Chapter 2: Small Gestures From A Big Heart


Amelia was carrying out her daily chores within the concert hall and found herself scrubbing the floors of the kitchen and hummed a light tune that had been haunting her mind for the last few weeks. Mister Y had been working into the long lonely hours of the night and Amelia could hear the hesitant and troubled melody flowing from his office as he tried to break the routine of his writer's block.


A little mouse with light brown fur caught Amelia's attention as it scurried across the floor and looked up at her in a curious manner that made her smile,

"Hello again... I thought I took you far away from the concert hall where you wouldn't get into any more trouble" she scolded with a teasing tone and giggled when she watched the little mouse's ears twitch before giving them a wash with its tiny paws and gave a hungry squeak that made Amelia roll her eyes in amusement,

"Alright then but just this once" she told the small creature before retrieving a small cheese cube from the pantry and offered it to the creature who quickly accepted it before scurrying away... The tranquil moment was short lived when Amelia heard a gathering of giggles from behind her,

"Talking to the vermin again? Maybe if you gave the fat little rat a kiss he'll turn into a prince" Meg mocked causing her fellow dancers to laugh hysterically as Amelia avoided eye contact and simply went back to scrubbing the floors; The dancer's mocking soon died down when Madame Giry summoned them to rehearsal.


Antoinette had gone to visit Erik after sending her students back to their dormitories,

"How is Meg's new aria coming along?" she asked, earning a chuckle from the former phantom,

"You know fully well that Meg will receive no aria from me. She is not yet ready for a song so extravagant... There is also the matter that I am still without inspiration to write anything so grand. The numbers she sings now are more than enough" Erik reasoned as he scratched a note to the music sheet that sat upon his piano... He soon scratched the note out upon realizing that it did not work with the melody he was trying to capture,

"Erik Destler. Do I need to remind you who helped you build the legacy that is your phantasma? I see no sign of Christine Daae roaming the halls do you?" Antoinette snapped and jumped out of her skin when he suddenly whirled around on her with a firm glare on his masked face,

"Do not... Speak her name with such hatred in my presence" Erik growled firmly, his warning eyes locked upon her own as Antoinette glared up at him,

"She chose Raoul, Erik... Fled from the very site of you. Even the mask you wear was not enough... Let her go" she instructed before storming out of his office, not bothering to close the door behind her and Erik growled in frustration, turning back to his piano before flipping the useless music scores from the piano's display stand before sighing sadly... Slowly sitting back upon his piano stood once again and rested his tired masked face within his hands.


Amelia had finished her chores and was bringing a tea tray to Mister Y's office at the usual time but frowned when she found the oak door stood ajar... She hesitantly looked inside the penthouse office for a sign of her employer,

"Mister Y?..." she called gently but received no reply; She hesitantly stepped into the very large and grand office before lightly placing the tray upon her employer's desk and felt compelled to pick up the music scores that were littered across the floor and place them back on the piano stand... Amelia couldn't help but take a peek at the notes scratched across the pages... She looked around the office carefully before hesitantly brushing her fingertips across the ivory piano keys and attempted to play the obviously frustrated melody but the odd sour notes made Amelia wince before developing a thoughtful frown... She tried the melody again but this time added notes that she felt would flow correct but withdrew her hand after a moment when she felt bad for interfering with her employer's music... She jumped out of her skin when she felt a gentle but strong hand move her hand back to the keys,

"No... Play it again" a man's voice instructed, gently coaxing her into sitting on the piano stool,

"Don't look back just... Play that melody again" the voice instructed and Amelia instantly felt bad but did as she was told.


Erik had emerged from his on suite bathroom, wearing only his dress pants and half mask when he found Miss Monston attempting to play his music... Usually he would have flown into a fit of rage but he recalled the fact that Antoinette had not closed his office door as she usually did... The former phantom had watched curiously as Amelia actually began to correct the melody that had been long troubling him... He watched her begin to retreat before approaching her from behind and gently moved her hand back to the keys and encouraged her to continue playing.


The former phantom pulled on his dress shirt before sitting beside Amelia and simply watched the young woman play his melody with a curious expression behind his mask but soon frowned when she stopped,

"I... I'm sorry for entering your office without permission, Mister Y... The door was open and I was concerned something was wrong" Amelia explained shyly, avoiding eye contact as Erik looked at her curiously; She had not reacted to his mask... He knew she was only avoiding his gaze because she was worried that he was angry with her,

"... I should take this time to thank you for the treats you bring me every night" Erik said suddenly causing Amelia to look at him surprised and Erik smiled in amusement... Amelia couldn't help but do the same as she watched her masked employer began writing the newly composed melody.


Review for chapter 3!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996