Lost and Found
Chapter One: Down Once More
"Sarah, wake up! It's time to go!"
I hoped out of bed and stared to get ready. Andrea and I had been invited to a summer music camp in Paris, so we were going to the Opera Garnier for a tour. The tour was part of the camp package, but we both had our own reasons too. She was going for all the arcutectural stuff for college next year, and I was going with her to brush up on my French. I threw on some jeans and a dark blue long-sleeved top and then we headed for the door. Although we had both been exposed to the Phantom of the Opera (both the 2004 movie and the books) we were both realists, and knew he would not be there, so we didn't think of it.
When we finally made it to the catacombs, I was bored. Andrea was taking notes on tunnels and whatever else, while a dozen other girls were giggling about the phantom. It was getting really annoying. And of course, I was getting a headache.
We came to a fork in the passage-way, and the guide let us look around independently for five minutes. I found a smaller walk way that no one else noticed, and went through to check it out.
On the other side was a straight drop-off to the great under-ground lake that Erik was rumored to live across. It was truly a sight to behold. The lake stretched on for miles in almost every direction, and the LED lights shone on it giving the illusion of the moon shining.
"He certainly has good taste in scenery," I whispered to myself, marveling at the great lake.
The guide called that we had one minute left, when the power went out. There was lots of screaming, which only added to my growing headache.
"Stay calm!" she shouted, "There's no need to worry, this happens from time to time. Just stand still and it'll come back on in a moment."
I was blindly trying to find my way back to the group, when I slipped on a rock and fell head first into the water. I tried to swim back towards the surface, but something was pulling on my foot. After struggling for some time, I felt something swim down beside me and setting me free, before I lost consciousness.
When I woke up, I was in some room. I rubbed my head while sitting up when I saw a note on the table.
You may take a bath to clean yourself of the lake-water. When you are done, come to the library.
-E.
E? Surely not Erik. No, I must be dreaming, or hallucinating, or…something! Erik has been dead for at least a hundred years, there is no way it's him. I pinched myself to test my state of consciousness, and when I felt real solid pain, I just decided to go get clean, then go to Erik in the library.
I stepped out of the shower feeling deeply refreshed. I combed through my straight auburn hair, before throwing it up in a towel. I wandered through the room looking for some clothes. When I found a black robe, I threw on and tied it tightly around my slender waist. I let my hair down and combed through it again before setting out to find the library.
When I walked in, he stood gracefully and bowed his head. To return the greeting, I curtsied slightly before sitting down. When he sat, I got a good clear view of his face, or I guess his mask. It wasn't the silly little white half-mask in Lloyd Webber's production; it was a full-faced black mask, devoid of any emotion. Two yellow-golden orbs emitted from the eye holes. I guess it would be considered as the Leroux version of Erik, he seemed very tall and unhealthily skinny, had rather thin black hair slicked back close to his head, and of course, long thin fingers sheathed in black leather gloves. He wore black dress pants, a white collared shirt, and a dark green vest with a blazer jacket over it.
"I assume you want to know why I brought you here, and who I am?" he had a beautiful melodious voice.
"Oh, yes please," not wanting to be rude I allowed him to tell me his story, rather than get it wrong and risk upsetting him
"To start, everything from the lake and forth is my property. After you fell, I took it of liberty to save you from drowning and bring you back here. You have been unconscious for two hours, and I could not return you in such a state. Your friend went home safely, but has been told not to call your parents 'til morning while security searches for you. You are more than welcome to stay the night here if you wish it. I am Erik."
"Well thank you for saving me Erik, and I would very much like to stay the night here if it's not too much trouble. By what time should I leave in the morning? My name's Sarah, by the way."
He sighed, "No, mademoiselle, you will not be leaving. You have passed beyond the lake, and therefore you are now under my possession."
I was utterly shocked. I knew Erik would be unpredictable, but to keep me captive, and for god knows how long? It was all I could do to not scream insanely, this was still Erik, and he could still kill me.
"Well, if I am to be your captive, then why would you offer me to stay the night?" even if I were to be his captive, I would give him as much hell as I could.
"I assumed that you might be uncomfortable sleeping in the home of a monster, so I cleared a spot by the lake for you, but my presence does not seem to bother you as of yet."
Of course it would be about his monstrosity. Although I do have a really aggressive nature, I'm truly a compassionate person. My friends called me their 'extra mother', so I was good with dealing with little insecurities like this.
"Okay, first of all, I consider monsters to be Elmo and Grover from Sesame Street, so since you're not fuzzy, you're clearly not a monster. Second of all, I would rather sleep in a stranger's home than outside any day. And third of all, though I have yet to see it, there is a 99.9 percent chance that your face will not bother me. I grew up with two older brothers whose sole purpose on earth was, apparently, to scare the crap out of me with scary movies, so I can handle just about anything."
His eyes glimmered with hate, and although I had been trying to keep the mood light, I could tell I went too far.
"Tell me then, if a man who has killed too many too count, frightened the only one he loves into the arms of another, and has felt no kindness from the day he was born, what is he because I would love to know."
I took a deep breath before giving my answer, "He is a son of God. Regardless if you believe in him or not, I do, and so since I have asked I shall receive, since I have knocked the door shall be opened, and since I have prayed I shall be answered. My friend, Andrea, is always preaching that to me."
All the blood drained from my face as I realized Andrea will be calling my parents tomorrow to tell them that I was lost under the Opera Garnier, and there is a good chance that I'm dead. Which would mean the authorities would look harder for me, and if they found Erik…
"Then why has he not-
"Dammit!"
"Excuse me?"
"What about Andrea?" When he didn't answer, I elaborated, "The friend who will be calling my parents to tell them that I got lost in the catacombs."
"Your point being? Even if they think you are still alive, they will not make it to my home, I will not allow it."
"So you would kill them just so they won't come looking for me?"
"You are my property now, have I not reason to protect you?"
I scowled at him for sounding so possessive over me, and he returned it, for being so head-strong probably. I stood and walked around to the fire-place.
"What if I went back to my apartment and let her know I was alive? She doesn't have to know where I am, just that I'm safe. I can write down something for her to tell the police and then we can come straight back here. I need to get my things anyway, so it's really not that much of a problem."
"And how do I know you won't try to run away, or tell her I took you captive?"
"You could escort me there and back if you don't trust me."
I turned and we stared at each other for about three seconds while he considered my proposition, "Very well, we shall leave in a half hour. Your clothes are dry, so you may put them back on until you have your other belongings."
With that, he stood and left the room while I grabbed my clothes and went back to my room to change. Between dealing with Andrea and Erik, I could tell it was going to be a long night.
Authors Notes: this is my first fanfic! I'm really excited about it, but I need comments so I can correct all my problems! ummm I haven't started the second chapter AT ALL yet, so it may be a while before it's up:(
Til then!