Disclaimer: I do not own POTO. Thanks for the positive feedback. BTW, please put a review for chapter 3, its very lonely :( This is a little late, but here it is!
Chapter 11: Erik & Christine, 1 year later, Plan of attack
After she woke up, Christine saw her angel of music sleeping peacefully, which almost made it a shock that he would even hurt a fly. She rose from bed and went into the kitchen area. Christine prepared a meal for Erik, it consisted of toast, eggs, and some orange juice. When Erik woke up, he smelled an enticing scent.
"That smells really good." Erik commented.
"Its nothing really Erik, just wanted to do something for you." Christine stated. Besides, it is our anniversary you know." Christine added.
"Ah yes, what a lovely way to start the day. I also have a surprise."
"What's that Erik?"
"Well, in two weeks, we shall be married."
Christine then gave Erik a warm embrace. She noticed that he was warmer than he usually was.
"Oh Erik, that was the best news I heard all day!" she exclaimed.
"Wow, and its only 7:30 AM!" Erik replied. He wrapped his arms around his lover tightly.
"I shall never let you go again." Erik said while tears fell from his blue eyes.
"I love that you value me so much." Christine replied. She then rested her head on Erik's chest. Erik place his hands on her head and stared deeply into her eyes. They kissed. Then they heard a noise from the lake.
"Madame Giry?" Christine questioned.
"Erik, Christine! You must help me! I have a note for both you and Christine.
Erik grabbed his note first. However, Christine read her's first. It read:
Dear Ms. Daae,
This note is of the utmost importance. I thought I would tell you this before you actually got to the contents of this letter. Anyway, I have your friend Meg hostage with me in a large amount of land not so far away from Paris. I do not know where you are at the moment, but I will know soon enough, unless you step up and come with me. I must know your response in a week's time. If you are unsure of the location, just ask Madame Giry. I hope you make the right decision.
Sincerely,
Mr. C
Erik then read his letter:
Dear Count Erik Phantasmo,
I suggest you read the contents of this letter and understand clearly that it is to your best interest that you follow these steps. I want you to go to a large, plot of land in which Madame Giry only knows the location to. I want you to come with 20,000 Francs. I want to meet you count. I think we have a need for each other. If you do not supply what I want, then I will have to take something of yours. By the way, I know of your identity...Opera Ghost!
Signed,
Mastermind
"No, how did this happen?" Christine asked.
"Well Christine, it was two weeks ago, we were in the house and three hooded men entered the room. One of them had a distinctive voice, he called himself Mr. C. He told me to give him the notes two weeks later, and ensured Meg's safety." Madame Giry replied. "I was hoping to not involve the two of you, but it was the only way of having a chance of saving Meg!"
Erik looked down with his hand on his chin as usual, and was debating inside his mind what he should do.
"Is there any other instructions these madman forgot to mention?" Erik finally asked.
"Yes, for Christine, he wants her to go to the mansion and enter the grand-room or something." Madame Giry told them. She then looked at Erik. "You will be required to go into the palace and approach the study."
"I see." Erik told her. " I will need to come prepared then. Although it is not the opera house and I do do not have home field advantage, I am arguably a genius."
"Erik, what about our wedding?" Christine asked.
Erik then touched her cheek and looked into her eyes. "Don't you worry about that. I will be your husband soon enough. We need a plan that will not only save Meg, but also damage the Night-crawlers as much as possible. Madame Giry, can I trust you on where the location is."
"Erik, I do not know where it is. I have to go to the bar and find a man with all black on with a purple scarf. After that, we must be outside the bar to get on the carriage in an attempt to get there."
"Well then, it seems my options are limited, but not too difficult to handle. I need to bring my sword for hand-to-hand combat, and some rope, lots and lots of rope."
"Erik, just be careful not to get yourself get killed." Christine pleaded.
"I have a goal: to marry you, and that will be what my determination is based on."
"Great, now let us discuss the plan." Madame Giry interrupted.
They went into the kitchen to discuss the plan and to have some food.
"So this is where the main gate is?" Erik asked.
"Yes, there will be at least three guards. Then you must go through a long shroud of mist. This is mist is thick enough to cut with a mere knife. Soldiers are not usually in this area, but their pet is.
"What pet?" Christine asked.
"Well, a giant wolf that will kill you on spot, unless you have a stick to play fetch with it. Another way to get past the beast is to stay on the carriage until they drop you at your respective location."
"Well, I guess we should get a brief idea: wolf or carriage?"
"Carriage obviously. Unless the wolf is nothing but a myth."
Madame Giry added, "Tell that to the men that have died trying to fight the beast."
"Well, it would be carriage then, I guess. So do we have an maps of the mansion or palace?" Erik asked.
"We only have a map for the palace, not the mansion. Although, you could use a guide in the mansion anyway.: Madame Giry added.
"Alright then, so the plan is for me to infiltrate the palace, and save Christine and Meg, correct?"
Erik asked.
"Yes, in a nutshell." Madame Giry replied. "When should we do this plan."
"In three days. I need to do some last minute things before I do this. I must give you the score and script to my latest opera. This is in case if I die." Erik whispered to Madame Giry.
"Good, do you want me to submit it to the opera when it opens?"
"Yes, that is my intention. I want my score to live without any interruptions. As for you Christine, I want Madame Giry to take you into her home, in case if I end up dead."
Christine looked up to Erik with tears falling down her cheeks, and she gave Erik a tight hug. He held onto her as well.
"I guess this is the point of no return. This is your choice." Erik stated.
"I've decided." Christine told Erik.
