Okay. Because I have a whole heap of little flashback moments and things written for SITD, and some of them are quite extended and wouldn't fit at the beginning of chapters etc., I decided to post them up separate. Please read these like one shots. None should be more then one chapter although some will be quite long and others really short. There will be some references in here to SITD and some references in there to these although you shouldn't have to read them both to understand. If something was that important I would put it in the actual chapter.
This first one is something I wrote a long time ago and it never fit in anywhere. So I give you this. Just after Ann helped Erik escape the Gypsies. Hope you enjoy. Oh, and I don't own Phantom of the Opera. It ain't mine at all. Which would explain why I'm posting on FANfiction.
...: Because the line thingy isn't working, grrr :...
Little Ann Vachell ran down through the half finished Opera House…
She had been searching high and low for the boy she'd led there. She began to wonder if he had run away again. When she was sure she was alone in the dark, Ann called out.
"Hello? Are you there? It's me! I don't want to hurt you I promise… Please come out."
She continued down through the second cellar, into the third. Ann looked around in wonder at all the junk down there. Old building supplies were strewn about. She looked around for a moment but saw nothing of interest. Just as she turned to leave however, a small sound made her jump.
"Hello? Who's there? I… Is it you? Boy, are you hiding there?"
A scared whimper sounded out from behind a large pile of junk. Ann slowly stepped around to look behind it. Her lantern half lit up the small space. He was there, crouching down with his arms clutched around his knees.
Ann knelt down and beckoned to him with open arms.
"It's alright. You can come out. You're safe now." He didn't budge. "Please. I brought some food and warm blankets for you."
The thin young boy shook as he slowly, ever so slowly, crept out of his hiding place. Ann couldn't tell if it was cold or fear. She reached into her bag and took out the blanket she'd snuck out of the dorms. When he was finally out in the open she wrapped the cosy wool around his shoulders.
"There. Isn't that better?"
She tried to smile at him, but his pain-filled eyes just stared at her from under that horrid bag that hid his face from the world.
"Come. We should find somewhere to sit."
Ann dragged some objects about, rearranging a few things and soon had two perfectly good makeshift chairs for them.
"Here, rest while you eat."
He obeyed her nervously and sat awaiting the girl's next move. She sat opposite and sighed. Ann really did not know what to expect from him. They sat in silence for a minute before she sighed again and rummaged in her bag for the bread and cheese she had. She handed it to him gently. The boy took it with trembling hands and sat it on his lap next to his stuffed monkey. Ann waited. He didn't move.
"You can eat… Unless you aren't hungry… Are you warm enough?"
He nodded.
"Good… Is that food alright?"
Nod.
"Okay… Are you going to eat it?"
He shook his head, no.
"Oh. Are you not well? Do you not want it now?"
Another nod.
"Then why…?"
He reached up and sadly touched the sack.
"Oh! Well, you can take it off now. I mean I…"
His shoulders had dropped sadly. Ann could tell what she'd said had hurt him. He sighed and slowly made to remove it.
"Wait!" Ann cried. "Um… I think, uh, well maybe you misunderstood me. Did… did you think I… I wanted to see? Well, like those others?"
He nodded, stiffly this time, apparently a little angry too.
"Well…" Ann squared her shoulders. "I am not like them! I mean… Listen, what they did was wrong! And I don't want to stare at you like some sideshow. But I'm not scared either. I just want you to be comfortable. So if you want to wear it, that's alright. Although I imagine it must be itchy! But if you want to take it off, that's fine too…"
He just stared at her and sighed deeply. It was a far too adult sigh for a boy his age to have, she thought. He was not a 'Devil's Child' as they claimed, but he certainly had been to hell and back in his short life.
"I know! How about I turn around? That way you can take it off and eat without worrying about me seeing."
He cocked his head, perplexed.
"I won't look, I swear! On my best Pointe shoes!"
He seemed to consider this for a moment. Then, once again, nodded his consent. Ann pivoted around on her seat and arranged her skirts comfortably, facing away from the boy. Soon she could hear the soft sounds of eating and smiled.
"So… I should introduce myself. My name in Antoinette Vachell. I'm a ballerina. My Mama was a singer but I didn't inherit it. My father worked on this building. That's why I came here. It's a beautiful place and I know lots of its secrets! There are many wonderful places to explore. Most of the other girls are too scared to try though. But I love coming down here. You could probably stay here if you wanted. I could bring you whatever you needed to make yourself comfy. Oh, I forgot to ask…"
She stopped as a frail hand lightly touched her shoulder. Ann turned cautiously. He had his sack on once more. She moved around again while he took his seat.
"What is your name?"
He shrugged.
"Hmm… That's a unusual name." She laughed a little but stopped short and cleared her throat. "Sorry… Oh, wait! I never thought… You don't… I mean maybe you can't… Oh dear! Can… can you speak?"
Ann felt so stupid. It never occurred to her that maybe he couldn't. That maybe his deformity had taken his voice as well. But wait, no, he was nodding. Meaning he could. So why…?
"Have I done something to…?"
Shake, no.
"Oh… So you just don't want to?"
No, again! Now she was getting frustrated.
"So why won't you talk to me?"
Shrug.
"That's not very nice you know! I have tried my best to be nice to you, and you refuse to speak to me. Well, fine! How would you feel if I refused to speak to you? Well boy? Would you rather I left you down here all alone with the rats? With no one to talk to ever again! I don't even know your name!"
Ann cried out in frustration. Then gave up. Clearly he was not going to answer. Perhaps he was not even sane. How was she to know? She sighed and they sat quietly together. The stillness was broken so suddenly, yet so gently, Ann questioned if she'd even really heard it. A sound, something ever so soft and melodious reached her ears in the dark cellar.
"Erik."
She looked up at the Boy.
"Pardon?"
"Erik." He spoke again. "My name… is Erik."
"Oh."
His voice! Oh the purity of it! It was perfect. Sweet and gentle, yet powerful in such a commanding way, despite the obvious fear filling his tiny broken body. Ann was stunned. Presently she regained her own voice, which now sounded quite ungainly to her ears.
"That's a lovely name. Erik."
"Thank you Mademoiselle. For everything."
"You are very welcome. I only hope I helped… And please, call me Antoinette."
He inclined his head in a fresh greeting.
"Antoinette."
