Chapter 4: A Classic Disappearing Act

Now Erik wasn't called a genius for nothing. He knew that soon the entire town would be in an uproar searching for Lotte. So he came up with one of his best works of art. Working late into the night he created a complete replica of the child all the way to the color of her eyes and what she was wearing. Then in the hours before the sun was to rise he slipped out with a last glance at his sleeping pupil and dumped his masterpiece into the canal.

With the first part of the plan in place he dashed back to the darkness of his opera house. As he tied the boat to the pier Lotte began to stir in her bed. As if walking on a cloud he came over and pulled up the curtain. The blanket was grasped tightly in her small hands and she had been crying.

Upon kissing her forehead he whispered into her ear. "Wake up Little Lotte. Our lessons will be interrupted today."

Lotte opened her eyes and instead of seeing the faces of her parents she saw Eric's masked face, but she was not afraid. "What's wrong Father?" she asked rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"I'll explain later. We must make for the roof."

After hiding her bag Erik picked Lotte up still wrapped in the blanket and carried her to the roof. Lotte felt safe and secure in his arms for she knew that he would never harm her. He had given her his word and she knew that he would keep it.

The sun had completely risen over the horizon as they came to the door leading out to the roof. Erik gave the door a kick, but blinded by the light dropped Lotte and staggered backwards into the doorway. "Curse the sunlight," he hissed.

Lotte picked herself up and went into the doorway. Erik was huddled in the corner covering his eyes. She understood how living away from the light so long could cause one to hate it. She took her father's face in her hands and looked into his eyes.

"Are you hurt Lotte?"

"No, Father. But do not fret. I will go to the roof alone and stay hidden, but do not forget to come back for me. It's hard enough being separated for just this short time." She fell to her knees and collapsed against him.

All Erik could do was embrace her. Here was a 10 year child that saw him as her one provider and guardian even if she wasn't his own child. For the first time in so many years his heart was softened and instead of seeing her as his future bride when she came of age, he felt more like a father.

"I will come back for you my darling. Now whatever you hear from inside do not follow. I don't know what I'd do if one of my traps would be the end of you."

"Are you going to kill again Father? Please don't kill mama or papa. I still love them!" Lotte said clutching his cape and crying.

He pushed her back a bit and wiped the tears falling from her eyes. "Now no more tears. Only those that disturb my opera house will fall at my hands. Your parents know better then to mess with things inside these walls. Now go onto the roof and find a place to hide. Here take this it is cold out there," he said taking off his cape and draping it over her shoulders.

Then there came a crash from down below in the opera house. Erik kissed her then raced out of sight down into the darkness of the stairwell. Lotte watched until she saw nothing more of him. Clutching the cloak and blanket closely around her she crawled in the cranny between a statue' legs and sat quietly.

Erik slinked in the shadows of the fly system hearing voices coming from the main lobby. "I know where they'll start to look, but they won't find her. I made sure of that." He chuckled happily to himself.

Suddenly the lobby doors slammed open and a group of people led by Raoul and Christine filed into the house. Erik glared at Christine, still angered by betraying him so quickly after giving her such a lovely gift.

"Lotte speak to me if you're here! Angel of Music if you have seen our daughter please give us some kind of sign that she still lives!"

"Christine stop this foolish nonsense. The Phantom no longer exists. I thought we spoke about this," Raoul stated clutching her hands.

"There may be hope. He knows more than any human alive. He may be help to us."

"But he tried to subdue you and kill both of us. Do you think it right to trust him?"

"Now to set the plan in action," Erik thought, as he dropped a letter sealed with the skull shaped wax seal. Christine noticed the letter as it drifted down from the fly and landed upon the stage. She rushed up and picked it up. Upon seeing the seal her hands began to shake and her eyes began to tear up. She opened the letter and let out a startled gasp.

Raoul ran up and took the letter as Christine sobbed into his shoulder. He turned it over numerous times in his hands hoping to find an explanation on the back. He then turned to the two men standing near the orchestra pit. "Rally more men and begin searching the canals." Then he turned back to Christine. "We'll find her. I promise we'll find her."

Erik smiled as Raoul helped lead Christine outside. But then he saw a man that was left behind. He had not seen the man earlier for he had ducked between the seats trying to collect pieces of the shattered crystals from the chandelier. But then the man began climbing the stairs to the roof.

"Lotte," Erik remembered as he raced up the fly system. However he knew he wasn't going to make it. So he made a detour into the prop storage rooms.

Up on the roof Lotte was beginning to feel cold and unwell. The cloak and blanket wasn't enough to keep her warm. From below in the square she heard people shouting and her name being called. Yet she was not able to answer them. She collected her strength and went to the outer wall and looked out into the falling snow. People were gathered around the canal and something was being dragged out of the icy water.

"Well girly you are here!" Lotte spun around to see a strange looking man. "I am quite surprised to find you here. You're parents are rather worried and the reward their giving out for your return is likely to fill any poor man's purse. Now come with me darling for not even the Phantom of the Opera can protect you."

He lurched at her, but she managed to get away. He however didn't give up. Again and again he came at her. "Where was Father?" she wondered. Suddenly the blanket became tangled in her legs and she hit the concrete of the roof.

"Now I have you. I won't let this opportunity get passed me."

Lotte let out a terrified scream and buried her head in her arms. The man reached down, but then got a blade right through his neck. He coughed and choked as Erik dug it in farther. "In death all opportunities pass you by." Then he grabbed the bag of crystals that was hanging from his belt. "And I believe these belong to my opera house you pitiful excuse for a human."

He pulled out the blade and let the man fall in a heap at his feet. Lotte looked up into the face of her protector. At first he smiled, but then saw that blood was falling from her forehead. He knelt down beside her and began dabbing at the cut with a piece of cloth he had taken out of his pocket. Lotte began to cry.

"Did he hurt you child? Is that why you cry?"

"No, I fell and hit my head. That's why I'm bleeding. But I thought you forgot me. You didn't come back. You didn't come back for a long time."

He had to agree with her. But for the most part it was hard getting the search party to leave. He gave her a soft smile then took her into his arms holding her close to him. He never wanted to let go of her, but then she sneezed.

"Let's get your inside before you get sick." He bundled her up and took her inside then remembered something and turned around. "Lotte remind me to clean up that foul carcass tomorrow won't you."