Chapter 7: Becoming the Phantom of the Opera
" Your not going down there are you?" Madame Giry asked
" He won't return her until I truly become him…the Phantom of the Opera," Erik said looking into the mirror
" My daughter's life is at risk," Madame Giry stated sternly
Erik nodded and said, " Madame, he won't kill her, he's made that clear. He didn't harm Christine so he won't hurt her."
Erik slipped his dress coat on and looked at Madame Giry.
" I promise, Madame I will get her back even if it cost my sanity," Erik said, " If I am to save her than I will need to fully take on the role."
Erik looked at the mask and placed it on his face. He looked once more into the mirror and saw there was no difference between himself and his true reflection. He draped the black cloak and walked past Madame Giry.
" Please, stay here," Erik said
He took a torch and headed down below out of instinct and suddenly there was a new world beneath the surface.
Meg opened her eyes and heard soft music playing as she laid there. She sat up and looked around the dimly lit room, she rested in, was not her own. She got out of the soft bed and walked out into the main part of where she was. Music was playing and she looked at the organ, there saw a man sitting there.
" I'm not dreaming," she whispered, " I'm here…down below."
She walked down and looked around as she stopped to see where she was. She looked at him seeing his figure was exactly like Eriks.
" Flawless," she whispered
She walked towards him and placed her hands on his shoulders, she placed one hand on his face.
" A shadow of my lover," she whispered, " it was you who brought me here."
He looked at her and placed his hand on hers and she stared at him.
" Who are you?" she whispered, " Your not Erik, your not anyone I know."
" I am just as you said, a shadow of your lover," he replied
" But what do you want with me?" she asked
" The key to Erik's heart is also the key to my own," the Phantom said
" I can not love you both," Meg answered
" If he and I are in unison, then yes," the Phantom said
Meg stroked his cheek with her delicate hand, he closed his eyes to her touch. He turned around faced her, he grabbed both her hands and placed them both on her face. She looked at him and felt tears fall from her face. Was this what Christine had experienced? Was she to become the prey of two men who cared for her.
" Meg," he whispered, " stay with me."
" I love Erik," she whispered, " If you are the same then you can remain with me in Erik."
The Phantom looked at her and stood up, then pulled her into his hold.
" Your love for Erik is strong, but he does not have one thing I have," the Phantom siad
" What is that?" Meg asked
" Memories," The Phantom said, " I am the key to his memories."
" Then he will make new memories," Meg said
The Phantom looked at her and lifted her chin, he stroked her cheek.
" My power over you grows stronger yet," the Phantom said
Erik looked around as he entered a third cellar and continued down a hall. He closed his eyes and breathed a second.
" Meg," he whispered, " I'm here for you."
Meg looked at the Phantom and pulled away from him. He grabbed her hand and she looked at him.
" Your loneliness is the past, I am your gentle angel," Meg said, " Please, let me live a life with Erik, his memories of the past will only hurt him…make him fear."
" Why should he love, if I could never!" the Phantom shouted
Meg breathed deep listening to the echo of his shout. She turned away and did not look at him.
" Erik," she whispered, " Help me."
Some chimes rang out and the Phantom looked at them, a smile crawled up his lips.
" He has come," he thought
Erik stepped into the shadows and then found a gate and there he saw the Phantom and Meg.
" Meg," he whispered
Meg turned around and looked towards the closed gate and saw Erik's white mask.
" Erik," she whispered
She walked over towards him and then she was grabbed by the Phantom.
" It appears my dear we have a guest," the Phantom said
Erik came out into the light and looked at his reflection.
" Have you satisfied your lust for a woman's touch?" Erik questioned
" You speak ill of my desire of normalness," the Phantom said
" Free her!" Erik shouted
" No," the Phantom said, " Your presence here Erik has arose many unwanted feelings."
" Free her for the sake of her mother, free her!" Erik exclaimed
" Your plea has been notice monsieur Erik," the Phantom said
He pulled Meg closer to him and she struggled.
" Let me go," she cried
" Let me see her than, let me see my beloved once again," Erik said
The Phantom turned away with Meg in his hold.
" Erik!" Meg shouted
" Free her!" he exclaimed, " Just free her!"
" Your whining is annoying Erik, no more will I let you be free of pain; when I lived my life in a cellar of hell, dreaming of compassion, dreaming of hope," the Phantom spat, " Your face is covered with a mask because of me, because of your mother, your father, the gypsies, and all of the world!"
" I don't wear a mask," Erik said, " That is why we are different Phantom!"
" Then let me allow you to remember your past," the Phantom replied
He opened the gate and Erik looked at his reflection as he entered.
" This woman, is your heart is she not Erik?" the Phantom asked
" Don't harm her," Erik said
" Monsieur do you think I would harm her?" the Phantom asked with growl
" You know as good as I, that you wouldn't," Erik snarled
Meg looked at Erik and saw in his eyes, he was becoming angry, though it was different. The Phantom pushed Meg out of his arms and reached down on the ground.
" Let me go you monster!" Meg shouted
The Phantom looked at Meg and slapped her across the face.
" A monster am I!" he shouted, " Then let this be your warning!"
He lifted the noose and Meg pulled away and the Phantom grabbed her. She raised her hand at the level of her eyes and the Phantom grabbed her hand down. He pulled it and she coughed, Erik ran towards her. The Phantom raised his hand to stop him and Erik breathed deep.
" Do you honestly think that this woman can save you from your past?" the Phantom asked, " Do you think her precious touch can redeem her from her devilish act?"
The Phantom looked at Erik and Erik approached slowly, Meg looked at Erik as he faced the Phantom.
" Erik, Erik, you obviously don't remember that fateful night, the night when we as one made Christine choose," the Phantom said with a sigh, " So, now it's your turn…your memories or hang Mademoiselle Giry. Do you love her?"
" Why would I want to remain in darkness?" Erik spat
The Phantom smiled and nodded and loosen the noose and looked at her. She narrowed her eyes and slapped the Phantom. Erik touched his cheek feeling the slap, the Phantom nodded and grabbed her. Erik narrowed his eyes and grabbed a candle opera and swung it at the Phantom knocking him across his masked face. The Phantom was thrown back and Meg fell out of his hold. Erik breathed deep standing up ignoring the throbbing pain.
" You will not draw me back to the past," Erik said, " I wish to only remain in peace, building my own memories."
Meg stood up and looked at both, it was as though they were fighting for a place in reality, to live again. She watched as both took hits at one another and were finding it impossible to defeat one another when they were one another. Erik knocked the Phantom back and to the ground. She ran to Erik and wrapped her arms around him.
" Erik, stop please," she whispered
" No, more," he whispered
Erik closed his eyes and slightly pushed Meg away from him. He gripped his head and ripped the mask off his face, he fell to the ground.
" Erik," she cried
" No, it hurts, no I know this," Erik moaned
Erik opened his eyes and looked around seeing he was on the rooftop of the Opera Populaire.
" Christine, why have your brought me here?" Raoul's voice questioned
Erik stepped out a little and saw Christine and a young man standing with her.
" It's her," he whispered, " Christine."
He listened as Christine spoke of the Phantom, then seeing that the young man that embraced her was his rival. They both spoke of loving each other forever and then they kissed each other. Erik felt a sudden pain in his heart and tears fell from his face.
" I remember," Erik whispered
Erik walked out once they went in and stopped at the fallen rose. He knelt down and lifted it in his gloved hand. Feeling the tears fall from his face as he squeezed the rose.
" I gave her everything, my music, she only betrayed me using my music against me," he whispered
He threw it down and ran towards the statue and leapt on it.
" You will curse the day you did not do all that the Phantom asked of you!" he shouted
Erik leaned forward slightly hugging the statue as pain remained in his heart. He breathed deep and just stayed there.
" You have remembered," a voice said
" You are an unforgivable bastard," Erik whispered
He stood up and looked at the Phantom and narrowed his eyes at him. He jumped down and ran at him. He grabbed his reflection by his neck and squeezed his neck tightly, both struggled with the grip. Erik slammed the Phantom's head against the ledge and breathed deep.
" You did this, you made her who she was and that is why you went mad," Erik growled, " Why didn't you kill him there?"
" Erik you're a fool," the Phantom said, " I killed a part of both of them, but love was stronger."
" Then here's a lesson of how I want to be left alone," Erik growled
He grabbed his reflection by his neck and lifted him up over the ledge.
" Curse the day you reentered my life Phantom of the Opera," Erik growled
" You drop me and the memories you have collected will be gone forever. Even the ones of laying eyes on the chorus girl, Meg Giry," the Phantom said, " You will never be able to live a normal life without your shadow. So do as you please."
Erik breathed deep and brought his reflection up and the Phantom smiled and threw a punch as Erik.
" Sleep well my reflection," he said, " Cause tomorrow you will remember everything."
He pulled his cloak over him and vanished.
The Phantom rose from where he was and looked at Erik. He looked at Meg as she tried to wake Erik.
" He's unconscious," the Phantom said, " Meg Giry, learn to chose your men wisely."
" He did nothing wrong," she whispered
" Yes, of course he didn't cause I did nothing wrong," The Phantom said, " He will remember and now he will become the Phantom of the Opera."
The Phantom vanished from site and Meg looked at Erik.
" Meg, Erik," Madame Giry's voice came
" Down here mother," Meg called