Chapter Twenty-Eight-You've Past the Point of No Return

Chapter Twenty-Eight
You've Past the Point of No Return

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     "If Melanie sings, it is the chance to ensnare our clever friend."

"Go on, Vicomte."

Phillip smiled at the opera house managers. Melanie sat in the corner of the parlor room, Charlotte, and Niall on the other, neither speaking.

"He'll have to watch her sing," he said. "What gratification would he get otherwise? Melanie is an obsession, and he's going to take great care to watch her sing again."

"So, if he's there-"

"The doors will be bared. The police present. We are certain they're armed. The curtain falls," Phillip slapped the chair. "His reign shall end!"

***

Anette Greywald sat rolling out the curls of Melanie's hair for tonight performance, which was only 45 minutes away. Hotch and Reid were going over procedure with Melanie should she spot him in the audience. Her anxiety was growing by the minute. The dressing room felt cramped and packed-the way it had been when she was a chorus girl. In a way, Melanie like it. But being a prima donna wasn't the same. You get the glory, but you get it alone.

   Melanie's dress was only a black corset, with white thin sleeves that kept falling off the shoulders. There was a bright red rose in between her breasts, and a larger one in her curly gold hair. The skirt was a yellow-gold wrap around. Very thin. Very short. She was barefoot, and she carried a basket of red roses onto the stage. Her only prop before she would be seduced by the main character. Melanie sighed aloud at her disgusting role that Damien had left for her.

     Spencer came forward a few minutes later and slipped something into her hands. Melanie looked at him, confused, then opened her palm. Two ruby earrings, and a gold chain with a single ruby charm in the center.

Spencer leaned down to hug her, then whispered,"Do not take these off. No matter what happens. Understand?"

Melanie threw her arms fiercely around him in reply. "Yes," she said firmly, then kissed his cheek. "Thank you." she said in Hotchner's direction. "For everything."

As Hotch was leaving to give Melanie a moment to talk to Reid, Phillip came in. Hotchner sighed.

"Philly," Melanie whispered, throwing her arms around him.

"You look beautiful," he said, making his hug brief. "We're going to get him tonight, Melanie. I'm going to make you safe."

Melanie took a step back. "You don't understand, do you? He'll find me tonight. He'll take me. We'll be parted forever. He won't let me go!" Melanie turned away from him to grasp the make-up counter.

"Melly, you said your self that he was nothing but a man. But while he lives, he will haunt us till we're dead."

Melanie turned, and ran her finger down his cheek bone. "You think it would be easier to say goodbye now."

Phillip laughed hard. "It isn't goodbye, Melly. I will see you after the show. I promise."

Melanie nodded. Phillip kissed her on the cheek one last time. "Break a leg, Melly." Melanie nodded, walking out after him. He was gone when she entered. The cast was waiting for their entrance in the wings.

"There she is!" Tommy said, wrapping his arms around her. Melanie gagged at being compressed. "Whoops. Forgot my own strength," he said, smiling evilly. Melanie rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, whatever."

"Melly," Audrey sighed. The two girls embraced tightly. Audrey's eyes were watery now, the way Melly's had been every other hour for the past...well, most of the time Reid had seen her.

"Be careful," she whispered to her friend.

"You too," Melanie said, kissing her cheek. "All of you."

"Break a leg, Melbells," Tommy said, punching her shoulder. Melanie kissed his and Zayn's cheek.

"If I can't do my turn later, it's your fault," she said, sniffing and wiping her eyes.

Spencer came behind and gripped Melly's shoulders. "Let's get you to your mark," he said. Melanie pasted Niall on the way, who was playing her lover.

"You'll do great," he said.

"Thank you, Niall. You will too. You may need to whip me on the spin though. I think Tommy just broke my shoulder."

He smiled. "Will do. Break a leg."

"Break a leg."

***

Melanie nervously watched the chorus exit the stage after their number, and it was her turn to enter.

Melanie stepped into the light, and looked up at the box seats as she sang. She found Phillip.

"...Dreams of life..."

Okay, she thought, Tommy and Zayn are behind me. Niall should be entering soon-

The curtain fussed behind her upstage. She swallowed. Why was she so nervous?

She knew why.

"Master," Tommy said, no doubt bowing.

"Passarino-go away, for the trap, it is set, and waits for its prey."

Melanie stiffened, and continued to play naively with the roses in the basket. She heard to the two boys exit up stage right and Niall's boots click until he was in her peripheral vision. Melanie turned slightly as he began to sing. She swallowed before looking back down at the flowers. This man's hair was dark, his voice was deep, and he was two feet too tall to be Niall.

"You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish which till now
Has been silent
Silent."

Melanie rose from her crouch to tuck a hair behind her, and stare at the stranger who was no stranger. They wanted her to check the crowd. They never said on stage. Melanie looked again. Phillip hadn't noticed anything yet. The cops hadn't. Reid was in the wings, looking not the least bit worried. She bit her lip.

Her masked lover stalked ever closer, singing in her ear.

This has to be a dream...

"I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses
Completely succumbed to me
Now you are here with me
No second thoughts
You've decided
Decided."
He ran his hand down her arm, and Melanie shivered. She locked on his dark eyes, and her inside's melted.
"We're two of the same," he had once told the 13 year old Melanie, small and meek and confused. And she had believed him. Just like she was now.
"Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make-believe are at an end.

Past all thought of if or when
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend."

Melanie gasped as he wrapped his arms around her waist, letting his hands explore her arms and sides.

"What raging FIRE shall flood the soul
What rich desire unlocks it's door
What sweet seduction lies before us?

Past the point of no return
The final threshold
What warm unspoken secrets
Will we learn
Beyond the point of no return? "

Damien backed away, looking at Melanie, breathing hard. It was a question. He wanted an answer. Melanie found Phillip, who nodded at her. But he didn't know what was going on. She would have to tell him. She would have to ask.
Melanie was falling into the trap in order to get help.

She took in a deep breathe before she began.
"You have brought me
To that moment when words run dry
To that moment when speech disappears
Into silence
Silence."
Melanie looked back at her fiance, who still didn't know. Melanie turned from fear to rage. He couldn't help her. He wouldn't if he could. Melanie turned back to Damien, still looking arrogant, eyebrows raised.
 "I have come here,
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined
Our bodies entwining
Defenseless and silent,
Now I am here with you
No second thoughts
I've decided
Decided."
Melanie didn't need to look back at Phillip to know he was catching on. Melanie drug her hand down the side of Damien's face. He closed his eyes, loving the touch of her skin on his.
Melanie smiled evilly.
"Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now at last begun."
Melanie laughed as she playfully tossed back her skirt, and fluffed her hair. She accepted Damien's hands on her body and she smiled as she sang. Phillip was confused, but he was coming into realization slowly.

"Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait before we're one?

When will the blood begin to race
The sleeping bud burst into bloom
When will the flames at last CONSUME us?"
Melanie giggled as he ran a trail of kisses up her arm and under her hair. His hands ran up her legs. She didn't care. Sin was consuming her. She didn't care. She wanted this now.
Their voices melted together perfectly, keeping the audience stuck to their seats.
"Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return."
They held each other at center stage, hands all over each other. Screaming, passion flowing from them. Phillip was crying from box 5.
   No one could hear as Damien whispered in Melanie's ear, her eyes widening and saddening. She looked out at the audience, looking from face to face. She had all seen them at one point, all met them. She had grown up here. Melanie turned to him, and put her pale hand on his face. She mouthed the words,"I'm sorry," to him, but not before she grabbed hold of Damien's black mask and pulled.

Damien's skin was badly burned and distorted. The audience gasped. He stared sadly at Melanie, but it soon turned to hot anger as he grabbed hold of her and ran off the stage. Spencer, who was the only guard backstage, immediately followed where they should've been.



But they were gone.

Spencer heard the audience's screams before he saw them, but he had to wipe away his own tears first.

Melanie had been right, she was going to be taken. The only connection they had was in the red ruby necklace.

He prayed she didn't take it off.

It was the first time he had prayed in years.

But he had to, because after all this, God had to harbor some mercy for the girl who had no love given to her. No hope.