A/N: Hello all. This may be my last chapter for awhile. I'm starting school and have no idea when I will have to write and update. Please bear with me. I will get done what I can, when I can. I promise not to leave you hanging, the story will get done. Please be patient.
Chapter Eighteen
The Torture Chamber
Raoul hit the floor with a loud thud. He quickly jumped to his feet and pulled his sword. He couldn't make out anything but walls. He took a step forward, seeing the red- suited menace next to a corner. He ran toward him and smacked into a flat, solid surface. He fell back from the shock of the blow.
He got up and looked around. The room was mostly black, but he could make out some sort of light reflecting off something. He listened, and there was nothing. Then suddenly a door opened from above. Raoul swung his sword at the sound as a noose fell from the ceiling. He jumped back, bumping into the wall. He growled.
"Come out and face me!" he yelled at his unseen foe.
The Phantom listened behind the wall of mirrors with a sinister smile. He moved slightly, letting Raoul see him again. He watched as Raoul swung around, trying to attack his form.
Raoul slammed his sword against the wall. He couldn't understand what was going on. He could see shapes, lights, and people, but he couldn't touch them. He looked around with a heavy sigh.
"God, help me," he whispered, clutching at his cross necklace.
He looked around and saw Maria. She was all over the room. She had a sad and concerned look in her eyes. He could tell that something was wrong. He watched as she looked around, searching for something or someone.
"Maria, Maria," Raoul yelled. "I'm in here!"
Maria turned as if hearing her name. She looked around and then disappeared. Raoul threw himself against the wall.
"Maria!" He shouted as he fell to the floor.
He shook off the pain and stood up. There had to be a way out of this place. He glanced around. His eyes fell upon the wall he'd hit. It was cracked. Everything suddenly made sense. The room was full of mirrors! That meant there had to be a door somewhere. He turned and saw Maria coming back.
"Maria!" he yelled franticly.
Maria looked around at hearing the muffled sound of her name. That was the second time she had heard it since following Madame Giry from the ballroom. She had lost the old woman somewhere and was now on her own. She moved silently, her skirt barely touching the floor. She stopped suddenly when she saw a light. She moved forward in the shadows. She caught her gasp when she saw Erik holding the small lantern. She stepped from her hiding place.
"Where's Raoul?" she asked.
Erik looked up, surprised to see her there. He walked toward her. Maria stepped back with fear in her eyes.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Maria suddenly erupted. She rushed Erik and began slapping at his chest and face. She had tears of anger making in her eyes.
"What were you thinking? You could have gotten me in so much trouble! And you could have gotten hurt or arrested!"
Erik grabbed her arms and pulled her close. He stroked her hair. "Calm down and please listen to me."
Maria fell against his chest with tears flowing down her face. He caressed her cheek.
"I didn't teach you to sing just to have you sing for me," he explained. "I want the whole world to hear you."
"But Erik, I can't do this," she paused and looked at him. "I can't do this, not without you."
Erik held her close. "I will be there with you. It's my music that you will be singing; therefore I will be with you."
Maria nodded. She was so afraid of losing him. He held her and then heard something moving toward them. He looked up and noticed Madame Giry walking down the corridor toward them.
"You better go," he whispered.
Maria nodded and wiped the tears way. "Erik, why did you push me away?"
Erik touched her cheek warmly. "I didn't want everyone to see that I loved you. I thought it would cause more trouble."
Maria looked up at him and smiled. She glanced behind her and found that Madame Giry was gone. She quickly turned back to Erik, reached up, and kissed him. He held her tightly and kissed her back. Suddenly a tortured cry rang out through the dark silence.
Raoul screamed out as he watched Maria kiss the Phantom. He had seen her once again, and she had not heard his cry. Then he had watched in agony as the Phantom had touched her. He couldn't believe that the woman he loved was letting that monster anywhere near her. He rushed the wall and started hitting the mirrors.
"You've won you monster!" He yelled. "Let me go!"
Suddenly a bright light flooded the chamber. Raoul turned, expecting to see the monster in red; however, Madame Giry was standing there with a small oil lamp. Raoul pulled his sword.
"Why are you here?"
"Come with me," she said, pulling him out of the room.
Raoul walked out of the chamber. He was in the lower levels of the opera house. Madame Giry was walking ahead of him. He quickly caught up with her.
"Madame Giry," he started
"Please, I know no more than anyone else," she replied, quickening her pace.
"That's not true! You got me out of that room."
"Sir, there have been too many accidents."
"Accidents?" Raoul grabbed her arm to make her stop. "These things have been no 'accidents'."
Madame Giry pulled away from him and sighed. "Very well, come with me."
She led Raoul to her room. She took a seat after giving the room a little more light. She started her tale of Erik's past.
Maria walked up the hallway and stopped at Madame Giry's door. She had wanted to find out where that horrible cry had come from. She could see that the ballet leader had returned to her room. She went to go in and stopped. Someone was in there with her. She slowly slid away and then turned back to the door. She could hear voices. One was Madame Giry's, and the other was man. She put her ear against the door and listened.
Madame Giry related the murder of the carnival owner to Raoul and then stopped.
"I took him from that place and brought him here," she explained. "He has known nothing else of life since then, except this opera house. It was his playground and now his artistic domain. He is an architect, a designer, and composer. He's a genius!"
Raoul bit his lower lip, trying to think of a reply to appease the woman. "Clearly, his genius has turned to madness."
Madame Giry smiled and stood up. She walked toward the door. Maria heard the soft movement of a skirt across the wood floor. She quickly disappeared down the hallway before Madame Giry caught her. She ran into her room and sat down, thinking about what she had just heard. She knew about the murder, but Erik had neglected to tell her who had saved him. The woman who had saved her had saved him too. She looked over at her calendar, and her expression changed.
Maria had forgotten about tomorrow. Tomorrow was the day. She pulled her hair free and sighed. She got up and changed into her night gown. Her mind was jumble with thoughts of what was to come, but they would wait until after tomorrow. She climbed into bed and fell asleep quickly. The night had been more exhausting than anyone had thought.
