Loud yells and smoke filled the air in the city of Paris. An angry mob ran through the streets chasing a single man as he ran for his life. He ran past the cathedral, Notre Dame as well as the mob. No one noticed a single figure sitting on the steps of the church who was watching the event. The person stood to get a closer look at the man. He fit the description of the rumors she had heard on the streets.
The rumors told of a so-called phantom. Everyone heard of a man with a face so hideous, no one dared to look. The figure watched as the man ran down toward the river with the mob surrounding him. It seemed so unfair that they would all attack him. What did he do to deserve it? Was it because of the way he looked?
The mob watched as the man stopped. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled something out, raising it above his head. The crowd backed away, afraid of what he might have. What was it? Was it some kind of bomb or something? Their fear turned to anger as he opened up his hand to reveal nothing in it. The crowd rushed toward him and began beating him.
That's not fair. It's dozens against one who can't even defend himself.
The figure ran toward the stairs, keeping away from the mob. The person hid underneath the bridge and watched as the crowd lifted the body of the man. They tossed him into the river, letting him sink to his death. The crowd began to disperse, going their separate ways. They paid the figure sitting underneath the bridge no mind. The figure removed their cloak and slipped into the water.
I hope that man's still alive.
The person kicked their way through the water. It was hard to see through water this dark. The person reached around trying to grab onto anything that would resemble clothing or a human limb. They swam back to the surface to get a breath of air and dove back down. The person reached around before they felt something. It must've been the man. The person wrapped their arms around him and swam back to the surface.
Erik was unaware what was happening around him. The last thing he remembered was being beaten by the angry people from the opera house. Now here he was soaking wet and feeling like he just coughed up half of the river. Erik wondered what happened. He should be dead. He should be at the bottom of the river, rotting. Erik opened his eyes to see…a woman.