Hey everyone, I once again thank you for all the positive reviews I've been getting on this fic. I must admit I hadn't planned on taking it this far…but you guys are just all so encouraging!
Disclaimer: I'm using the library's computer right now…that should tell you how much I own. (Hint: not a thing)
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"Come. We must return…Divas can only go missing so many times before the guards go and look for her." With that he grabbed her hand harshly and led her down the stairwell, his eyes never leaving the area from where the rat had showed himself.
Little to Erik's knowledge a very distressed and ferociously livid Viscount was waiting in that very same corner. Steaming to learn of the secret reunion between Christine and that- that demonic creature!
He arose stiffly and gritted his teeth in the brisk air. But before he returned to the Ball an idea formed in his head and Apollo heard yet another foundation for mania that the Viscount muttered into the night.
"She will be mine."
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The shadows that lined the back-stage of the Opera House were intermittent in their stillness by two figures moving in the darkness, in a careful manner of course as to not be seen by rowdy employee's eyes. Though they probably had little reason to worry as those members of the staff were easily distracted by the free entertainment that rained in the back round.
"Erik? Why are we moving so fast? I can scarcely keep up!" Christine whispered from behind him. He pulled her behind one last corner and looked over her shoulder numerous times before releasing her hand and placing it gently on the side of her arm.
"Forgive me Christine," He paused once more to be sure no other ears heard the conversation. "But I fear that we may have been followed tonight."
"Oh Erik, that's silly! Why you say yourself that the noise was merely a homely rat. Besides why would-?" He cut her off promptly, the panic obvious in his voice.
"Do you know of anyone who would wish to follow you Christine? Anyone who might have been causing trouble? Anyone who saw you leave?"
The wide eyes and the realization of the situation hit Christine hard and her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. Erik read her expression clearly… as his soon turned to one of vehement stone.
"It was that ridiculous Viscount wasn't it? Did he harass you tonight Christine? Did he once again attempt to pursue you!" Erik had clearly forgotten the shushed tone he originally intended to have for the sounds of several curious stagehands could be heard wondering where the mysterious noise was coming from.
"He meant no harm Erik!" She had begun pleading with him, though part of her already suspected the Erik would not change any absorbed opinion he already had of her childhood friend.
"No harm indeed!" He heaved at the thought of that imprudent boy eavesdropping on their exchange. The concept alone made Erik desire to rid that boorish youngster of his last breath…
The sound of the sudden silence in the back round forced both Erik and Christine to repent their argument and turn their heads in the direction of the stage that they could witness from just a few step to the side-ledge. They looked at each other for a brief moment before approaching the side railing cautiously.
The sight below them was a typical one: The newest managers hosting a toast to the successful year that they had experienced so far, the hope for an even better one, and so on. Beside them stood Carlotta and Piangi, all smiles as photographers and well wishers remained near-by and smiled delightfully. The display was soon broken up however when a very bothered looking Viscount and two armed guards approached the managers and delivered what appeared to be some rather distressing news, for the bright expressions on the men's faces soon faltered and they hesitated to speak once again, only when they did begin this time they didn't speak with the elegance of a practiced speech or the manner of a pleased entrepreneur. Firmin spoke first (as it appeared he was becoming used to these incidents…)
"Ladies and Gentlemen we apologies for the um…slight interruption by our Patron! But it- it would appear that we have a slight problem that the police would wish us to take care of as soon as possible…" He paused and looked over at his paled friend desperately.
"Yes…yes!" Andre said taking over. "At the request of the Commissaire en chef de police the Opera Populaire is temporarily on a security lock-down…until future notice."
With these words the crowd grew into an uproar of irritation and confusion. Masked faces turned to one another in hopes of securing an answer.
"It is nothing to worry about I assure you all!" Exclaimed the Patron with false enthusiasm as he took his place as spokesmen. "But it would appear that yet another Phantom sighting has taken place.
The crowd looked on further and the sounds of gasps and horror could be heard from all around.
"Due to the recent events that have taken place in the Opera House, the police wish to conduct an investigation and examine the facility of the theater before anyone can exit or enter the building-"
"Are you saying we are trapped in this place with a madman!" Exclaimed an outraged gentleman from the audience as he intermittent the Viscount's lecture.
The recent comment shocked all those who heard it and a deep sense of dread began to rise amongst the people…
Christine and Erik heard the turmoil from their place above the stage and each remained silent for the briefest of moments. Erik: feeling a deep sense of foreboding wash over him once again distracted Christine from the happenings and pulled her after him.
"Where are we going?" She called after him.
"You are not safe here. There is another way to get to the lake from here, but the passageway is tricky you will have to follow me."
Unable to argue any longer Christine sighed sadly as the commotion below them grew louder and he led her around the many stairs and passageways of the Opera House. Just as she was about to collapse from the lack of breath the couple stopped near what appeared to be an unused closet that hadn't had a human being near it in quite some time.
"What is this?" She asked more to herself than him.
"It's an old device that the stagehands attempted to build in before the war...as a safe spot. It is designed to transport those who are inside it by simply using a certain amount of wires and pulleys. Come," He said stepping aside and pushing open the door with a great vigor. "This will lead us to the water main that descends near the lake." He held out his hand invitingly and she took it without question wondering how the simple rendezvous had gone so wrong.
The doors closed almost instantly as she stepped inside. The action scared her enough to jump slightly, (much to Erik's amusement) and as Erik ridged the many levers of the small space Christine found herself shivering...something wasn't right.
The screech and shrieks of the old apparatus confirmed her theory as the ancient door opened once again. Not only were they not on the lakeside by practically a mere few feet away from the stage itself! Neither participant had time to react before a near-by woman screamed at Erik's sudden appearance. Christine grabbed his arm in shock and fear as several guards approached them with their weapons drawn.
Unknowingly Christine was pushed aside and Erik's own weapon had been extracted. Though they most definitely vowed to injure him, he would not allow them to wound Christine. He had only hoped in her shock that she had managed to get away from the mad scene around them.
The men approached him cautiously unaware of how to handle the abnormal adversary. All dressed in the Police Guard uniforms they nearly appeared the same, however by the time the first attacker attempted to puncture Erik with his sword Erik had already pin-pointed the weaknesses of each man...a feeling of rage that he once rejected was vengefully coming back to him. It was a perplexing and familiar sensation...and yet it came to him all at once, roughly comforting in an odd way like reuniting with an old friend. It was almost as though a demon had been released inside of him, demanding he ignore the consequences of his actions as he assaulted each man respectively. He bellowed into the calamity of the setting for the simple task of imitating his latest opponents.
"I am the Red Death which you all fear! Now come and have a taste of the hell that you shall soon be condemned to!"
Soon each man lied on the ground bleeding and injured in his own way… the surge to kill, to finish the dispute they had started could not be deprived of. The Phantom chose the most pitiful creature of them all to thrust his sword upon.
The young man of no more than nineteen looked upon the Evil Specter with a fear quite unsurpassed to that he had ever known. The Phantom laughed harshly as the young man recited a prayer. A superficial, hollow laugh erupted from him as he lifted his sword upon the undersized man and shouted:
"Your God cannot help you now!" The voice was so impure, so unlike that of a living person that those who heard it could not help but wonder if the creature about to kill the boy was the devil himself…it seemed as though nothing could stop him! Nothing!
This assumption was proven wrong when a gentle yet firm hand that grabbed the handle of his sword tightly. Thus forcing the ghost to drop it in haste.
"Erik no!" She called out into the mass of pandemonium. The voice forced the Phantom's features to soften slightly as he released the young man from his grasps. He turned slowly, only to be met by the cold-hearted eyes, and tear stained cheeks of his beloved.
"You promised…" She whispered miserably into the night.
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Terror Strikes The Opera Populaire!
Forward by: Delmar Florismart
Article published by: Le Courrier de Mantes
Waves of color and glimmer encased the Opera Populaire as their annual Masquerade, took place. Even the most ignorant of peasants knows that the BAL Masquerade is the social highlight of the season and therefore only the crème, De la crème are invited to attend the event. And while every year is a manifestation of lights, sounds, and extravagance the proceedings that occurred last night were particularly more so.
Shortly after 11:00 p.m. the newest managers of the Opera Populaire: Monsieur Firmin and Monsieur Andre (whom you may recall from their recent for wealth in the scrap metal business) began what appeared to be a lovely toast. Both gentlemen were thanking the staff and guests for attending and making the event so splendid when a rather disturbed Viscount de Chagny and two guardsmen approached the managers hurriedly and whispered some rather frightful news.
It would appear that someone had spotted the infamous Opera Ghost and reported the event anonymously to the Viscount who was also close by at the time of the sighting. The anonymous viewer, who even still wishes to remain nameless, saw the ghost up close and personal. This particular sighting is a rare one indeed since the Ghost has only been 'seen' through shadows and closed curtains.
The guards and Paris Police who have been investigating the murder of Joseph Buquet regarded the Opera Ghost to be responsible for the crime and therefore were quite eager to contract the killer in question. The managers requested everyone's assistance and announced that there was to be an immediate lock down, stating that no one could leave or enter the building until further notice.
Despite what was most likely their best efforts, the individuals who attend the occasion were quite alarmed at the thought of being trapped in the same building with a murder that could have easily been the masked face next to them. It wasn't long before the light-hearted nature that the evening had begun with turned into a vicious riot, in which the people were desperate to merely leave the structure.
Not long into the horror a mysterious figure in red appeared with a flash of fire and light. A sword was withdrawn quickly, and as the terrifying figure fought off nearly a dozen guards single-handily, people began breaking windows and shouting…some outside the Opera house claimed the screams could be heard for miles.
While no serious injuries were reported, the evening did result in several causalities and a panic that has yet to be matched. And while some spectators believe this Phantom sighting to be a mere publicity stunt gone amiss, others believe that the rampage itself might have been the product of the Ghost. And that the apparition himself is far from ceasing to cause trouble for the theater…
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Madam Antoinette Giry threw the infuriating article across the room and surveyed the damage of the theater around her. Vases, ornaments, and glittered garnishing of all kinds lied in ruins across the floor. She sighed sadly a picked up a small flower from the floor, its petals were torn and like many others it showed little signs of survival.
A few frantic workers passed her by mumbling something to themselves in their native language. She understood their frustration, she felt it now herself. The evening had begun as such a success and had become a disaster in less than a blink of the eye. She recalled witnessing Christine finally escaping the Viscount and swiftly making her way to the rooftop. Antoinette had smiled at the scene, both of the infatuated children were so eager to see one another that it made her heart swell with a sense of romance that she hadn't felt in years. The dancing and singing continued in Christine's absents and Madam Giry recalled even herself feeling high spirited and carefree at the accomplishment of the night.
It was simply disgusting the manner in which the Viscount displayed himself! Running up to the managers in the middle of their toast, throwing everyone into a fright! She had suspected that Erik's manifestation was the work of something gone wrong, 'after all it isn't possible for that boy to be quite that much out of his mind.' She thought with slight amusement.
Unfortunately for Erik whatever had motivated him to end up making a horrid arrival, forced him to practically appear at the front lobby! Good lord what was she to do now? Christine had vanished from sight, having being pushed from Erik's side…by whom Madam Giry could not say. And as witnesses shrieked at the mediocre attack they observed towards the masked stranger Madam Giry had been pushed aside…wondering and distressing for both of the young individuals whom she considered to be adopted children of her own…
She dropped the deceased flower on the staircase as she in descended it. And silently prayed that they were at least somewhat in safe hands.
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