Guys I feel terrible for leaving you without a new chapter for so long! Unfortunatly my exams are this week and next week! Horrible exams and I have four of them! I had one yesterday and one today! Before i went to the exam I wrote out this chapter because i felt horrible leaving you guys! Please understand I am truely sorry and after my exams are over and done with I will post more quickly, lets just pray I do well on my exam.
Soofija- yes i am also sorry about the mistakes in the last chapter, it was the first time i did not get a chance to re-read it! I was in a terrible rush that day and i prayed there were no mistakes, unfortunatly there was, but lucky for you i double cheaked this chapter for mistakes
Well on with the show!
Chapter 14 – To Tell Him
Madame Giry, Crystal along with Meg, sat at a small breakfast table on a cold December morning in silence. The cafeteria was filled with sounds of chatter and laugher, but not at this table. At this quiet table, Madame Giry had her arms crossed over her chest and was looking sternly at the two girls starring helplessly at their croissants.
Madame Giry broke their silence as she furrowed her brow saying, "You just couldn't have waited until the morning to see her. You just had to talk to Crystal!" she said giving a hard look at her daughter before turning her head to Crystal. "I expected a great deal more from you Crystal. Always telling me you are not a child. Well, you've certainly proved to me that you still are, after disobeying me last night." Madame Giry pushed her lips closer together making her look even madder.
The two girls looked at one another and quickly at Madame Giry before placing their eyes on their untouched croissants. "You both disobeyed me. And now look at what you've done!" Madame Giry said trying to refrain herself from screaming. "Meg has gotten hurt, the Opera Ghost is most likely angry, and who knows what he could do next. He is unpredictable." Madame Giry whispered as so no curious eyes or ears could find their way into the conversation.
"We are sorry. We truly are." Crystal said nervously as she looked up at Madame Giry, frightened at what her response may be.
Madame Giry unfolded her arms and placed both her hands overtop Megs and Crystal's. "Girls. As much as I am upset that the Opera Ghost has daredto hurt Meg, what I am most disappointed about is that you did not listen to me." She squeezed their hands a bit tighter. "Ever since you were young girls you never listened. Always running off and playing in the dirt in your ballet costume Meg. Crystal, always pounded away on the piano keys when I was asleep." She paused as the three of them silently giggled remembering all the days they spent together. "But you are much older that that now and I expected you girls to grow out of these traits. I do this for your own good because I love you both." Madame Giry said, letting go of the girl's hands and leaned back into her chair.
Crystal placed her hands into her lap and looked down with shame. Meg bit her lip as she twirled her blond hair between her fingers not knowing what to say.
"But when you disobey me and medal with the Phantom's affairs, this greatly concerns me. For you have both seen what kind of damage he does when he gets livid." Madame Giry said sadly but sternly, making sure Meg and Crystal knew she was serious. "Please, please be more careful."
"We will mother. We will." Meg said finally speaking up.
Madame Giry smiled lightly and got up from the table and cleared her throat. "I must be off to the ballet room. Meg we have practice shortly. Do not be late." She said sliding her chair into the table. "Au revoir girls." She lastly said throwing her brade over her shoulder and walked out of the cafeteria.
Meg and Crystal both breathed a sign of relief and turned to face each other.
"She's still upset." Meg said sadly as she began cutting threw her soft croissant.
"I know. We will have to do something to cheer her up." Crystal suggested.
"I know just thing the thing!"
The rest of their breakfast was spent discussing their plan to cheer up Madame Giry. They giggled and laughed through the entire conversation. The place where Meg was going to take Crystal to get her mind off her parents was in fact the same place they were going to take Madame Giry, it worked out beautifully.
Soon after, Meg and Crystal found themselves leaving the cafeteria and off to their practices.
"Meet me on the stage when your finished practice." Meg said hugging Crystal as she left for the ballet room and Crystal the auditorium.
"Les Chansons de Silence!" Monsieur Reyer stated as he held up his conductors stick in the air and handed out sheet music to each member of the orchestra. "Is the name of our new production. Sounds very exciting doe it not?" Monsieur Reyer asked smiling happily as he lifted his eyebrows.
Crystal placed the papers on the stand resting on the piano, studying the notes. She may not have been able to play with both her hands but she sure could play with one.
"Now, I want everyone to practice the first page for 15 minutes lets say, and then we shall try all together then." Monsieur Reyer said happily.
Almost immediately after he said this, great sounds filled the giant halls with music that came from trumpets, violins, flutes, cellos, but not from the organ.
Crystal was trying to play as much as she possibly could with her broken hand but not much sound came out for she was pressing on the keys very softly, though with all her might.
'Damn you Pierre for putting me in such a state.' Crystal thought as she breathed out in frustration. She placed her broken wristin her lap as she bagan playing the music with left hand.To her the music sounded very dull without the beautiful melody her right hand should have been playing.
"I see you 'ave 'urt your hand there lassie. 'ope you don't mind me asking what 'appened." A young Irish man asked.
Crystal stopped playing and turned around to see a young gentlemen sitting behind a large chello. "I had a little bit of an accident I am afraid." Crystal said shyly.
"Now that's too bad." The Irish man paused. "My names Colin by the way. Nice to meet you Madame." He said slightly bowing his head.
"Colin, Crystal, stop the chatter. Colin haven't you talked enough with Pierre before practice already?" Monsieur Reyer said taping his conductor's stick in his hand.
'He's Pierre's friend?' Crystal thought as she looked at Colin.
"Mademoiselle actually." Crystal corrected him. "Well we better get back to practicing." Crystal said sternly and turned back at her piano.
"Of course." Colin smiled and went back to his instrument.
"Oh Crystal, do hurry. Do hurry." Meg whispered anxiously to herself behind the curtain on the stage. She sat waiting for Crystal's practice to finish.
Monsieur Reyer was collecting their sheet music and was telling them about their next practice and what they would be working on. "See you all tomorrow then." Monsieur Reyer said fixing the sheet music into a neat pile on the music stand in front of him.
Crystal was the last to leave her instrument for she didn't want anyone to see her climb up to the stage for they would probably have wondered why.
Soon after, Crystal found the stairs to the left of the stage. She walked on it for the very first time and was overwhelmed. She had always dreamed of being an actress but always rather enjoyed playing the piano more.
She walked over towards a swaying curtain where she found Meg making small braids in her hair as she sat on the ground. When Meg caught site of Crystal she practically leaped in the air towards her.
"Oh my, I hadn't even heard you come up here!" Meg exclaimed and grabbed Crystal. "Come, it's time to put our plan into action." Meg laughed out loud. But Crystal silenced her by putting a finger to her lips.
"Do you hear that?" Crystal asked peaking her head out of the red curtain and looked around the auditorium curiously. When Crystal caught site of two people entering the auditorium doors, she and Meg quietly kneeled down behind the curtains as they poked their heads out to see.
What they saw was Pierre and a servant girl, around both their age, being smacked in the bottom by Pierre's large bony hands. She turned around and giggled saying. "Oh Pierre, stop." She blushed as Pierre pulled her in forcefully and planted his wet lips onto hers. Meg and Crystal could hear both their moans and groans from behind the curtains, and it disgusted them.
Pierre slowly made his way down her neck and onto her chest where he kissed the tops of her perked up breasts. You could tell her wanted more as he almost ripped off the buttons from her dirty blouse and lifted her up and she wrapped her legs about his waist. He carried her through one of the rows and threw her onto the ground. Meg gasped in fear but Crystal covered her mouth with her hands making sure she wouldn't do it again.
"No Pierre. Not here." The servant girl begged as Pierre began undoing his trousers.
"Yes here." He yelled and silenced her by slapping her across the face. His body soon disappeared behind the seats and Meg and Crystal could begin to hear the girls cries of pain as Pierre thrust into her harder and harder.
"We must help her." Crystal said getting up from her knees.
"No we mustn't. He'll just do the same to us!" Meg whispered as she tugged at Crystal's arm.
Not long after that, the servants crying and screaming had stopped. Pierre had gotten up from the floor and quickly did his trousers back up and left the poor girl lying on the cold ground.
"Get up." He grunted. "Before someone sees you girl, whatever your name may be." He said fixing his slick blond hair.
The servant girls head slowed peaked up from behind the seats and her face was covered in tears along with Pierre's handprint on her cheek.
"If you even think about telling anyone of this, you'll be dead by morning." Pierre said as he left the girl. "Now, where could my dear Crystal be?" Pierre said smiling as he walked out of the auditorium.
Meg and Crystal looked at each other in fear as the poor servant girl slowly got up from the floor and fixed her skirt as she stumbled out of the auditorium in pain.
"I cannot believe my eyes!" Crystal said placing her hand overtop her heart.
"And I my ears!" Meg said shocked. "That man, he's…disgusting."
"And horrible." Crystal said knowing the two of them could go on forever describing just how ruthless Pierre really was.
Seeing what Pierre had just done, reminded Crystal of a night not so long ago, when Pierre had tried to do the very same thing to here. Fortunately for Crystal, Erik was there to stop him. She smiled and was lost in her thoughts for several enjoyable minutes until she saw Megs fingers snapping in front of her face.
"Crystal did you hear me? I said we should go get ready." Meg said looking at Crystal peculiarly.
"Oh right." Crystal said blinking her eyes. "Lead the way." Crystal said as her and Meg got up from the floor and ran far behind the stage to their destination.
"Ta Da!" Meg smiled spreading her arms out. "Behold, the costume room."
Crystal's eyes widened with amazement as she turned the corner and stepped into a gigantic room filled with hundreds of different costumes. There were rows beyond rows of costumes of many shapes, sizes, and colours, and Crystal couldn't believe it.
"Oh Meg, it's positively gorgeous." Crystal said looking around the room.
"I thought you might like it." Meg said stepping beside Crystal. "Now come, lets pick out ourcostumes." Meg laughed and the girls were off in different directions looking through the many beautiful costumes. Little did Crystal know, a certain Phantom was watching her.
"Crystal, I found the perfect outfit for you." Meg said several minutes later running over to Crystal. She held out a stunning, long silky red skirt along with a black corset trimmed in gold. "You'll look perfect in it." She said handing Crystal the costume.
"Meg, its rather revealing don't you think? Why look at this slit in the skirt." Crystal said holding the costume up. "It is rather elegant though." She said biting her lip.
"I know." Meg giggled. "Now go on and try it. Oh and don't forget these." Meg handed Crystal a translucent red shall and a black fan.
With that, Crystal went off behind a change curtain and tried her costume on. Meg, on the other hand, was still in search for one herself. But when she found the perfect one for her, she too went off to go try it on as well.
A few moments later, Crystal stepped back from behind the change curtain bare footed in front of a full-length mirror. She looked at her costume through the reflection and saw that the slit in the skirt went plenty higher than she imagined. It went all the way up, revealing the top of her thigh. Her black corset was clipped tightly at the front, pushing up the tops of her breasts more than usual. She had her shall around her shoulders and dangling by her arms. She held the black paper fan and slowly took her hair out and let the waves fall down her back. Meg was right, this outfit was perfect.
A few seconds later, Meg came skipping back into the costume room dressed in all pink. She had soft pink and white feathers going around her chest and shoulders. Also around her bottom.
Crystal turned around and could not refrain herself from laughing. "Why Meg, what in heavens name are you?" Crystal said pointing at Meg's fluffy costume.
"Why my dear, I am a flamingo!" Meg giggled in an English accent and began prancing about in circles around Crystal.
They laughed so hard they thought they might be ill. Crystal wiped her tears of laughter from her eyes and took hold of Meg. "Meg, we must go find your mother." She giggled.
"Of course. This is in fact for her, to cheer her up." Meg said grabbing too long black cloaks. "Here, put this on. If anyone were to see us dressed in such an odd state, I know not what they would think."
Crystal and Meg threw the cloaks over their shoulders and were off in search for Madame Giry.
When they finally found her in the ballet room, they had to practically drag her out for she demanded they tell her what was going on. All Crystal and Meg told her was that it was a surprise.
When they reached the now empty auditorium, they sat Madame Giry down in the first row and climbed up to the stage. Meg had went to pull the red curtains open as Crystal stood in the middle of the stage ready for their little performance.
Madame Giry sat down and crossed her legs as she saw Crystal revealed from behind the curtains.
She spoke up in her fake English accent. "Welcome ladies, and well lady, to our little performance this evening. Tonight we hope to make you laugh and cry your eyes out with joy." Crystal curtsied and then stood up tall saying, "Let the Opera Begin." Madame Giry clapped her hands and Crystal ran backstage to Meg.
During the girl's performance, Madame Giry did quite a bit of laughing. Especially when they were mimicking La Carlotta. She thought they got her voice down perfectly. Thank goodness she was no longer at the Opera House to see this.
20 minutes later the curtains fell and Crystal and Meg bowed down as they got a standing ovation from Madame Giry.
'Oh it is positively pleasurable acting like a youngling again' Crystal smiled to herself.
"Wonderful girls. Simply wonderful." She said clapping her hands.
"I hope she's no longer mad at us anymore." Meg said as she continued smiling. Crystal nodded her head in agreement and continued to bow.
"I will have her tonight." Whispered the unnoticed Pierre at the back of the auditorium.
After their performance, Meg went off to go show her costume off to the ballet rats and Madame Giry went back to the ballet rooms. Crystal returned back stage to change back into her regular clothes. As she put down her shall and fan she heard a disturbing familiar voice call out her name.
"Crystal. Oh Crystal." Pierre called as he stepped into the costume room eyeing around for her. Crystal gasped and searched around for a hiding place for sure knew if she were to be found, the same treatment that was done to the servant girl would also be done to her.
She checked high and low but everywhere she found, she was sure Pierre would see her.
As Pierre's voice was drawing nearer, an arm wrapped about her waist and pulled her behind a wall. It shut before her eyes and she now stood in complete darkness. Her feet and the bottoms of her silk skirt were now moist from the wet corridor floors she stood on. She knew it was Erik who was holding her so close and she tried pushing him away but he just pulled her in closer to his chest.
"Let go." Crystal said, but found herself being turned around facing Erikand feelinghis large gloved hand over top her mouth and the other wrapped tightly around her lower back.
"Unless you want Monsieur Gratton to find you Mademoiselle, I suggest you stay quiet." Erik whispered into her ear as he pulled her in closer to him again.
Crystal knew he was right and she hated it.
"Your hearts beating at a rapid pace. What are you frightened of?" Erik asked placing a piece of hair behind Crystal ear as he felt the beating of her heart up against his chest.
"Pierre." She said almost immediately. "And you." Crystal said looking deep into his eyes.
"Please don't be frightened of me Crystal. I beg you." Erik said holding her tightly to him and turned her chin up towards him more.
"It is not you that frightens me so, but it is your touch. I am frightened at what it does to me. I am terrified of it more than that of Pierre's. Please don't ask it of me Erik." Crystal said sadly as she turned her head away from him.
"Crystal, I know you are in here. You cannot hide." Pierre said from on the side of the wall.
Hearing Pierre's voice startled Crystal and without even realizing it, she jumped into Erik's embrace and held on to him tightly as she snuggled her head into the side of his neck and he whispered into her ear.
"Shh, it's alright. He wonit hurt it. You're safe now." Erik sadly said stroking the back of Crystal's head. It had upset him at what Crystal had said. He had not understood why and he knew if he asked her, he would not receive an answer.
He had known, then and there as he was holding Crystal close, that his life would always and forever be like this. People would no matter what, always be frightened of the man wearing the mask. It was not an option for himto simply remove it. His mother was horrified of him, the people at the circus, Opera House, Christine and now Crystal.
'Oh Crystal.'
Erik picked Crystal up in his arms and Crystal's feet, now soaking wet from the damp floor, were dangling down over Erik's strong arms. She had her arms wrapped around Erik's neck as her head leaned into his shoulders.
Their journey through Erik's secret passageways was spent in silence. Crystal looked up at Erik every so often but quickly put her head back down for she didn't want to tell Erik just yet.Tell him the thing he wouldn't want to hear. Tell him the thing she never wanted him to know. Tell him the secret she held deep down inside. Tell him about the day he ripped out her very soul.
Ahh i just have to say that is my favourite ending i have ever written! I actually started doing a dance after i was done...Ann i think you know which one! But please review and tell me what you thought.