Chapter 9
The Point of No Return

"I did it!" Eloise screamed, throwing her hands up in joy. "I learned to play the organ!"
"You're getting more talented day by day..." Gustave sighed looking at Eloise. How could anybody have hated her? Then again, why did so many people hate Gustave? Things he would never understand…
"Thank you for teaching me." She smiled, standing up and shaking the dust off her hands and letting it fall to the rocks below. "You're father must have been very talented." Eloise mentioned, hiding the shame in her voice. She never told Gustave, but she had woken multiple times in the middle of the night to make sure Gustave was safe. She had blood and scrapes on her knees from kneeling down constantly to pray for him, his father, and his mother, and that whatever may happen – Raoul would not ruin the happiness Gustave had finally found.

Eloise would also never tell Gustave how much she admired him. Besides being unbelievably handsome, even with his burn, Gustave was smart and very talented, not to mention kind too. Eloise wondered what the Phantom of the Opera was truly like, for without him, Gustave wouldn't have been raised so perfectly.
"There is an Opera tonight. I would love for you to watch it with me." Gustave mentioned suddenly, smiling.
"From box five?" Eloise smiled, remembering a key trait of the Phantom her mother had mentioned.
"Precisely." Gustave laughed. He too, hadn't been this happy since his days at Phantasma with his father. Eloise had brought light back into his life and he couldn't bear to think one day, she would be leaving. Although it seemed like she couldn't bear that thought either, Gustave had noticed how unhealthy Eloise was beginning to look. Her once shining eyes now had a dark shadow cast under them, her body had begun to develop a slouch, her knees were covered in dirt and scabs, and her hair now resembled a bush, tousled and tangled. Eloise needed her family, and whether or not anybody came looking for her, it was Gustave who had to set her free.

"Gustave?" Eloise asked suddenly, stumbling over a few rocks. Gustave caught her hand and helped her take a seat.
"Yes?"
"Who wrote this?" She asked, grabbing the piece she recently played off the organ and handing it to Gustave.
"My father…" Gustave replied solemnly. He remembered his father speaking of Don Juan very fondly. He had made sure Christine played the lead so that he could sing alongside her, just as they had when he kept her captive. "Can you sing?"
"Me?" Eloise asked, stifling a laugh. "I can't even speak properly sometimes…"
"Have you ever tried?"
"Not really," Eloise looked at Gustave with a new found confidence and smiled, "maybe I should though."
"Here, try this." Gustave handed Eloise a piece of sheet music. Some words were burnt off, but the rest of it was legible.
"The Point of No Return?" Eloise whispered to herself, wondering who the Phantom had previously sung this with. After breathing in deeply, Gustave began to sing with Eloise, allowing his father's sweet music to fill the air. Eloise was not a soprano, but she had a beautiful voice. Gustave smiled just being able to listen to her sing for the first time and of course because she did it so well. Gustave himself had a wonderful voice, not shocking as his parents were both musically talented, but something about Eloise's voice made him see her in a different light. Although she looked quite frail at the moment, she never sounded stronger.

Once the song finished, Eloise smiled and embraced Gustave, making him turn a bright red for once.
"Thank you!" She exclaimed, "The music was beautiful…"
"As were you," Gustave replied. Had he really said that? Before Eloise could respond, she locked eyes with Gustave, smiling.
"Gustave, I need to tell you something…" Eloise began, holding his hand in hers. Was she really about to tell him how she felt? What if he banishes me? She thought, feeling her breath shorten.
"What is it?" Gustave asked anxiously hoping that she cared for him too. What if she wants to leave? He thought, feeling a knot harden in his throat.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps separated the two as Gustave looked above, telling Eloise to remain absolutely quiet.
"I swear, she's here!" Brigitte screamed at Mr. Lefevre.
"Vicomte?" Mr. Lefevre asked for some reassurance. Surely he couldn't take the word of a school girl that a ghost had kidnapped a young lady?
"I agree." Raoul responded coldly, his voice like acid. "I myself have been a victim of the crimes this ghost has been responsible for."
Eloise sank to her knees in fear as Gustave tightened his grip on her hand.
"I've already called the police and they cannot find her!" Brigitte exclaimed, "The only other possible explanation is something supernatural."
"Erik." Raoul added with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Erik?" Gustave questioned quietly, "My father's been dead for three years – what is he talking about?"
Eloise felt herself go limp from fright, "I have no clue."
"Mr. Lefevre, if I may," Raoul asked, preparing to speak, "this theatre is now a joke. It's been more than two decades now that this 'ghost' has caused trouble, and I no longer want him here."
"And what do you propose we do about it?" Mr. Lefevre asked, slightly offended.
"I know the way down to his lair. If he has Eloise, its best we hurry before he murders her too."
"Murder!?" Brigitte exclaimed, slightly losing her balance. Was her friend to die? She never meant for it to escalate this far…