Chapter 1: Who Will Save Him
2 weeks after the Opera Populaire incident
" Extra! Extra! The Phantom of the Opera's Been Caught! Spared or Hanged?" a paper boy called out
" Did you hear, the Phantom of the Opera's been caught?" gossipers whispered to one another
Meg walked to the paper boy and bought one. She looked at the paper, which the headline read: The Phantom of the Opera, Will He Hang or Walk ? Meg walked off and tucked her paper under her arm. She came to her home and undid her cloak.
" Mother!" she called
She ran into the kitchen and Madame Giry turned around.
" Look at the paper," Meg said
She opened the front page and Madame Giry looked at the front paper. She read the article and sat down.
" What's going to happen?" Meg asked
" He will be put on trial, but no doubt they'll rule against him," Madame Giry said
" How did he get caught?" Meg asked
" He was set up, taken in by a poor family," she said, " this is not good my darling….Erik will hanged for his guilt."
Meg sat down and looked at her mother and Madame Giry sighed.
" Then he's doomed," Meg whispered
Erik leaned against a wall, his hands tied behind his back, his clothing tattered. He hid his face in the shadows and looked at those who past him.
" Well, how's it feel to be trapped like a rat?" a guard sarcastically asked
Erik narrowed his eyes and the guard laughed.
" No one will save you, you pathetic monster," the guard said
" Perhaps you should hold your tongue," Erik hissed, " You might hang yourself."
The guard laughed and threw water on Erik and then walked off.
" Hold my tongue," the guard laughed
Erik stood up and looked out the small barred window. He breathed deep seeing they were preparing for a hanging. Erik leaned against the wall, then slid down into the damp hay and stone floor. He closed his eyes and tried to think past the irony of this hanging.
" It seems I was caught in my own hanging," Erik thought, " It was bound to happen."
" Thank you Monsieur," a voice said
Erik looked up and heard footsteps and then saw two shadows. He sat up and turned his face one way. Madame Giry and Meg walked in front of the jail cell and Erik sat up.
" Madame Giry," he said, " What brings you here?"
" To see you, my daughter told me you were here," she said, " Look at yourself Erik…bones and nothing more."
" I've been without food for two days," Erik replied
Madame Giry looked towards a guard.
" Monsieur, bring this man some food," Madame Giry called
" He can wait until tomorrow," the guard said, " After all he's the Phantom of the Opera…he's fed himself with human flesh."
" Lies all of it," Meg snapped
Madame Giry looked at her daughter and placed her hand on Meg's shoulder.
" Erik, you must hang on," Madame Giry said, " Be a brave soul, just like you use to."
" I will," Erik said
" Make way for the captain," a guard called
Meg and Madame Giry looked up and the captain walked down. Meg looked at him and turned her head from his sight. The captain walked over and looked at them.
" Good day ladies, I see your visiting our fresh catch," the captain said
" He's not an animal," Meg said
The captain looked at Meg and smiled.
" He's not like any man, curse perhaps," the captain said
Erik looked at him and narrowed her eyes.
" He's like a ravenous beast," the captain said, " What interest do you have with him?"
" Monsieur, he is hardly a ravenous beast, he is and will always be a gentleman," Madame Giry said, " And it is our business what interest we have with him and not your own."
Madame Giry looked at Meg and she nodded, both bid Erik good-bye and walked off and the captain looked at Erik. He gave a sneer and walked off and Erik stood up to watch Madame Giry and Meg walk off. Meg glanced behind her and saw Erik looking out, she saw his whole face, slightly gasped, but felt sorry. She turned away and walked with her mother.
The day of Erik's trail came and he was taken out before everyone. His hands remained tied as he stood there, people threw things at him. Erik narrowed his eyes and blocked his face as he got hit a few times.
" Send the monster to hell!" some of the people shouted
Erik looked at them and women hid their children's eyes. Madame Giry and Meg stood out in the crowd.
" Why today, it's almost a holiday?" Meg asked
" They will hang him tomorrow if he is convicted," Madame Giry said
" Ladies, Gentlemen, the trial of the convicted man is now taking place," a guard said
Madame Giry and Meg listened as Erik's convictions were read out. Erik stood there and looked at the judge as he just sat there. Erik knew already that they would hang him for sure. Erik leaned forward to get stress off his back.
" We find this man guilty of murder," the judge said, " You will be hanged and hang until you are dead."
Madame Giry looked at Erik, as he stood there, there was no fairness to his trial.
" Take him away!" The judge ordered
Erik looked in the crowd and saw both Madame Giry and Meg. They looked with disappointed, but then they knew he would be found guilty. Erik was thrown into jail and the door was shut. Erik sighed not even trying to fight his way out. Death called his name and he was falling into its trap.
Later, Erik was given his last meal and he ate it slowly. He did not waist a bite and did not waste a drop of wine. He leaned back against the wall and looked at the guards who past him by.
Meg walked out the house and walked towards the jail, she entered and looked around.
" I would like to speak to Captain Rousseau," Meg said
" A lady friend," the guard said
He winked at her and she turned away and waited for Captain Rousseau. Captain Rousseau walked out and looked at Meg.
" I thought you would come back Meg," he said
She removed her hood and looked at Rousseau. She gave a curtsy and he smiled, he gave her, his hand and she wrapped her arm around his.
" Rousseau, please you know that man is harmless, he's lost everything in just two weeks," Meg said
" Yes, I know he's harmless, but I have to do what the people want. Especially the judge. I have no control," Rousseau slyly said
Meg looked at him and said, " But you have some power, please."
" Why does this man interest you so Meg?" he asked, " He's a disfigured man and just a over all monster."
" He's a friend of my mother's," Meg said, " A dear friend."
" Ah, I see, well I can see what I can do before tomorrow…but I want you to do me a favor," he said
" A favor?" she asked
" Yes, if I do a favor for you, then I want you to do me a favor," Rousseau said
Meg looked at him and sighed, she couldn't say no, cause he would do nothing.
" What is your favor?" she asked
" To have dinner fwith me and one little thing, but we can discuss that after dinner tomorrow," Rousseau said
" Of course dinner," she replied with a shaky voice
" I'm a very powerful man Meg," he said
" And I thank you, may I see the man?" she quickly asked
" Yes," he said
He walked her down and Meg broke free from his hold.
" Erik," she whispered
Erik opened one eye and sat up, face turned one way.
" What is it?" he asked
" I may have a way to get you out, through Captain Rousseau," she said
" I don't trust him," he said, " He reeks with trouble and betrayal."
" He's your only hope," she said
Erik sighed and shook his head.
" I would rather die then be saved by a jackal," Erik replied
" Your stubborn," she said
She stood up and looked at Captain Rousseau. She then walked with him and turned her head back towards Erik.
" Good night sir, please speak to the judge," Meg said
" Of course," Rousseau said
Meg walked off and Rousseau narrowed his eyes and looked at his guards.
" What's wrong Rousseau? She seems more interested in that disfigured monster than you?" on guard stated
" Shut up," he growled, " She doesn't know what she has gotten herself into."
Rousseau and walked down stairs, taking a heavy stick with him. He opened the cell door and looked at Erik.
" Come to pay me a visit before you win your trail Monsieur?" Erik sarcastically asked
" Yes," Rousseau said, " Let me ask you Phantom, what makes the women drawn to you?"
Erik smirked in the shadows and rose and Erik looked at the captain.
" It's obviously not my face," Erik said
" Your personality doesn't help you either," Rousseau said
Rousseau looked at Erik and then swung the stick, hitting Erik in his ribs.
" Keep your deathly hands off Meg Giry," Rousseau said
Erik laughed and held his ribs and replied, " Afraid that this dead body would steal her from living flesh, I see? Your mind has fallen into the gutter Monsieur Rousseau."
Rousseau hit him in the other side and grabbed Erik by his tattered shirt.
" You're a dead man," Rousseau said
" Already walked that line," Erik replied
Rousseau threw Erik back and Erik smiled as Rousseau walked off with angry in his stroll.
" You die tomorrow," he said
" I look forward to it," Erik called, " After all I am the Phantom of the Opera!"
Meg looked out the window of her bedroom and sighed then laid down. She closed her eyes in hope that tomorrow Erik would be let go. She sighed as she hummed a soft song in her head.
The next morning a crowd waited to see the hanging of the Phantom of the Opera. Meg and Madame Giry stood in front and then Erik was brought up and the noose placed around his head.
" I'm really glad to have this job," a guard said, " A noose around your neck just makes it that much enjoyable, you monster," the guard said
Rousseau walked with his guards and stood ready to fire in case the noose didn't work.
" Rousseau," Meg called, " You promised."
" I'm sorry, the judge really doesn't like this man," Rousseau said
" Drums please," Rousseau said
A drum roll began and Erik closed his eyes, preparing for the fall. He looked at the people and then looked at Madame Giry and Meg.
" Go with bravery Erik," Madame Giry said
Meg held her breath as the guard pulled the lever and Erik fell. Meg turned her head and Erik closed his eyes then opened them. The guards looked at them and Erik let the rope on his hands fall off. He swung himself to the platform and kicked the guard. Meg looked up and looked at Erik. She ran up the platform with her mother following her. She stood in front of Erik and Rousseau stopped.
" Hold your fire," Rousseau said
Erik looked at Meg and then wrapped his arm around her as to hold her captive.
" He's got a captive," Rousseau said
Erik grabbed the blade and cut the noose and then tossed it at Rousseau.
" There's your noose to hang yourself," Erik said
Erik jumped down and whistled and a black horse came. He lifted Meg up and then climbed up and held the blade to Meg's throat. Madame Giry looked at Erik seeing he was using Meg as a shield for his escape. Erik rode off with Meg and headed out of Paris as fast as he could go.
" Let me go!" she cried, " Why did you do that?"
" You happened to be the first person there," Erik replied, " Now hang tight this road is rocky."
Meg held onto the horse and Erik picked up speed. He held onto the reigns and encouraged his stallion to go faster. Meg breathed deep and looked at Erik, she turned away. He looked down at her and gave slight smirk knowing what she was thinking.
After awhile the came to a small town outside of Paris and Erik gave Meg some money.
" I need you to buy me a cloak," Erik said
" Why not new clothes?" Meg asked
" I can deal with what I'm wearing, I need a cloak to keep myself warm and cover my face," Erik said
Meg looked at Erik and got down and walked into a shop, she bought a long cloak as well as new shirt. She came out and walked to the dark alley and Erik looked at her.
" Here, your cloak and a fresh shirt, you a least owe yourself that much," Meg said, " and we can eat here."
" No, we have to keep moving," Erik said
He changed within the darken shadows of the alley way. He then walked out and Meg looked at him.
" Let's go," Erik said
He helped Meg up and then jumped on and they took off. Erik watched as the towns people watched them leave. Meg held on tight as Erik used his heal to tell his horse to go.
" Where are we going?" she asked
" As far as this stallion will take us today," Erik said
Meg sighed as the horse went through muddy to rocky roads, she was becoming tiered and Erik looked at her. Erik slipped his arms under her arms, to get to the reigns a different way and she leaned back into his safe hold and fell asleep. Erik looked at her and then looked at the scenery.
" How long will I run?" Erik whispered
Madame Giry brought some tea to Captain Rousseau and sat down.
" Your daughter will be brought back safely Madame," he said, " I will not rest until she is returned."
" Monsieur Rousseau, you don't seem to understand the situation that Meg is in, she is in no harm. Erik will not let anything happen to her," Madame Giry said, " And until you and your men stop huntinghim, he won't stop running."
" But he is a mad man, I was there when the Opera Populaire's chandelier fell. And when he took the Vicomte de Chagny's fiancée down below," Captain Rousseau said, " He has killed to many."
" He has not killed, but 2 men," Madame Giry said, " Scaring them off is more like it. Erik is not a violent man."
" He's an insane man and he needs to be brought back here, dead or alive," Captain Rousseau replied
Madame Giry sighed and drank her tea and turned away.
" Erik, run as fast as you can," Madame Giry thought, " Keep my daughter safe."