Thief in the Night

One evening at twilight, Marigold was playing in the garden by herself. Christine was staying late at the theatre for a rehearsal while Erik had finished his work early in order to be at home with Marigold. He was looking over sheet music in the living room where he could see Marigold playing from the window.

She was sitting in the grass by a large tree weaving flowers into a wreath. Suddenly, she heard strange sounds near the shrubs. At first, she disregarded as a possible animal but then she could hear footsteps walking. As she slowly stood up, she walked carefully toward the shrubs where the sound was coming from. She felt a chill up her spine as she got the sneaking suspicion that she was being watched. As the sky grew darker, it became hard for her to see.

Then, before she could get a good look, a shadowy figure ran from the shrubs and deep into the woods. Frightened, Marigold ran towards the house, but she tripped over a tree root and scraped her wrist badly. Crying from the pain, she ran again until she reached inside the house and locked the door. Panting, she crouched by the door and held her bleeding wrist. Kit perched her head up and hurried over to Marigold's side. Erik saw his daughter looking frightened and walked towards her.

"Mari, what's wrong? What happened to your wrist?" he asked.

"I-I was outside playing, and I heard noises. So, I went to look and a shadow ran away. I think someone was watching me. I ran back home but I tripped and hurt my wrist," she whimpered.

"You heard a noise? Stay here. I'm going to look," said Erik. He went outside and looked around near the shrubs, but he didn't find anything and walked back to the house.

"Well, I looked around and didn't find anything. Perhaps it was just a passerby who got lost but I don't think you should play by yourself so late in the evening anymore," he said.

He walked over to her, knelt down, and gathered her close to him. "I'm sorry you got hurt. Come here and let me see your wrist." He looked at her bleeding wrist. "Well, it isn't too bad but we need to clean it." He gathered her in his arms as she sniffled sadly. He carried her to her room and sat her on the bed. As he cleaned and dressed her wound, she looked downcast and frightened. He held her close to him. "It's all right now." he said in a gentle voice to calm her.

She snuggled into his chest, still trembling in fear.

He continued to hold her as he looked towards the window, frowning and wondering what it was that frightened his daughter.

The next evening

"Mother, where is Papa? He said he might read to me tonight," asked Marigold.

"He should be coming home from work soon, dear. He said he may be a little late. I'm sure when he comes home, he will read to you."

Seeing her daughter disappointed, she walked her over to the back doors. "But look in the garden there. My blueberries and strawberries look ready to be picked. I'm sure they will go nicely with the butter sponge cake I made for dessert. Will you pick some for me?"

Marigold smiled and took her berry basket with her to the garden. Christine watched her picking the berries as she turned her attention to the roast chicken in the oven. Sometime later, Erik came home and gave Christine a kiss as she began to serve dinner. "Where is Marigold?" he asked.

"She was out picking berries for me. But she's…been outside for quite a long time," she said, puzzled.

"Perhaps she's hiding from me again," Erik said. "I'll go and check on her." He walked outside. "Mari, my darling. It's time to come in now." he called out. But there was no answer. Erik looked around the garden and in the barn.

Then he checked near the edge of the woods. "Marigold? Where are you?" he called out again, trembling. Still, there was no answer. Erik felt his heart pounding.

"Marigold?! Answer me! Where are you?!" he shouted, looking all around, panic setting in.

He called for Kit and the dog quickly went to work smelling for Marigold's scent. Then she stopped at growled at something on the tree. He searched by the large tree and he found her berry basket on the ground with berries spilt out. When he picked it up, he looked in horror at a note stuck to a tree. There was a small dagger in the bark with a piece of torn cloth from Marigold's dress. And the note bore a sickeningly familiar signature:

Opera ghost,

I have taken your precious daughter. Be advised that if you want to see her alive again, you will now follow my instructions.

You will come alone to the abandoned moulin just on the outskirts of the village. If you come with any reinforcements, not only will I kill your daughter, I will also come after Christine Daae. Failing my instructions would be futile.

J. Buquet

"No…NO!" Erik growled. He removed the dagger and gently touched the torn cloth. His eyes burned with fury as he ran to the house. "She's gone! He's stolen her!"

"What? Who has? Where is Marigold?" Christine said. Erik simply handed her the note as he went to fetch his weapons. "Oh my God! He took her our little girl!" she cried as she read it.

Erik took her face in his hands to meet his. "Listen to me, Christine. I will find our daughter. It's me that he wants, not her. I have to leave quickly. I must find her."

"I'm coming with you," she said.

"No! He told me to come alone!"

"Well, I can't just stay here and do nothing! We both need to save our daughter!"

"He said no reinforcements! If you come with me, he will kill her and come after you. " Erik implored. "Christine, please! If there's any hope of saving Marigold, then I must go! I almost lost you once! I – I don't want to lose you, too!"

Christine looked at him fearfully but nodded in reluctant agreement.

"But here is what you can do. You must ride to Valence. Go to the Les Trois Poules inn. Rahim is there on business. Show him the note and take him with you to the abandoned moulin. But Buquet must not see either of you. Both of you must stay out of sight until the time is right. We must do whatever it takes to save her. I will bring our daughter back, Christine. Now take Artemis quickly."

Christine ran to the barn and fetched the horses. Armed with a lasso and a dagger, Erik met Christine outside. "Be careful, my love," she said, kissing him.

"I will find her. I promise you. Now go, my angel. Go!" he helped her mount Artemis and she rode off. Night was approaching as Erik mounted Caesar. Hastily, he motioned for the horse to gallop and rode as fast as the wind.