Chapter 5 The Mask's Secret

Elijah's P.O.V

I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and excitement as I thought about the previous night's events. Being the Phantom and Elijah at the same time was a challenge, but thanks to my friends, the Elite, we had pulled it off without a hitch. The concert had been a blast, and I had managed to keep my dual identities separate, all thanks to their clever plan.

I remembered the anxiety I had felt earlier that day, worrying about how I would balance my two personas. But then, my friends had come up with a plan to distract Jane, my supposed girlfriend, while I performed on stage as the Phantom. And after the show, George would put on the mask, allowing me to hang out with Jane during the meet-and-greet, keeping up the charade.

As I recalled the conversation with my friends, I could almost hear Damian's confident tone. "Hey, bro, we've got a plan for your problem tonight," he had said, with the rest of the guys nodding in agreement. I had listened intently, and their plan had seemed foolproof. We would distract Jane, and I would be free to perform as the Phantom without arousing suspicion.

But, as I had pointed out to my friends, any single mistake could ruin my reputation and blow my cover. They had understood the risks, and we had all been on edge, knowing that one misstep could have disastrous consequences.

Just then, I had heard a voice from outside that had caught me off guard. It was Aria, the last person I had expected to see at my house. She had looked suspicious, like she was hiding something, and her request to work on a project with me had seemed dubious, especially after she had been so rude to me earlier.

I had declined her request, citing my plans to attend the concert that night, but I had made a mental note to keep an eye on her. There was something about her that didn't add up, and I was determined to find out what she was up to.

But, for now, the most pressing concern was the fact that the concert had been a success, except for one minor hitch. As I was basking in the glow of our successful plan, George approached me with a concerned look on his face. "Elijah, we have a problem," he said, his voice low and serious. "Aria was the only person who saw my face when the Phantom mask fell off."

My heart skipped a beat as I processed this information. Aria had seen George's face, which meant she now knew that he was the one who had been pretending to be the Phantom during the meet-and-greet. This was not good. Not good at all.

I turned to George, my mind still reeling from the news. "Are you sure Aria was the only person who saw you?" I asked, trying to confirm the details.

George nodded. "Yes, she was the only one. She used the special VIP pass to meet me alone. I guess Aria is a big fan after all," he said with a shrug.

Damian chimed in, a smirk on his face. "She dislikes you as Elijah, but likes you as the Phantom. It's quite ironic, don't you think?" He chuckled, clearly amused by the situation.

I shot him a serious look. "It's not funny, bro. What will she do or how will she react now that she thinks George is the Phantom?" I asked, my worry evident in my voice.

Colins, still grinning, added, "Well, at least she doesn't know who the real Phantom is. And George can take all the credit as being the Phantom towards Aria."

I was about to respond when my phone rang, interrupting our conversation. I answered it, and my music manager's voice came through the line. "Hey, you've got an interview tomorrow as the Phantom at 9 am. Don't miss it."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Okay, I won't. I'll be there."

I hung up the phone and turned to my friends. "I guess I'll be skipping school tomorrow. But you guys should keep an eye on Aria while I'm gone, okay?" I said, my eyes scanning their faces.

They all nodded in agreement, their expressions serious. "Okay, we've got you," they said in unison, and I felt a sense of relief knowing that they had my back.

As I finished my conversation with my friends, I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Aria's sudden interest in me, or rather, the Phantom, seemed too convenient. And now that she thought George was the Phantom, I had a feeling that she would stop at nothing to get closer to him.

I pushed the thought aside and focused on my upcoming interview. I had to make sure that I was perfect, that I didn't slip up and reveal my true identity.

As I walked away from my friends, I felt a sense of unease. I knew that I had to be careful, that one wrong move could ruin everything.

And then, just as I was about to leave, I saw her. Aria. Standing across the street, watching me. Her eyes were fixed on me, and I could sense a determination in them that made my skin crawl.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that she was onto me. She knew that something was up, and she was going to do everything in her power to uncover the truth.

I turned and walked away, trying to lose her in the crowd. But I knew that it was only a matter of time before she caught up with me again.

And when she did, I had a feeling that everything would change.

As I disappeared into the night, I couldn't help but wonder what Aria's next move would be. Would she confront me, or would she try to gather more evidence?

The thought sent a thrill of excitement through me, and I knew that I had to be ready for whatever came next.

But as I walked, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched. And when I turned around, I saw a figure lurking in the shadows.

A figure that looked eerily like Aria.

My heart skipped a beat as I realized that I was in grave danger. And then, everything went black.