All I Ask Of You

2 weeks later

I felt sick to my stomach on the night of Don Juan as the singers sang on stage and I paced backstage, seeing the policemen from above me in the fly loft and behind the curtains, occasionally peeking through. There was a lot more than I was expecting; of course, all of them were armed with guns, their gloved fingers hovering over the trigger.

Erik hadn't told me what he had planned for us to escape, all he had said was for me to trust him and that is what I was trying desperately to do, but it was extremely difficult with the anxiety that filled my chest at the thought of what would happen if something were to go wrong.

I couldn't even bear to think of it.

Christine appeared beside me and I immediately turned away from her, not having spoken to her since the night I had heard about their plan to "save" me.

"Celeste, I know you don't want to talk to me, and you have every right to be upset with me, but I just wanted to wish you luck tonight and that I hope you know that we are doing all of this because we care about you, I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you and I wasn't able to prevent it."

I didn't say anything for a moment, only closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to calm my anxieties as I could hear Piangi's performance beginning to end.

"Just trust me, Christine, I know what I am doing," I told her before I stepped out through the curtains and onto the stage.

I immediately slipped into my character as I smiled around me as I sang, pushing down all my anxieties and fears.

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy, no dreams within her heart but dreams of love!"

I sat on the seat of the wooden table which on top had a big bowl overflowing with fruit, and two golden plates and goblets, set as if supper were about to take place.

I expected Piangi to return to the stage as Don Juan but as the music began I heard the familiar voice of Erik.

"Passarino go away, for the trap is set and waits for its prey..."

I turned my head towards his direction seeing him wear a dark cloak with a hood that hide his face from anyone recognizing him, but I knew it was the Phantom, Piangi's voice could never even begin to sound as heavenly.

"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge in pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent...Silent..."

I watched as he approached where I was his voice filling my soul, completely mesmerizing me.

"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 now you are here with me, no second thoughts, you've decided, decided."

He offered a gloved hand from beneath his cloak and I shakily took it as he lifted me to my feet.

"Past the point of no return, the final threshold, what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn, beyond the point of no return?"

I felt the Phantom's hand against my cheek as I closed my eyes, preparing myself to sing the next verse.

"You have brought me, to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence...Silence..."

I opened my eyes peering over Erik's shoulders, seeing the policemen peering out from the curtains my eyes quickly darted up to the fly loft with more officers pointing their guns at the stage.

I held his hands tightly in mine as I began to guide the Opera Ghost across the stage, getting as far away from the officers as possible.

"I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why in my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent, now I am here with you, no second thoughts, I've decided, decided..."

I could hear his breathing quicken as I pulled him close to me, smiling seductively as I did.

"Past the point of no return, no going back now, our passion play has now at last begun, 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..."

His hands wrapped around my waist and our foreheads were pressed against each other as we sang in union with each other.

"Past the point of no return, the final threshold, the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn...we've passed the point of no return..."

His hands shakily went to his hood lifting it slightly so only I could see his face, his green eyes were filled with tears as with a shakey hand he skimmed his fingers through my hair.

"Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime, lead me, save me from my solitude, say you want me with you here, beside you, anywhere you go let me go too, Celeste, that's all...I...Ask...Of-"

At the corner of my eye I saw a police man aiming his gun down at Erik, his finger inching for the trigger.

My eyes widened, but before I could even react, the gunshot went off and I screamed in horror.