PLEASE REVIEW! Sorry it has been a while! Had a lot going on! I hope I still have my readers! ENJOY!
Chapter 4
The plan was to fnd any job that was available, no matter what it might have been. They split up naturally, Meg and Madame together as Erik walked alone as usual. Erik let the surroundings take him in, the smells, the colors, every structure that stood before him. The sights that had been shown to him the previous night, drew him to that very spot. To his surprise there was not a soul to be seen in that place once flooded with men, women and children. He walked into the space which was now full of solitude, Erik walked in the opposite direction where the people had disappeared into.
The building at the end was as tattered as the inn they were staying in. There was a door off to the side that read: OFFICE. Inside sat an older man, hair gray and a worn old vest that squeezed over his round stomach. He peered up at Erik with a drunken grin, "eh what can I do for you?" Erik hoped that there would be something he could do to gain a wage, anything.
"I need a job, steady pay. I am wondering if you are interested in hiring me. For any reason." Erik tried to read the man but could not understand much through his drunken haze.
"I see. Now er what can ya do?" The man looked Erik up and down and chuckled to himself.
"I do much. I compose music, sing, design architecture, I am a ventriloquist and magician..." He was interrupted by the man.
"Can ya now?" The man laughed, "Well you certainly fit the part." He pulled out a contract and a pen from under the desk, "Listen here, I'll sign ya if you can sing, do magic and your ventriloquist thing all in one act. I got many here to performer but am always looking for a fresh act." The man stood carefully, he groaned, "Lets go to the stage and see yer act." Erik followed the man out of another door and out into the crisp sea air. Around the corner sat a smaller stage in an area like the one he had seen the people gathered in. The man gestured to the stage as Erik walked up there, the man leaning up against a wall.
Before turning to the man, Erik removed the hat so that his mask was revealed completely, the man merely smiled in return. The hat was a prop now, he did the obvious, pull things out of a hat of which he created a story through music. His voice filled each corner, every molecule of air and doing so, he threw his voice around, the man turned his head side-to-side believing that Erik had moved. He chuckled to himself watching this man on stage and to top of the act, Erik threw the hat directly twords the man so that it was in the way of his line of sight. In that second Erik disappeared and made the man jump as he taped him on the shoulder.
"Why! You are hired! Never have I seen such an act! Let's go sing the paper work!" Erik was very greatful for such an opportunity yet he wasn't fully there. His mind wandered as the man-his new boss-gave him details. Erik let his gaze go as he stared out into a hallway, a woman walked across that drew his attention. She wore a white dress and brown curls down her shoulders, his first thought was Christine? Then his eyes cleared and the woman he saw was actually a man, he let his thoughts speak.
"Why..." He hadn't heard the man ask his name right before he had accidentally spoken.
"Y? That's your name then? Alright, for each his own." Before Erik could decide differently, his boss put a pen in front of him and Erik signed his name at the bottom of the contract, Mr. Y. "Welcome to the team," they shook hands as the deal was sealed. "We start tomorrow at dawn." Erik met back up with Meg and Madame whom also had jobs. They worked for an inn on the board walk as maids, something neither wanted to do but took it nonetheless. It seemed as though the three would live separately at their jobs starting tomorrow, Erik was more then glad to do so.
The boss was prompt, he gave Erik, now Mr. Y, very short details and moved on with the rest of his day. There were three others in his act of which he would then meet. He then saw them approaching, a tiny women led two men on either side as they laughed and joked. The boss stopped the three before they had reach Mr. Y, discussing then all three looked over at him. The tiny women walked up, she was pale and wore dark clothing that sparkled in the sunlight. Her disposition was warm and innocent, she reached out her hand to him, "Hi I'm Fleck." The two men followed closely, "This is Squelch," She pointed to the large man next to her who had tattoos covering his face of a most abstract design. "And this is Dr. Gangle," The man was tall and thin as could be, he looked at him with a suspicious eye.
"It is an honor to meet you. I am...Mr. Y." He had to remember to call himself that, if "Erik" slipped then the facade we was keeping up would be lost.
"What do you do Mr. Y?" Her voice was high and it reminded him of a young girl full of excitement.
"I have been asked to sing, perform magic and I am a ventriloquist." The three gave him looks of concern, how would it fit into their act? That was when Gangle stepped in.
"You see here now Mr. Y, we have carefully coordinated our act...I don't see how you would fit into it." He nodded in response.
"I understand and I am sure I could be of assistance. I grew up in the theater and if you would care for my help I would be sure to oblige." The way he spoke made the trio uncomfortable. He was extremely proper and mysterious.
"Very well then Mr. Y, welcome." All four took off to create yet another act that would supply much more entertainment. As much as the two men didn't want to admit, Mr. Y would end up being a great investment on the boss' part.
Sorry it was shorter then usual! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! :)