[A/N] This chapter is actually of a decent length. I'm sorry the previous chapters have been so short, but that's just how I right. Many of my chapters are short, so I'll try to update often. I think that later on I might start writing from the characters point of view. Anyway here is the next chapter. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that I do not own Phantom of the Opera. I've offered to let Andrew Lloyd Webber give me the rights to the musical, but he never responded.
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Maria had once been a great artist, that is, until an unfortunate accident took her family, and her inspiration. Not even her daughter, who was born later, could pull her out of her block. She would often sit in front of a blank canvas with a brush in her hand. There she would stay until she fell to the floor in tears. This was what she was doing today.
"Mother! Mother!" The little girl ran over to her mother, causing her to drop her brush.
"Cat? What's wrong, why are you crying?"
"No Mother. We were at the show and..."
"Cat, you know I don't want you going to those awful things."
"I'm sorry Mother, but there I saw... it was..."
"What dear?" Maria was becoming very worried, her daughter rarely cried.
"It was a man in a cage! They called him the Living Corpse. He looked so thin and sick and sad. Mother, we have to help him!"
"Catherine, calm down. I'll take care of this. Stay here!!"
"But Mother..."
"Stay here!" She quickly stood up, and grabbed her cloak, paused to look at herself in a nearby mirror. She covered her head with the hood and put on long gloves, though it was very warm out side. She slipped a small, thin blade into her boot before opening the door and walking out into the sun.
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It was evening when she arrived. The crowds were leaving. Here and there she heard pieces of conversations. "Did you see it..." "...I can't believe..." She approached the cage near the back. She saw the man in the cage was asleep.
"Monsieur?" She whispered.
"What do you want?" The voice was soft, and full of pain. "If you have come to torture me, I'm afraid you're too late. It is closing time."
"Please sir, I've come to help you escape." She heard voices approaching and ducked behind a nearby tent.
"...I can't! It's my main attraction." She saw an old man arguing with a younger man. They stopped in front of the cage and looked in.
"Listen to reason! Look at what I'm offering you. It will never make you this much..." They walked away, and Maria returned to the cage. She felt sick. They were talking about this man as if he were an animal!
Quickly she pulled out the knife. She looked around fearfully, making sure no one was around. She started to pick the lock, with much difficulty. She had never done this before. Twice the knife slipped and sliced her hand. She bit her lip and continued until the lock popped open.
"Monsieur?" She shook him lightly, but he did not stir. She put her ear next to his mouth to see that he was still breathing. She felt his forehead and quickly pulled it away. He was burning up! She put his arm around her neck and lifted him up. He didn't seem to weigh much more then Catherine. She knew she had to get her out of there now.
She moved slowly, trying not to attract attention. It was dark, and by putting her cloak around the man, managed to sneak him out past the guards, explaining to them that her 'husband' had had a little too much to drink. When she got out, she sat him on a bench and checked his breathing. He moaned slightly, but did not wake. She caught her breath, put his arm back around her neck, and continued to her home.