-1Unbeknownst to the managers and Jaine, another set of ears listened upon this conversation.

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Erik had been aware of this Miss Cahlagon for months since the Opera Populaire had been rebuilt everyone there had been in an uproar over Jaine Cahlagon, Prima Donna and Theatre instructor.

This woman was said to have hailed from Scotland but became famous in Germany where she sang and danced on numerous stages instructed by her parents. There was said to have been many tragedies and hardships in her life that had made her quite reclusive offstage and outside the theatre life.

Erik laughed bitterly at this. How could anyone let alone this beautiful, talented young woman know about suffering? How could she even begin to comprehend what it's like to wake up in the morning longing for the end to come? To long to have someone to hold during the cold night and to have someone to be there for you when you feel like you can't go on any more. Indeed this foolish woman knows nothing of pain.

(Recap of Erik's life after the final lair scene in the movie)

It had been a year and a half since the disaster with Christine. Deep down, he knew that a goddess like her could never love or even befriend a beast as atrocious as he. Yet he tried to convince himself otherwise.

That's why it hurt all the more when the one person he felt love for unmasked before an audience of hundreds. It sent him back to his childhood over again being called the devils childhood; but this time he saw that individuals were getting physically sick. He wanted her to pay for this horrible deed. When it came down to it he could never do anything to her after all she was the light in his dark. When he was around Christine he almost felt human. In the end her knight in shining armor came to rescue his damsel in distress, Erik knew then that this man truly loved his Christine and was worthy of her love. He couldn't keep her in a life filled with darkness; he couldn't make her feel that turmoil that he felt. He wanted his Christine to love him of her own free will; which he knew at that heart breaking moment, would never happen.

After she departed with her lover, he felt his heart shatter in a way that he never thought possible. Out of all the sufferings he had to endure, this one hurt him the most. He threw everything he had into trying to woo this Cherub only to have attention thrust back upon him. After the loss of his Cherub no light filled his life and he was again cast into shadows with only his self-loathing to keep him company. After the shock of the events that have transpired he realized that in his obsession, he destroyed the only place he had ever been able to call home.

"I am such a fool! No woman would be able to look on this face with love. Now because I believed a fool's hope, I have destroyed my only home! GOD, WHY DON'T YOU JUST END MY MISERABLE EXSISTANCE!" Erik then threw himself on the ground and sobbed until he slipped a dreamless sleep.

Over the weeks Erik in his depression started starving himself. He was so frail and weak he could hardly move. It was by chance that this was when Madame Giry decided to seek out her old friend.

She had always pitied him, how could people treat a poor defenseless child and now a heartbroken man like a monster he was a person just as they were. She ventured down and found him lying on the ground barely breathing. She was frantic.

"Bloody hell Erik what in God's name have you done to yourself?!?" Madame Giry screamed.

She retrieved some bread, cheese and wine from his pantry. She broke up the cheese and bread into small pieces and started hand feeding him. She then poured some wine into a nearby goblet he had and lifted his head up and made him drink some. After awhile Erik spoke.

"Why are you doing this Giry? You have already done so much for me and I've done nothing for you. Why do you see a need to keep me alive when no one in this world could possibly want me. I am doomed to live my life in solitude with no wife to keep me company just the sounds of my dry sobs. Why do you want me to go through that Antoinette? I do not even have a home anymore I destroyed it in my pursuit of happiness." He cried.

"Erik, you have been my friend since that fateful day and I have no desire to break ties with you. The best thing you can do for me now is take care of yourself my friend. When you build your strength up you can help me look after Marguerite like you once promised. You must keep faith my friend, if God wants you to have a wife he will grant you one just be patient. I want you to grow stronger my friend. You will be pleased to know that there have been several commissions to rebuild the opera so we will all have a home once more! Now my dear friend I must depart, take care of yourself. Who knows what surprises lie in store for us all." Madame Giry finished with a knowing twinkle in her eye.

(END Recap...Present)

Erik now knew what Madame Giry meant. Here was this eccentric new woman in his opera house that was a promising talent. It seemed as though it would be up to her skill to make the opera thrive as it once had. He decided that if this the operas were going to be a success he would have to make his presence known once more.

He decided right there that after little Meg Giry gave Mlle. Cahlagon a tour, he would give her a greeting of his own.