Author's note: HEY! HAPPY PHANTOM DAY! (IT'S OUT, IT'S OUT! HOORAY!) I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT ENDLESSLY, BUT I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE A CHAPTER FOR THIS CELEBRATORY DAY! SO ENJOY!

A Disaster Beyond Our Imaginations

Erik's Eyes:

Being separated from Gabrielle had been the worst, most terrible experience of my life. Never had I imagined that I would have willingly let the police take me, but when they came, I knew they would chase us forever if we ran, and a life on the run was something I didn't want her to have to experience. She was far too excellent for a life like that. I resisted all my urges to fight back and had allowed them to take me. It shocked me that my constant and calm Gabrielle would be the one to revolt. Her attempts to free and follow me broke my heart in two as I was forced into the carriage that led me to the prison house.

I prayed that she was still safe. I had gone quietly with the police and allowed them to bound me so easily because I had trusted her in their care while I was gone. IF THEY HARM HER IN ANYWAY…IT WILL BE THE DEVIL THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY.

My hands were still bound tightly behind my back as we rode in the carriage and each cutting pain was a reminder of my love for her. I would sustain counted lacerations if it meant she would be out of harms way. I loved her so badly. All I wanted during that ride to the jail was to see her shining face looking upon me, unmasked and without any other emotion in her eyes besides love. It was amazing to me that this dream I had held since I was young, had actually come true. She hadn't shunned me because of my face. Because of that, I would do anything for her. Even die for her by the hangman's noose.

We soon came upon the prison and I was forced from the carriage brutally. Since I met Gabrielle, my pride and honor had increased to an astounding new height. Being treated in this fashion nearly took all that from my soul. I was thrashed about roughly along the corridor and then slammed into a cell. One guard followed me in and pressed me up against the stone wall with brutal force. I made no noise, despite the terrible sensation of the bones in my wrists cracking under the weight of both our bodies.

He spoke harshly, "How could you EVER imagine that a demon such as yourself could ever lead a normal life? You aren't even worthy of a jail cell all to own…" He ripped my mask away, then spit in my face and threw me to my knees. I received his blows with defiant silence. After some time, he grew tired of his games and left me alone on the filthy floor. I regained my composure and began to get up when I was struck hard across the face. I looked up to see Christophe staring down at me.

"Well, if it isn't my Gabrielle's heroic ghost?" I stared into his eyes and let my hate blaze into him. His anger increasing with each of my unspoken words, he kicked me hard in the stomach repetitively. Finally, he ceased. "So, Monsieur Phantom…grown tired of you has she? Abandoned you? Turned you in? Couldn't bare to look upon you any longer? My Gabrielle has always been wickedly disobedient."

I choked down the blood that swelled in the back of my throat from my injuries. "She is NOT YOUR Gabrielle! YOU DON'T DESERVE A PRECIOUS GIFT SUCH AS HERSELF!"

"And you do?" He kicked me again, causing me to vomit blood. "Believe me when I say she will pay for what she has done to me…and this time, you wont be around to save her!"

"YOU WILL NOT LAY A HAND ON HER EVER AGAIN!"

He backed away from me leisurely. "So certain of everything aren't you? Believe me when I say, she will not come for you…and she will cause your end…"

I turned myself away from him and let myself drift into sleep.

I don't know how much time had past, but all I know is that even a day without Gabrielle could seem like years. I had begun to lose hope until the day a man I had all but killed out of anger, came to my cell. At the site of the man I knew to be Raoul, the husband of my Christine, all thoughts other than murder escaped me. He looked at me and then at Christophe.

"You sir, is your name Christophe?"

Christophe replied crudely. "Who the hell wants to know?" He and I had come to ignore each other as much as possible, but we still couldn't help but interfere in each other's business. This was my turn to intervene.

"He is…," I made a dismissive gesture subconsciously which caused me to flinch as my broken wrists made a popping noise. I continued harassing him none the less. "What are you doing here?" I let the rage in my words ring through the chamber.

He looked at me coldly, then softened. "I must speak to you in private momentarily…" I was completely skeptical of this, but I had no other choice, not to mention that given the correct moment, I could scare, injure or even kill him once and for all. In the crevice of my heart, I was scorned for letting the absence of Gabrielle reduce me to my old ways. A guard opened the cell door and followed both Raoul and I down the corridor, his gun touching the flesh of my back constantly. We finally reached a much nicer, barred room in which was true furniture and a place for prisoners and lawyers could converse in comfort. I took a seat on the couch and he remained standing while the officer left. I coldly stared at him and asked him again what he wanted with me.

The anger in his voice caught me off guard. "WILL YOU SHUT UP?" I silenced myself out of respect for his rage. "LISTEN TO ME AND LISTEN WELL…I have always despised you…because of what you did to my beloved Christine…but recently, I have had to take into account the fact that you also let her leave with me…" I couldn't see where this was going, but I waited for him to continue in silence. "You see…," his voice softened, "You allowed me to have my love…and I think that now, I can only allow you the same courtesy." With that he opened the door which was the only exit out of the prison, to reveal an angel. MY ANGEL! I stood, not believing my eyes. I glanced at Raoul for a second then back at the woman in the doorway.

"Gabrielle?" I could see her body shaking as I moved closer to her. She held up a hand to stop me. My heart skipped a beat but she only looked down the corridor, then shut the door behind her. The moment she heard the door's clasp click shut, she dropped her handbag and flew into my arms. We both held each other with a desperation, neither of us could control. She stripped my mask off my face to kiss me again and again across my cheek. I held her out of relief and gratitude, refusing to let go of her. Her attention turned to my hands and she let out a gasp at the odd angle of my wrists. She traced her fingers gently along the angled bones with silent remorse. I wrapped my arms around her again lovingly.

"Gabrielle, Erik…remember…the rule is no physical contact of any kind between prisoners and visitors…You must stop this now, before the guard sees…I'm so sorry….Gabrielle, come sit here by me." I stared at him angrily, then realizing what he had done, took him in a quick hug, then, realizing what I had done, I immediately sprung away from him. At that moment I found particular interest in the flowered design of the room's carpet. It shamed me to think that only moment before I had been plotting this man's demise and then, suddenly, he was the greatest of friends to me. Gabrielle now sat by Raoul and I couldn't help but resent the freedom he had in his life. But all thoughts of hating him were forsaken when I looked back at Gabrielle and it was Raoul who was responsible for that miracle. Raoul began to talk about his plans complicated plans to legally free me from jail. I only half listened. I heard him speaking, but the words might as well have been in Spanish, for I couldn't force my mind do focus on anything but Gabrielle. She returned the stare with complete concentration.

My hands were shaking due to the difficult task of restraining myself from moving toward her. I could sense that she fought the same ideas as well. She might as well have called the guard to take me away, because as she began to cry, all rational thoughts left my head and I rushed to her side. I sat on m knees beside her seat, and stroked the tears off her cheeks. Raoul gave an impatient sigh but I silenced him with a cold glare. After she composed herself, Gabrielle was the first to break the silence.

"So, how long until he is out of this retched place, my dearest Raoul?" She stroked my face gently as she spoke, her eyes never leaving mine.

"That we must discuss again later…It is time for Erik to return to his cell…we are only allowed a certain amount of time to talk, and it is nearly up."

She looked at Raoul desperately. "Now? Already? But…No! YOU PROMISED YOU'D FREE HIM FOR ME! CHRISTINE SAID YOU WOULD! PLEASE RAOUL, DON'T MAKE ME LEAVE HIM AGAIN!" She broke into sobs again unwillingly.

I scooped her up into my arms and cooed into her ear, "You will never leave me…you will always be in my heart…now hush…and leave."

"Alright…" She seemed to have calmed significantly. "But I demand to walk back to your cell with you!" I looked at Raoul and he returned my worried gaze. "WHAT!"

"That area is not appropriate for women to visit," I lied lamely.

"That's bull Erik and you know it! Raoul!" She now demanded Raoul to respond. He simply shook his head in the negative. "SOMEBODY HAS TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I CANT! WHY CAN I NOT SPEND AN EXTRA MOMENT, WALKING IN SILENCE NEXT TO YOU, MY LOVE?"

She was an intelligent woman and it was obvious that she wouldn't fall for any of the lies either Raoul or I could concoct. I spoke gently. "You cannot follow me, love…you would not like my…conditions…" She made a confused face to show that she wanted more of an explanation than that. I sighed then said, "Gabrielle…I am forced to share my cell…" She continued to stare for a moment longer then, I saw the realization of what I was hinting cross her beautiful face.

"You have a cellmate."

"Yes…" Only sadness reflected in my voice.

"Your injuries…are not only from the guards…" Her tone was constantly flat.

"That is no lie…" It pained me immensely to have to tell her this.

"I see…But no matter…the man I love is here and I will make sure we spend every possibly moment together." She left the room towards the cells. I glanced at Raoul only to see complete amazement on his face. We were both deer on the wrong end of the rifle. Both of us watched as our worlds collided again, in the climax leading towards a disaster beyond our imaginations. We were yet to discover what that disaster would be. I feared that it would be within the soul of my angel. Oh Gabrielle…WHY? We both followed her in silence.