Chapter 6: Don Juan and Footsteps in the Snow

1919

Meg walked the girls downstairs again after showing them around. A car waited for them and Meg let them get in first. She got in after them and took off.

" Where to Madame?" he asked

" The Cemetery," Meg said, " I'd like to visit someone."

" As you wish," the driver said

Meg looked out the window and stared at the red roses on the side of the road. She pushed back her hair a little and sighed.

" Grandmother tell us about that night," the girls said

" That night, you mean when the chandelier fell?" she asked

" Yes, and the Phantom took Madame de Chagny down to his lair again," they said

Meg nodded and looked out the window to see a chandelier being moved as they stopped.

1871

Meg found herself thinking about what ifs. She dressed in her costume and saw a rose on the dresser. She ripped it apart and tossed it on the ground keeping the black ribbon. She stood up and tied the black ribbon around her hair and placed another rose in it.

" I know this game he plays," she thought

Christine looked at Meg as she finished her make up.

" Meg, I'm so scared," Christine said

Meg got up and hugged her friend.

" We'll make it through this, and once he's dead you and Raoul can be happy," Meg said, " He's to weak to over power your love for Raoul."

Christine nodded and hugged her friend tightly, then Meg went off to joined the others on stage. She danced across the stage, but Carlotta blocked her little bit of lime light. Meg looked at her and danced off stage. Christine hugged her friend once more and Meg watched her walk on stage. Meg walked off and changed her costume and went to the other side of the stage. She missed Erik's entry, but heard his voice, she walked to her mother.

" It's him," she said

" Shh," Madame Giry said

Christine looked up at Raoul as Erik approached her, he grabbed her into his arms and sang to her. She slightly pushed away and walked towards the raised set piece. Meg clasped her hands together and hoped Christine would be ok. As they came together Erik wrapped his arms around Christine so lovingly and yet so seductively as he felt up on her. Meg looked at her mother and Madame Giry watched in fear slightly.

Erik sang to Christine and Christine looked at him with such a soft look. She placed her hand on his face and as he was about to finish she ripped off his mask. Meg gasped and looked at them. Erik stood there breathing deep as people screamed and he cut a piece of the red rope off the scenery piece and then cut another which cut the chandelier. He grabbed Christine and they fell to the center of the stage down a trap door. Meg watched in fear as flames erupted onto the stage and caught the stage on fire. The Chandelier began to sway and swinging, people ran in fear and Madame Giry was approached by Raoul.

" Come with me," Madame Giry said

She ran with Raoul and Meg followed.

" I'm coming with you," she said

" No, Meg, stay here," she said

Meg stopped and then blocked the mob that followed. Meg took them a different way and she entered a passage way. She was eager as they were to getting closer to kill him.

" He's killed two people," a man said

" More, he's killed those important to the opera house," they cried, " We will hunt down this murderer."

" He's here the Phantom of the Opera," they called

Meg raced down the endless turns and steps to get to the fifth cellar where Erik was.

" Love, I don't love him…we're from two different worlds," she thought, " I don't fear him either."

She stopped and looked at the mob and told them to stop, she looked at the empty lair and looked around. She dove under the gate and pulled the lever that opened the gate, she let them through. They searched around and Meg ran around, she entered a room and stopped, seeing a mask laying beside a music box.

" He's gone," she thought

She looked around and cursed under her breath. The police and the mob looked about then gave up. Meg remained as the fire began to drip into the lair, she looked about and looked at the mirrors. She pushed aside a tapestry and saw the darkness. She reached her hand out and touched nothing. She then grabbed a candle and stepped into the emptiness and walked down the halls. She felt a coldness touch her as she approached another door and pushed it open. She felt the coldness wrap around her and she saw footsteps. She sat the candle down and ran off following the heavy footprints. She knew he had to be close and close he was. Meg saw a figure stumbling in the snow and she ran towards the figure. The figure dropped into the snow and Meg knew she had him where she wanted him.

" I found you," she called

He turned and looked at her and Meg saw sadness in his eyes. He smiled at her and laughed, as he stood up. His arms opened wide as though to welcoming her to kill him.

" You found me, what are you going to do?" he questioned, " Turn me in…go ahead."

Meg breathed deep and walked towards him, both showed the same look in their eyes though Meg did not want to say anything. Erik looked at her, his disfigured half showed and Meg breathed deep. Erik stood there and Meg walked towards him, his hair blew in the breeze and covered the baldness on his disfigured half. Meg had no daggers, but she did carry the piece of clothing that made him who he was.

" I hate you, and I will always hate you. You killed so many people, the Comte de Facet, Joseph Buquet, Piangi, you've probably killed others. How can you live with yourself?" Meg lectured

Meg held up the mask and Erik looked at her, tears draped her eyes. She threw down the mask and stepped on it. Erik looked at her and she walked until she was inches from him. She could hear him breathing and feel his breath upon her face, she breathed deep and Erik stared at her.

" Go ahead," he said, " Do as you please, I have nothing to live for."

Meg stared at him and then with all her might she slapped him across his face. She turned his head and slapped him a second time, until his suave half matched the pinkness of his disfigured half. Meg cried more and started to beat against his chest.

" You killed him, you horrible bastard," Meg cried, " You broke my heart, you stole everything I own."

Erik looked at her as she continued to beat against his chest, her face was stained with tears and her eyes blood shot. She continued to beat against his chest repeating that she hated him and that he should die for the sins he has committed. Erik breathed deep and wrapped his arms around her and she struggled.

" Let me go, you're a murderer!" she cried

Erik let her continue to struggle until she just gave up and cried into his arms. He leaned his head against hers and shook his head.

" I have caused you so much pain and yet you can not bring yourself to kill me for the sins I have committed against you and everyone in the opera house," Erik said

Meg cried her heart out and Erik just held her and waited for her to calm down. Erik's heart pounded against his chest as he held this crying woman in his arms. He had taken Christine in his arms, but some how holding her was different. Meg breathed deep as she began to calm down, she looked outward and then her arms wrapped around Erik. Erik felt her touch against him and felt tears leave his own eyes. Meg took some of his shirt in her balled up fist as she held him, she closed her eyes and took in his smell. What her mother had said was not true, she did not love him, but she didn't hate him either. She liked him being in her presence, she felt tears fall.

" I don't hate you," she whispered, " I can't."

" I know," Erik whispered

Meg looked up at him and breathed deep and looked into his eyes. He wiped her tears away with his gentle touch and Meg could not help, but to touch his face. She felt his disfigurement and Erik closed his eyes as she touched his face. Meg studied his face and reached up and touched his head as she remembered what her mother said. Meg put her hands down and just studied Erik, he opened his eyes and looked at her.

" You and I have a past," Erik whispered

" We have nothing in common," Meg said, " Only that we are alone in this world."

" Two different worlds and yet the same loneliness," Erik said

Erik let her go and turned away from her as the snow fell and Meg looked at him as his figure vanished into the darkness. She shook her head as she stood there and then ran off after him without a second thought.

" Stop!" she shouted

Erik stopped and looked straight ahead and didn't look back at her. She walked towards him and then placed her hand on his shoulder. Erik turned around and grabbed it and looked at her.

" Why?" he questioned, " Why do you pursue me?"

" I don't know," she replied

Erik and placed his other hand on the other side of her hand.

" The let me leave you so you may go on with your life," Erik said

Erik turned away, but Meg grabbed his hand and Erik looked over his shoulder.

" I want to get to know you," Meg whispered

" No, you don't," Erik said, " I am the man with sins."

Meg got close to him and didn't think as she reached up and kissed him. Erik was surprised, that the woman kissing him was the woman who wanted him dead after killing her beloved Comte. Erik kissed her back and pulled her close to him as the snow became heavy and fell on them.

Erik pulled away and touched her face and then backed away.

" No, I don't deserve this," Erik whispered

He turned his back and Meg looked at him as she started walking.

" What do you deserve then?" she called out

" Nothing," his voice called back

Erik was gone, but what he left was something shinny. She knelt down and saw a ring and she was suddenly confused on what this meant.