Chapter 14
The Men Behind The Masks
Kristy searched his face with loving eyes as her fingers traced every raised ridge and melted line.
"What you have had to live with all these years."She held his eyes with hers. " Oh Erik, what a foolish yet
brilliant man you are." Her lips caught his in a soft kiss.
" How...how did you know?" The words barely left his mouth before Kristy wrapped her arms around
his neck.
" The kiss." She smiled up at him, " There was only one man who kissed me like that... the Phantom."
She smiled, " At first, I thought that I had imagined it all, but the more I was with you, I began to notice
your mannerisms-how you held my hand, how you smiled at me, then one day I realized it was true, you
and the Phantom were one in the same." Her hand cupped his face ." I love you Erik Maurer, and I also love
the Phantom too."
A smile broke across his lips, a smile s o wide Kristy giggled softly as he picked her up in his arms
holding her to him, his hand smoothed across hair the color of spun gold. " I never thought I would love
again after Christine, " Erik said softly as he looked into her eyes, fingers coming to rest against the
softness of her cheek.
A puzzled look crossed Kristy's face. Taking a deep breath, he began. " There are many things about
me you don't know...things I need to tell you..."
Kristy took his hand as they climbed the steps to where the Phantom's organ sat a midst lighted
candelabras. Sitting down on the stool, she crossed her hands in her lap, waiting.
" I was born in a small town just north of Rouen, France in 1862..." He began, moving
around and between the candelabras, glancing up at Kristy's face as he continued. "...my mother was so
horrified by my appearance that my first birthday present from her was a mask to hide my face
behind...and my father..." Erik stopped and looked at her. "...a master mason in the
village...never saw me. Erik is not even my name-it was given to me by the tribe of
gypsies I ran away with when I was 10 years old." (1)
Kristy's mouth hung open in astonishment as she stared at him." But...but that would make you over
120 years old-how can that be?"
Erik came to her side, taking her hands in his gloved ones. " What I am about to tell you will sound
incredible, even ridiculous, but it is all true!" His eyes locked with hers. " Destiny sent me here."
Kristy shook her head slowly. " What?"
" A spirit called Destiny sent me here." He said again, the grip on her hands tightening.
" I ….I don't understand..."
" Neither did I... she came to me in the lair after Christine had left me for her Comte...she spoke of
second chances and the future- the next thing I remember was being in an underground tunnel..."
Kristy's eyes grew wide as she studied his face. " Then you...you are the real Phantom that Gaston
Leroux wrote about..." Her voice trailed off.
" And everything he wrote is true." Erik lowered his face, he couldn't stand the accusations and hate
that would be showing in her eyes.
" Erik, " Kristy raised his chin so she could see into his eyes." Christine put you through hell..."
" I killed innocent people for her..." his pain filled voice echoed throughout the grotto as he stood. " I
set afire my own home because of her..." Kristy could see the emotions flooding across his face.
" I loved her, and she betrayed me..."
" I will never betray you …..." She paused moving to his side, her hand reaching out to touch him
gently, " I love you...you are my Phantom...now and always." She smiled lovingly at him.
" Are you sure it is this way?" A muffled voice in a distant tunnel echoed off the walls. Erik pushed
Kristy behind him as he listened to the voices.
There were at least four maybe more, and they were coming closer. Turning to her, he took her hand
in his and walked toward the back wall of the cave. " We'll be safe here." He spoke softly finding the
tripwire; a hidden passage slowly opening. Grabbing one of the candles, he pulled Kristy through the opening
and into the shadows of the tunnel, the door closing silently behind them.
Eric Finch flashed the torch ahead of him as he, Stone, Raoul de Chagny and one other man made
their way down the tunnel. " This one looks like it has recently been used." Finch pointed out, stopping in his
tracks. He looked over at de Chagney.
" According to the original blueprints, this tunnel..." Raoul glanced quickly at the map he held in his
hands, "...should intersect with the underground lake and cavern a few meters further ahead." He rolled the
papers up and placed them back in the tube he was carrying.
" Inspector, about 20 meters up ahead, there is a dead end. There was a cave in recently -it's
impossible to get through that way." The workman carrying the lantern spoke up, his voice echoing off the
stone walls.
" Thanks, Johnston. " Finch looked around. " Damn!"
" What now, Chief?" Stone questioned.
" Back to square one." Finch sighed heavily, " Let's go, I'm getting claustrophobic." He turned and
headed back in the direction they had just come from.
Erik raised the candle in the air as he led Kristy down the earthen tunnel, finally stopping at a
doorway. " Follow this passage, it will take you to the stage entrance-listen quietly before you open the
door..." He touched Kristy's face with his hand. " Remember, the Phantom is here always."
He touched the spot between her breasts, just over her heart. " I love you." Then he was gone.
" Erik!" Kristy called after him, searching the darkness. " Please be careful!" Sighing, she stepped
inside and closed the mirror right before Meg burst into her room.
" Kristy...there you are...! Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere!"
" I'm sorry...I went to the chapel, I...I wanted to be alone for a while." Kristy smiled shyly.
" Mr. de Lamonde has called a meeting-" Meg looked at her watch. " We have to go now, or we will be
late!" Grabbing Kristy by the hand, she pulled her from the room.
Eric Finch looked at the plans on the wooden table as his men and Stone gathered around. " This is
where the tunnel has collapsed according to Smythe. " He glanced over to where Raoul stood . " If you
would Comte..."
" Well, there are two other openings, one here, on the west end of the stage, the other from the south
side of V Boulevard ( formally known as Adam Sutler Boulevard) He pointed to the street map." I don't know
about the one from the stage entrance-if it is navigational-but the entrance from the street is definitely
-I have been in it."
" It's as good a place as anywhere to start. Dominic, you and Waters try the stage tunnel...de
Chagney and I will come in from the street...if you find anything, radio me..." Finch paused, " be
careful...we don't know how bad it may be in there..."
" Right..." Stone glanced at Waters. " ...let's go."
" Bring your maps Comte…I have a feeling we may need them." Finch started down the tunnel.
Philippe de Lamonde paced the office nervously. Damn them! Why the hell did Finch and Penway have to
stick their noses into his business? Now, he would have to put an end to it before everything he had worked
so hard for came crashing down around his feet. He had to get rid of this so-called "Phantom" before he
ruined everything-especially the discovery of the antique treasure trove he and some of the workmen had
uncovered during the third phase of renovation to the old opera house-it was worth millions and nothing
was going to take that away from him! They had already found a safe location far from the opera house for
it, and now all he had to do was get rid of the interlopers that threatened his future. He pushed the intercom
button on the phone. " Danielle?
" Yes, Mr. de Lamonde?" The reply filtered through the speaker.
" Hold all calls for the rest of the day...I will be out of the office for a bit."
" Yes, sir."
de Lamonde grabbed the piece of paper lying on the desk, and scanned it quickly. ".... Or if the
manager, kin any month, delay for more than a fortnight the payment of the allowance which he
shall make to the Opera ghost, an allowance of 20 thousand pounds a month..." de Lamonde
skipped the next few sentences, " Box Five on the grand tier shall be placed at the disposal of the
Opera ghost for every single performance..." (2) The note had been found on his desk earlier that
morning..." If you think you can outwit me Monsieur Ghost you are very mistaken..." His face grew heated
as he crumpled the paper up throwing it into the waste can, and left the office slamming the door behind
him.
" Anyone have an idea why this meeting was called for?" Evey asked as the others gathered on the stage.
" I have no idea my love." V answered her as Meg, Christy and the others joined them. It was
only a matter of moments before de Lamonde appeared on stage accompanied by several men." Thank you
for coming..." He began, " I am afraid I have some rather bad news..."
Mummers and low voices spread across the stage as everyone stood listening.
" What bad news? " Evey asked glancing at V.
" I am afraid I am going to have to cancel the show."
" Cancel the show?!" Evey exclaimed..." You can't cancel the show!"
de Lamonde let out a deep breath. " I received a mail this morning from the Building Control
Team...they have deemed this building unfit for human occupancy until the tunnel restoration is completed.
It is out of my hands."
" I thought all the inspections had been carried out to the department's satisfaction..." V spoke
watching the man standing several feet away from him.
" Steven, give me a couple of minutes with him so I can find out what is going on." Evey said her
hand on his arm. V lowered his head in agreement.
She walked over to de Lamonde. " What is going on?"
" Nothing that concerns you, Miss Hammond..." de Lamonde replied as Kristy joined Evey
" You cannot be serious... this opera house is my concern..." She looked at him, unbelievably. " Those
inspections were carried out under strict rules...we were given a clean slate to begin the production... you
know it!" Evey's eyes flared.
" Miss Hammond, I really don't care what you think, as of now this production has been canceled." de
Lemonde smirked, walking away.
" Evey, " Kristy's hand landed lightly on her arm..." He can't do this can he?"
V joined her..." There is more to what is going on here than what our illustrious manager is leading us
to believe."
" The city cleared us on the renovations. Why would they change their mind?" Evey questioned V.
" I don't think they did, love."
" Oh my god, the opera house will be ruined, and the university..." A look of total disbelief crossed
her face.
V's hands took her by the shoulders gently. " I will pay de Lemonde's office a visit...I will find out what
is behind the cancellation, and it will be corrected...I promise."
Evey looked up at him. " Just be careful...you don't know what he is up to..."
" Whatever it is, it is as good as over." He smiled down as he took her into his arms. " I will speak with
Erik and make our plans for tonight."
" I don't understand...why would he cancel the show just like that?" Kristy spoke quietly as Erik
crossed the stage, walking toward everyone.
" Was that de Lamonde?" Erik asked. " What did he want?"
" He just canceled the production." Kristy answered.
" May I speak with you?" V's hand landed lightly on Erik's shoulder as his friend just stared at the
retreating back of the opera house manager. " I believe that our dear is not being truthful to us." V replied
" Erik, I may need your help tonight on a rather important reconnaissance mission."
" You have my help anytime you need it V." Erik answered.
" Good, good...I believe we need to pay Mr. de Lamonde's office a visit. I think we may find something
of great interest to us there."
Erik looked at V. " What?"
" It seems that our manager may have found a few things that could be of great wealth to Evey's
department and also to the University." V paused, " But like Norsefire before him, he does not agree with
that assumption."
" Do you think that's the reason he canceled the show?" Erik asked.
" That my friend, I hope to find out tonight. We will meet at the tunnel entrance at 9 pm. I will not
stand by and watch him destroy everything Evey has worked so hard on, nor threaten future harm to
anyone here in this facility."
Erik nodded his head in agreement. "The Phantom will protect what is rightfully his."
" Then we are agreed?" V spoke.
" Agreed."
Each man moved toward the shadows, the darkness once again becoming their friend. Tonight, the
terrorist and the opera ghost would cause havoc to those who threatened their world.
(1,2) Original manuscript from The Phantom of The Opera