The Adventures of Mika and Cliff (Episode 5)

“Michael?” Claire groaned as they sat in their hotel room.
“Yeah, Claire?” Michael chuckled, gazing up at the ceiling. The two had just gotten back from touring Yemen and they were still the opposite genders. Mika still insisted that they refer to each other as Michael and Claire. They had made a decent amount of money with Claire’s dancing, but now both were tired and Claire wanted to go home.
“Michael, I wanna go home.” Claire moaned. Michael smiled and sat up in bed.
“Alright, you’re the one with the pensword, so you can decide when we go.” Michael laughed. Claire nodded.
“Yeah, but I’m worried that something else bad will happen. I mean, the last time I tried this, we ended up as Claire and Michael.”
“And that’s…a problem?” Michael grinned.
“Shuddup.” Claire snapped.
“C’mon, don’t pretend like you haven’t had some fun as a gi-”
“ENOUGH!” Claire barked. Michael fell silent, but continued to smile. “I just want an end to all this craziness.” Claire reached to her dresser and picked up the pensword. “Now can we go?”
“Weren’t you all worried a second ago?”
“I was…but I figure it can’t get much worse than it already is.” Claire admitted.
“Don’t you know that phrase is like disasters ringtone?” Michael asked.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, now take my hand.” Claire sneered, holding out her hand. Michael took it and held on tight. Claire reached out with the blade and once again she cut the fabric of space and time. There was a fierce pulling and a strange tugging sensation as both she and Michael were rushed through space and through the cut she had made. Within moments, the sensation stopped and the cool feel of the night air rushed around them. It was clear they were in another part of the world from the odd chill they were feeling.

“Where did you take us this time, Claire?” Michael asked. Claire looked up to see that while their place in the world had changed, they’re genders remained as they had. Claire sulked and leaned against a car near them, as it appeared they were standing in a parking lot.
“I’m sorry…I must have messed up again.” Claire admitted. Michael turned and looked up at a very large building nearby.
“Maybe not…someone in there might know where we are.” Michael made his way up to the building looking for an entrance. Locating a small door off to the rear of the building, he pushed against it to see it was stuck. “Jeez, think they could leave these things unlocked? C’mon!” He pushed harder and harder.
“Michael, we’ll find another way, come on.”
“No, I can…get…IT!” With a kick, Michael kicked the door in and grinned. “GOT IT!” There was the sound of a thud and a moan as Claire looked to see two figures collapsed under the door. They were both in costumes and Claire suddenly began to figure out what was going on.
“Michael…we’re in an opera house…and we just knocked out two of the performers.” Michael suddenly went rather pale and dropped down beside the two performers.
“I didn’t mean to!”
“What are we gonna do!?” Claire hissed. “We can’t just do nothing!” Michael began to ponder and think, pacing around.
“You’re the creative one…you think of something.” Michael snapped.
“Don’t pin this one me!” Claire retorted.
“I’m not, I’m just…ugh.” Michael buried his face in his hands, trying to calm down.
“Let’s just cool down and…try to figure this out.” Claire said desperately. She sat down on a chair and began to think. Michael then noticed their costumes. One was playing the Phantom of the Opera and the other was playing the leading lady of the same play, Christine.
“Let’s fill in for them!” Michael exclaimed.
“What?”

Within moments, Michael had his brushwand out and flourished it. Swirls of colors burst forth and reshaped and redesigned their clothes. Michaels attire changed into a very fancy and well pressed suit and a solid white mask over half of his face. His hair was slicked back and he was the spitting image of what the Phantom of the Opera would look like. Claire’s outfit changed and turned silky as it became a lavish velvet gown. Her face was covered in make up and her hair began to clean and make itself over until she looked like a gorgeous young woman.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Claire cried, grabbing at the folds of her new dress. “We don’t know the lines!”
“But we know the songs! And judging by the music, I’d say we’re nearing our favorite!” Michael said happily, taking Claire’s hand. “Let’s go have fun.”
“But, Michael we can’t!” Claire protested.
“Claire, give me a good reason why we can’t!” Michael said with a laugh. “We both know the lyrics…we both are good actors…and not to mention…” Michael suddenly narrowed his eyes and leaned close, “your voice is beautiful.” Claire suddenly blushed and looked away.
“It…it is not.” Claire stuttered.
“It is…and you’re going to show them all. Just follow my lead.” As they walked the music suddenly changed dramatically…the start of the song. Claire felt her heart beat faster. This was it…it was the point of no return for her…how ironic, considering the name of the song. Michael gave her a little shove forcing her out onto the stage.

Cliff had never felt stage fright. He had a gift. He could stand before an audience of one thousand or more and not feel fear…but as Claire, there was a new feel about him. She felt a little unnerved…her legs began to shake slightly. The music began to move and fill the air, matching the pounding of her heart behind her breast.
“Past…the point of no return…” Claire felt her eyes widen at the sound of Michaels voice. He was beginning the song! “No backward glances, the games of make believe are at an eeeend!” Claire couldn’t help but listen to him. Though he was walking behind her, she could hear every word…every breath. His voice was lovely…but there was something behind it…as if…he was pushing Claire towards something…egging her on. Encouraging her.
“Past all thought of if, or when…no use resisting! Abandon thought and let the dream desceeeeeend!” Claire looked to her side to see Michael standing to the side of her, singing with all his heart, his hand outstretched towards Claire. “What raging fires shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies…beeeefooooorrre us?” With the last word, he took a step towards Claire. The audience before them, consisting of well over a hundred, could only stare in amazement. They had no idea that Claire and Michael weren’t the real performers. Claire dared not speak.
“Past the point of no return…the final threshold: WHAT WARM UNSPOKEN SECRETS SHALL WE LEEEARN?” Michael roared his lines with bravado and grace like Claire had never heard before. Even Michael seemed slightly surprised by his own ability. But he showed none of this to the audience as he took one more step towards Claire. His hand still extended his eyes gazed at her in an encouraging way that finally began to reach Claire. Was it the music? Was it his voice? Was it his eyes? Whatever it was, it spoke to her…and she could feel the passion welling in her. “Beyond the point…of nooooo reeeeetuuuurn.” Claire stood straight and she breathed in…prepared to do or die. This was indeed her point of no return…and she would let it all out before an entire audience.

“You have brought me…to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence…siiilence…”  As she sang, Claire could feel herself giving into the music. Her body felt like it was one with the changing tempo and the falling melody. Michael smiled at her in disbelief and the audience’s breathe was caught in their throat. “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.” As Claire sang, Michael began to move ever closer, and Claire took a step towards him as well. They were close now…and Claire wasn’t done. The music picked up and she felt the music move into her very body and lift her voice forth.
“Past, the point of no return…no going back now; our passion play has now at last beguuuun!” Michael almost stepped back from the energy coming from Claires voice. It was her soul singing now…and the music was fueling her every breath. “Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question: HOW LONG SHOULD WE TWO WAIT, BEFORE WE’RE ONE!?” Claire raised her voice and cried her words into the air and Michael felt them. They finaly moved together and touched. Their hands locked and they stared at each other. “When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud begin to bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?” The two gazed into each others eyes and began to sing together.

“Past the point of no return! The final threshold…THE BRIDGE IS CROSSED SO STAND AND WATCH IT BUUUUURN!” As they sang their voices became one and it resonated with unmatched beauty. It was hard to say if the music was leading them or if they had become one with it, but what was for certain was that it was a moment that would forever dwell in their hearts and minds. “We’ve passed…the point of nooooo reeeetuuuuurn.”

“Hey, what’s going on here!?” Claire and Michael both turned to see a balding man standing back stage pointing and raging in their direction…by him were to figures which were dressed in the same clothes they were…the performers had woken up.
“Claire,” Michael whispered, “I think that’s out que to exit.”
“No…ya think?” Claire smiled sarcastically.
“It was fun though, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah…but weren’t we leaving?”
“True…exit stage left!” Suddenly Claire squealed as Michael lifted Claire into his arms and took off across the stage. Not daring to follow the director and stage hands could only watch and shout as they both made their escape. “Now would be a good time to use that blade of yours!”
“Uh…yeah!” Claire pulled out the pensword and slashed the air again. Michael made a leap towards the cut and just as they entered he smile down at Claire.
“I’d like to do this again sometime.” He smirked.
“….So would I.” Claire answered. With that, they leaped through space.