Rating: PG

Genre: General

Summary: One-Shot. (Takes place during Erik's stay with the gypsies in the movie) Erik attempts suicide when two figures stop him. Who are they? And how do they know what's to become of our favorite phantom?

Disclaimer: I don't own POTO. This sucks.

A Brighter Future

By: Erik'sTrueAngel

He hated it here. All those stares and screams of horror it seems he can't be rid of. He had no choice but to remain as a prisoner in this cage of hate.

Erik was huddling near a corner of his iron-bar cage, favoring a new cut on his arm from the recent beating of refusing to show his face to the awaiting crowd. Life appeared to grow worse as more crowds came to see the Devil's Child. He hated the nickname, but accepted it for there was no other reason to describe his horrid face. And in some place deep down he believed it to be true.

He tried to escape so many times and failed. There were so many scars and bruises all over his body to remind him of what he truly was- a beast.

Erik looked up to find a piece of rope on the opposite side of him. He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted this suffering to end. He held onto hope for some rescue from a kind soul, yet, none existed. Apparently, no one has any pity for a wretched soul like him.

He grabbed the rope and quickly made a noose. He places it over his covered head, which happened to be a bag he uses as a mask. He decided to leave it on so no one would have to bear his twisted expression.

Taking the other end, he threw it over the top of the cage and took hold of it with his hands. He was strong enough to lift himself up to the point of suffocation. A lonely tear fell from his eye, something no one will ever witness to again. He pulled once and then again until-

"Stop Erik!"

Startled, he let go and fell with a thud. Looking wildly around, Erik noticed two glowing figures in front of his prison. One was tall, wearing a thin beautiful dress of gold and silver. He couldn't see her face, but he knew she was beautiful.

The other was shorter, a young girl of around five years of age. Her dress matched the other and he could see her face at least. She had long black tresses and the bluest eyes Erik ever seen before. She smiled at him with mirth.

"Why are you doing that?" she asked with the innocence of a curious child.

"I-I…" He couldn't get the words out. He was stuck in awe by these beings especially the taller figure.

"You don't have to tell her Erik," the unseen face spoke. Her voice! It was the most beautiful thing Erik ever heard. And the way she said his name seemed to roll off her tongue with compassion instead of hatred. Oh how he could listen to her forever!

"There's no need for you to be afraid. Please, don't try it again," she pleaded. "Oh Erik."

"H-how do you know my name?" he heard himself ask.

The child's grin grew wider and he found himself returning it fully under his bag. For some reason, she reminded Erik of someone. He wanted to say himself but there was no trace of beauty in him so how could this girl possess such looks and cause him to think of himself?

"We know a lot about you my love. It's not your time so don't put yourself through such torture. Don't be in despair for soon a brighter future will come for you," the woman told him in confidence.

Erik couldn't hide the cruel laughter that erupted. "What makes you think that? I'm going to be stuck in this hellhole for the rest of my life unless I do something!"

The girl frowned. "Don't you say that!"

The outburst had Erik taken aback. That sounded like him. "And why not? It's true."

"No, it's not," the child persisted. "I hate that. I hate when you say things like that. Make him stop!"

"Erik, you may not believe us now, but things will get better. Have faith and trust in me and I will come to you. Can you do that for me Erik?" the woman pleaded.

This plea touched Erik. For some reason he couldn't deny this angel nothing.

He nodded and felt her smile. "Good. Now remove that vile thing." He did. "I'm sorry but we have to now my dear. But we will all meet once again."

"Wait! I don't know who you are!" he called.

His answer was the child's laughter as both apparitions slowly faded away. The ghost's words stayed with him as he repeated them in his head. We will all meet once again.

For the first time in his lonely life, Erik felt tears of joy spring down his face. He believed her. He knew what she said was true. He will be saved one day and when the time came he would find his angel.

The curtain leading into his pen opened and a group of young girls hustled inside. Little did Erik know the future Madame Giry was among them.

TBC....