HANGMAN- When the victim of the torture is made to have a noose put around their neck, and stand on a (probably unsteady) stool while the torturers pull the rope tighter around their necks.

(People have died from this 'game')

Chapter VI- A Boy Like That

Meg went to visit Erik once more before the trial. She waited three hours before the Jailors would let her see her husband, to only be allowed ten minutes with him. Meg ran along the cells and ignored the usual catcalls and tripped on an uneven brick, and collapsed at the foot of Erik's cell.

Erik helped her up the best he could through the bars (which wasn't very helpful at all, but Meg appreciated the gentlemanly gesture). She waited to catch her breath, and then (still panting) asked him if he knew about his trial.

Which, of course, he knew about. Then Meg asked if he knew if she was testifying for him. Which, of course, he didn't know about.

Erik started pacing around, and yelling in a different language. Meg couldn't understand a word that was coming out of his mouth- to her it sounded mashed together… or maybe it was because he was speaking so fast.

"Erik," she said, trying to jog him back into reality. "Erik!" she said, this time a bit louder. "ERIK!"

He finally stopped when Meg grabbed his dirty sleeve (the Jailors finally allowed him to wear his shirt when Meg appealed to them). "Are you speaking Arabic?" she said, incredulously.

He was just going to open his mouth to respond when Meg noticed a long burn around his neck- right above his collar. It was a rope burn. The same kinds of burns were also on his wrists. Over in the corner the noose was raised higher and the three-legged stool had toppled over. She traced the burns on his wrists with her finger.

They were playing Hangman with him.

"They are still mistreating you," she said, softly. "They can't do this to you, I won't let them!"

"Don't, Meg, it will only make things worse."

"They can't go on treating you like this, it's against the law!" she yelled, furious at how he was taking his own torture.

"They ARE the law!" He yelled right back at her. "They can do whatever they like and they know it!"

Her hands slipped from his and curled around the prison bars.

"I'll appeal to the Emperor," she said softly. "He'll help us."

"He's the one who brought me here in the first place!" Erik ran a frustrated hand through his hair and started pacing about the cell again. "God, Meg, it won't change a thing!"

Meg arrived at the trial early. She decided that if she was to testify, she might as well get it over with as soon as possible, so she could take Erik home. The jury would find him innocent- she knew it, they HAD to.

What would someone wear to a trial? She had never been to one before, nor known anyone who had been to a trial. She decided to wear a black modest and simple gown. She wore her crucifix outside of her dress that day. She hoped to make an impression of a pious, loving and religious person. Hopefully she did the right thing.

Speaking of right things… would the attorneys be fair? Would the judge be wise? Would the jury be impartial? Mg felt cornered and scared again. Meg didn't even ask Erik, she assumed he had a good lawyer. But once she was actually in the court, she wasn't so sure.

Erik would only hire the best. He wouldn't take half measures.

After four hours of excruciating boredom, the Meg was led into the courtroom by policemen (she was getting very sick of police!) and sat down on the defense side. She looked around. Who would attend Erik, the Opera Ghost's trial?

She saw Caressa and Jean-Paul sitting in the back of the defense side, hand in hand. Meg had forgotten they were married. They were so loyal. Meg waved back. Mama walked in the courtroom, looked around, and sat next to her daughter. Madame Giry squeezed Meg's hand gently.

Then Meg spotted Comtesse Christine de Chagny. Meg's blood ran cold to see Christine. Was Christine on Erik's side? Was she testifying for the defense?

No, it wasn't possible. She had to be for the prosecution.

The Comtesse and Mrs. Giry looked at one another. They had been friends once. It was a long ago, it seemed. Time had changed them to best friends, to rivals, to bitter enemies over the men they loved. Christine had moved up and out of the Opera Populaire and went on to a new life.

Christine looked sad when she saw Meg. Maybe she was regretting what had happened to them, just like Meg did. The moment was cut short when the gavel hit the Judge's bench and Christine looked away.

"The Prosecution calls Mrs. Marguerite Giry to the stand!"

Meg sighed as she was called up. She hoped they had forgotten about her. She moved to the stand, sworn in, and sat down.

"Mrs.… Giry." The Prosecution Attorney said, fumbling for what to call Meg. "What relation is the defendant to you?"

"He's my husband." Meg said calmly. There were many moans of disgust and shivers from the crowd. The judge banged on the gavel to quiet the audience, and Meg jumped at the sound.

"Mrs. Giry, after your rape-," the Attorney said, pacing about the room.

"I'm sorry, rape?" she said, cutting in. "I was never raped!"

"Are you saying all sex you had was consensual?"

"Of course it was!" Meg said, blushing crimson. "In any case, I don't think it's right to talk about this now, after all, there are children in the room and I-,"

"Mrs. Giry, maybe you are suffering under the delusion that the defendant married you because he loved you. We all know that he was in love with someone else."

Christine again? She was always brought up in conversation.

"Well… yes, he was."

"Then why on earth marry someone that wasn't her?"

"Because he fell in love with me too!" she snapped. This was making her feel uneasy.

"Did he ever say he loved you?"

"Yes," she said, blushing. Erik just that day had told her that he loved her. He called her an Angel of Mercy. He had never called her that before, or in fact, any endearments.

"Mrs. Giry, you don't have to be ashamed- we are going to make sure he never hurts you again!"

"Hurts me? What on earth are you talking about?"

"Mrs. Giry, has your husband ever become violent?"

"No,"

"Has he ever hit, slapped or punched you?"

"No!"

"Has he ever threatened to hurt you if you didn't obey his orders?"

Now this was not good. Meg couldn't answer this one with complete honesty- Erik had threatened her- ONCE. It was in the letter she received from him right after she took his mask.

"I see by your silence he has,"

"Only once!"

"Mrs. Giry, would your husband hurt you if you didn't obey his orders?"

"Never! Erik is a French gentleman."

"Missus Giry- do French gentleman kill in cold blood?"

"No, but-,"

"Do French gentlemen threaten their wives?"

"No, but-,"

"Then what makes him a French Gentleman?"

"Sir," Meg said, shivering in contempt for him. "You have embarrassed us long enough. My husband isn't perfect- I know this, and that's why I fell in love with him. But I have to explain that everyone makes mistakes. You, me, my husband, the judge, and everyone on that jury! My husband and I just wanted to be alone and escape the past.

"If you are going to convict Erik on trivial evidence and non-existent charges like my 'rape' and say he should die, then I weep for you. For everyone in this room has killed someone, with their hearts, with their words, or with their hands. I offer you the proverbial stone and ask for someone without sin to throw it."

The courtroom remained silent after what Meg said. Many in the audience looked at one another nervously. Even some of the jurors looked uncomfortable.

The next called was Christine. She sat down on the bench serenely, like in a dream.

"Comtesse," The prosecutor said. Meg tried to ignore the way Erik was looking at Christine. He was looking at her in that devoted look that Meg loved.

First despair welled into her, then anger, then hatred. Didn't he see she was a married woman? She had no place for him in his heart- no place like Meg had given him, and he had taken, hungrily.

But was he just looking for love anywhere? He would marry the first girl who mopped up his tears? He said he loved Meg, he actually said 'I love you', and touched her with love and affection, and each time they kissed, he cradled her face like how he did at the Non-Wedding.

'But does he mean to do those things?' a nasty little voice said in her subconscious. 'He was probably picturing you were Christine!'

Meg's green eyes closed with hurt. She didn't know what to do- or what to even trust. The seeds the attorney had planted had taken roots and were beginning to grow in her heart. Doubt plagued her. How could she bring their baby girl- or boy- into the world with this mess going on?

Stop it, Meg thought. Just stop and watch.

Christine was answering a question. Erik's eyes turned from utter devotion to sad love. He looked in pain.

She suddenly hated both of them. My God, what was she DOING? She felt terrible. It wasn't Erik's fault she was so jealous of Christine.

"So, Phillipe de Chagny was killed by the defendant?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

"He wanted to stop Erik."

Meg stood up suddenly, unable to keep her anger inside. She stomped out of the courtroom and into the lobby, causing another stunned silence. As she left, she could feel Erik's yellow eyes on her back. She couldn't stand to be in that room any moment longer than necessary.

She breathed in and out, to relax herself. The Emperor emerged from the courtroom. Funny, Meg hadn't even noticed he was there.

"Meg, dearest," he said, trying to calm her.

"You see the way he looks at her!" she said, pounding her fist against the marble wall. "After all that's happened!"

Her hand hurt and she moved it away from the marble. The Emperor took her little bruised hand in his.

"I will do whatever you ask me to do," he said, quietly, looking at her in that same way Erik was looking at Christine. Sad love.

"Release Erik," she begged. "Release my husband!"

"That is a thing, Meg, even an Emperor cannot do. Erik's fate hangs with the people of my empire now."

Meg pulled her hands away and looked away from the Emperor.

"Then please let him come home today. Put him under house arrest. Just please, let him spend time with his wife and his home." The Emperor looked uncertain. Meg got on her hands and knees. "Please!"

Pulling Meg up, the Emperor agreed to house arrest. He walked back into the court room, looking like he was in torture with his decision.

OMG I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK THIS LONG! GAHHH!

Peter Pan is currently ruling my life and I basically have NO TIME at ALL.

-Bows many times-

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