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The Point of No Return
Erik went to the opera and made his way backstage. Don Juan had already started but Erik ignored that fact. He watched from above and waited patiently while he took in the last time his opera will be performed. He was saddened by the fact but did not let that distract him from his goal. As the time got closer for him to execute his plan he made his way down. He had a bit of trouble moving down because everyone was extra vigilant tonight in trying to spot the opera ghost. However, Erik took his time and was able to get below without being seen.
The scene before the one he wanted began and Erik could hear Carlotta's annoying voice over the other chorus members. He wished he had decided to give the woman a silent role but he knew that she would have found a way to let her voice be heard, role requirements be damned. He came behind the stage and entered the tent that Piangi was going to come through in a couple minutes.
While he waited, he played with the piece of rope he had brought with him to put Piangi to sleep. He had been hesitant at first to use a rope after what had happened to Buquet, but Farren had been able to convince him it was for the better. A rope had become a symbol of the phantom was the main reason. Plus Buquet's death had been caused by them being on the catwalks and he had fallen into open air. Erik was on solid floor and would not be making the same mistake again.
Well, not solid floor but there were no trap doors near this part of the stage.
He heard Piangi's voice as it sung on stage with Passarino.
When you met, you wore my cloak
She could not have seen your face
She believes she dines with me
In her master's borrowed place!
Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff
Stealing what, in truth, is mine
When it's late and modesty
Starts to mellow, with the wine
You come home! I use your voice
Slam the door like crack of doom!
I shall say, "Come, hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course—my room!"
Poor thing hasn't got a chance!
Here's my hat, my cloak and sword
Conquest is assured
If I do not forget myself and laugh
Piangi entered the tent and gasped as he spotted Erik. Giving Piangi no time to react, Erik quickly got the man around his neck with his rope and strangled him into unconsciousness. As he did, he knew that Christine was walking on stage, singing as Aminta as she did.
No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!
Piangi slumped and Erik quickly put him down and grabbed the robe. He put it on, and Passarino came to the front of the tent but did not peek in.
Master?
Passarino—go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey. Erik hissed, deepening his voice to sound like Piangi. He had been practicing through the weeks to get it as close to the other baritone as possible. It was close enough, and no alarm was raised. Passarino went away.
Once dressed, Erik opened the curtains, just wide enough for him to step through before quickly turning around and closing them so that no one would catch sight of Piangi. The man would lay there unfound until he left but he was not harmed except for the rope marks that will appear on his neck, but those would fade with time. Turning his head he saw Christine sitting on the table's bench. His heart tightened in his chest at the sight of her so close while she was in her full glory as she portrayed the role of Aminta. Shaking himself mentally he slowly began making his way across the stage.
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent
Silent
At the sound of his voice, he saw the slightest twitch of Christine's shoulders as he walked to her. She knew that it was him. While she might have recognized his voice, none of the other employees in the side wings looked like they knew it was him, though he knew that they could hear the difference in sound because he did not bother to keep his impression of Piangi's voice.
No, if he was going to do this, he wanted everyone to hear his voice.
Christine stood from the bench, holding the apple and twirling it in between her hands unhurriedly as he walked behind the table, grabbing the cup as he went.
I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me
Dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me
He plucked the apple out of Christine's hands as she was going to take a bite and brought the cup in front of her. She shoot him a side glance and Erik was startled to see heated desire in her eyes. Figuring it was part of her acting, Erik's viewpoints of the stage did not allow him this close after all, he continued.
Now you are here with me, no second thoughts
You've decided, decided
Erik raised the cup for Christine to 'drink' which she did. He took the cup away and Christine made a show of wiping her mouth. Her mouth staying open as if she was struggling to breathe because of her passion in the moment.
Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make believe are at an end
Past all thought of if or when
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend
He grabbed Christine's wrist and she quickly turned back to him. Together, they moved back, though Erik thought that Christine had pressed herself in too close to him.
Why is she changing her moves? Erik thought. Though he had to admit that the higher level of lust she was displaying was appropriate for Aminta and the scene. Christine spun out of his grip and went behind the table to make her way to the front bench. Erik followed after her as he sung, sitting down on the bench next to her, watching Christine closed her eyes in hypnotic bliss.
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us
Past the point of no return
The final threshold?
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn
Beyond the point of no return?
Erik quickly faced away when Christine turned her head as if to kiss him as the scene instructed. He was barely again to move in time with how quickly she had turned her head to him. He also could have sworn her hand touched his but it was too brief to be certain. He felt her stand up from the bench and she sang as she moved away.
You have brought me
To that moment where words run dry
To that moment where speech disappears into silence
Silence
Erik was now facing the crowd, loving Christine's voice as she sang, and happy that he was able to listen to her so close and sing with her again. He watched from the corner of his eyes as she made her way back to him. She stopped at the corner of the table.
I have come here
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent
And now I am here with you, no second thoughts
I've decided, decided
She was facing away from him as she leaned against the table but he could tell she had the smallest smile on her lips as she sang. Erik found that odd because the scene was not exactly a cheerful one, and she had never done it in the previous shows. Then again, maybe she was smiling because she knew that it was him with her. He did not know.
Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion play has now at last begun
She moved back to him and went behind him. Erik stiffened as she pressed herself to his back. This was definitely not in her previous performances with Piangi. What was she doing? As she sung her next part, she reached down over his shoulders and down his arms and grabbed hold of his hands. He clenched them back as to go along with what she was doing and allowed her to control them, though he remained cautious towards her motives for doing so.
Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race
The sleeping bud bursts into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?
Erik had to break away. Christine had sung the last part in his ear and her tone dripped with desire that he had never heard from her before. Not that he would have but he was confused as to the change in Christine on stage. He stood up abruptly to get away from her, all the while trying to keep in character of Don Juan enough for no one to notice anything strange. Obviously the staff probably noticed the difference in Christine but he could not risk exposure.
Christine grabbed his hands and Erik pulled at her. Erik saw the determination shine in her eyes as they sang and struggled with each other.
Past the point of no return
The final threshold
Christine let go of Erik's hands and he felt annoyed that she was changing so much of the scene, not to mention puzzled. Extremely puzzled. If she was trying to signal that he was the one on stage with her instead of Piangi, why would it not have been more obvious? Erik doubted that the managers would mind if she just grabbed him and shouted that it was him. However, she did no such thing.
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return
Christine had slowly made her way back to him, which Erik did not back away from. He might be feeling confused and a bit annoyed but he was also curious.
Then she lunged at him, throwing him off guard. Thinking she was finally making the move to reveal him, he made to catch her but her hands flashed upwards and lifted the veil that covered his face. But instead of exposing him, she ducked down under the hood and straighten, their lips connecting.
The entire movement happened within a couple seconds.
Out of all things Erik had prepared for that might happen when he got on stage, this was not one of them!
Erik froze as Christine's lips touched his own, his entire mind going blank which was something that seldom happened. His hands were on her waist from where he had made to stop her, but the rest of her body was pressed right against him that Erik was surprised that she did not push him down. Then again, he was motionless as a statue and it was probably not possible to move him at the moment. While her body was against him, her hands were holding the hood up to keep it from falling uncomfortably around them, though it still covered both their faces underneath. She had her eyes closed and was simply pressing her lips to his, nothing more.
Christine drew back after a few seconds and opened her eyes. Erik saw that her pupils were dilated. She met his very wide eyes with her own.
"Run!" she whispered fiercely.
Erik did not have time to think or react, including trying to digest what she said.
Because a second later a gunshot was heard and pain engulfed him.
Bam! Another chapter up! Hope everyone enjoyed it, don't forget to leave a review! Yeah, it was just the Point of No Return scene but I did change a few things about how it went. ;) Anyone noticed what it was? Next chapter will be in Christine's POV. It's about to go down! See ya next time.