Phantom of the Opera

You've been very depressed since you came back from Perros-Guirec, a heaviness in your soul that has prevented you from concentrating on rehearsals. ---- "____, you've been very quiet for several days. Are you sure it's not because of too much pressure?" You don't know how to explain it to Meg, but maybe she can guide you. "It's just that... I had a big argument with Raoul." "But you get along really well, don't you? Besides, didn't you take a trip together recently? I remember you telling me that he was going to accompany you to Perros-Guirec to visit your father." "That's where we argued..." Then you remember, with a pang of guilt, that you can't tell her about the Angel of Music, so you look for an easier way to explain it to her. "He broke a promise he made to me. And that made me feel... like he doesn't take me seriously." "If he was the one who broke his word, then the fault is entirely his, you have no reason to feel bad," Meg responds immediately, taking your side at once. But then, she raises her gaze and watches you cautiously before adding, in a conciliatory tone: "But maybe he didn't do it with bad intentions. Viscount Chagny is a good person, you could try... forgiving him, couldn't you?" Part of you recognizes that Meg is right. Raoul has always stood by your side; all he wants is to protect you. Besides, your own reaction that day wasn't much better. You both lost your tempers. "____, you haven't spoken since you returned, have you?" Meg asks, tilting her head curiously. "That's right. I haven't seen him in days." "I think it would be best if you talked about what happened," she suggests, with an empathetic smile. "The more time passes, the harder it will be to resolve the misunderstanding, and your relationship could cool off forever." "You're right. But he was the one who made the mistake, and yet, he still hasn't come to see me." You cross your arms, feeling stubbornness take hold of you. "What am I supposed to do? He was the one who broke his word. If I apologize first, all these days of distance will have been for nothing." "So, are you going to wait for him to come and apologize?" "Yes, no matter what, he has to be the one to acknowledge his mistake. I'm not going to give in." "____, I think it doesn't matter who apologizes first, in the end everything will go back to how it was before." Meg gives you a mischievous smile and, with an animated gesture, takes the dazzling dress for the performance out of the closet. "The truth is, you're not ‘normal’ friends. What you have is something much more special. But anyway, enough distractions! The prima donna needs to concentrate. Today is your big day! You're going to be the star of ‘Faust’. You have to enjoy it to the fullest." It's true. The day you have been waiting for so long has finally arrived. If your father can see you from heaven, he surely feels very proud of you. "And don't be nervous," Meg adds, holding the dress affectionately. "You have to trust yourself. You have worked tirelessly to master this role." For that, you have to thank the Angel of Music... You remember that night when he insisted on teaching you how to sing the prima donna's aria. He accompanied you patiently as you practiced over and over again. Shortly after that, Carlotta's accident happened... An intrusive thought assails you: was it really a coincidence? "____, the dress is ready! Come on, let's get you ready!" Meg's voice brings you back to reality, but you're worried that your thoughts keep drifting into dangerous territory. After looking at the beautiful dress she has prepared for you, you take a deep breath, focusing all your energy on the performance that is about to begin. --- You are finally at the center of the stage. When the curtain rises, you feel the weight of hundreds of gazes upon you. The brilliant spotlight follows you. You are so nervous that you can only hear the beating of your own heart. But the moment you open your mouth to sing, a gradual calm invades you, merging you with your character. The more you sing, the more you feel the power surrounding you. You feel like you're in a trance, you even think you can hear the voice of the Angel of Music joining yours! "The moonlight is witness to my love. My great lover, my immortal hero! Please come back to me. I hope you can confess your love for me." You feel your voices intertwine, creating a perfect echo. You have never felt so free, so in command of the stage. It is as if your soul is vibrating in response to that celestial voice. "Look at our brilliant ____, our new prima donna! All of Paris will go crazy for her!" the opera director exclaims. A man in the audience comments, his eyes wide with amazement: "Who is that young woman? Her voice seems to come from heaven! Where did they find a girl with such talent?" Another spectator, visibly moved, adds: "It's incredible! The emotion she conveys is touching, it goes straight to the heart!" "____ is going to become the newest, brightest star in all of Paris!" The director raises his voice again, filled with certainty. The performance culminates in a torrent of frenetic applause, a roar that seems to go on forever. You look around the room and see that everyone, absolutely everyone, is on their feet. A chorus of voices shouts your name over and over, cheering you with an energy that electrifies the air. You are unable to describe in words what you are feeling right now... The scene you have been dreaming about for so long is happening before your eyes. Although you had imagined it countless times, you always feared it was just an unattainable illusion. You are finally living this moment! ---- When everything is over and the audience has dispersed, you return backstage. You feel dazed, overwhelmed, and surprised by the flowers, praises, and invitations you have received. But at the same time, a profound exhaustion takes hold of you. Suddenly, uncertainty invades you: what now? "____, I hope I'm not interrupting your rest." "Raoul, you came!" "I... how could I not. Today was your debut as the lead. It was obvious I had to come see you. It's just that..." His voice becomes hesitant and he looks away. "I thought that maybe... you wouldn't be interested in seeing me." "Of course I want to see you. Before the performance, I kept wondering if you would appear or not." You both stand there, motionless, amid the clutter of props, surrounded by an uncomfortable silence. Neither of you dares to look up and meet the other's gaze. Finally, despite your efforts to avoid it, your eyes meet by chance, and immediately, shy but genuine smiles bloom on both your faces. "It was an excellent performance, ____. I am very proud of you." "Thank you." You feel a lump in your throat. "I'm so glad you came, my friend... Because... we are still friends, right...?" "Of course we are, ____." His tone is soft, relieved. "Unless you are so angry that you no longer want anything to do with me." He takes a couple of uncertain steps and raises a hand to scratch behind his ear with such an awkward gesture that he almost hits himself with the hilt of his own sword. "Forgive me, ____. You have every right in the world to be angry with me." His expression becomes serious. "I shouldn't have broken our promise by following you in secret, and even less so should I have reproached you without reason." Before you can formulate a response, his face darkens again and he looks at you with genuine regret. "And about that night... that person who played for you was..." He pauses, searching for words. "I don't know if I have the right to ask, it's a personal matter, but..." "Raoul, thank you for trying to understand me." You take a deep breath. "I shouldn't have spoken to you so harshly either, I must also ask for your forgiveness." You look at your hands, feeling the weight of the secret. "It's just that I... can only tell you that the person who played for me is a very close friend. He had arranged with me to play a piece for my father and me. I don't have a lover, nor am I trying to hide anything from you." "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have thought what I did, you are not that kind of person. I hurt you deeply that day." His eyebrows furrow in a gesture of frustration. "But, why didn't he show himself? If he had let himself be seen, perhaps I wouldn't have lost my temper in that manner." And there it is! The dilemma that tears you apart. How do you explain it to him? On one hand, you gave your word to the Angel of Music... But on the other, Raoul is reaching out to you with absolute trust. You don't want to lie to your friend, but you cannot betray the promise made to your Angel. "Perhaps I was too agitated and your friend got scared," Raoul mutters, shaking his head in disappointment. "I admit I let myself be carried away by anger. If your friend is shy, it's understandable that he would want to hide." Raoul shakes his head in regret. He seems very ashamed of his behavior. Just as you are about to comfort him, you both spot at the same time a black silhouette in the shadows! You don't know how long it has been there observing! With an instinctive, protective movement, he places you behind him and his hand flies to the hilt of his sword, closing firmly around it. "Who's there?!" "Could it be... the Phantom?" you manage to whisper, your heart pounding in your chest. "If you dare to be there, come out into the light and show yourself!" he roars at the black silhouette. You know, with certainty, that if you weren't present, he would have already advanced towards it to confront it. You feared that shout of rage would provoke the Phantom,but the black silhouette shows no intention of attacking. "Raoul, look, it's leaving!" The black silhouette turns on its heels and slips down the hallway. It moves with supernatural speed, always avoiding the lit areas. "____, stay here. I'll go after it!" "Wait, Raoul! It's not safe for you to go alone." Raoul was about to rush after him, but upon hearing your words, he stops dead in his tracks. "If I leave you alone again, we might be falling into a trap set by the Phantom." His face reflects the internal struggle between duty and caution. "He is too cunning... I cannot afford to act rashly." While you hesitate, the black silhouette does not disappear. On the contrary, it remains still, waiting in the gloom of the hallway. "How strange..." you comment, feeling a chill. "It's almost as if... it's waiting for us to follow it." This situation feels very familiar to you. That mysterious man you encountered some time ago also waited deliberately for you to follow him... "Raoul, do you remember the mysterious man I told you about?" you say, your voice a bit more urgent. "I think, by its manner, it resembles him more than the Phantom." "It seems to want to guide us to a specific place." Suddenly, the silhouette turns again and heads down the hallway, moving towards the stairs. "I don't care who it is!" he exclaims with determination. "I have to follow it to get a closer look. Otherwise, we will never unravel the mystery of the Phantom." When Raoul finishes speaking, he turns his head to look at you. You return his gaze with one filled with determination. "I'm going with you!" "Alright." He responds with a resigned sigh. "I know I couldn't convince you to stay. Besides..." he adds, in a slightly more relieved tone, "if you come with me, I can protect you." You run up the stairs, chasing after the black silhouette. It's late and the hallways are deserted. The dark figure waits for you at every intersection, waiting until the last moment, only to slip away with ghostly speed just as you are about to reach it. "It's this corridor!" you exclaim, with a premonition. "Does it want to take us to...?" "You're right." He confirms, his gaze fixed ahead. "Right there ahead... is Box 5."