25 years later
"Erik you must not fall for this young girl, she is not for you, you cannot own her" I pleaded to Erik as he sat sobbing after what had happened today.
"Anne, you weren't there, you didn't see the look on her face!" he shouted, "She removed my mask and I almost injured her in my fury. Im in love with her Anne and I cant stop it."
"You are a fool! You cannot love her she loves another man she is young and will not give up her life to live in this dreadful cave of yours. And I don't blame her for wanting to see your face. Erik I have known you since we were very young and I will never get to see your beauty!" I cried.
"My friend Anne, please stay away for now, I can handle Christine, she will love me in the end, or she will pay." he said furiously as he punched the wall and winced.
"You are not invincible, you're going to hurt yourself!" I said, frustrated at his stupidity, "I must go back to my duties Erik, would you please lead me out?" I knew my way full well around these caves now, it just always felt good having a friend by my side.
I went on with my duties for the next week until the night of the Opera.
"Anne, you have been working all day" said a fellow maid, "please come to the Opera, you can listen".
"Okay Marie, I'll come but you must stay with me, I do not know where I should go." I replied.
"Follow me, we must get you cleaned up," Marie said as she took me into that bathroom to wash up.
Later that night the Opera started, even though I could not see, it was very entertaining, until Erik came. I heard the soft click of a door handle from above, when suddenly Erik's voice echoed out across the hall. His voice so angry yet so beautiful, even without song.
"Marie please take me out to the hall," I requested suddenly feeling the need to find Erik, though I didn't know how I would.
As soon as we made our way out into the hall I felt someone walking past, almost instantaneously Marie pulled me aside as if I was in the way. "Anne! We should go, I think that was the phantom he might hurt us." I knew full well he wouldn't hurt me but I didnt feel the need to explain to Marie. Reluctantly, I walk along with her as she pulled me away from the sounds of screaming from the Opera hall, something was truly wrong.
Running through the halls I finally asked Marie "Were are you taking me?"
"We must hide and stay out of trouble"
"But Marie, I doubt the phantom will hurt two maids, I'm sure hes gone. I will be fine you can go back to your quarters now, I will return to mine" I said in a calm voice.
"Okay, ket me take you to yours," she said as we walked through the hall, and up to my door.
"Thank you Marie, goodnight," as soon as she walked down the hall I shut the door and moved slowely to the bed wondering what had happened that night. As soon as a sat down my door opened ond someone walked in swiftly and grabbed my arm.
"Come Anne," Erik demanded in a rough voice.
"Oh Eric what is wrong" I replied.
"Just follow me to the roof of the Opera, we will be alone there. I just want someone to be with right now." He said sadly. I agreed and we swiftly climbed the secret stairs to the roof, but someone was already there. I heared singing, It sounded like Christine and another man. Erik began to sniffle.
"Wait here," he said as I stood in the stairway he quickly jumped away to hide from his love Christine. It seemed that Christine and this other man were in love, suddenly I realized what was happening and I felt a lump in my throat. Oh no I thought Erik, please, please don't do anything you will regret, I silently pleaded knowing there was know way he could hear me.
Finally they left, and it was just me and Erik. Whom I could hear, was sobbing. "Oh Erik im so sorry," I said softly from the doorway. "Please, were are you?" I asked as I reached out searching for a sign he was still here.
"Christine, oh christine" Erik sobbed softly to himself. As I walked towards his voice he took a few steps towards me. I reached out and grabbed his hands and he pulled me in to a tight embrace.