Chapter Eighteen: Terror at the Ice Rink

November 5th, 1910, 10:05am

Victoria's eyes enlarged to a point where I thought they were going to pop out of her small head and fall to the floor! Megan jumped up and threw her arms around me, tightly hugging me; I giggled and smiled as she squeezed the breath out of me. As the girls settled down, there came a knock on my door; thinking that the Opera Ghost was early (he would call for me at ten-twenty) I jumped out of my seat and hurried to the door. Smiling widely and swinging it open to find Gerard standing before me. My smile vanished at seeing the butler "oh" said I "Gerard, what a pleasant surprise, what is the matter?"

Asked I, but the butler, remained silent. My brows furrowed and we stood in silence for a few moments more, I looked into Gerard's eyes and saw sadness; along with...pity. Gerard gave a long and tiring sigh, then, he held out a small shot-glass with what looked like brandy inside it; I pushed it away and politely refused, but again, Gerard pushed it to my face. "Gerard, really, I'm not one to drink alcohol. Thank you, good day" said I, as I attempted to shut the door; but Gerard stopped it with his shoe, again came a long sigh.

"Mademoiselle" He whispered quickly, leaning into my room as I opened the door again "mademoiselle, my life depends on if you drink this...the Vicomte is going bloody mental and he said that if I returned and you hadn't drank this...he would have my head; now, I'm not supposed to speak a word to you. But, this is the only way you'll understand; also, I would like to live out my days with Mrs. Giry, if you don't mind, mademoiselle." Finished Gerard, quickly leaning back out and checking both directions of the dimly lit hallway; I pitied Gerard and I slowly took the glass from him.

"Gerard, what will this do to me? If he wants your head if you come back with it full it must be more than just a simple shot of alcohol." Said I, smelling the liquid. Gerard gave a frustrated sigh and pushed me into my room; quickly shutting the door behind him. He pushed me into the inner room, along with Victoria and Megan, and made us sit on my bed whilst he whispered to us.

"I do not know, mademoiselle, but, the Vicomte did say 'she will be mine to-night, for, she will be out like a light!' then, he laughed. I suggest that you get that Opera Ghost man you were talking of to watch over you for a while; until the Vicomte regains his head." Gerard said in a hurried whisper, I sighed and watched the man; he looked haggard, and thin, and he looked frightened, deathly frightened.

"Gerard, I want you to leave the Opera Populaire...leave to-night! I certainly am anxious about this..." I said, setting the shot-glass down on a side table. Gerard sighed and sat down upon the floor and groaned.

"If only it were that easy" said he, rubbing his face in frustration. "Someone must look after the Vicomte, and those managers would just enable him; I am the only line of defense against his ill wishes. Besides, Mrs. Giry does not want to leave the Opera just yet, she wants to know that you are settled and happy before she makes her flight." I slid off of the bed and knelt down to Gerard, patting his trembling hands and assuring him that everything would turn out fine; all of a sudden I heard Victoria gasp.

"Sissy! Someone's in your mirror!" She screamed, pushing backwards; Gerard and I quickly stood to find that inside my mirror was a tall man with a black cloak wrapped around him (the collar popped up) and a black, wide-brimmed hat upon his head; the man wore a white, half mask and a black tuxedo. Underneath his hat his mysterious eyes shinned and I found myself, once again, entranced; I found myself closer to the Opera Ghost and then discovered that I had, involuntarily, walked around my bed and straight to my mirror! Now, the Opera Ghost stepped out of my mirror and onto the floor, one of his gloved hands outstretched whilst the other held the edge of the mirror; his outstretched hand cupped my cheek and both of my hands touched his, bringing it to my mouth so I could kiss it.

This I did, and his hand returned to my cheek; now, his entire body was out of my mirror. It was witchcraft! Sorcery! Magic! My mind would've been buzzing with this sheer impossibility, but, before me was the man who meant everything to me.

Now both of his hands loosely held my cheeks and he kissed my forehead "are you ready, Elizabeth?" Asked he with his heavenly voice; I quickly nodded and he offered his arm to me. I took it up and he interlocked our fingers, much like at dinner a few nights before; we turned to leave and we faced three bewildered, befuddled, gobsmacked people. I giggled and introduced him, and he bowed; Megan wore a sly smile on her face and Victoria stared in wonder at finally seeing someone that her friends talked so much about. Gerard was more worried about his circumstances to be too surprised; the Opera Ghost walked me over to the side table, took up the shot-glass, and threw it against the wall.

There was a loud 'thump!' on the other side of the wall and what sounded like quick footfall; the Opera Ghost spoke "the Vicomte was eavesdropping on your entire conversation; Gerard, do not go back to him, stay put. Ladies, go to Mamma Giry and stay with her, he won't try anything around her" the Opera Ghost paused and turned to me "as for you.." he kissed my cheek "you are staying with me" he finished, turning with me and walking out of my bedroom; I yelled my goodbye's to my friends.

Ten minutes later...

The ice sparkled as the Opera Ghost tied up my ice skates; he tapped my foot and finished the second skate. I had never gone ice skating before, I had always read how wonderfully free you feel, but, mum and dad didn't take us into the city very often. The Opera Ghost helped me up and got behind me, holding my waist to steady me as I walked; I held onto the wall that surrounded the perimeter of the ice rink whilst the Opera Ghost got onto the ice. "Have you ever ice skated before?" I asked over a loud gramophone and laughing children; the Opera Ghost paused.

"Thrice, once when I was five, another when I was ten and the last when I was seventeen" He replied, waiting for me to step onto the ice; I nodded and sighed, hesitantly stepping onto the slick surface. "That's it.." he whispered softly as I stepped onto it with both of my feet and moved toward him; I instantly felt off balance and grasped for him, clambering into his arms. The Opera Ghost chuckled "if I carry you the entire time, what fun will you have?" Asked he, skating away from the entrance and setting me back down on the ice; but never letting me go. "Now, it's just like walking, one foot in front of the other and I want you to push yourself as you step; propelling you forwards, hold onto the wall if you must, I am going over there and I want you to skate to me."

Said he, I attempted to protest but by the time I opened my mouth he was already a hundred yards before me! I sighed and looked around, children at the ages of seven or eight were jumping and twirling on the ice and I, a nineteen year old, was scared to even move! I worked up what courage I had and did as he said, pushed myself forwards; I gasped and quickly grasped onto the wall. "That's it! That's exactly it, Elizabeth!

Now, come to me, darling!" He cried, motioning for me to come closer; I smiled and did it again, the Opera Ghost clapped and I continued doing it until I felt his warm hands around me. I hugged him tightly and smelt his wonderful perfume; his heart was beating very fast as I snuggled close to his chest, he chuckled. Five more times we did this, and I felt like an expert skater afterwards; I didn't totally rely on the Opera Ghost and I could skate backwards! He and I now sat on a wooden bench, me sitting in his lap with my head on his chest and wrapped up in his cloak whilst he wrapped his arms around me and patted my back.

My stomach growled and I giggled "I will go fetch some food; you stay here, I will return shortly" said he, setting me down on the bench; he disappeared into a bakery. I smiled and watched the children skate for a moment; then I sighed and closed my eyes, only for them to be reopened by someone shouting my name. It was the Opera Ghost, he was on the ice and beckoning for me to come to him; my brows furrowed and I turned towards the bakery, then the Opera Ghost came off of the ice and walked to me.

"I thought you were getting food, I saw you disappear over there!...Then again, you did walk through my mirror...anyhow, I guess they didn't have anything good? No? Well, there's more than one-hey!" I cried, the Opera Ghost silently picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

I giggled "I know you're very strong, you don't have to prove it to me! I do love when you hold me, though, but, I'd rather listen to your heart then be slung over your shoulder...it's much more comfortable." Said I, peeking around at him, but he remained mute; that's when terror was struck into my soul. The Opera Ghost turned me towards the bakery he disappeared into only moments before and walking out of the bakery was a man in the exact same attire, then, I noticed this Opera Ghost didn't smell like the real one...this one smelled of chocolate whilst the real smelled of ginger and mints. My mouth hung open for a few moments and my brain had to contemplate what all this meant, I finally came to the conclusion that I was in the arms of an imposter.

The real Opera Ghost had turned away and walked back into the bakery, so what was I to do? My only thought was to scream, and to scream as loud as I could; but my mouth became dry and my tongue flattened, my lips chapped and my throat cracked. I then panicked even more and began beating on the imposter's back with my fists "l-l-le-let me go!" I cried in a weak voice, hitting the man as hard as I could. The man grunted but continued on his way; the real Opera Ghost was still picking out food and tears of fear welled in my eyes, I had never been kidnapped before!

Now my legs began to swing and one of them connected with the man's stomach, causing him to drop me, I scurried away and stood; turning and attempting to run, alas, it's hard to run in ice skates. The man caught my dress and yanked me to him; I heard the ring of a bell and I looked up to find the real Opera Ghost walking out of the bakery, his head was turned though, and finally, I found the courage to scream. The man had thrown me over his shoulder again when I opened my mouth and let out the most piercing, blood curtailing scream I could; the real Opera Ghost turned, dropped the food, and ran as fast as he could. But, the imposter began to run also, I elbowed the back of the imposter's head, slowing him down for a few moments; what I didn't realize, was that we were only steps away from the dog carts. I stretched out to the real Opera Ghost, who had thrown off his skates, but for some reason, the real Opera Ghost slowed and then fell face down onto the cobblestone.

"Opera Ghost!" I screamed, kicking and punching wildly as I was thrown into a dog cart.