Requiem:

Farther and farther into the darkness, of the theatres backstage, Fauxvoix ran. Down as far as the light would lead him. Into places most people didn't travel for fear of the operas history. It was a place that only the most privileged people had dared to go or the very stupid. Most of the workers of the theatre knew not to travel far from the light. It was dangerous, or so the stories and the superstitions said.

He could hear people calling out around him. Workers and police officers. The workers were fleeing and warning anyone they crossed. Fauxvoix continued down into the depths, destroying anything he came across. Old set paintings and plaster casts of props were shattered and torn as he ran, his fury growing with every smashed ceramic. His adrenalin was running high, higher than it had ever before. He made a terrible noise as he ran, his path of destruction clear.

"They think I don't know these stories, I know exactly where they have gone," He hissed to himself, "if they think they can get away with this they are wrong," he yelled into the darkness and he smashed another vase. It shattered on the floor around his feet. Big sharp pieces layed in a shambles. A large shard shone in the dimming light as it rocked on its curved surface on the floor. He reached down, insanity rising in his eyes, and grabbed onto it. He ran the edge across his hand and saw the blood begin to pool in his palm, "if its death she wants, its death she'll get. If I can't have her no one will," he said to himself as he clutched the glass shard and ran on.

He came to a stair case made of stone. They rounded a corner and cool air filtered up through it, "down to the water," he said to himself as he rushed onto the stairs and down into the dark and dampness he could feel. His fury kept him warm and he moved downward with a purpose. He came to another hallway that branched off the staircase. It was lit faintly by what looked like old fire torches. It was clear that it was not a used hallway as rats ran through the shadows. He stopped for a minute to catch his breath.

"Please stop, I can't run any further," a faint voice came from down the hallways.

"You have to carry on," a mans voice said, "just a little further Gabriella, please."

"You think you can escape," Fauxvoix huffed to himself, a crazed laugh rising inside him, "I'll have you yet my pretty, just you wait," he mumbled and ran as fast as he legs could carry him down the hallway.

There they were, her gown flowing in the wind as they ran. The masked man grasping her wrist and dragging her along. The laugh began to rise in Philippe as he gained ground on them.

"What is that?" Gabriella gasped as she heard the noise behind them.

"Don't look just keep running," Matthew said dragging her on.

She turned for only a second and there he was only feet away from them, "oh god help us," she shrieked as he reached out with the glass shard and caught her dress.

The ripping sound was ear piercing in the silence of the hall ways. He laughed again seeing the fear in her eyes. It was more fear than he had ever seen in her. It was energising. It was erotic. He wanted her. He wanted to grab her and cut her and force himself on her. But first he would kill the man in the mask. In front of her face slash him to bits and leave him to bleed as he claimed his prise and then discarded her like he should have long ago.

"Just run!" Matthew yelled as the mask fell from his face.

"Its you!" Fauxvoix's eyes burned like fire at the realisation of who it was, "you'll pay for this." he yelled as he pounced out at Gabriella grabbing her around the waist and forcing her to the ground. She hit the floor hard and cried out in pain. Matthew stopped in shock as the man, filled with fury and insanity straddled the woman who screamed on the floor. She fought him with all of her might. He slashed at her flailing arms and hands as she scratched at his face. Blood ran from her arms, glistening dark in the dim light. His hands grabbed at the fabric on her chest and the glass cut the fabric clean till Gabriella was nearly naked on the floor.

"Get off of her!" Matthew yelled as he charged back at Fauxvoix.

"Matthew watch out!" Gabriella screamed as the glass flew from Fauxvoix hand and berried itself in Matthew shoulder.

Matthew cried in pain as he felt the hot blood soaking his cloths.

Fauxvoix was off the girl now and racing toward the injured man. He hit him hard with his shoulder knocking the air out of Matthew's lungs and forcing him to the floor. He reached over and ripped the glass from the poor boys should. He raised it high over himself now as he laughed hauntingly in Matthew's face, "you think you can stop me boy? You'll never have her. She'll always be MINE!" Fauxvoix yelled as he began to slice at Matthew's chest with the shard of glass, "Bleed, bleed until you can't get up, and watch while I have my way with her!" he yelled as he jumped up and lunged toward Gabriella again.

"Run!" Matthew yelled as the glass came flying at him again.

"STOP!" a voice boomed in the darkness.

The glass stopped in mid air and dropped to the ground shattering into a million pieces just inches away from Matthew's face.

"Who's there!" Fauxvoix spun around in fear. He lunged at Gabriella and grabbed her around the neck, "don't come any closer or I'll kill her!" he said as he spun himself around looking all over and using Gabriella as a human shield.

"Let her go and I may let you live," the voice said as it came closer.

"And what if I kill her right now," Fauxvoix yelled as he grasped Gabriella around the neck cutting off her air. She was forced to her knees.

"Stop," Matthew yelled in vain, "let her go."

"Never," Fauxvoix laughed, "you always knew I would be the last thing you saw before totally darkness, I hope heaven is real for your sake," he hissed as his grip grew tighter on Gabriella.

"How dare you kill the innocent!" the voice boomed right behind Fauxvoix.

He jumped and released Gabriella. She fell to the floor gasping for air. Matthew pulled all his strength to rush to her side. Fauxvoix spun around and stared deep into the burning yellow eyes of the opera ghost.

The masks were gone and the face of death stared down at him. He tried to scream but couldn't, I tightness had formed around his neck. The rope had been replaced for the third time.

"You wont get another chance, you'll die by lasso," the opera ghost hissed stringing the rope around a torch on the wall and pulling Fauxvoix up against it. He stood on his toes before the ghost. With a flick of the wrist the rope had looped itself around one of Fauxvoix's hands. Pulling him violently the ghost lashed his hand and feet with the remained of the rope. Fauxvoix hung by the neck, toes on the ground, hands and feet bound. Gasping for air and trying to stay balanced as to not tighten the ropes anymore.

"Take my cloak Christine," the Opera Ghost said as he pull his old ragged cape from his shoulders, "cover yourself and find the surface, hurry before he loses to much blood," Erik said as he motioned toward Matthew, "you are both in need of medical help."

"Please," Gabriella begged as she ran and grabbed Erik's arm, "don't let him die like this."

"He tired to kill you angel, he needs to pay," Erik said gently caressing her beaten face.

"But if he dies here then everything will be lost, you have to understand," Gabriella pleaded, "let him be found and punished for his crimes and let the opera popular live on."

"I couldn't bare to loose you again Christine," Erik said sadly as he looked deep into her eyes, "and yet I'll never have you, how could you love a ghost."

Gabriella's eyes filled with tears, "it is your story and your mystery that I will always love. How could I not it is the essence of my voice and why I sing," she said with a kind smile.

The Ghosts eyes softened as he looked at the young woman.

"if you let him live I can return to this place and sing for you all the time. I love Matthew but I owe my life to you. The least I can do is show you my gratitude and sing forever and always," she said softly

"You could put my soul, finally, to rest," Erik sighed as he looked over at Matthew who had forced himself to his feet, "take care of her," he said as he walked over to Matthew and placed a cold hand over the wound in his shoulder, "you are losing to much blood. The clot wont hold for long, get to the surface. I'll lead a group of them down here to catch him."

"Thank you," Gabriella said as she took Erik's hand, "I'll do all in my power to free you from this place."

"You've done more than enough," Erik said as a smile crossed his face, "now go."

Gabriella grabbed Matthew around the waist and pulled him toward the other end of the passage where the light was growing stronger, "come you have to make it," she pleased with him as she walked on, "just a little further, Jean will help you."

They disappeared from sight and the ghost turned back to Fauxvoix, his eye burning like fire, at the man who hung from the wall. The smallest slip and Fauxvoix would tighten his own ropes and be hung to death. The ghost stared at him for a long moment and then spoke, "I hope you rot for your crimes. Death would be a merciful way for you to go. I will take great pleasure in knowing that your soul will be as tormented as mine," he said and disappeared from right in front of Fauxvoix's face.