Palais Garnier 1881
Men put such significance into age… but not Erik; indeed, for Erik is not of mankind. Men are vile creatures of hatred and ignorance. Men are a disease onto this world… Animals are my only friends, such as my siamese cat, Ayesha, who I rescued from the streets of Paris. Animals treat kindness with kindness, unlike the other brutes that occupy the surface. Those barbarians would have eaten her. What right do they have to live, when my beloved dog Sasha had to die? This is why I live here, beneath the Opera House. To keep away from the cruel and disgusting monsters who sicken me so. I have lived many years… I do not know exactly how many years; for it has been a long time since I have been certain of that; not since I was held captive by the gypsies I should think. However, I believe myself to be around the age of 50. I have seen and done many mysterious things… My skills as an architect no doubt rival those of Daedalus himself! Which is to speak nothing of my skills as an illusionist and musician… Yet here I am, underground, with nothing but my passion. For the men above fear passion above all else… They fear the blazing flame of creativity. Men would say down here is the darkness; No, the darkness is up there! They would call me insane, but no, it is they who are mad! Passion is the very giver of life. And yet mankind has forsaken it for their "values." Pathetic.