Hello, my Phantom fans, I am back!

I know I know; it's been mostly a year since I have last updated. AND NO, I AM NOT ABANDONING THIS STORY OR MY MERLIN STORY! I am sorry that I did not update soon then I wanted to. My job and life have been getting in the way. I recently directed and wrote a virtual comedy play.

Plus, I had to update my Merlin story first. I defiantly feel like I need a break from life. The stress is really getting to me.

Also, I want to thank OtherCharacterNut for helping me with this story. You guys really need to read her stories.

Again, the next chapter will take some time because of life and my next update is my "My Magical Wish" story. Please be patient with me. Sorry for any grammar mistakes.

Also, I do not own anything and the songs except my OCs Brie, Amber and Adam.

Walking up the spiral stairs felt like each step took me longer to the door. My heart was pounding inside my chest that for a moment it sounded like someone was knocking on the other side of the solid wood door. I took a deep breath to calm myself. I needed answers and to be sure that the stupid bet did not happen. No matter what.

Clearing my thoughts and throat, I turned the knob with as much determination as I could muster and stepped into the room that I remembered as though I had never left it. The place where I had my voice lessons with Erik and I sang 'Once Upon A December.' My feet walked close to the grand piano as the balcony doors opened. Erik strode forward in all his Phantom glory. He smiled as his eyes landed on mine and my heart began to uncontrollably pound again when he closed the door, gliding towards my waiting figure.

"Brianna, it's so good to see you. I hope you slept well and are ready to rehearse my song?" he said in his smoothest voice.

Trying to be firm and not fall for his tricks, I cleared my throat as I turned my back away from him. I place the songbook folder on the piano.

Without looking at him I said, "Erik, we need to talk."

"About what Brianna?"

"I'm going to ask you something and you must answer me honestly. No cheating, no lying, and no pretending you don't have an answer."

I could hear his footstep walking closer to me. I looked over my shoulder as he said, "My Angel of Music, I swear to you I will answer your question honestly."

I looked him dead in the eyes and without hesitation, I asked him, "Did you make a bet with Raoul about me last night?"

Erik's composure completely dropped, making no effort to disguise that he was taken aback by my question. "I…Well I…"

I watched his face lose all color as he struggled to answer and lowered my eyes. His wavering confirmed that the bet did happen. Just like in the musical.

"Why? What on earth would compel both you and Raoul to do something idiotic like that?"

Erik's eyes narrowed at my statement. "Now hold on, how did you know of what happened to me and that flop of a manager?"

"Ok, one, do not call him that," I said sternly. Yes, Raoul does have problems, but he is so much better than the Raoul in the 'Love Never Dies' musical. "And two, I am not from here Erik, remember? I know about the musical and I was hoping because I am here that the stupid bet wouldn't happen! What was the bet even about anyway?"

The Phantom started pacing across the floor, tension returning to his body. "Your manager and I agreed to these terms. In two days, if you sing that song I gave you, that you would stay here. But, if you do not sing, that all the debts will be paid in full."

He was about to continue, but he paused. There was more.

"What else? Erik, what else was part of the bet?"

He looked into my eyes and said, "And I will never see you again." I was shocked. Ok, that was new to this musical. That was not part of the original bet.

"Raoul said that?" Erik nodded his head. I narrowed my eyes and asked, "And you agreed to the terms?" I started laughing with disbelief. "This can't be happening. I thought both of you learned two years ago."

"It was ten," I heard Erik mumble under this breath.

"I don't care if it was two, ten, or fifty years! I said this before, I am a human being. I am not someone's property!"

Erik marched right up to me and said firmly, "I will not lose you again, Brianna. Not to that boy, not to your world and not to your troublesome brother-in-law. I love you and you belong with me."

I felt my eye twitched. No. This had to be settled once and for all. "Let me ask you something, Erik. What do you love about me?"

He blinked in surprise and asked, "What?"

"What do you love about me?" He opened up his mouth, but I interrupted before he could utter a word. "And don't just say you love my voice."

"Brieanna, you know I love you."

"Do I? Ok, then let me ask you a few more things. What's my favorite color? What's my favorite book? What is the one thing I am most afraid of?"

I ran off the list so quickly that Erik stuttered in response, "Y-You are afraid of spiders..."

"Wrong, I am most afraid of being alone. Of losing my family, my friends... of losing you." As my emotions started to overwhelm me, I paced around the room, and I felt Erik's eyes watch me. "How can you really love me if you don't even know me, Erik? You know what, coming here was a mistake."

Without giving him a moment to speak, I grabbed my song folder and turned to walk out of the room.

"You know I want you." His voice struck me as my hand reaching the doorknob. I was frozen, holding my breath as I thought, 'How does he know that song?'

"It's not a secret I try to hide. I know you want me. So don't keep saying our hands are tied."

I felt my whole body stiffen as the sound of black sole shoes walking towards me. I could see the shadow of my favorite Broadway character creeping up the wooden door. His left hand landed softly on my shoulder as the other caressed my hand that was still on the doorknob.

"You claim it's not in the cards. But fate is pulling you miles away and out of reach from me." Erik slowly turned me around to face him as he continued to sing, "But you're here in my heart. So, who can stop me if I decide? That you're my destiny?"

The songbook folder fell out of my hands as he led me back to the center of the room. "What if we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine." His eyes hypnotized my hazel eyes as he voice soothed my soul. "Nothing could keep us apart. You'd be the one I was meant to find. It's up to you and it's up to me. No one can say what we get to be. So why don't we rewrite the stars? Maybe the world could be ours… Tonight!"

He pulled a cord. Suddenly, the velvet curtain raised up. To my astonishment, there were pictures, sculptures, paints, and a manikin… of me. I was in awe of the beautiful art.

"You did all of this?" I asked softly.

"You are my muse, Brieanna Molitor," he spoke. "I know you want to go home, but what if there is a way you can stay here… with me?"

I picked up a charcoal picture of myself holding a red rose. I smiled softly, but I recalled what Erik just said.

I sighed before singing, "You think it's easy. You think I don't wanna run to you." I slowly placed my picture back on the shelf. "But there are mountains and there are doors that we can't walk through. I know you're wondering why, because we're able to be," I sang out to him.

I could see his eyes trying too hard to keep in hope. I walked over to a crystal chandelier that was laying sideways on the ground. I softly touched the tiny gemstones before they suddenly burst into light. I took a step back as I continued to sing, "Just you and me. Within these walls. But when we go outside, you're gonna wake up and see that it was hopeless after all."

The room was filled with sparkling crystals. As the sun from the window hit the crystals, little bright rainbows danced in the room.

I pretended to touch the rainbows as I sang with passion, "No one can rewrite the stars. How can you say you'll be mine? Everything keeps us apart and I'm not the one you were meant to find."

I closed my eyes and started to sway as the music danced in my head. I felt like I was in a floating dream and all my worries flew away. For a moment, I could've sworn that I was spinning trapeze like Zendaya had with Zac Efron.

"It's not up to you. It's not up to me. When everyone tells us what we can be?" I slowly lifted my feet with my eyes closed and started to dance unknowing that there were more than one set of eyes watching me. "How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours… Tonight!"

My back hit a solid chest before I was instantly spun around. My eyes shot upward when Erik grabbed my right hand and my waist. I tried to back away, but my body wasn't in control. Erik smirked as he knew he was right and that I wanted him as much as he wanted me. We started to waltz as we sang in harmony.

"All I want is to fly with you. All I want is to fall with you. So just give me all of you."

I shook my head as I tried to reason with myself. "It feels impossible."

"It's not impossible."

"Is it impossible?" I asked as I stared into the Phantom's eyes.

We held each other close as we sang with desire, "Say that it's possible!"

I gasped when Erik lifted me up in his arms and spun me around in wide, fairy-tale circles. I smiled down at him, seeing the love for me pooling in his eyes, and I felt the love I had for him two years ago fill me up as my twirling dress filled the space around us. In that moment, I knew in my heart, that I wanted to be with him.

"How do we rewrite the stars? Say you were made to be mine? Nothing can keep us apart. Cause you are the one I was meant to find!" Erik dipped me as we continued to dance around the room. "It's up to you and it's up to me. No one can say what we get to be. Why don't we rewrite the stars? Changing the world to be ours."

The music softly disappeared as we slowly stopped our waltz. We were breathing so hard and at the same time. I felt a little dizzy and found myself placing my head onto Erik's firm chest. I could hear the thundering of his heartbeat as he placed his hand on top of my brunette hair as he stroked it. This felt so right… but in reality, I know this would never come true. I could feel tears swelling up in my eyes. I slowly lifted my head to look at my phantom. Erik's concern darkened his eyes as he carefully swiped away my tears.

I closed my eyes and took a deep, shaky beath as I sang Zendaya's heartbreaking lyrics. "You know I want you… It's not a secret I try to hide." My hazel eyes opened to meet his. "But I can't have you…" My heart broke when Erik released my hands as the world fell into his shoulders. I stepped away from him as I meekly sang, "We're bound to break, and my hands are tied."

There was no sound. I was shaking at the realization that I just broke up with Erik.

Clap…clap…clap.

"Bravo, this was the performance of a lifetime. You really outdid yourself, Phantom."

My eyes widened, and my heart dropped. I recognized that voice. I should have realized I was being followed. I looked behind me as the mysterious person walked out of the curtain. Oh, shiitake mushrooms.

There you have it! Who do you think the mysterious person is? Will Brie follow the musical? Will she go back to her world or stay in the Phantom of the Opera world?

The next chapter will take some time. But it will be up soon. I have 'My Magical Wish' chapter next. Remember to like and comment. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please share! Until then…

Grapejuice101