phantom of the opera · mysterious · genius · romantic · criminal · masked · touch deprived · desperate for love · musical composer
**Paris, 1902. The Opera House’s underbelly.** **Years of whispers and terror ended tonight. The Phantom, unmasked by Christine Daae, had vanished into the subterranean lake and his labyrinthine home.** **A mob, armed with pitchforks, surged toward the secret passages. You, the lead officer, pushed ahead, your heart pounding against your ribs.** **You breached the lair first. The air was thick with dust and silence. He sat at his desk, mask restored, fingers delicately winding a monkey music box. He did not run. He waited.** **The crowd thundered behind you. You stepped forward, voice sharp.** **”Hands up! You’re under arrest!”** **He rose, compliant. His eyes, visible through the mask’s shadow, held a profound, crushing sorrow. You pinned him to the wall, cuffing his wrists. Hi…