Cast
Erik Destler - The former Phantom Of The Opera. Erik is a genius when it comes to architecture, music and the art of ventriloquism. Since losing the love of his life, Christine. Erik struggles to balance his duties as both a father to his son, Gustave and his roles that comes from being the owner of Phantasma. Erik is known by the name Mister Y to all his employees.
Gustave Destler - Gustave was once thought to be the son and heir to Vicomte Raoul De Changny; However it was revealed to him with his mother's dying breath that he was indeed Erik's son. Gustave, like his father has great skill and talent within the area of music. It was he whom insisted on having his last name changed to Destler upon learning whom his real father was. Gustave hopes to help his father find love and happiness after his mother's death.
Claire Jones - Claire is a young woman whom runs a small flower stall within the grounds of Phantasma. Unlike the rest of the employee's and residents of Phantasma; She is not deemed an "Oddity or Freak". This is what makes her an outcast from the other employees as they believe she does not belong or deserve to work at Phantasma. Claire becomes a great comfort to Gustave when she learns of the death of the young boy's mother.
Madame Giry - The former Ballet Mistress of the Paris Opera House. Once a great friend and consort to Erik but their relationship has been greatly damaged since the death of Christine. Erik holds Madame Giry partially responsible as it was her daughter, Meg whom accidentally shot Christine after an unfortunate incident at Phantasma's pier.
Meg Giry - Once the headline act of Phantasma whom grew jealous of Erik's love and devotion for Christine. Knowing all she had done to assist her Erik with the development of Phantasma; Meg grew angry from receiving no attention from Erik and so kidnapped Gustave in order to obtain his attention. Meg is now in hiding and is still greatly heartbroken in the knowledge that she killed her former best friend.
Nadir Khan - Nadir is the voice of reason in Erik's life and also a former Persian Doroga to the Shah. Although never admitted out loud; Nadir is Erik's best friend whom tries to help him move on from his grief after Christine's death.
Christine De Changny nee Daae - The once great love of Erik's life and also a great singer whom Erik had helped rise to fame before leaving Paris. Whilst dying, she begs Erik to take care of their son and be his angel of music as he once was to her. Christine was married to Vicomte Raoul De Changny but lived with the secret of Gustave's true father as well as the fact that she never stopped loving her angel of music.
Vicomte Raoul De Changny - Raoul was once a charming and handsome young man but this mask deteriorated after his marriage to Christine due to his unspoken knowledge that he always knew that his wife had always loved Erik. Raoul swears revenge upon Erik as he blames the former phantom for Christine's death.
Chapter 1: Empty Life
Rain fell from the dark clouded sky above as the gates of Phantasma were locked for the night and the employees all packed up their belongings and headed inside to avoid the rain.
Erik watched from his office window before sinking away into the shadows as he allowed the curtain to fall shut and he slowly placed his half porcelain mask over his face before sitting down at his desk as his son, Gustave entered the room,
"Papa?...Are you alright? You missed supper" The eleven year old boy pointed out with a concerned expression that matches his tone and Erik offered him a tired smile,
"I'm alright, Gustave. Forgive me... I didn't feel hungry" Erik told his son but Gustave was not so easily convinced as he walked over and hugged his father tightly,
"I miss her too" Gustave whispered and Erik felt his eyes close, slowly hugging his son back. It had been a year since Christine's death and his heart still stung... His heart was damaged but having Gustave in his life allowed the cracks to hold together so they wouldn't break completely.
It was the next morning that Erik had sent Nadir with Gustave to go and get some flowers so that the young boy could lay them at the pier in respect of his mother,
"Excuse me?... Do you have any roses?" Gustave asked the woman timidly and she smiled gently,
"Yes, I do. What color would you like? I have red, pink and white" she told him kindly and Gustave held an expression of sad uncertainty,
"I... I can't decide... Mother loved all kinds of roses..." The young boy said, closing his eyes and looking down as he allowed tears to fall and Nadir placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and Claire frowned at the heartbreaking site but smiled lightly as she began gathering the different types of roses and built up a bouquet made from them all,
"Here" she said, offering the bouquet to Gustave whom couldn't help but look stunned as he accepted them,
"Th... Thank you" he said with a half smile despite his tears and Nadir offered her money but she shook his head,
"They're a gift. No charge" she insisted and Nadir nodded with a thankful smile,
"Thank you, Miss...?" he inquired,
"Jones. Claire Jones but please call me Claire. I hate formalities" she explained,
"I'm Gustave and this is my father's assistant, Nadir" Gustave introduced and Claire realized,
"Mister Y's assistant? I have heard a lot about you but I only arrived recently so I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Mister Y" Claire explained,
"Yes... I'm afraid that will be most likely to never happen as he is a very busy man" Nadir told her but she smiled gently,
"It's ok. I'm just a flower girl so I'm not really important that he needs to meet me as he does with the other employees" she assured gently before offering Gustave a smile,
"It was nice meeting the young master, though" she said, ruffling his hair gently, causing Gustave to giggle and both he and Nadir bid Claire a good day before heading off to lay the flowers at the pier.
It was later that night after Gustave had gone to bed that Erik himself went to the pier, laying a single red rose with a black ribbon tied around the stem,
"A year has past but my heart still aches from the pain of losing you, my love" Erik whispered but stood and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head when he heard someone approaching,
"Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt" a woman's voice said, hesitantly moving past him carrying a crate of roses which she placed next to some others and Erik grew curious,
"What are you doing?" he asked with a slightly accusing tone,
"I... I overheard a group of employee's that young Master Gustave's mother had passed away here only a year ago. I realized that this was the reason why he bought a bouquet off me earlier this morning" the woman explained timidly,
"I decided to decorate the pier with roses in honor of her memory" she told the hooded stranger,
"Did the boy or his father ask you to do this?" Erik asked, already knowing the answer but watched her shake her head,
"No but... The boy looked so sad and... I thought that if he saw the roses next time he was out in the grounds... It might cheer him up" Claire explained as she began decorating the pier railings with the roses and Erik was slightly stunned,
"... I am certain that both the young master and his father will greatly respect your kindness" Erik told her and saw her smile gently,
"Thank you" she bid as she continued her work,
"What is your name?" Erik asked,
"Claire. Claire Jones. I run the small flower stall near the concert hall" she introduced before turning towards the stranger,
"Who are...?" she began and was stunned to find that the figure had vanished, leaving only the single rose with a black ribbon tied around the stem; laying upon the wooden boards.
It was the very next morning that Claire frowned when she found an envelope addressed to her laying among the flowers on her stall and she opened it curiously,
'Miss Jones,
I wish to thank you for your kind gesture and your hard work. The roses that you laid in honor of my son's mother are truly a great comfort.
Mister Y'
The note had read and Claire couldn't help but be stunned; Had the hooded stranger she met the night before been Mister Y himself?
Please let me know if you would like chapter 2!
Kind Regards,
TheAuthor1996