Act III Scene VII

Meg and Christine walked into Garnier High School, both of them immediately gasping. The entire school had been changed into a mesh of colors that came together as if they were a watercolor painting. Everyone was indeed wearing a mask, but for the most part you could still easily tell who was who if you knew them.

"I don't think I've ever seen so many people at a dance before," Christine exclaimed. "Not at Garnier, at least."

"Well, anyone who passes up the opportunity to go to a masquerade dance is just stupid," Meg replied, deciding to just be blunt. "It's the first and last time they'll get the opportunity, anyways."

"You can't know that," Christine said.

"No, I can't," Meg admitted. "It's just a pretty accurate guess, that's all."

"Hm," Christine replied. "Wait, is that Paul over there?'

"What, you two didn't coordinate anything even though you're going out and everything?"

"Er, no..."

"Typical Christy," Meg said, shaking her head. "Oh look, your boyfriend is coming over this way."

Christine's hands immediately launched up to tame her curls, trying to groom her herself as much as possible before Paul reached the two of them

"Christy! Stop messing around with your outfit, you look beautiful. Besides, it's Paul. You two have been dating for a really long time now."

"I need a mirror," Christine replied nervously, ignoring everything Meg had just said. "I should have brought one with me. Oh, he's almost here!" She forced her hands to fly back down towards her sides so that she wouldn't look strange when Paul came over.

"Christine Daae," Paul exclaimed the moment he set eyes upon his girlfriend close up. "I don't think I've ever seen anyone more beautiful in my entire life."

"That's what I just told her," Meg chimed in. "She didn't listen to me, though. Maybe she'll listen to you."

Christine rolled her eyes over towards her best friend, but then focused back on her boyfriend. He extended his hand out to her and she gladly took it, unable to keep a childish smile of delight off of her face. She just felt simply giddy - there was no other way to describe it.

"Come on, enough standing around," Meg said. Although she was currently dateless, she couldn't keep a grin off of her own lips. "We have the actual dance to enter." Before there were any protests, she grabbed Christine's hand, knowing that her friend was already clutching to Paul's hand. Like they were all connected in a chain, they were yanked along into the crowded gymnasium.

"Wow," Christine breathed. "This looks really, really good."

"Yeah," Paul agreed. "I heard they got some of the techies to set up these lights so that it would be more ambient."

"Well, it worked," Meg said, just as stunned as the others. The almost surreal blend of colors from outside the gym carried in, but instead of just with costumes and masks there were all sorts of decorations. Lights, balloons, streamers, and confetti all came together to create this effect.

"Come on, Christine," Paul said, taking both of her hands into his own. "Let's go dance."

"But...what about Meg?"

"I'll be fine," Meg replied. "I'm good at finding things to do. I'm sure there's someone out there who is just waiting to dance with me."

"There must be," Christine agreed, a slight smile coming to her lips. "See you later, then, Meg."

"Don't worry about me, Christy," Meg said. "See you!" After she made a quick adjustment to her mask, she skittered away into the crowd of people who were already dancing.

Paul gently led Christine in that direction, and then they began to dance. Just like any other high school dance, there was mainly pop music playing, but there were a few moments where it felt like an actual ball.

But after a little while, Paul and Christine got a bit tired of dancing around. The couple retreated to the side of the gym where they could just actually hear one another and not have to worry about any other dancing students running into them in the middle of their conversation.

"Isn't this wonderful?" Christine said, her lips curling up into a smile. "It's like something out of a fairytale!"

"You know, you're like something out of a fairytale," Paul replied.

"Awh," Christine replied, putting a hand on his cheek. "How cheesy of you to say."

"I thought you would like it," Paul sighed, shaking his head. "Never mind all of that. I know it's a sort of weird thing to bring up now, but I have this feeling that I might need to say it now. I might not get another chance."

"Oh?"

"Christine, I love you," Paul said, unable to keep his adoring smile off his mouth.

"I love you too," Christine said quickly, "but let's not talk about this here. Not right now."

"What, are you trying to keep it secret? Do we have something to hide?"

"Paul, promise me you'll just keep quiet, okay?" Christine asked, taking his hands into hers.

"Why should I?" Paul replied, his voice getting louder. "It's love, not a crime."

"Let's not argue," Christine said, looking up into his eyes through his mask. Quietly she added on, "You will understand in time."

"So...let's think," Paul said, trying to change the subject. "I can't believe that Mr. Montegomery and Mrs. Richard are here as chaperones."

"They just can't keep away from the cast of the Light in the Piazza," Christine replied, looking over towards her two directors who were just as made up as the students around them, if not more so. "Also, it gave them an opportunity to dress up. They must love that."

"Speaking of the Light in the Piazza," Paul began. "We've gone quite a while without any talk from our little ghost friend," he said with a laugh.

Christine smiled and tried to laugh along, but she could feel that something was wrong at that moment. It was like someone was right near her, watching her. But if she was to turn around and try to catch whoever was staring, there would be absolutely no one there.

Subconsciously she started to bounce up and down and bite her lip. Her eyes started flitting around and she was rocking from side to side. Paul took one look at her and immediately clasped his hands around her upper arms.

"Christine, are you okay?"

She shook her head and then broke out of Paul's grasp. She whipped around, her poofy skirt flying around in a blur of pink. Sure enough, there was no one there. This kept on happening to her. Christine could swear left and right that she saw the shadow of the Phantom, but since she never had any evidence and never seemed to catch him full on no one would believe her.

"The girl who cried ghost, that's what I am," Christine whispered to herself.

"What was that?" Paul said. Christine had lowered her voice just enough that he hadn't been able to make out the words. That had been her intention, so when he asked about it she just looked up at him rather blankly for a moment.

"Nothing...it was nothing," Christine began. But before she could speak another word, a shriek came from the other side of the gym. They immediately whipped around to see what had caused the outburst. She put her hands over her mouth, trying to prevent herself from gasping.

There he was, the man behind the voice. The one who Christine had onced called her Angel of Music. He was dressed up in a black ensemble with a red cape. His mask was one of a skeleton. The Phantom was the Red Death. Many people were suddenly very afraid. A few of the girls even let out a shriek.

But after the first moments of shock, everything got very quiet. All sounds seemed to disappear. The music was halted. Everything was still and silent, putting all of the focus on the Phantom in his costume of Red Death.

He held a packet of papers protectiely in one of his hands. Christine was too frightened to do much of anything except for stand there numbly. Paul pulled her closer, putting a protective hand on each of her shoulders. She allowed it and enjoyed it, but didn't turn around to say anything or even look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the Phantom.

"Why so silent?" he said with a laugh, brandishing the papers in his hands. He turned to Mrs. Richard and Mr. Montegomery, who were standing there, dumbstruck. "Did you really think that I had left you? No, I still have more demands! They will be met." He continued on.

"I have made some revisions to the script and score of the musical," he said. No one dared to speak a single word to or against him. He gestured for Mrs. Richard and Mr. Montgomery to come forward. They followed blindly, not wanting to find what terrible things he would try to do if they didn't obey. The Phantom thrust his packet of paper at them, and then sighed loudly when they fumbled to catch it.

"I advise you to comply to my instructions. I believe I have made them very clear and easy to follow. You realize that there are much worse things than breaking Chandelier."

Then his gaze turned to Christine. She became absolutely paralyzed with fear. He began walking towards her, and she could not do anything but watch. The Phantom could tell exactly which girl was Christine, even with all of them wearing masks.

Christine's voice seemed to be stuck in her throat. Paul still kept his hands on her shoulders, trying to pull her away from the Phantom. But she was stuck there, rooted to the ground like a tree. Paul finally just let go and backed away slightly.

The Phantom came right up in front of Christine, whose mouth was now slightly hanging open. He reached over and pulled on the necklace she was wearing. It was the necklace he had given her. She had done her best to wear it as much as possible. No one ever could tell when the Phantom was watching. If she wasn't wearing it, he would be angry.

"Your chains are still mine," he said, running his fingers across the necklace. Christine finally closed her mouth to take a gulp of air. The way the Phantom had said the words had been meant just for Christine, but everyone in the room had heard."

You will sing for me!" he said. Christine felt tears rush to her eyes as the Phantom dressed as the Red Death dropped his gift of a necklace and walked away. He went all the way to the center of the room, and everyone cleared out of his way.

Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, he was gone. He had been in everyone's view, but no one could tell how he had escaped so quickly and easily. Christine turned around, looking for comfort from Paul but findning that he was gone.

Everyone started going back to normal, talking and laughing and dancing, even if it was a bit more subdued after the odd events. People were going to talk about the Red Death incident for a long time.

But Christine could not find Paul in the now bustling crowd. She felt tears starting to blur her vision as she looked around frantically. Suddenly she felt a hand on her arm. Christine let out a shriek, causing many people to turn around and stare. But it had turned out that the hand belonged to Meg, who was only trying to get Christine's attention.

"Oh, Christine," said Meg."Christine, I am so sorry." Meg pulled Christine into a hug. Even in high heels, Meg was still significantly shorter than Christine. That wouldn't stop Christine from holding Meg very tightly. She needed the comfort of a friend.

"Where is Paul?" Christine cried. "He's gone, he's gone, the Phantom got him."

"No, no, Paul is fine! He went to go talk to my mom about something. Don't worry, Christine, everything is fine!"

"I don't-" Christine said, tears starting to break up her speech. "I don't believe you, the Phantom's got him, I know it!"

"Christy, no, just stay calm! My mom's here, she can help us!" Meg tried to hold back Christine as she struggled, attempting to keep her calm in any way.

There was a man standing there in the dark corner of the room, not speaking a single word to anyone. Christine was afraid of him, but she had a feeling he might have some answers. She flew out of Meg's arms and ran towards this mysterious man. She soon realized that it was a teacher from ninth grade, Mr. Cade. He was the one who told ghost stories.

"Mr. Cade, please tell me you know what that was! Please, help me!" Christine cried, becoming desperate right off of the bat. She reached out for him. Mr. Cade saw glints of madness in her eyes. He had known something like this might happen, he just hoped that it wouldn't turn out in such a way. Unfortunately this was not the case.

"Yes, I do know what is happening," Mr. Cade sighed. "I just don't think you need to know-"

"No!" Christine shrieked. "Please, please tell me!"

"You're worried about your boyfriend, yes? I see him, right over there."

"He's talking to my mom, Christy," Meg said, standing behind her. "Come on."

Meg took Christine's arm, leading over towards Mrs. Leary. Mr. Cade trailed behind them, wanting to talk to his fellow teacher if he could get the chance. Sure enough, Paul was standing there, talking to her.

The three walking over only heard the last snippet of their conversation, but it was enough to strike chills into Christine's very core.

"I have said too much, too much! And there have been far too many accidents!"

A/N MASQUERADE, PAPER FACES ON PARADE! MASQUERADE! HIDE YOUR FACE SO THE WORLD WILL NEVER FIND YOU! Sorry, it's a very catchy song. And, of course, what this chapter is based off of. So I included in the side. I hope you enjoyed!

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top