All I Ask Of You

The crowd started talking in panicky tones while the managers tried desperately to calm them down, yelling over the nervous chatter that everything was completely fine and under control.

I was frozen to the spot staring at where the Phantom once was, my brain still catching up to what had happened.

I felt Phillipe grab my shoulders looking at me with concern and confusion rising across his face.

"Celeste, what is going on, who was that man?" 

I tried to find the words of what to say to explain what was going on, but I found myself completely at a loss as to how I was supposed to do that.

"Celeste!" 

My shoulders were now taken by Christine whose eyes were dilated with fear. 

"I told you not to see him anymore, don't you see how completely mad he is?"

I frowned, shrugging her hands off my shoulders.

"You don't know what you're talking about!"

"Wait, what is going on?" Raoul butted in looking over at Christine then at me his eyebrows raised in bafflement.

"You've heard the rumors, haven't you, they're all true." I snapped at him, feeling irritation rise in my chest.

I rushed away, pushing my way through the crowd of people exchanging looks at me, some of them with hints of suspicion.

I could hear someone pursue me but I didn't stop until I was out in the foyer, my heart was pounding in my throat and I felt sick.

"Celeste, would you please explain to me what is going on?" Phillipe asked as he grabbed my hand, preventing me from going any further.

I took a shaky breath, how could I explain this to him in a way that he would understand? How could anyone understand this?

"Phillipe, have you heard of the Phantom Of The Opera?"

He slowly nodded his head.

"Oui, the man with hardly a face that supposedly haunts the opera house?"

I returned the nod.

"Oui, well, it's true but he's no ghost only a man."

I explained from the beginning of the first time I met Erik, stumbling over the words as I did, staring at the floor until I was finished, not wanting to see the disbelief on Phillipe's face that I knew to be there.

"Mon Dieu," He breathed.

"I know, I understand if you don't believe me," I told him, forcing myself to look at him.

He let out a laugh as he shook his head.

"You know the funny thing is, I do believe you, in fact, I'm beginning to think this Phantom doesn't really like the likes of me."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?" 

"Well, there's been a couple of incidents where I would be on the stage and a sandbag would fall from above nearly hitting me or the time when I was up in the fly tower and nearly fell over the edge because a mysterious force tried to push me over the side, oh and don't let me forget the time my suite momentarily caught on fire by an invisible flame."

Erik had tried to kill him multiple times and all because of me being with him. I was putting him in danger, all of this was my fault. I had let Phillipe love me because I was afraid of hurting him and now because of that, he might truly be harmed with more than just a broken heart.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

Phillipe shrugged.

"I honestly didn't think anything of it, until now that is."

I felt so horrible, my insides were twisting into a million knots, I knew what I had to do. I had to tell Phillipe the truth, how I truly felt, otherwise the worst would happen, not only that I had to completely break off the relationship, not just romantically.

"Phillipe, I can't see you anymore."

His face fell, looking completely crestfallen.

"Celeste, no don't say that, don't let this Phantom dictate our relationship, we can figure something out."

"No, we can't, he'll kill you, I can't risk that, just please go home, away from here," I told him as tears overflowed my eyes.

"No, I won't, I'm staying right here with you, I'm not gonna let him take you away from me!" He shouted, determination filling his tone.

I clenched my fists, already regretting the words I was about to say.

"I don't love you, I never did, leave me!"

I ran off I couldn't look at his face filled with sadness, couldn't bear to hear his begging voice as he tried to make me stay.

I was furious at myself and Erik.

Myself for the way I had told Phillipe I had felt. I knew I had to tell him eventually but I wanted to do it in a way nicer way than what I had said to make him understand. It would be pointless for Phillipe to sacrifice his own life for a girl who didn't even love him, and even more pointless for me to lead him on.

I'm a horrible person.

Furious at the Phantom for nearly killing someone I cared for because of his jealousy, angry because...

I could feel the memory of his song fill my mind his voice as he spoke to me, his hands around my waist, the feeling of his immense comfort and love.

Even when I had every right to be angry with him I couldn't, somehow through this I still loved him.

I buried my face in my pillow as soon as I arrived at the dormitories, filling it with all of my frustration, anger, and sadness.

I heard the door open and someone approaching my bedside, but I didn't care, I knew who it was as I felt her weight as she sat down at the edge of the bed.

"Celeste, are you awake?" Christine asked me softly as I felt her hand on my back.

I didn't respond.

I heard her sigh before speaking again.

"You know I used to love him too, he tricked me into it, deceiving me into thinking he was an angel sent by my Father, and now he's tricking you as well, I don't say any of this to hurt you, I only say this because you're my best friend and I would hate to see any harm come to you."

"Please go away."

I wanted her to stop talking, she said she didn't want to hurt me but that's all that her words seem to be doing. Cutting into my heart like a knife.

I heard Christine take a breath as I felt her stand up from my bed.

"I'm sorry this is all happening to you, Celeste, it's not fair, but I promise that we will figure out a way to stop all of this."

I heard her exit the room the door clicking shut as I remained where I was feeling more frustrated than I had ever felt before.