doors of my hideout and slid to a stop behind Bentley; my eyes glued to the computer screen.

"Fill me in, Bentley, fill me in. What's going on?" I asked quickly. I could see a fully awake Ramona and the Phantom starting to enter the room.

"She woke up and he started singing right after I called you. She was offensive at first but it looks like she's starting to succumb again.

"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. That voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. And do I dream again, for now I found, the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind." Ramona's voice drifted to the speakers and was quickly followed by the Phantom's.

"Sing once again with me, out strange duet. My power over you grows stronger yet. And though you turn from me to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind." Bentley and I both shot each other and glance and I knew we were thinking the same thing.

"Those who have seen your face draw back in fear; I am the mask you wear…"

"It's me they hear…" his voice drifted as he started to approach Ramona and she allowed him.

"My spirit and my voice in one combine, the Phantom of the Opera is there inside my mind… Beware…the Phantom of the Opera. Is that the Phantom of the Opera?" she cocked her head and I watched as he placed his paw on the side of her face and sang his reply.

"Sing my angel of music," a smile grew on his face as she started singing a typical opera type vocal practice, "Sing for me!" I looked away from the screen and turned my attention to turtle. We knew how he had his control over Ramona and it was so simple.

"It's the music!" we shouted simultaneously. Somehow, the music he always sang had put her under his spell and had given him the chance to control her.