Did I forget to update last night? I forgot to update last night.
Where have all my pretty reviewers gone? I miss you!
Chapter Ten
Without Pain We Fall
"Come on, I want to show you something." Raoul took my hand from the shadows, pulling me gently until I came into the light. I was in my favorite room of the opera, the unused room filled with dust and piles of furniture covered in musty tarps. I was wearing black as usual along with my mask. My dress was sleeveless, but I was wearing tailored opera lace.
"Is it colorful?" I asked dryly. Raoul smiled and shook his head, dragging me across the dust coated floor.
"Well, to you perhaps. But it's rather old." Raoul stopped in front of a rather large piece, covered entirely in a musty tarp. Raoul pulled the tarp away, revealing a grand piano.
My mouth hung open. I took a few steps towards it, wiping dust off the shimmering black coat. I could see my reflection in the glossy surface.
"Raoul," I swallowed. "this is beautiful." I ran my fingers over the keys lightly.
Raoul chuckled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Play it?" He asked, a little too sweetly for my taste. I nodded in half understanding, too enthralled in the soft keys to really pay attention to him. I sat on a dusty bench and chose a song.
"Come wander with me, love. Come wandering with me. Away from this sad world, come wander with me." I took in a deep breath as I struck the chords. "I knew that you loved me, but I can't say the same. The days are late, come face our fates, for only you know my name."
"So come wander with me, love. Come wandering with me. Away from this sad world, come wandering with me." Raoul sang quietly, sitting beside me. "I still care, you know that. I have and always will. No matter how much you hate me, I love you forever still."
I stopped, stood, and took Raoul's hand before slowly disappearing into the shadows alone.
"You will come back?" Raoul asked the darkness. I smirked and decided to try throwing my voice behind Raoul, just as Erik had shown me.
"Of course I will," I replied casually. Raoul jumped and spun around, inching backwards into the shadows. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, chuckling softly into his ear.
"Great, I have the most interesting idea." Raoul showed his signs of early blabbing. I rolled my eyes, not wanting to listen to him rant.
"Interesting, can't wait to hear all about it." I moved away from him, silently walking, secluded in shadows until I reached one of the many secret entrances to the fifth cellar.
I had been wandering around the opera aimlessly for quite a while now. Raoul and I had some sort of structure between us, a friendship of sorts. I had been spotted a few times, by ballet rats, the managers, and the stern woman who I now know to be Madame Giry. She was the ballet instructor.
I crept through the dark cavernous walls until I came to another entrance, right below the stage. Rehearsal wouldn't be starting for another ten minutes and I had a good chance to slip up into a hollow pillar off to the left of the stage to watch.
Erik had been wandering out at random times of the day, not telling me where he was going. Sometimes it was after performances, others it was, well, during random times of the day. He really seemed to have no schedule. The only scheduled thing about it was the tunnel he chose to go down. It was always the same, and he would always return from it, as well.
I propped the trap door open, glad to see the theatre was deserted. I pushed it upwards, jumping out quickly. I was around halfway to the pillar Erik had informed me about when I paused.
I had never sung on stage, although it had always been a dream of mine, ever since I was six. I took off my mask, shivering when I felt a soft summer breeze tickle across my uncovered face.
"I don't know if You can hear me, or if You're even there. I don't know if you would listen, to a ghost's prayer. Yes, I know I'm just an outcast. I shouldn't speak to you. Still I see Your face and wonder, were You once an outcast too?" I began the first half of the song I had been practicing. Erik was very particular at either how fit I was, or how much I practiced my voice. He wouldn't allow it to become misused again. "God help the outcast, hungry from birth. Show him the mercy, he doesn't find on earth. Him of all people, looks to you still. God help the outcast, or nobody will."
I took in a deep breath, hoping I wasn't singing too loudly. "I ask for nothing, I can get by. But I know another, less lucky than I. Please help the outcast, poor and downtrod. I thought we were, all children of God. God help the outcast, child of God."
"You!" I heard a familiar voice call. My eyes widened and I felt my heart rate pick up speed. I didn't turn around I dashed off the stage in a matter of seconds, gracefully leaping over instruments as I ran through the orchestras ditch. I sprinted up the aisle, clutching my mask to my chest. I flung open one of the main doors to the theatre, turning slightly only then. "Stop, please!"
"Over my dead body." I murmured, tying my mask to my stocking beneath my skirt discreetly.
"We would hate to remedy that." Another familiar voice said. I took a step back, looking up to see Firmin. Andre, panting from behind me, had apparently just run from the stage in my pursuit.
"Messieurs," I said formally, curtseying slightly. The two exchanged weary looks.
"Mademoiselle Beauregard, correct? Friends with the ballerina Hoch?" Andre asked from behind me.
"The same." I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. Something was off about this.
"Delightful as it is to see you, it seems we have just lost our star, Mademoiselle Daae. Kidnapped unfortunately. We have another prima donna, though, and your talents are, not needed." Firmin stated rather tartly. I looked him in the eye.
"I can assure you, Monsieur, I was not here hoping to get a job. My current occupation is more than enough stress. I was simply hoping to meet with Kerry, rather private family business has occurred, after practice. The stage, alas, is very tempting…" I trailed off.
"Are you aware of the opera ghost?" Andre asked suddenly behind me. I nearly scoffed, covering it with a slight cough.
"Excuse me, I must be coming down with something…Yes I have heard of the infamous opera ghost, why do you ask? Has something happened to Kerry?" I played convincing mock concern in my words, seeming to become more and more frantic.
"No, no. Mademoiselle Hoch is doing excellently. It seems there is, another ghost. Rumored to be as wicked as himself." Firmin tapped the tips of his fingers together, looking off to my left.
"Another ghost? Pray, Monsieur, do tell." I said, sounding quite interested.
"That is not for public ears." Andre muttered from behind me.
"Oh," I tried to sound disappointed. "well, lives to get back to." I said calmly, making to stride past Firmin. He raised a hand and blocked me from exit.
"Well, actually, we think we know who the ghost's accompanist is." Firmin said quietly.
"Tell us, Mademoiselle, what is your occupation again?" Andre asked, his voice closer.
"Y-you can't, you're not serious!" I cried, covering my ears. "You think it's me? You're mad!"
"We know it's you!" Firmin shouted suddenly, causing me to back up into Andre, who quickly grasped my wrists.
"Let go of me you creeps!" I screeched. "You're insane!" I thrashed mildly, hoping to seem rather weak in front of them. If anything, I wanted to appear to be as different from myself as possible.
"We're sorry, truly we are. But we can't have you in the opera house. Now that it is affirmative that you and the ghost are both human, the ghost will be brought to court, declared guilty, and executed for his crimes." Firmin said quietly. I bit my lip, blood trickling from it. Tears welled up in my eyes.
"What will become of me?" I asked, choking on every word. To seem more concerned with myself around the managers was probably the best way out.
"Considering you have not committed any said crimes, you will be forbidden from entering the opera again." Andre said, letting go of my wrists when I stopped struggling.
"You've caught me, I will stay out of your damned cursed opera house! But if you think the ghost is human you're sorely mistaken!" I cried, putting an effective amount of bite into each syllable. "I may be human, but you're opera ghost is entirely that! A demon! He isn't human at all, he's a monster! A dead, unforgiving, corrupt, twisted, evil entity. You need an exorcist!"
A long pause followed my words, only broken by my now dry sobs.
"Why did you come here?" Andre asked suddenly, letting my wrists go slack. I buried my face in my hands, crying softly into them.
"I'm sorry!" I screamed to the ceiling. "Please-don't kill me!" I started gagging on my own words, falling to my knees.
"Good Lord, Andre, get a paramedic!" Firmin knelt down and rested a hand on my shoulder. I froze, making my body go limp. My nose crunched atop the floor and I felt blood seeping into my eyes. A metallic taste filled my mouth and the stabbing pain coming from my face told me my nose had broken.
"It's no use, he will win in the end. The phantom always gets what he wants." I breathed after Firmin had rolled me over. I clutched my hands into fists, my knuckles turned white. I heard Andre re-enter the room.
I was vaguely aware of the screams coming from the stage. I sat up abruptly, clutching my hands over my ears, screaming on my own. I was petrified. Erik was angry. I knew it. I could feel it.
I kept screaming, long, ear shattering piercing wail after the next until I was out of air. I collapsed on the ground, chest heaving, eyes wide open. Feeling it the appropriate time to scare everyone, I started laughing.
Manically. It all felt very macabre.
I tasted the salty mix of tears and blood in my mouth, and paused laughing to lick the remnants of the fluids off my lips. I stood up suddenly, leaning a bit to one side.
"Come and see the devil's child, learn of tortures cruel and wild. Come and see the plague of dreams, listen to the dead man's screams! Wail and cry they won't stop their fury, where are you going? I'm not in any hurry! Come and hear the ghostly wails, watch your children's faces pale. If you can see the pain, come to me and scream your name!" I choked on the last part. I loved making up songs, this acting thing was all too fun. I felt tears stream down my cheeks as I walked towards one of the managers shakily, stretching my arms out blindly. My fingers shook and itched, posing in grotesque positions. I smiled and started laughing again, a murderous laugh. Tainted with screams and tears.
"Come and see the devil's child…" I breathed, my voice going higher as if I were a young girl. I sounded six again. "Don't call the asylum." I barked when I heard a footstep to my left.
I was yanked backwards, spine creaking, lungs stretching. A hand pulled me to my knees from behind, digging finger nails into my shoulder.
"If you don't stop this madness we will be forced to call the authorities!" Firmin raged behind me.
"No Firmin, remember your blood pressure!" Andre cried. I heard shuffling but didn't open my eyes. My lips parted, hoping to find oxygen.
"Let me at him! This is all his fault!" Firmin yelled in response. "Dash my blood pressure!"
I felt arms encircle me angrily, and the familiar jolt of running that followed. It became cold and silent. I opened my eyes, only to find Erik was clutching onto me tightly.
Erik dropped me onto the floor, I cried out softly when I hit it, wincing when the rock stabbed into my side. I sat up, mussing my already messy skirts. I gagged suddenly, breathing in what remained of a smoke bomb.
"This can't be good for my asthma." I gagged, wrapping a hand around my throat and massaging it gently. I opened my eyes wider, realizing what I had just done. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry Erik, I just-" Erik cut me off.
"This is all your fault, just leave me alone…" Erik started walking away. I stood, planning to follow him. "Don't follow me!" Erik yelled, stomping on my foot. I yelped in unsuspecting pain, grabbing it. I hissed slightly, but looked up into Erik's eyes pleadingly.
"Why would you do that? How did you know that song?!" Erik begged, grabbing the front of my dress and picking me up, shaking me rather violently. My nose tingled and I placed a hand on it gingerly. I moved it back into place with a sickening crunch, only wincing slightly when I did so, though.
"You sing it in your sleep." I breathed, new tears filling my eyes. Erik dropped me for the second time in a short while. "It was unfair."
"Don't tell me the difference between what is fair and what is not! I should know!" Erik screamed, kicking me in the ribs. I groaned and clutched myself, biting my lip once again.
"Erik?" A familiar voice echoed off the stone walls. "Are you alright?"
"Antoinette…" Erik trailed off, sounding rather surprised. My eyes widened.
"You two know each other?" I asked between raspy breaths. Madame Giry stepped into my field of view, looking horrified.
"You look positively morbid." She exclaimed, scooping me up in her arms. For such a frail and elderly appearance, she was surprisingly very strong.
"Thank you, I hadn't noticed." I replied dryly. "What on earth are you doing here?"
"I can ask you the same question." Madame Giry said quietly. "Erik, we need to talk." She said gravely, almost angrily. "This abuse must end. Look at the child!"
"She did that herself!" Erik yelled. I heard the turn of his heel and expected Madame Giry to run me to the managers at once.
"You promoted it!" Madame Giry said angrily, taking a step in what I suspected to be Erik's direction. I was incredibly surprised, no one stood up to Erik like this.
"Did you see what she did to me?" Erik asked, tears in his voice. I felt pity, but pushed it aside as I strained to listen. I slipped in and out of consciousness and fought to keep my eyes open.
"As a matter of fact I did not see what she did to you, only what she did to herself! Andre and Firmin have the authorities searching the building for her as we speak. They feel they have a raving mad lunatic running around here. She saved you, actually. She stood up for you!" Madame Giry countered.
"She sang that song! It haunts me, you now that!" Erik screamed, taking a step closer to us. Madame Giry held her ground.
"She sang it, making it true! They aren't looking for you, she risked her own life to save yours after she has done nothing, and you have taken more lives than anyone else I know! If anything you should be thanking her and dressing her wounds!" Madame Giry burst out in almost seething rage. I knew Erik was stubborn, but apparently he needed to be yelled at quite severely before he gave in and swallowed his pride. I made a mental note to use force the next time Erik refused to let me do something.
"Actually, Madame. I am quite capable of surviving on my own. Erik is actually very kind to me. I do not know how to make up the crime I have committed before him today. He saved me from the managers, I am in his debt." I croaked, my throat scratching harshly.
"You don't know what is good for you." Madame Giry said in a hushed voice.
"Make sure she doesn't follow me." Erik snarled. I heard him stomp away. I tried my best to hold back a few more tears. I felt like such a baby, crying so much. I had never cried as much before as I had at the opera house.
"I'll take you to him as soon as we clean you up." Madame Giry said quietly into my ear.
"Thank you, for everything." I said gravely. "I suppose you're right."
"You'll find that I always am." She smiled down at me, I took that as a sign the discussion was over. It didn't take long before I fell unconscious.