Let Your Fantasies Unwind

Chapter 30

"Megan, you can go up and watch the Ball for a little bit."

"When are you going to arrive?" 'I already know this.'

"Later. Go. I want you to enjoy the music. I've noticed that you enjoy my music box. I've got to get dressed up, though, so you go on ahead."

"See you then?"

"Yeah."

I go find the entrance that leads to the outdoors, and go out. I don't bother changing my clothes out of the pants and shirt. I walk up to the entrance and see other people pouring into the entrance.

"Here's to us!"

"I must say, all the same, that it's a shame that 'Phantom' fellow isn't here!" Firmin says.

I enter the foyer and watch the little band of four start playing the music of 'Masquerade'. More people enter in their many a color costumes and hidden face.

"Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you!" everyone joins in song and dance, and move together. I smile as big as my face can allow it. I've always loved this sequence. "Flash of mauve. Splash of puce. Fool and king. Ghoul and goose. Green and black. Queen and priest. Trace of rouge. Face of beast. Faces! Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round, in an inhuman race." The voices bounce off the walls and echo. "Eye of gold. Thigh of blue. True is false. Who is who? Curl of lip. Swirl of gown. Ace of hearts. Face of clown. Faces. Drink it in, drink it up, till you've drowned in the light, in the sound."

I see Raoul and Christine enter. "But who can name the face?"

"Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds. Masquerade! Take your fill. Let the spectacle astound you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads. Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you!" the crowd gets quiet. "Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies. Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you!" they get loud again. "Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes. Masquerade! Run and hide -but a face will still pursue you!"

I see Madame Giry. "What a night!"

"What a crowd!" Meg joins.

"Makes you glad!" Andre says.

"Makes you proud! All the crème de la crème!" Firmin sings.

"Watching us, watching them!" Carlotta enters.

The Girys sing, "And all our fears are in the past!"

"Six months!"

"Of relief!" Piangi sings.

"Of delight!"

"Of Elysian peace!"

"And we can breathe at last!"

"No more notes!"

"No more ghost!"

"Here's to health!"

"Here's a toast: to a prosperous year!"

"To the new chandelier!"

"And may its splendor never fade!"

"Six months!"

"What a joy!"

"What a change!"