Chapter 9
' Ghost in the Shell '
Raoul de Chagney woke early as he always did. Shaved, showered and dressed, he walked into the living quarters of the suite his father had reserved for him. Pouring a cup of coffee, he opened the tin tube and gently pulled out the original blue prints for the Académie Nationale de Musique - Théâtre de l'Opéra(1), and laid them across the desktop. He beganflipping through the blueprints until he came to the last page of the drawings------the one representing the underground lake and cavern. The plans had been in his family for generations as was the famous story of the Opera Ghost. According to his family's history, the original Viscount Raoul de Chaney had fallen in love with his childhood sweetheart, Christine Daae, a member of the ballet troupe at the Paris Garnier. Believing that an angel had been sent to her from her father, Christine befriended a horribly disfigured man, who taught and encouraged her to become an opera singer. With the ghost's tutelage, Christine took over as lead soprano for the opera house, and eventually fell in love with the first Raoul. The opera ghost kidnapped Christine during a performance he had wrote for her, dragged her into the depths of the underground intent on keeping her as a prisoner unless she married him.. Christine was rescued in the end, with the original opera house being burned to the ground, but the body of the opera ghost was never found. Glancing over at the nearby clock, Raoul rolled the plans back up and placed them in the tin, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the opera house and the meeting with Erik.
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Erik watched as more treasures emerged from the darkness into the bright sunlight for the first time in years. Evey had given him several pieces for his own personal home beneath the opera house, while the others were cataloged and moved onto a truck for transport to the Department of Antiquities. Looking up, he caught sight of Raoul de Chagney hurrying through the workmen toward him. Taking a deep breath, Erik prepared himself for the next few hours of being in the presence of the only true person he wanted to murder so badly-----all it would take is just a quick snap of his neck------
" Bonjour, Mr. Maurer." Raoul greeted as he stretched out his hand.
" Vicomte....." Erik shook his hand.
" We have a lot to discuss this morning....." Raoul laid the tube on the nearby table and pulled the blueprints from its protective covering.
Erik watched as he separated the drawings.
" I believe that we should have three teams working simultaneously. Two for the upper floors, and one in the lower depths. I have been briefed about the condition of the lower three levels." Raoul paused, looking at Erik. " You have been there, Monsieur Maurer, do you believe there is any chance of a restoration being possible?"
Erik studied the young man standing across from him. " I do not think there is any possibility of the bottom levels being restored. When I was there, every tunnel entrance was blocked with debris. All passageways were ordered to be closed and sealed permanently."
" Tell me Monsieur, did you see it? Is it there?" Raoul asked, his eyes alight with excitement.
" Is what there?"
" The lake-----the cavern? The Phantom's Lair?"
Erik felt rage boiling up inside as he stared at the young man.
" Sir, " Erik spoke very slowly, pronouncing every word carefully as it left his mouth. " I did not see anything resembling a lake or cavern, much less do I believe there is, " Erik paused a moment, grabbing control of his emotions before he throttled the boy, " or was such a thing. It is all part of a man's imagination."
" You don't believe in the curse of the Paris Garnier?"
" No sir, I do not." With that, Erik turned and huffed away.
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From the spot V sat at, he could see below into the courtyard of the opera house. Everything seemed to be going to plan. He had spoken for a short time with Erik before he made his way to the rooftop to see the extent of any damage the roof may have incurred over the years, but mostly to check on the central roof group. Apollo, Poetry and Music---- was the work of Aimé Millet. The two gilded figural groups Harmony and Poetry were both designed by Charles Gumery, and the two smaller bronze Pegasus figures at either end of the gable were from Eugène-Louis Lequesne. The exact duplicates that now looked out over London, were covered in gold----Chancellor Sutler had not spared any money to make sure his opera house would rival the original in Paris. Most of the statues had weathered the damp London weather quite nicely, but there would have to be a few touch ups----other than that, the roof top seemed in good condition. V took one last glance out across London's sky line, then turned heading back to the roof access door and the old steel and wooden spiral staircase. He was truly amazed that the old staircase had lasted as long as it had----until his boot went through a wooden plank, and he suddenly felt himself falling toward the floor some sixty feet below. Reaching out in a blinding flash of speed, his gloved hands grabbed onto a ten foot section of steel handrailing jutting a few feet from the wall. Looking around, he sighed heavily. " Well, this is certainly not the time to dilly dally around, old boy....." Catching sight of a narrow ledge to the left of him, V began swinging as the steel brace on the wall gave way. Curling himself into a ball, he tumbled toward the stage below, the remaining staircase hurriedly following.
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Evey glanced toward the opera house entrance just as a loud roar burst forth from the doorways, followed by a huge cloud of dust and debris. Open mouthed, she watched as workmen struggled through the dirt, coughing and hacking their way from the building.
" What happened?" She asked stopping one of the men.
" The stage staircase collapsed-----whole bloody thing came down!" He wheezed between breaths.
" What's going on?" Erik asked as he touched her arm, Raoul joining them..
" Stage staircase collapsed......." She grew silent for a second, then looking up into Erik's face, asked the one question that brought fear to her eyes. " Erik, have you seen Stephen?"
" Just for a short time----" He answered, " I spoke to him before he headed up to the roof....."
" Oh god, no......Stephen!" Evey screamed as she ran toward the entrance but was caught in strong arms.
" You can't go in there, Evey.....it's too dangerous!" Erik growled at the struggling figure in his arms.
" Let me take a couple workman----we'll find Professor Penway." Raoul motioned toward some men standing around.
She frantically fought against him, " I have to find him, Erik!"
" I'll go. I know the opera house like the back of my hand-----I'll find him, I promise." Erik looked pleadingly into her eyes. " Just stay here." Evey nodded her head slowly. He turned to Raoul. " Watch her." Evey shivered in Raoul's arms as she watched Erik disappear into the building.
Raoul sighed, " Either Mr. Maurer is a very brave man, or a very foolish one." He smiled down into dark, moist amber eyes.
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Erik hurried through the scattered debris that was strewn through out the grand foyer and staircases. Stopping for a minute, he pulled the torch V had given him earlier and flashed it across the room. Deciding, he took the main staircase two steps at a time until he reached the promenade, then headed for the doorways leading into the theater and stage. Everywhere he looked, all he could see was dirt and dust filling the air, making his breathing labored. " V?!" He called out------once, twice------finally seeing a shape moving in the dim light given off by the torch. "V!" Crossing the piles of rubble as fast as he could, he found a gloved hand sticking out from the debris.
" Erik, give me a hand....." V's voice was laced with pain as he began pushing pieces of wood and steel away from where he lay with Erik's help. Finally, removing the last piece of steel, icy coldness flooded Erik's body as he looked at the three foot piece of hand railing that protruded through V's left side, a stream of wetness gathering under him.
" What do you want me to do?" He asked as his friend's body lay motionless.
" Give me your hand and pull." V said as he gasped for breath.
" You need help, V....."
" I need to get to the gallery, Erik, " V's voice strained from pain, " Please, help me....."
" Are you sure about...."
" Fifty-two bullets didn't stop me------why should a six foot piece of steel?" He chuckled lightly as he grabbed Erik's hand, then took a deep breath, " Pull!"
Erik grabbed V's hand and pulled as the steel disappeared; V's body coming toward him. Carefully, he laid V against the wall as he stripped his jacket off, watching as the blood streamed through V's hand and down his torso. " Here." Erik shoved it into V's other hand . " It should stanch the flow enough to get you back to the gallery."
" You....you must let...." V paused as pain racked his body. " Evey...."
" She'll see you before we leave. " Erik replied as he helped his friend start toward the stage doors. " Just hold that tight against the wound-----do you think you'll be able to make it back?"
" Yes, I think so." Came the answer---- V's voice was beginning to fade.
Evey stood by the entrance, Raoul by her side. " He'll be fine, don't worry." He said softly, trying to comfort her. She smiled up at him as she watched the doorway for any sign of Erik, and let out a deep breath as she saw two figures walk through the dirt. " Bloody hell!" She cried as she hurried toward them.
" Stephen? Oh god....are you alright?!" Her hands began going over his torso and came back covered in blood when she touched the vest on the left side. Looking up at Erik, her face was white as snow. " We have to get him back to the gallery."
" I know."
" Stephen, just hold on, don't you leave me again------ " Evey spoke, a note of authority in her voice as she slid her arm around his waist while V placed his other arm around her shoulders.
" Professor Penway, " Raoul interrupted them, " may I be of assistance? "
" Thank you Mr. Chagney, but I think I can make it to Guy's Hospital----" V paused, biting his tongue to keep from screaming out at the pain. " It's just a broken rib----thank you anyway."
" At least, let me help you to Miss Hammond's car." Raoul slid in under the other shoulder as he and Erik followed Evey. Within moments, V was sitting in the front seat, being buckled in by Evey as Erik slid into the back seat.
Evey slammed the door shut and started the engine. " Hold on V....." She slammed the car in gear, and slung dirt across the parking lot as she sped toward the roadway.
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Kristy sat in the semi-darkness of the main underground chamber. She had watched as V , along with Evey and Erik had spun out of the parking lot and onto the road. She could tell that V had been hurt in the collapse of the staircase, but didn't know to what extent. Her nerves had been so frayed from the morning's incident, she had fled to the only place she could find sanctuary from the chaos above-----and in hope that her angel would be there.
" Hello?" She called into the darkness, " Are you here? Angel?"
Silence, was her only answer.
Sliding to the dirt floor, she pulled her knees up to her chest and sat, waiting.
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" Erik, help me get him to the bedroom." Evey said as the gallery door opened and she helped a very weakened V into the main chamber of the labyrinth. It took a few minutes to reach Evey and V's master bedroom, but with one hand, she pushed the door open, Erik taking the lead toward the bed, placing V gently upon the red and black comforter. " Try to get him out of the vest and shirt----I'll be back in a minute." Erik watched as Evey flew from the bedroom. Turning his attention back to the prone body upon the bed, Erik touched his friend's shoulder gently.
" V?" He asked quietly, " V, can you hear me?"
" Yes...." replied a breathless whisper.
" I need to get you out of the shirt and vest. Can you sit up?"
" I----yes....." V answered as Evey returned, her arms laden with a box of medical supplies.
" I'll help...." She placed her arm under V's right shoulder and began to pull him into a sitting position with Erik's help. A sharp moan of pain escaped from under the latex face. Quickly, she removed the blood stained vest and shirt finally getting a look at the wound, then laid him back upon the comforter. Thankfully, it didn't look to be as bad as she thought-----but it would have to be cleaned, stitched and covered with antibiotics. Luckily, she had picked up a tetanus syringe to be administered against the steel's penetration into V's flesh, but first she would have to ask him if the medicine would be ok to give to him. There was still so much she did not know about his immune system. " V? " She looked at him. " Do I give you a tetanus shot or not?"
The blue eyes that looked at her, never wavered despite the pain they showed. " No....wouldn't do any good...."
" This is going to hurt like a bitch....." She tried to smile, as she took the large gauze pad, and dumped alcohol on it until it was dripping, then applied it to the entrance of the wound.
V's jaws clenched together as he fought the immediate response to scream at the top of his lungs, but ground his teeth instead against the pain.
" Erik, hand me the small pan." Evey ordered as she began wiping the wound tenderly, the rose colored liquid running into the held beneath V's side. " V, can you tell if any organs were hit?"
" I----I don't ….think any were.....but I do.....have some....broken..." He stopped, leaving out a long painful breath. ".....ribs." V answered as he closed his eyes against the pain that was changing his nerve endings into blinding, throbbing flashes.
" Just hold on-----" Evey spoke softly to him as she finished with the entrance wound. " Erik, you will find a surgical needle and white thread------would you hand it to me please."
Erik quickly looked through the box, finding the things Evey had asked for and passed them to her.
Taking the needle in her fingers, she quickly thread it with cat gut (1). " Do you want any morphine before I start?"
V shook his head no.
" Ok." Evey replied as she pushed the needle through the ragged skin, snaking it back and forth, pulling the entrance closed. " Just be another minute....." She tied the thread off, and snipped it free with a pair of scissors, wiping the wound once again. " V, I need you to turn onto your stomach......"
" Oh hell......" He breathed raggedly shifting his position slowly.
" I'm sorry that I'm taking so long, V........but I never was an accomplished seamstress." Evey apologized.
" It is easier to find men....who will volunteer.....to die, than to find those....who are willing to endure pain …..with patience.(2) He grimaced between breaths, quietly stretching his hands above his head, ready to endure anything his Evey had to put him through.
" Ready?" She asked as she picked up a clean cloth, and started cleaning the exit wound on his side. In a matter of minutes, the wound was cleaned and stitched. Helping V to once again sit up, Erik held his friend steady as Evey applied antibiotics to the wounds, and wrapped his abdomen with heavy gauze to hold the bandages in place. Evey placed her hand gently against V's cheek as his eyes fluttered open, focusing on her dark amber ones.
" Thank you, my love....." He smiled up at her, then closed his eyes, his breath becoming even as he drifted into a heavy sleep.
Evey placed a soft blanket over his sleeping form, then turned to gather the medical supplies back into the box.
" Will he be ok?" Erik interrupted her thoughts.
" Yes. He just needs to sleep, " She replied picking up the soiled rags and instruments she had used on the ex-vigilante." ...it helps him to recover."
Erik nodded his head.
" Erik....." Evey pushed a strand of hair from her eyes.
" Yes?"
" Thank you. I don't know what V would have done if you hadn't been there." She half-smiled up at him, fatigue beginning to set in.
" There is no need to thank me-------he's my friend." He answered looking at her. " You need to get some rest."
" I can't leave him by himself........." She answered, " I don't want him to wake up alone."
" I'll stay with him for awhile." Erik replied as he pulled a chair up close to the bed.
" I---I couldn't ask that of you....."
" It's ok, I don't mind..........now, go."
Evey smiled tiredly up at him, then left the room.
Erik crossed his arms, and relaxed as much as the chair would allow. He began to wonder where Kristy was----he hadn't seen her since the incident at the opera house this morning when she had been speaking to Raoul-- and jealously began to creep into his veins----just a little. Once Evey had rested, he would return to the opera house and search for her, and god forbid if Raoul De Chagney was anywhere around her!
1) Orginal name of the Paris Opera House
2) cat·gut --A tough thin cord made from the treated and stretched intestines of certain animals, especially sheep, and used for stringing musical instruments and tennis rackets and for surgical ligatures
3) Julius Caesar
