Bring Down This Murder…ess?

@--}-}----

Carley raced towards the voices of the mob. They were confused and mumbling amongst themselves. She smiled and lowered her voice and called out.

"I am here! The angel of Death!" She saw them lower torches and get a glimpse of her before she raced up the Rue Scribe and past the gates. They gave chase and then she tore off her fabric posing as a mask and cape and threw them aside and sat whimpering off to the side. The mob caught up and noticed her.

"A victim!" One of them yelled.

One of the men reached down to her. She cried out. "He was here! He was horrible and demanded I not say a word!" The man took her into his arms and she sighed, a grin of triumph hidden in his clothes. She pointed up the road.

"That way! That way! And then he went left!" She collapsed into the man's arms in a mock faint. "Please take me out of here." She asked. He took her and carried her to light.

"What's your name Mlle?" She could scarcely hold a laugh and covered it with a cough.
          "My name is Carley. What's yours?" He smiled at her.

"My name is Michael." Carley feigned weakness.

"Please could you take me to the auditorium? I feel faint and I my sister is probably wondering where I am." He smiled at her.

"As you wish."

@--}-}----

Erin panted to keep up with Erik. He knew these ways so well. He moved swiftly and confidently. Suddenly Erin stopped breathing hard. She looked up at Erik. She looked up at…Erik. He heard her stop and turned around,

"Am I going to fast?"  He asked with the softest voice. She nearly swooned. It was really him.

"No… no, I just need to rest a moment." In your arms. She thought and then shook it off blushing.

"Just a little longer." Erik coaxed and surprised himself once more.

"All right. Lets go." She followed him once more. Eventually he came to a wall. Erin looked confused.

"A wall?" Erik fingered a small latch that she hadn't noticed. Something clicked and the wall opened to...Box Five!

"Box five?" Erin inquired. "Can anyone see us?"

Erik hid a discreet smile. "Not yet ,  but if you move one step back they will."  Erin quickly moved closer to Erik. "We can't be seen yet."

"I wonder how Carley is doing. I hope she is all right."

@--}-}----

Michael carried Carley all the way to the auditorium. When she was in full light he saw her.

"Your dress! Are you sure you're all right? You must have gotten into some fight with that Phantom." She smiled.

"Yes. Fight. Right." Carley turned. Michael studied her thoughtfully. She was very pretty. He had never seen anyone like her before.

"Ah I see my sister!" she said pointing to a balcony with someone in it. She hoped he would fall for it.

"I must be off, but thank you." She turned away.

"Wait, would you like me to walk with you just in case he returns?" Michael asked.  Carley grinned. That's what I am hoping for! Him to come… I hope he's all right.

"No thank you. I must be off. Adieu!" Carley hurried off. Michael watched her go. What an astounding woman. Able to recoup after such a fright. He hoped to see her again. Carley ran off and turned the corner almost running into Andre and part of the mob.

"My dear Mlle! Are you all right?" He eyed her clothes worriedly. "My dear! You weren't the poor woman on the side of the road that the Phantom attacked were you?!" Carley posed dramatically.

"I was, and now I must find my sister for fear of her well being." She smiled prettily and bowed. "Good day to you."

As soon as she was out of their sight she ran off. Where could they be? Ah! Box five!!! She headed up the staircase.

@--}-}—

"Do you think anyone saw me?" Erin asked as she looked down to the floor of the opera house. The only people that remained were a few operagoers and maybe two orchestra members. She guessed that backstage would be a whole different scene. They would have to wait for Carley to come up.

"So…" Erin began. "How are you?" Erik just gave her a funny look.

"I am still alive. If that's what you mean."

"No I mean, how are you? Are you okay, sad, happy, what?" She regretted ever opening her mouth.

"I am as happy as one can be with a face like this."

"Erik, your not as unattractive as you think." Erin paused and gently took Erik's hand. "Your face may lack what some men have; but your heart possesses more kindness than any other person will ever know." Erik let the words soak in.

"Then why do they run? Why do they beat me and fear me because of my face?"

"Because people are mean. They only think of themselves and every once and a while you find someone spectacular that only thinks of others. But those people are so hard to find. You just have to look beyond the mask, beyond the face, and into the soul."

Erik sat in stunned silence. The shock of her saying this to him. What's more is she hadn't tried to take off his mask. He thought about his sayings to Christine. Oh you women are so inquisitive! Feast your eyes, glut your soul on my cursed ugliness! So you were not content to hear me, eh? Well are you satisfied?? I'm a good looking fellow, no…? His thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of Carley. She was panting for breath and looking behind her. She looked forward and gasped and Erik immediately pulled his hand away from Erin.

"You're safe!" She hugged Erin. She went to hug Erik and he pulled away. She stopped.

"I'm sorry." She said. She caught her breath and stood there silently.

"We should go out the back way to get backstage. The cleaning servants will be here shortly." Erik said.

"Lead the way," said Erin. Erik peaked his head out of the hallway and saw no one.

"Let's go. Follow me quickly and please don't make any noise." The both nodded in agreement as they followed Erik. He swiftly made his way down to the floor of the opera house. From there, he slowly walked into the orchestra pit. "This way." He mouthed. Erik opened up the service door that all the musicians used to get backstage. Everyone backstage was in a panic. Apparently, someone had told the mob that the Phantom was headed toward the auditorium. Erin, Carley, and Erik did there best job trying to slip past the rushing actors. After ten minutes of trying to get past the frightened people, Erik grabbed Carley's arm.

"If we go straight, I have a passageway in one of the closets that goes right out side to the alley." Carley nodded and, once again, began to lead them out of the opera house.

"ERIN! ERIN DARLING!" Someone called. Erin turned to only to find M Firmin trying to make his way toward her. In one hand he held a bouquet of roses and in the other, his cloak.

"Ah poo." She turned to Carley and Erik. "Go! I'll met you in the alley."

"Third closet on the left." Erik said. "Pull on the candle holder. It will open a door. Follow the passageway to the wall and the rest explains itself."

"Just go!" Erin looked over and saw that Firmin was only a few steps away. Before Carley could even whisper a good-bye, Erin had pushed the both of them into a rack of costumes.

"Mlle Perinovic! I was hoping to see you tonight." Firmin handed her the flowers.

"Thank you. They are lovely!" Erin nervously eyed the rack of costumes.

"So I was wondering if-,"

"You know what would be great? If you gave me that tour of the opera house you were talking about before." Erin snuggled up close to him. Firmin seemed to be surprised.

"Why, yes! Of course! Anything for you." Firmin held out his arm. "Shall we?"

"Let's" Erin took his arm and walked away from her sister and the man of her dreams.