I apologize again for the last chapter, but it kind of makes sense seeing as I already screwed up the end of the movie by killing Raoul. Also I know I said I may try to stop at 60 chapters, but I'm going to drop that idea and just let the story go as long as I can come up with a plot. That should make you happy.

This chapter is while Erik waits for the man to give his answer and we learn a bit about our friend Madeline. We also find out what has become of Christine and Meg. Well enjoy the chapter everyone.

Chapter 53: Madeline's Story

Christine and Meg had been blindfolded, bound, and taken to only god knows where on the other side of town. They were led through what felt like hours of tunnels in the dark until the blindfolds and the bounds were removed. They were pushed into a dark room and the door slammed shut.

"Let us out of here! Please don't keep us in here," Christine begged pounding on the door.

"Shut your trap or we'll make sure we kill that man the minute he steps inside the building."

Right away Christine backed away from the door and tripped over her own feet causing herself to fall to the floor. Letting her eyes adjust to the darkness she made out a single bed along one wall and a chair in the opposite corner. Meg sat down on the bed and drew her knees up under her chin. "It would serve him right if they did kill him," she snapped.

Christine looked at her friend in udder shock. "Meg what are you saying? Do you really wish my husband dead?"

"Does it surprise you that much Christine? Because of his carelessness my mother is dead. He knew damn well about the risks involved yet he chose to ignore them. I hate him Christine. Ever since I first came face to face with him I hated him. If I could I'd kill him myself."

"It's not all Erik's fault Meg. I trust my husband to be innocent. We all knew there would be problems and in many circumstances there wasn't much we could do. All we can do now is sit back and come up with a plan. Even though I know Erik will come for us. He may have his flaws, but I love him, because unlike other men he tries his best to make up for them. I know he'll come."

She could feel tears fall down her cheeks and she shivered from the fact that the room was cold and she only had on her ballet clothes. All she wanted was Erik to be here with her wrapping his arms around her and keeping her warm under his cape. She felt so alone even though Meg was there with her.

Suddenly a blanket draped over her shoulders as Meg came and sat next to her. "I'm sorry Christine. I guess I was just angry. Mama was all I had and now I'm alone. I have no family."

"That's not true Meg. You have a family…with me and my family. We won't leave you alone."

Meg gave a timid cry before she fell into Christine's arms sobbing. Christine held onto her and tried her best not to cry herself. "Oh, Erik, please be careful. I don't want the same fate to befall you. If only I could have told you this morning that I loved you." She looked at the ring on her finger and let out a chocked sob.

xxxxx

Erik paced back and forth across the stage. He held the letter in a clenched fist and from time to time looked down at it in a state of rage that he thought he would never reach again. He compared the two choices that lay before him. If he agreed Christine would go free, but he would lose his own life and all the money, but it he disagreed then Christine and Meg would die. Either way he was going to lose.

At least he would get to see Christine one last time if he agreed. He would finally have the chance to tell her just how special she was to him and wish her well in the world without him. Tell her to care for Lotte, Pierre, and Jacqueline; and get them away from the Opera House. The building would be filled with way to many memories and it wouldn't be right to face those days in and day out without him to guide them.

Fighting the urge to reach out and kill the next thing that passed by him he turned his attention to Mme. Giry, who was still slumped against the wall. Erik knew deep within his heart that he had truly lost a true friend. He owed her so much for helping him all this time. It was her that took him away from the cruelties of the outside world, allowed him the space to build his underground world, got him the supplies he needed to expand on his knowledge, and she always made sure Box 5 was left empty for his use.

There were so many other things he recalled. She was the one, who allowed him to get close to Christine and allowed him to sing and teach her, she had helped him when he was in jail, saved him from the faire a second time, and had been along for the entire ride of solving the problem between him and Raoul.

Big tears rolled down his cheeks and landed upon the woman's worn and pale face. Erik took up a large white sheet and after one last prayer to God; he draped the cloth over the body, hiding it from all human eyes.

Another presence was in the room, but Erik was too preoccupied to notice. The figure was hidden around the edge of the backdrop watching him as he had dropped the cloth over Mme. Giry. There was the sound of a chocked sob and Erik sprung into action rushing over to the drop and pulling it back knocking someone to the floor. In his rage he hadn't notice her until she let out a pleading gasp.

"I'm sorry Monsieur! I shouldn't have been spying. Don't hurt me," Madeline cried out as she curled herself in a tiny ball afraid he was going to hit her or something worse.

Erik reached down and she shuddered in fear. "Don't worry Madeline, I won't hurt you. You just startled me that is all." He reached out his hand again and she took it. "What are you doing out here anyway? I thought I sent everyone back to their rooms."

"You did, but I just had to know that everything is okay. A lot of the other girls were in the other dorm talking it over and I didn't want to be alone. And after seeing it happen I didn't want to talk of it anymore either."

Erik patted her hand gently. "Then we won't talk of it here. But you're welcome to stay here with me for awhile. I don't mind the company."

"Thank you monsieur; I truly appreciate it."

"Madeline please just call me Erik. No need to be formal at a time like this."

"I'm sorry. That's just the way I was taught, that is when I actually got to go to school."

Erik was confused. "Didn't you go to school like all other children at the proper age?"

"No, I didn't. Let's just say I wasn't exactly wanted by my family. I haven't been home since I was 12 years old."

"But you're the doctor's youngest daughter aren't you? You could easily go home and visit for the holidays and such right?"

"I'm not welcome in my house anymore."

"Would you like to explain why? You look as if you have a lot to get off your chest," Erik said giving her a small smile.

He led her to a couple of chairs and had her sit down. Then he sat across from her and asked her to tell him what was wrong.

"Well I'm the youngest of four children in my family. There's my older brother Charlie, studying medicine in Russia and there are my sisters, Emma and Emily. They're twins and they left for America to become nurses. I found out when I was 5 years old that my father had wanted another son, but he got me instead. So he lived with it until he asked me what I planned to do when I grew up. I was only 5 years old when he asked me that."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him I wanted to dance. I asked him if I could go to school for ballet, and he slapped me across the face," Madeline said letting out a forceful sob. "He yelled at me saying his children were to become doctors or nurses, not some long legged girl in a revealing tutu. For the rest of my life I feared my father and did my best to do what he wanted. The only problem with me being a doctor was the sight of blood or someone in pain made me sick to my stomach and I would have to throw up. That only made my father more upset and I begged him if I could do something else. He refused and told me to suck it up and do what I was supposed to."

"That's horrible. Didn't you have any friends to talk to or what about your Mother?"

"She didn't care what was going on. She was busy helping in the office once I was old enough to care for myself. My brother was really mean to me saying I was weak and would laugh at me every time I got sick. The only comfort I ever got was from my sisters. They taught me to read and write whenever they had time and they would bring it up to my parents that Charlie was picking on me. They never thought there perfect son was doing anything wrong, so they never believed us. Charlie left for Russia, so we got a little bit of peace in the house; that was until my sisters left for America. I begged them not to go, but they had said that they would write once a month while at college and then they would be home for Christmas."

She let out another sob and blew her nose in the handkerchief that Erik had handed her. "Do you want to stop now and take a break?"

She shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I'd much rather get this all off my chest now or I'll be upset for weeks."

"We can't have that now, can we? Do continue."

"Well my sisters wrote to me once a month and came for the Christmas holidays as they promised, but after they finished college I received a note that they had both found jobs as nurses and both had found husbands. They planned to live in America to raise families and to work. I was the only child left and I was forced to help around the office. But I ended up making the biggest mistake of my life. A lady was giving birth and I was supposed to bring the hot water. Well seeing all the blood I fainted and the whole bucket of hot water fell on my father. He was furious and after allowing me to collect my belongings he kicked me out of the house. I was only 12 years old. I spent one night on the streets before I came across Mme. Giry's ballet school. I stared into the window wishing I could dance like the girls inside, but I had no money.'

'So I started to walk away, but Mme. Giry must have seen me, because she came outside and stopped me. She was the only other person who ever heard this tale before and had promised me she would share the knowledge with no one. I told her I wanted to dance and in exchange for working around the ballet school I received lessons and a place to sleep. For years I practiced and soon found out about the reopening of the Opera House and the management looking for new talent.'

'I remember the audition. I was so nervous, but the minute my foot hit the stage I was given so much confidence that I was pushing to do my very best. You even told me I had a lot of useful talent and for that I am most grateful that you are the manager of this establishment. You seem to know what makes a dancer good."

"You could say that. I've been around the Opera ever since I was a young boy. I studied the dance moves, the lyrics, and how everything in this place worked. When I saw you dance I knew you had that special something we were looking for. I've said it once and I'll saw it again Madeline, that you have a lot of useful talent," Erik said patting her hand again.

"Thank you. But there was an incident last year that really proved my parents had forgotten about me. The second Sunday of "Love Concurs All" I saw them sitting out in the audience, so I made sure to do my absolute best and show them how I had succeed at something. But when the show was over they did not come back and congratulate me. I went outside hoping to talk with them when I saw them get in a carriage and leave. I feel as if they disowned me or something. I wrote to my sisters, but I still haven't received a reply. That was last year."

By now she was crying and she blew her nose again. Erik rubbed her back, but suddenly she fell into his arms. "Madeline?"

"I don't want to be hated by my family Erik. I want them to love me and love what I do. Why can't they see that this makes me happy?"

Erik helped her sit up and wiped the tears off her cheeks. "Did you forget all of those here that love you like Lyle, Lotte, and Mme. Giry? Everyone in this Opera House belongs to one big family and when one of us feelspains the rest feel pain. Don't think you can't come to us when you're feeling down about something. We'll listen and maybe come up with a way to make you feel better. You understand that right?"

She nodded and smiled. Then they both heard someone call out her name. "Madeline? Darling, where are you?"

"It's Lyle. He's probably worried about me," Madeline said wiping her eyes and sitting up properly. "I'm over here Lyle."

Lyle appeared from behind the backdrop and came over to them. "Madeline I've been looking all over for you. Where have you been?"

"Here talking with Erik. He made me feel a lot better about the loss of Mme. Giry."

"Well that was nice of him." Lyle turned to Erik. "Thank you for talking with her. I was almost afraid she was falling apart over the whole thing, because I had passed the dorms and saw all the girls gossiping except for her and Lotte. So I of course became a bit frantic in trying to find her."

"Was no problem at all," Erik said standing and offering Madeline his hand, so she could stand as well. "She is an interesting person to talk to and she helped me calm myself down too. If I'm going to get my wife back its best that I save my energy."

"When are they coming for their answer?"

"Not till midnight. That's ten hours from now. I'm worried out of my mind about her and Meg."

"When you go Erik I'll go with you."

"No, I'm going alone. I don't want to be responsible for anyone else's life."

"You won't be. I want to come on my own free will. I'll be responsible for my own life."

Madeline took his hands. "But Lyle it's dangerous. You saw what happened to Mme. Giry."

"I know darling, but I want to make sure we get our manager in of there and out in one piece. Erik's been the best manager this building has had in years from what I heard. He pays the employees well,feeds us good food, and put a roof over our heads to keep us warm and dry. I won't work for anyone else."

Erik never felt so pleased in all his life. "If you want to come then be here at 11, so we can be ready when they send their messenger. Bring along some food and maybe a gun or sword if you have one. I'll fight all of them if I have to. Forget my vow; I'll kill every one of those yellow bellied thugs."

Lyle nodded and led Madeline away. Erik was left alone again and sighed. He had 10 hours to come up with a plan, but he decided to do something productive. He went into the wood shop and spent a good number of hours, cutting, sanding, nailing, carving, and varnishing a coffin for Mme. Giry. When he finished he carried it up to the stage and laid her gently inside. Before putting the lid on he saw some roses resting inside a vase. He took them and laid them gently upon Mme. Giry's chest.

"Mme. Giry I appreciate every thing you did for me and my family and I want youto know that I apologize for all those wisecracks I made. I would never push you into your grave or something of that nature. As you can see I took the time to lay you to rest properly. You brought me into darkness, but have returned me to the light."

With that he placed the lid on the coffin and just looked down on it wiping tears from his eyes. He looked down at his pocket watch. He still had at least 5 hours before he had to give his answer and 4 hours before he meet up with Lyle. He decided he needed a brief nap if he was going to accomplish anything. It was quite clear that if he was to make up for this he had to bring Meg and Christine back safely.

I hope this satisfy you guys. Now we now a little bit more about Madeline and that Mme. Giry and Erik was big impacts on her. Also we see that Erik has a lot of respect for Mme. Giry.

Next chapter Erik gives his answer and will be on his way to rescue his beloved Christine. I promise you won't be disappointed.