Chapter 7
Gustave's Story

"My father died three years ago, when I was eighteen when we were visiting France from New York. He had been quite a legend at the Opera house so – I accidentally burnt my face one day and it looked like his, um, deformity ... I didn't think people would be so cruel so I hid away in the place my father and mother had held such a reputation – this theatre. I rebuilt it from what my father taught me and I found my father's lair. I was sick and tired of people calling him a rumour and legend. He wasn't. The Phantom of the Opera existed and I wanted to make sure people never forgot. Then, I found you. You believed, and you knew about my father's past with my mother. I needed help." Gustave admit, trying hard not to cry. "I can feel myself losing my sanity every day."
Eloise sniffled and began to process all the information she'd just received. She reached out and touched Gustave's face, "You're really not that bad." She smiled, "I thought you were quite handsome, actually."
"What?"
Eloise nodded, "I don't care much for the outside, and it's what's inside that makes a difference to me. Avenging your father after his death doesn't make you a bad person, but it does mean you need help." Before Gustave could argue Eloise continued, "You are not crazy, but you will be if you continue down here alone. That's why I'm staying."
"Forever?"
"As long as it takes." Eloise mentioned, "I feel what you feel." Eloise sighed, "I've never really told that to anybody…"
"Oh," Gustave looked at Eloise and smiled, "thank you."
"Why?"
"I thought I was beginning to go mad like my father once had."
Eloise chuckled, "Well you're not. I'm sure he wasn't as bad as everyone thought he was anyways."
"He wasn't." Gustave added quickly, "He owned Phantasma, was an architect, composer and had this magical side of him that, Raoul never had."
"Raoul?"
"My step-father." Gustave added. Eloise felt the knot in her throat tighten – what had she done? She had walked up to the Vicomte de Chagny and told him that the very man that ruined his marriage was still alive in this very Opera house. There was no ghost though, just a lonely boy. Eloise felt herself shiver again, she could never let Gustave know – he would hate her.
"Are you cold?"
"No, I'm fine." Eloise nodded reassuringly. Whatever happened, Eloise prayed that Raoul never filed a report to the owners, because if he did, Gustave would surely meet his doom.