We're playing the Orpheum.

We're playing the Orpheum.

We're playing the Orpheum. This was all the circled through the Elise's mind - they'd somehow managed to pull it off, and if this was their unfinished business (which she was 85% certain it was,) then she'd actually be able to hug Julie again. To apologize to her sister, to unpause her life. And while she would miss the boys, as if they were a physical piece of her heart that would be leaving, she knew that this was the best possible outcome for them. She was happy that they may have a chance to find out what's on the other side of it all.

She hadn't been there when Julie got the call - she'd been trying to her best to avoid lingering around her. It felt like a violation of Julie's privacy, and it made her heart ache to a degree that Elise could only stand in the tiniest of doses. She wondered if Julie could sense her there, or if the subtle frowns and sudden freezing mood were coincidence.

They'd already wrapped up their last rehearsal before The Phantom's most important performance ever - and though she hadn't exchanged any personal words with her girlfriend, Elise found comfort in the knowledge that her and Julie could at least continue to spend a few moments really together. Reassuring nods, eye contact, uncontrollable smiles. Things were somehow impossibly looking up - or maybe she was just finally giving in to optimism. But either way, being on the bright side of things was a new and exciting alternative to Elise's typical pessimism. And she had to admit, she was enjoying it. Not only was she traveling to the other side of the rainbow - she'd actually found it first!

But right now, Elise was paying her twin a long overdue visit. While she and Willie were driving down the freeway like madmen yesterday, Julie was telling Carrie everything as she had promised. According to her, it hadn't exactly been easy to convince her of the straight up truth. But with a google search, and the showing of a Sunset Curve CD, Carrie understood everything. She'd even found out about her father's fraudulence, which Elise wished she could have been there to help her through. It wasn't an easy discovery, but the burning pain eventually would shrink into a mere ache. Somewhat.

Somehow, in the presence of her half-dead sister, the blonde just seemed happy she was near.

From the depths of her closet, Carrie managed to find a white board and a singular bright pink dry erase marker. Julie had apparently texted her that Elise would come be coming by soon, so she was not too entirely rattled when messy words were soon being scrawled on the board before her. It was those four simple words that Elise hadn't been able to get off her mind, and when she looked up at her sister, her face was more shocked than anything else.

"You're-" Her voice cracked, and she attempted to clear her throat. "Sorry, this is weird. You're actually playing the Orpheum? This isn't some joke?"

Elise chuckled slightly, adding a few exclamation points to the end to emphasize that this was in face true.

"Wow." Elise wasn't surprised to detect the tiniest bit of jealousy, which she couldn't exactly blame her for. But the overwhelming emotion on her face was glee, along with confusion, and small hints of fear and unease. All of which Elise felt too. "This is the unfinished business thing, right?"

She erased her neon words with her hand as best she could, and scribbled a yes over the smudges left behind.

Carrie's eyes shifted downward, previous emotions now replaced by sadness - a wistful concoction of past and new pain. "I miss you. I really hope..."

Her sentence dragged off, Elise swallowed thickly. "Me too," she spoke as she wrote the next three words.

I have hope.

Seeing the words seemed to catch Carrie slightly off guard. If her sister had hope, then she'd better share it too.

The blonde's smile began as a forced gesture of solitude, but as Elise began to depict two stick figures holding hands brightly on the board, it was no longer meaningless. In fact, she couldn't bring herself to stop smiling.

The clock on Carrie's night stand was now nearing seven, and the smile on Elise's own face wavered. It was an overwhelming, sick to her stomach feeling, that made it almost impossible to move. Even if this weren't paranormal, even if there weren't lives riding on a single half hour, it would still be too nerve-racking to bare. It's the Orpheum for crying out loud!

I have to go now. Carrie nodded sadly.

"I'll be there, okay?" She doodled a little smiley face on the bottom corner. I love you.

"I love you too, Lisa."

Elise lingered a moment longer, biting her lip and watching her sister's face carefully. Another glance at the clock. She was gone.

She knew Julie had already left her house as she entered the studio, immediately met with greetings and celebrations by the boys. They immediately offered her high fives, which she gladly returned. Their presence was always comforting, even in the face of mind-boggling anxiety.

Seeing them so excited morphed her nervousness to meet their emotions, but didn't exactly shake her nerves. But there was something else in the veins now - excitement.

"How are you doing, Ellie?"

"I'm surprisingly optimistic." Their immediate responses were smiles - the kind that caught you off guard. "What about you guys."

"Well," Luke began. "I'm hyped, Reggie is acting like a puppy at the dog park - only it's the fourth of July - and Alex is, well, being Alex."

"I see." She nodded at Luke's colorful description of his childhood friends (whom she'd miss with her whole heart.)

Alex was sitting on the couch, elbows resting on his knees and fingers tapping together restlessly. She lowered herself into the sofa beside him, hand setling gently on his shoulder. She didn't say anything - he would speak when he was ready. A few minutes passed and the two had yet to move, Luke was comforting Reggie with his arms wrapped around the other, Reggie's chin rested on Luke's shoulder as the taller boy stroked his hair.

Elise was so, so lucky to have met these boys. Even if their time together was soon coming to an end. She would never regret meeting them, no matter how much saying goodbye hurt, because the joy and love they'd brought her would always be ten times the amount of pain the ending would bring. She felt as if she were meant to meet them, something had brought them together. Fate.

Alex gave her a thankful smile, which she returned warmly.

"It's about time to get going.." She announced, eyes circling the room. Each of the boys glanced at the clock hung on the wall, the air in the studio seeming to immediately thicken. She stood, stepping toward Luke slowly.

"Is everyone ready?" Elise asked warily.

"Just.. just give us a second."

The boy shared a glance, and she understood immediately with a sharp pang to her heart. "We won't be coming back here."

She smiled sadly and nodded, deciding it would be best to give the three of them a moment alone.

But as she approached the door, the chilling face of a familiar ghost appeared in front of her. Caleb smiled, eyebrows furrowing with ill-intent, and stepped closer to her. In turn, she took a step back, and continued inching backwards until her back came in contact with one of the boys.

"Oh? And where is it you think you're going?" He mused, poorly playing through his oblivious act.

"What are you doing here?" Elise asked, though it was meant as an aggressive dig at the man. He laughed.

"Such hostility." He dramatically yanked at the end of his cape, fading and reappearing on the piano behind them. The group turned to follow his movements, anger bubbled in Elise's chest. She wasn't scared of him, no matter how much power he had or what he'd done to each of them - what he'd taken, - she only felt rage. Pure rage that brought her voice up to her head, that pounded at the back of her skull as it were about to burst. Who was he to deserve such strength? He was a con man, a fake, a liar. "I'm just here to congratulate you. It's your big night, is it not?"

"Cut the bullshit!" Luke yelled, stepping in front of Elise and the rest of the group. Wether is was to have a sense of protection between them or to show case his emotions, Elise didn't know. "We know your stamp did this to us."

Caleb sucked in his cheek, giving a questioning hum in response.

"We don't want to join your little club. Alright?"

"And you can't make us either," Alex shouted. He seemed to immediately regret it as Caleb peered down at him, and he shrank back slightly. "Sir." He added, voice now puny.

Silence fell over them, as if they were caught in a game of chess against the greatest player, and he was still pondering his next move. A smile remained on his face, showing everything but good intentions.

"So you're crossing over tonight then." His eyebrows shot up a few times and he put weight onto his arm, leaning onto the top of the piano. "How exciting! Right? Though, the funny thing about crossing over is that not a single person knows what's on the other side."

And suddenly, as if a flip had been switched, all of the fake warmth drained from his face. He glared at them, eyes narrowed and teeth clenched. Elise swallowed. "I know what's happening on this side, though."

The girl was embarrased that she jumped slightly in fear as her counterparts disappeared, leaving her alone in the studio with the man hell-bent on The Phantom's destruction. She tried to make sense of it - his motive - but there was no possible way to decipher such a misguided and petty motive as his.

"What is it exactly that you want? Why are we such a threat to you! You're petty. You're power-hungry, right? You're doing this because you're afraid." She hadn't realized the way she was stepping toward him. Caleb's face still remained indifferent. "Stop being such a coward. You don't deserve a shred of what you have."

She was digging to get a reaction out of him, but the tiniest shred of anger on his face dissipated in a moment. "Well, Ms. Wilson. If that's what it takes to stay on the top."

She was somehow fuming more, fighting the urge to punch him square in his annoying face. "How undignified do you have to be-"

"I have an offer for you. And I suggest you listen closely."

"Why would I ever listen-"

"There's no way to be sure this is your friend's unfinished business. And if that's the case, there's no hope for any of you. Right?"

She pierced her lips. She was trapped in his game, she wanted more than anything to escape, but maybe she couldn't. At least not yet.

"What are you saying." She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned slightly back, face stoney.

"I'm saying, that I'm giving you a choice. An out, if you will. Just try to keep an open mind." She wanted to scream, to make him see just how pathetic he was. But at the end of the day, he did have power. Not matter how much he didn't deserve it, she didn't have much of a choice. "If it's not their unfinished business, they're going to fade. But, if you join my house band, I'll lift the curse. And, I'll make it so your precious Julie can see you as well."

She swallowed, a wave of unease knocking into her. "I'd still be a ghost?"

"Yes, but your friends would survive. You would be the hero, wouldn't you?"

She bit her bottom lip and stared at the floor below her, fighting off the tears that made their way to the backs of her eyes. The optimistm, the control, the brief happiness - it was gone. He'd stolen it, as if he didn't have enough already. "I'll consider it, on one condition."

"I'm listening."

"I get to talk to my sister too. Not just Julie."

"Alright." He smiled cruely, eyebrows furrowing. "Deal."

"I'm not saying yes."

"I understand, I guess we'll have to see where the night takes us."

"Please-" He tugged at his cape, and suddenly she was standing beside her friends behind what seemed to be a curtain. Caleb stood in front of them, loud instrumental music boomed around them.

It didn't take her long to notice the change in her attire - she now wore a slim black dress that hugged her body perfectly, puffed mesh sleeves and lace hemming around the collar. It cut off mid thigh, and then began a pair of knee high fishnets and black boots. It was surprisingly her style, which somehow caught her off guard.

"I pay attention," Caleb said, noticing her bewildered expression. She grimaced.

"How'd you... know our sizes." Each of them looked to Alex, disbelieving.

"That's your first question?" Luke asked.

"I know you guys aren't my biggest fans," The attention was returned to him, and Elise practically fumed. "And eternity at my club might seem a little overwhelming, but I just put you a sweet threads, so humor me."

"Make it quick." Reggie shouted over the bass. Caleb nodded.

"Isn't it nice that you're all here together?" We're not. Julie's not here. "Believe me, everything you want is here."

Caleb's gaze closed in on Alex. "Including Willie." The boy blushed, eyes moving to the floor.

"On my stage," he walked in front of the three boys, smiling mischievously. "You don't disappear when the music ends. You get to bask in the applause for as long as you'd like. The connection you'll feel with your audience will be like no other. That's a guarantee."

She glanced over to the boys, who shared the same impatient and uncomfortable expressions as Elise did.

The chorus of stringed and brass instruments stopped suddenly, exposing the boisterous cheers and applause coming from the audience. Elise had never been to Hollywood Ghost Club before, so it took her a moment to register exactly what was happening. But when her location finally struck her brain, her anger doubled. He was trying to trap them here so they'd miss their performance, right? In the place where he seemed to manipulate time, as the boys had said.

"Do you hear that?" Caleb beamed, lifting up a finger as if telling each of them to listen closely. "They're waiting for you."

Elise caught Luke's eyes, before he suddenly crouched over in pain. The rest of the boys did the same as the groaned and gasped.

"Stop it!" Elise shouted, stepping in front of them and toward Caleb. "Stop it why are you hurting them!?"

But his expression didn't faulter, as if he hadn't even heard the girl's pleads.

Alex's hand landed on her shoulder, as if telling to give herself a break from this pointless fight, and she stepped back although she was still nearly fuming.

"That one looked like it hurt." His face morphed into mock sympathy, Alex's hand squeezed a few time in reassurance in an attempt to keep her anger at bay.

"Now boys, you don't know that playing the Orpheum is your unfinished business. Do you really have time to make that mistake?" Elise glanced at them - they were not allowed to make this decision. She would never allow them too. And if worse truly came to worse, she had a cushion to catch all of them. She could save them...

But they wouldn't end up there. She had to believe that this was their shot. Elise caught each of their eyes with furrowed brows, a stern gaze to shake any ounce of consideration from their minds.

But then, Caleb managed to sneak a glance over to her. She couldn't seem to tear away from his gaze - he knew he was getting into her head. She looked away.

"You know where to find me." His eyes moved over the group, but Elise couldn't help but think that he was really only addressing her.

He disappeared then, the curtain before them was pulled open slightly to display a vast stage covered entirely with instruments and stage dancers in 40s tutus and suits. In the middle of it all, Caleb now stood as proud as ever. He waved his cape about as he addressed the audience that Elise could now see - rows and rows of tables lined to the very back of the expansive room, filled with enthusiastic whooping and echoing applause. Elise couldn't help but wonder how many of these poor souls had been conned into this life.

Music started up again, drums rolling and horns blaring. When Elise looked back up to the stage, Caleb was staring straight at the group.

His lyrics were just for them.

Alex's foot tapped up and down with the beat. At first, Elise only thought it to be his tendency to dance along with music, until it seemed like his body was physically being pulled forward. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he sent Elise one last frightened look before he appeared on the stage before them.

"We can't- we have to leave!" She shouted over the music at the boys. They both nodded frantically, wide eyes.

"Yeah, but..." Reggie began. A moment later, he was gone too.

"Ugh!" Elise groaned, throwing her hands over her face in frustration. She wanted to scream. "We don't have time for his little games!"

"Ellie, we're going to make it. Just... play along with that bastard's dumb game and then we'll be out of here." She glanced up at him, disbelieving. They were running out of time - what was Julie thinking? Maybe she'd assume that they'd already faded into nothingness, and she didn't have the chance to say goodbye, again. Or maybe she'd assume that they simply abandoned her for Caleb's club. She didn't know which thought was worse, but either way the idea of Julie buried under the anxiety made her own stomach churn. "Hey, take a breath. We've got this."

She swallowed, weighing his words in her brain alongside the painful ideas. A small accepting smile appeared on her lips, which was soon returned with a warm one that worked its way into her soul.

Though, she still couldn't help but feel cold when Luke disappeared too.

Elise watched her three best friends on the stage, stressed eyes, with her hand in front of her mouth as if covering her face would distance her from her troubles.

Her foot began tapping along with the melody - it was not her that was controlling it, but some outside force. It was almost like invisible hands grabbed at her ankles and pulled them further, while her mind screamed at them to stop.

Though her doubts were slowly beginning to overpower, she screamed in her head that they needed to leave - to take every precaution. But something about the drums, the choir of ghosts, pulled her further and further forward.

It wasn't the music, it was simply Caleb. He refused to let anyone else have the last laugh.

She didn't have time to blink before she appeared on stage too, to the left side of Caleb, fingers plucking a melody she didn't even know to the crowd of a hundred awed guests. It was beautiful, of course she could give him that, but it also felt so wrong. There was something off in the faces that stared back at them, and the essence of the stage itself. The building felt as if it had it's own brain, one that could leak thoughts into your own. It was as if her mind was being poked and prodded repeatedly.

And though she smiled, all she could think about was never being able to hug Julie Molina again.