"Erik."
Erik jolted awake.
"Who's there?"
There was no light. He was sitting at a table in his drawing room, immersed in the darkness. Somehow, he had fallen asleep writing his opera and the candle he had lit before had gone out. Had he been asleep for that long?
"Erik."
That voice.
Erik could not place the owner of the voice for a moment, but then realized who it was and sighed in disgust.
Then the alarm rang out.
Erik slowly stood up out of his chair and stretched. His bones ached.
The alarm continued to ring.
He lit another candle and walked to his bedroom. There he took off his robe, placed it on his "bed", and grabbed his black velvet-lined cape. He then reached for his fedora---but it wasn't there.
The alarm continued ringing.
I could have sworn I left it here…
"Erik!"
Quickly the hat was forgotten and replaced with the thought of the visitor's body hanging from one of the Opera's many set pieces.
Damn that man!
Erik left his bedroom and then his home. Outside of his home was a seemingly endless lake and a small boat. He jumped into the boat and began to row. Soon, he could make out a figure standing on the shore of the lake. Erik stood up in a grand stance with oar in hand.
"Hello, Nadir."
The Persian jumped at Erik's voice. When he turned to see it was only the Opera Ghost, he relaxed.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing really," Nadir replied. "I just wanted to see how you were."
Erik preferred to keep all aspects of his lift a secret to Nadir. He was always sneaking around here in a desperate attempt to find his home. This visit annoyed him greatly since he liked to remain alone.
He changed the subject.
"How did you get this far?" he asked while gracefully stepping out of the boat. "Did you follow the rats?"
"No."
He circled the Persian, examining him. He was no one of any important stature, just another foreigner. They had known each other when he was in Persia and were friends…
"I see," Erik finally said. "And do you plan on remaining here for very long?"
He did not mind that Nadir roamed his opera house. In fact, Erik would have left him alone, like that odd rat-catcher, if he hadn't insisted on stalking him.
Nadir sighed, "I see that tomorrow is the last performance of Faust. I assume you are going to attend?"
"And I assume you will be there also, sticking your nose into other people's business," Erik snapped.
"Well, I---where are you going?"
He turned to the Persian as he began to ascend stairs leading to the next level.
"Unlike some other specters, this ghost has to eat."
The Persian looked puzzled.
"But you don't—"
"Stop following me, Nadir," Erik's voice echoed throughout the catacombs. "Just because you saved my life once, does not give you the right to interfere with it any further."
In an instant Erik disappeared, leaving Nadir alone in darkness.
Please, please, please review! I would love some input. I hoped you have enjoyed it so far!