I spent the rest of the show hiding in my dressing room, I knew it was over when a chorus of chattering voices picked up in the halls once more. I heard a knock on my door, hesitant as to whether or not I should answer it or not, because even though the show was over I didn't want to have to make up some crazy lie as to where I was. Unfortunately I wasn't given the choice, the door opened without my answer to reveal Madame Giry.
"Madame Giry?" I asked.
"Where were during the show, mademoiselle?" she asked with concern, sitting down beside me on the bed.
"Oh I just got stage fright, I don't think it's a good idea I sing solos in the future" I lied meekly.
She glanced at me, and I knew exactly what she was thinking "is there a reason for this sudden stage fright?"
"Nah I just got nervous" I lied again.
I could tell she wasn't buying it, "so nobody tried to hurt you, or perhaps threaten you, Evie?"
"I'm not sure what you're referring to"
"Alright, fine, just stay safe" Madame Giry told me giving up on getting anything out of me. She scanned the room before walking out, as if checking for any immediate dangers.
"What did you do" Madame Giry hissed.
"I'm not sure what you're referring to" Erik replied simply. It dawned on her that maybe Erik and Evie were more alike than she knew.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, the new girl Evie was supposed to sing tonight before she mysteriously dissapeared and Christine took her place. Your student. Don't try and tell me this was a coincidence"
Erik sighed, "It was her choice, she was hiding in the upper riggings of the stage during the production. She said it was because Christine was supposed to sing tonight, not her. If you ask me I couldn't agree more"
Madame Giry narrowed her eyes, "Why would she say such a thing? She told me she didn't think it would be a good idea for her to sing a solo in the future. You expect me to believe you didn't threaten her?"
"I didn't threaten her madame" Erik said, getting annoyed.
Madame Giry was buying neither Erik's or Evie's story, "I want you to stay away from Evie, let her be. She is an innocent girl, and this opera house is blessed to welcome to her voice" Madame Giry warned the phantom, "if you so much as touch her you will have to answer to me"
I lied restlessly in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I wanted to go find the phantom, but I was scared shitless of what he might do to me. Unable to take it anymore, I knew I would never sleep if I didn't quench my curiousity. Silently slipping away, I snuck into Christine's room, which was unlocked. It dawned on me then that this was night the phantom supposedly led Christine to his lair for the first time, but looking to my left I saw Christine sound asleep in her bed. How odd. I thought. tip-toeing to her mirror I pushed it open revealing the secret passageway that led under the opera house. I walked as quietly as I could down the corridor, wanting the element of surprise on my side. Oh shit I thought as I came to the river, with no boat. Looking to the shores on the other side, I saw the boat. Perfect, just my luck! Of course it would be on that side why in the world would he leave it on this side. Abandoning all hope of having the element of surprise I sloshed across the river, as silently as one could slosh. I could hear an organ playing not far, he was definitely here.
Between notes of the song he was playing, Erik overheard sloshing in the river. Someone was coming. He crept towards the river only to see none other than Evie, making her way to his home. Of course since she knows everything else about me why not also know where I live, Erik thought bitterly.
Erik came into view as he stood on the shores waiting for her, with his arms crossed over his chest. "You are either very stupid or very brave" he mused.
"I guess I wasn't very discrete" I stated the obvious.
"Hardly"
"Oh hey by the way there aren't any death traps in this river right? That would be unfortunate" I asked looking around me as I sloshed stomach deep in the river.
"It's not the river you have to fear"
"Oh right, big scary opera ghost, I almost forgot. I got your letter by the way, I was hoping not to get one of your letters, seeing as they're usually demands or death threats"
As I reached the edge of the river he had me pinned against the wall with one hand in an instant, fiddling with his rope in the other. "You wouldn't live to get another one of my letters." He pushed me harder against the wall, grabbing my hands together like handcuffs. "I have every reason to kill you right now"
"If you wanted to do that I think you already would've" I pointed out
"Maybe you just changed my mind by coming here. You're only trouble" he snarled.
"Now now, let's not be too hasty" I said keeping things light. "Think about your options here. You could kill me and all your curiousity as to how I know so much about you will never end. Or you could let me live and I could enlighten you with my knowledge" I said snidely.
"Enough of your games" he threw me to the ground, pacing around me "start talking"
"Alright. I know your name is Erik, and you have some kind of skin problem on one half of your face which is why you wear that mask and why your parents disowned you to the gypsies and their freak show. I know you were saved by Madame Giry and ever since you've lived under this opera house and haunted it as the mysterious phantom of the opera, and Christine's angel of music. How you ask? You'd never believe me if I told you."
Erik was standing there in shock, how in the world did she know all this about me? He wondered."Tell me" he insisted.
"I'm from the future and in the future a lot of people know who you are because there is a book about you, numerous movies, and musicals"
He stared at me dumbfounded for a moment "Movies? Musicals? Future?" He started laughing at me. "You're insane"
Great now he's laughing at me "I told you that you wouldn't believe me but it's the truth I swear of it, why else do you think I'm so different? How else could I know everything about you?"
He grabbed me by the arm and led me further into his lair "you know too much."
"What? Wait no, no, no, You don't have to do that. I swear I won't tell a soul" I blurted as it dawned on me that his intentions were probably to kill me so all of his secrets would die with me.
We stopped walking and he let me go, "relax I'm not going to kill you, but how can I be sure you won't tell my secrets"
"I promised you I wouldn't. What reason would I have to do a thing like that anyway?"
He turned to me fast, and I raised my arm up to cover my face in protection. He took my arm gently and pulled it away from my face, to reveal tears. I should not have come, I felt myself getting lightheaded. Suddenly I collapsed and everything went black.
Evie had fainted, as to why he didn't know. Perhaps he had scared her too badly. Erik knew one thing though- he wasn't done with Evie. They would have a little chat when she woke up. Erik carefully picked her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down gently, he tied her wrists to the head of the bed. Not to be mean, but just because he needed to make sure she wouldn't try to leave before he got a chance to confront her.
Erik began to sing,
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night
Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
hear it, feel it, closing in around you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
Erik wasn't sure why he was singing this to Evie, this was a song he had planned for Christine. He shrugged it off, he was singing to himself more than he was to Evie.
Hi! Just wanted to thank SapphireBlueSea, and angelskull16 for being my first two followers! Just a reminder that I would love it if anyone else decided to join them :) As always reviews are always encouranged! I always like to know what you readers think.