Blood was flowing out of the gashes in my sides. I ran with my bag and the few valuables that I kept hidden in my skirts. I was scared out of my wits, why had he turned to violence when I denied him? As I climbed onto the subway that was heading from here to the next stop near an opera house wherever that was it would be a new life and a new start.
I pulled my first skirt up and pulled out my copy of Phantom by Susan Kay and started reading, Erik had been my companion for all the rough times, and surely reading would soothe me now. Why had Nate of all people turned violent, and because of something that I had already told him would never be happening unless he decided to make or relationship into a marriage.
All he wanted was sex. I had promised myself, God and my parents that I would remain 'whole' until after marriage. He had tried to take what he wanted from me forcefully when I wouldn't give it to him by my free will.
Why else would anyone want the plain, dork with the long dresses and the modest hair styles. Always standing out at social events, always in the way, could only ever excel in music and other arts or educations. I was so stupid to think that Nate actually loved me, that I actually loved him. It was fake, it always was, guys saw the looks but when they saw the person, they were afraid of how different I was, how I could influence anyone.
It always made me love the story that I had all but memorized. I suddenly knew where I was going, I was going to the opera house that several authors had told about in the stories that made Erik famous. I was going to face my dreams and my fears. All in one leap, I was going to enjoy this challenge.
I woke to somebody, I don't know who, tapping me on the shoulder and telling me this was my stop. I nodded to them and walked off the train clutching my ballet shoes tightly as I walked into the Opera Populaire.
"…and that concludes the auditions for this month's production." I stayed in the shadows, that was the last of the auditions? How was I supposed to do anything now? How was I supposed to survive? I'm horrible at cleaning my own room, how am I supposed to help clean? I burn teabags, cooking is out of the question.
I walked up into box 5. No one had noticed me yet, good, if I couldn't get a part I would have to be my own version of Erik until I could secure a job…. I stood up, if I was to survive as Erik, I would have to find his lair, and the passageways to it, and how to get around the traps.
I had been walking down the hall in the shadows, just as he would have. I found my way to the diva's room and quietly opened the door. Standing across from the door was a beautiful mirror, golden trim with mahogany accents, carved as if it had been ordered for God himself.
I felt the edges of the beautiful mirror and found the latch, slipping inside just as I heard the door I had just entered the Diva's room through. The women that they had for the Prima Donna was horrible in looks and singing. They here at the opera house were not in danger of rats or any other vermin. Her voice had probably caused them enough pain to run them away.
I heard the woman screech something I couldn't make out but I was going down, down once more… I smiled and then cried at this thought because of what really had taken place here. What really happened… The walls seemed to whisper to me, telling me the story that I already knew so well, but not at all.
I made my way around until I came to the lake that separated me from the room that I had dreamed and fantasized about. It was partly ruined and some of the tapestries were molded. But the organ and the candles were still there.
I walked to where Christine's room would have been, and opened the door. A gust of musty air rushed at me through the door. Gagging I stepped inside, everything was still perfect. Thank god for that, I would get to wreck havoc on it if I got a part next month. I hated that trollop. She was the reason that I loved the story so much. The pain of it always made me want to whip her, but it drew me in. reminded me that in real life there was no happy ending for those who were not beautiful enough. Not pretty.
His obsession with this girl was obvious, and any other girl would have realized how much he cared. But the one girl that he chooses to care for is scared of the depth of his affection. Leave it to a shallow girl to leave love when she finds it.
I lay on the bed thinking about what had happened in the past 24 hours, I had been assaulted, couldn't find work, and last but not least, was in the phantom's lair. The last thing was a good thing but it still needed to be added to the list of impossible things.
So, how'd you like it? Read and review-A.A. You will curse the day you did not do all that the author asked of you!
