Phantom

Chapter Twenty-Three



It was strange how life just went on, even when it seemed only natural for the world to stop spinning on its axis. It didn’t seem right for things to continue like nothing had happened—for schools bells to ring, for people to laugh in the halls, for play practice to continue as scheduled. Yet, things did go on just like it was any other day, even though Jay was no longer a part of their lives. Life went back to its normal routine as soon as everyone dried their eyes after the memorial service. Even Rebecca was falling back into the daily humdrum of classes, and was surprised when she found herself looking forward to seeing Justyn. She hadn’t talked to him since their date, and she missed him. As the day wound down, she couldn’t help feeling a little excited flutter, even though she was still sad about Jay.

It was also strange how quickly her thoughts about Justyn kept running the gamut from the romantic to the somewhat disturbing. Talk about an emotional roller coaster. One minute she was sure he was a cold—blooded killer, and she was terrified of him. The next, she was imagining herself walking down the aisle at their wedding. Both scenarios were equally ridiculous. She decided she wasn’t going to let her irrational fears or her silly fantasies get the better of her. Instead, she was going to try to take the blossoming relationship one day at a time. Starting, hopefully, that afternoon when she would tell him that she had made her decision once and for all. She would just have to leave out the part about how she sometimes doubted his sanity and thought he was a murderer. That might ruin the moment.

There were only a few weeks left until opening night. The props had come a long way in the last week. The stage crew had truly outdone themselves with their amazing backdrops, from the graveyard scene to the phantom’s underground lair. Rebecca found it much easier to move through the scenes surrounded by the artwork and antique style furniture. It gave the play more realism. She was especially impressed with the scene shifting for the Don Juan scene.

The Don Juan act was one of Rebecca’s favorites. Not only because it was the climax of the play, but also because the duet was the most beautiful song that she and Justyn shared. In the scene, the phantom kills the lead baritone of the opera house and takes his place on the stage. Christine realizes instantly who he is and what he must have done, but she’s still drawn to him by his passionate singing. They come close to sharing a forbidden kiss. But instead, at the last moment, she removes his mask, revealing his deformity to the horrified audience. More than once, especially with Justyn in the role of the phantom, Rebecca was tempted to rewrite history and have Christine run away with Erik, leaving Raoul behind.

The scene called for a high platform with a stairway on either side. Erik and Christine would each climb one end of the stairway as they inched their way closer and closer to one another, finally coming together in the center of the high bridge. Beneath them were half a dozen large wooden cutouts, cut and painted into the shape of red and orange flames to represent the blazing inferno of Don Juan’s territory.

It was the first time they had the fancy platform available, and Rebecca was a little nervous about making the treacherous journey up the narrow wooden steps. She had never been very good with heights. She looked up at the platform, and thought that fifteen feet suddenly seemed dangerously high. Just looking up made her feel a little woozy, but she did her best to overcome her irrational fears. What could possibly happen?

Because of the new props, and because the scene involved an elaborate dance routine with the chorus, Miss King had decided to focus on that scene for the better part of the afternoon. Of course, after the events of the weekend, no one was overly enthusiastic about performing at all. Even the teacher seemed a little less animated than usual as the stagehands moved the backdrops into place.

“I realize that this is a difficult time. We’ll all miss Jay, especially his unquenchable sense of humor.” Miss King had to stop to wipe a tear from her eye. “But as cliché as it might sound, the show must go on. So let’s make this play the best performance this school has ever seen! And let’s dedicate it to the memory of our friend and co-star, Jay Kopp.”

If Miss King expected a hearty round of applause or exuberant shouts of agreement, she must have been disappointed. Most of the cast barely lifted their eyes during the speech, and a few even snickered at the melodrama.

Rebecca stole a glance at the front row of chairs where Tom was sitting with his arms crossed. His face had gone eerily blank. She somehow found that empty, zombie-like stare much more disturbing than the open emotion she had seen him display just the day before. Rebecca decided she had to go see if he was all right before they started. After all, despite what he had been through that weekend, he had still made sure the newspaper article about Wendy had been released. He had cleared Rebecca’s name and bravely faced the wrath of Wendy, who didn’t spare him out of sympathy for the loss of his friend. For the first time in Mainland Regional history, people were too busy laughing at Wendy to pay any attention to anything that she said. For once, her malicious plans had backfired.

Rebecca jogged over and plopped down in the empty seat beside Tom. He didn’t even notice her until she cleared her throat, and even then he didn’t look up in acknowledgment.

“How are you?” she asked.

He shrugged, but didn’t say anything.

“That good, huh?” Rebecca felt decidedly awkward, and struggled to think of something appropriate to say. “I was surprised to see you at school today.”

“It’s better to stay occupied than to sit home alone feeling sorry for myself.”

Rebecca nodded, and was about to comment that she understood when she suddenly felt eyes on her, burning into her with an intensity that was impossible to ignore. She looked up to the stage, and saw Justyn watching her from a corner by the curtain. He didn’t look angry, but he certainly didn’t look happy either. She realized that to him it must have appeared that she had chosen Tom after all. Rebecca knew she had to get Justyn alone so she could explain the circumstances. She had to let him know that Tom was just a friend in need, and would never be any more than that ever again.

Justyn wasn’t going to make it easy for her. Miss King ordered them into position and she had to leave Tom alone with his sullenness. Along the way, she tried to grab Justyn’s arm as they crossed paths before the scene began, but he pulled away. He wouldn’t even look her in the eyes as he spoke.

“I told you I would bow out gracefully when you made your choice. Be happy with your hero.”

“Justyn, wait . . . .”

She tried to stop him, but like the mystical creature of the night that he was, Justyn all but disappeared into the darkness backstage. The music was starting and Rebecca was forced to wait behind the scenes for her queue while Wendy and the chorus began the ballet routine. She watched with a little envy as Carmen and the other chorus girls swirled effortlessly around the dance floor. She was a little relieved that Miss King had foreseen her inability to be even remotely graceful and had made sure she had very little dancing to do.

Soon the ballerinas slowed, and one by one, they slipped out of sight. The music deepened emotionally as the choreography came to an end. Rebecca began to inch her way out onto the empty stage with a basket of silk flowers in her hands.

It was a challenging scene, especially when her mind was already moving in a dozen different directions. She was an actress playing the role of an actress. Her character, Christine, was portraying an innocent maiden about to be carried away by the darkly handsome Don Juan—carried away to the corruption of her innocence.

How close to reality art really was. When Justyn stepped onto the stage, wearing the black mask of the opera ghost, Rebecca caught her breath at his dark beauty. He was so unbelievably sensual, so hypnotically captivating. She wanted to throw herself at his feet and offer herself up to him, body and soul. And that was before he opened his mouth and the sweet beauty of his voice enveloped her in its silky embrace. She felt her knees tremble like any virgin maiden’s would have trembled at the feet of the irresistible rogue who was Don Juan.

“In all your innocence you have come to me here.

Release your doubts and shed not one tear.

There’s no going back the way that you came.

You will know passion but feel no shame.”

Rebecca was wrapped in the caressing shroud of his melodic voice. They stood on opposite ends of the stage. It seemed like a never-ending chasm was between them. She trembled with unspoken longing as she watched him glide towards the wooden steps of the platform. She was drowning in that longing, sinking into his voice. She struggled to make her weak knees carry her to her own stairway, casting aside the forgotten flowers of innocence.

It was only through the direct unspoken order of his dark eyes that she was able to find the strength to release her own voice in a strong soprano that matched his perfect baritone. She admitted in the words of her song, in the radiance of her voice, how much she longed for his embrace. Justyn had to know it wasn’t just a duet between Christine and Erik anymore. They had somehow transcended from fantasy to reality, and the words she sang were meant for him and him alone.

“A strange fire burns within my breast.

Is this passion real or merely a test?

Will the burning be quenched when our bodies unite?

Will we become one on this dark, moonless night.”

They had reached the center of the platform. Rebecca was both grateful and a little afraid to find him suddenly at her side. Her heart pounded furiously as Justyn took her hand, spun her around, and then mercifully steadied her dizzied body with the firm grip of his hands around her waist. She sank into his arms, letting her head rest lightly against his firm chest.

When they began the final verse, their voices met in an almost elemental clash that rung in perfect, sweet harmony—a harmony that went beyond the aspects of music and into the harmony of the spirit. As their voices became one, so did their souls. It was a beauty that even the most untrained ear in the room suddenly became aware of. It was an art form that could not be ignored.

“All barriers have been crossed.

All innocence has been lost.

The seeds of passion have been sown.

From this crossing there is no return.”

Rebecca waited with closed eyes, in both the real and imagined throes of passion as Justyn’s hands caressed and explored her waist, her arms, and ran gently across her shoulders. Such a simple touch, yet it set her blood on fire. His breath was warm and sweet as he nuzzled against the soft skin of her neck. His hands shifted as he used them to brush her long hair out of the way so that his lips could trace a path from her neck to her burning cheeks, making her entire body tingle with pleasure and her breath come in short gasps.

Rebecca knew what she was supposed to be doing. She knew her role was to remove the mask, to betray the phantom once and for all, thus proving her devotion to Raoul and sending Erik into a murderous rage. But this Christine had no desire to betray her phantom. This Christine felt no fear, at least not in that perfect moment, of what was hiding beneath the mask. This Christine wanted the phantom to finally have the happy ending that so many fans had dreamed of.

She felt Justyn pull her toward him, and she finally opened her eyes. He looked confused. He was waiting for the scene to continue. He didn’t realize that in her mind, the play had merged with reality. She met his sad gaze, and with a small smile, she reached out her hand to gently touch his cheek. She wanted to tell him that she had made her choice. That she had chosen him. But the words stuck in a throat swollen with emotion. Nevertheless, she was almost certain that he had read her mind, and knew all her unspoken thoughts.

Even through the dark mask, she was sure she saw his eyes light up just a little as it dawned on him. His entire demeanor was magically transformed. Justyn leaned down, unable to resist the urge any longer. Rebecca thought that finally, finally she would know the ecstasy of his kiss. Finally, she would know what it was like to be truly complete in his arms. She closed her eyes in anticipation. But just as she sensed the parting of his lips as they neared hers, something snapped him violently from her grasp.

Shocked and startled, Rebecca’s eyes popped open just in time to see Tom swing his fist squarely into the unprepared face of an even more shocked and startled Justyn. Justyn staggered back in surprise, and put a hand against his lip. Rebecca gasped in horror as she saw blood ooze from the broken skin. Tom only sneered, apparently pleased with himself and his unsportsmanlike attack.

“Look, the vampire bleeds.”

Rebecca hardly recognized Tom, his face was so twisted, his voice so harsh and bitter. How had he gotten there, anyway? When and where had he come from? She hadn’t even heard him coming up the steps.

“Tom, what are you doing?” Rebecca exclaimed.

“You aren’t going to take Becca away from me!”

He was practically spitting in Justyn’s face, and Rebecca knew the Goth well enough to know he wasn’t going to just stand there and take it. His silence was only a testament to his rage.

“Tom, you have to stop this!”

Tom didn’t listen or even acknowledge Rebecca. Even Justyn seemed to have forgotten her presence. He lunged back at Tom with uncontrollable fury, despite her startled cries of protest. There was nothing she could do to stop them. It had been too long coming.

Tom was too quick for Justyn. He easily sidestepped Justyn’s counterattack, and before he could come at him a second time, Tom shoved him backwards as hard as he could, sending him sprawling backwards into the railing.

Rebecca saw what was happening. She even made a desperate grab for Justyn’s hand as she saw him go down. But someone so uncoordinated never stood a chance. She heard a high-pitched scream, and was shocked to realize it had come from her own mouth. But even that sound was overpowered by the sickening crack of wood splintering as the railing of the platform gave way under Justyn’s heavy weight.

She saw Justyn tip over the edge. She could see the horrified guilty look on Tom’s face as he realized what was happening. Time moved so slowly that she even noticed a dusting of sawdust on the ground as she fell to her knees. She saw everything in terrible, vivid detail, including the fact that one side of the railing had cracked, but the other had been cleanly sawed through. She gasped when she heard the awful crash of Justyn’s body slamming into the painted, wooden flames, shattering several of them to pieces. She watched it all unfold in eerie slow motion. Then she saw nothing but a blur of tears as she ran down the platform steps to Justyn’s side.