Chapter eleven
Bankruptcy
One month had passed on the Titanic without incident of the Ship's ghost. Christine and Raoul's love began to flourish and Christine wore her engagement ring around her neck. The people on the ship were relieved that the Phantom had done nothing for a month. Some said he liked that girl Christine and since she loved Raoul it ripped his heart out and he disappeared. They didn't know how right they were. Christine didn't know that Erik had seen them on the roof and if she did she didn't show any emotion towards it. She had no visits from her 'Angel of Music' but her voice was as beautiful as ever. For the past month Erik had never left his home. He sat, hunched over and sometimes in tears, writing more of his opera. Three day's before the ship's masquerade ball he had finished it and decided he would make the ship's performers act it. He fashioned a costume like that of Red Death and planned on making an appearance. Whilst Erik was in his home for the month he had seen nothing of Christine and did not know, but he did have a clue, that Christine was engaged to Raoul. Christine and Raoul had decided to go to the masquerade ball together as a princess and a prince and their costumes had been made by the Chagny servants. The days inched closer to the masquerade and both Christine and Raoul were excited as any two new lovers could be. Christine thought that Erik had disappeared from her life for good. How wrong she was.
"Are you coming dear?" Raoul asked knocking on Christine's bedroom door. Christine exited the room in her pretty pink princess costume. She looked stunning and Raoul could hardly believe his eyes.
"You look magnificent!" Raoul managed to exclaim
Christine beamed. "You look very handsome yourself."
Raoul took her arm and they went to the masquerade ball.
They danced and danced and had the time of their lives near the ship's grand staircase. The staircase was full of people having a grandiose old time. Near the clock stood two young lovers, Jack and Rose, who seemed to be glancing around the entire time to see if they had been spotted. Raoul sneaked a few kisses on Christine's cheek as they danced.
"Raoul, I love you." Christine whispered into his ear.
"I love you to."
The dancing continued and the room seemed to contain more and more people. At the height of the celebrations the lights flickered and the music stopped. There were a few gasps and at the top of the grand staircase stood none other then Erik- The Phantom of the Ocean.
"Why hello everyone, did I interrupt something?"
No reply.
"Cat got your tongue?"
Raoul held Christine closer. Erik walked down the staircase. In his hand he held a bunch of papers.
"Alright here's the deal. I wrote an opera. You're all going to perform it. Christine's going to play the lead. Got it?" He threw the opera at the nearest person, who happened to be Cyrus Jones the ship's captain. Erik disappeared as quickly and suddenly as he appeared.
He made his way back to his lair in tears. He had seen the ring around Christine's neck, he had seen the way Raoul had held her close, and he had seen the way she looked at him when he appeared. He knew she would never love him the way she loved Raoul. He sighed heavily and sat on his couch. His cat jumped up on him and he stroked her.
Cyrus Jones handed the opera to the stage managers and they began to make copies of the parts and handed it out to the singers and performers. According to the wishes of the Phantom, Christine had acquired the lead. Raoul had left Christine in her suite so she could learn her part and he went to find Cyrus Jones. He had to know more about this Phantom. He had to learn how to defeat him.
"Mr. Jones?" Raoul asked knocking on the captain's room.
He heard scurrying and the door opened.
"Mr. Chagny. What can I do for you?"
"I need to know more about this Phantom." Raoul asked.
Cyrus looked around and then ushered Raoul into his room.
"Sit down Mr. Chagny."
Raoul did. "Please call me Raoul Mr. Jones."
"And you would do best to call me Cyrus as well Raoul."
Raoul nodded.
Cyrus sat down as well.
"So you wish to know about the Phantom?"
Raoul nodded. "What can you tell me about him?"
"The Phantom, or Erik as is his name, worked on building this ship. He was only a teenager when the accident happened. An accident that was thought to have claimed his life. The poor boy was born with a deformity on his face and no one would hire him. I told the ship's builders to give him work and one day they told him to clean the furnaces. They had forgotten he was in there and they turned them on. They believed he had been burned alive. They had found broken glass and the hot metal poker on the ground in front of the furnace but they thought there was no way of him escaping his fiery grave. I guess he never did die. I guess he did escape. He probably lives in the depths of the ship somewhere."
"Is this all you know?" Raoul asked.
Cyrus nodded. "I'm sorry sir but that's all I know."
"Thank you for your information Cyrus." Raoul said shaking his hand. He got up and left the captains room.
