Chapter 10: Special Visitors

Lotte woke up to cursing and shouting. Her shoulder still hurt and her Father still had her tucked safely in his arms, but he was awake and shouting back at the crowd. Lotte stared in horror at the size of the crowd. They huddled closely together within the jail house and many more where located outside.

"Come on Phantom! We heard that yesterday's crowd got a real show. We'll gladly pay to see the hideous mark upon your face. Or maybe your little wench there could give us a better show."

Now Erik was beyond anger. Placing his hand up against the wall to stand and staggered over to the bars his eyes on fire. "I dare you to say that again old man."

"I'm sure that little wench there could give us a better show then your ugly face could."

With no control Erik thrust his fist through the bars and right into the old man's face.

"Father! Stop!" Lotte got up to protest, but he held up his hand.

"Father? This surely can't be the daughter of the Phantom. She is too beautiful to be the child of this monster. And what woman would last long enough with him to carry his child? Must not have been good looking either. If my child looked like the opera ghost I would of killed him in an instant," a woman off to the side called out.

Erik was hit with one of the hardest blows and backed up as if struck with something. Lotte caught him and helped him to his knees. He breathed heavily and shuddered. "I give up Lotte. I can't stand up to them anymore. There's too many of them. I can't deal with this."

Lotte wanted to yell at all of them, curse them for shattering the pride of a grown man. This was the last time she would allow them to criticize him. But before she had the chance a path was cleared and an officer opened the cell door. He came up to Erik and handcuffed him then did the same to Lotte.

"You have been called to a special meeting and we need to make sure you don't try any funny business. Come with us."

He led the two of them out of the cell and with a number of other officers led them into the back of the jail house away from the crowds. They were seated in chairs and waited until two familiar figures entered the room. Lotte recognized them immediately. "Mama! Papa!"

Christine and Raoul ran over to her and hugged her. "We were so sure you were dead when we found that body in the canal. You always had a knack for wax figures didn't you Erik?" she said turning to him. Erik could only stare at her, but then Raoul stepped over and began yelling at him.

"She asked you a question answer her."

"Papa, leave him alone. Why can't everyone just leave him alone?" Lotte cried struggling with the handcuffs.

"Lotte did he hurt you?" Christine asked ignoring Lotte's statement.

"No, he took very good care of me. He's innocent have him released."

"He lied to us. Faking your death and then keeping you hidden for all these years. It's absurd. He should rot in the pits of hell for his actions," Raoul shouted

"But don't worry Lotte we'll be taking you home away from this masked menace. Wouldn't you like that?" Christine asked.

The officer took off Lotte's handcuffs. She stood and looked at the Phantom. He looked so frightening sitting there glaring up at her with only his cape to hide his bare chest. She walked up to him and got on her knees in front of him. Then only so he could hear she began to speak. "I will get you out Father. Then we will go back to the opera house. I will not see you get hanged."

Raoul grabbed Lotte's shoulder. "We're leaving Lotte."

Lotte looked over her shoulder at Erikas her parents led her away. Erik wasn't going to let his precious Lotte be taking away from him. He struggled with the officer yelling out Lotte's name, before he was hit in the face and his whole world went black.

Lotte hated being home. Immediately she went to her room and cried into her pillow. Thoughts of what they might be doing to Erik swept through her mind. She tried to block them afraid of what may come of them. She had little time to save him. She was going have to rescue him tonightif he was to make it.

Seeing as her parents were downstairs she couldn't go out the front door. Tying together her sheets she made a rope and climbed out of the window. Running faster then she ever had before she ran to the opera house and hurried down the back passage. She lifted a torch and made her way to the boat. Pushing off from shore she began to sing. The black iron gate rose to clear her way and the candlesticks came out of the water. Quickly she climbed onto shore and began digging through Erik's things till she found an extra shirt and vest.

Folding them up and putting them into the suitcase she spied her sketchpad lying on the bed where Erik had thrown it after their conflict. She looked through it running her finger over the one of Erik playing at the organ. She put that on top of the clothes and took a shortcut upstairs through the mirror. When she was out on the street she slinked silently around the jail house. It was a real surprise that no one had noticed the window. She peered through and saw the crowd terrorizing Erik, but the mask was gone. He sat in the corner the deformed part of his face towards the wall.

Looking into a puddle next to her Lotte sketched a new picture. Using the puddle as a mirror she drew her reflection hoping to pass the time.

Night finally felland the last officer had left the cell beforeshe lookedthrough the window again. Erik was sobbing. He felt lonely without Lotte, but he soon noticed that something was blocking the moon light. Thinking it was another citizen trying to see his face he got up cursing and muttering under his breath. When he saw it was Lotte his eyes grew wide.

"What are you doing back here child? Leave before they find you back here with me."

"I brought you something." She opened the bag and slipped the shirt and vest through the bars.

"How did you get these?"

"I went back to the opera house. I found this as well." She gave him the sketchpad. He opened it and when he got to the last page he saw that Lotte had addedthe new sketch. Erik put on the clothes and felt a lot better, but his face still felt naked.

Lotte reached her hand through the bars. Erik came closer and let her brush her fingers against his face. A few new tears fell making Lotte jump. "Don't be afraid Lotte. This is not the first time I have cried. It's just that I missed you. I didn't think I would be able to sleep without you besides me."

"But they took your mask away. Doesn't that scare you?"

"As long as your near I don't care about anything else. Yet I miss my organ terribly. How I would love to play it again."

Lotte rubbed his cheek and began to sing softly. It wasn't the organ, but it was all she could do. Erik just closed his eyes and listened. Right then and there Lotte came up with a plan.