Hello myPhantom-obsessed friends! Here's chapter twenty-three, and as requested I typed and edited as quickly as my brain would allow. So, I hope you all enjoy and continue with the reviews…!
Disclaimer: …do I even have to say it anymore?
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As Meg's feet sloshed into yet another puddle, she silently cursed herself. Her feet throbbed from running and her arms ached from trying to hold her skirts up for so long. On top of that those horrible men were catching up with her, and she was not sure how much longer she could outrun them. She thought back over what had led her to this moment, how the man had asked her to dance, how she had somehow foolishly agreed to do so, how they cheered her on until she felt beyond embarrassed and humiliated. It was not long before the brutes grew tired of the classical ballet style and demanded something more provocative. Knowing that Christine needed more time she had agreed, but stalled as long as possible, and when at last she did actually dance, the men were so displeased that they thought it better she not dance at all.
One particularly ugly guard pulled her from the floor onto his lap causing his co-workers to laugh as he did so. Meg tried to play along for as long as she dared but her simple task of distracting the guards was getting out of hand.
"Sorry gentlemen," she said suddenly, pushing the man away and removing herself from his lap. "I really must be going now." She swiftly walked toward the door, her comment greeted by silence. The fattest man of them all however somehow made it to the door before her and pushed her back into the crowd of armed guards.
"Hey there little lady, you ain't going no where," he said with a growl.
Meg panicked as the men gathered around her and, not knowing of what else to do, she kicked the man closest to her and ran beyond his wobbling figure, desperate to get away.
So now she was running down various unfamiliar allies, praying that Christine and Erik got out before any of the men came to their senses and returned to the station to check on their prisoner. Without looking behind her, she could tell there were at least a half of a dozen of them, each swearing and yelling vulgarities at her. She was grateful for her petite form, which allowed her to slip through tight spots her bulky pursuers could only go around or climb over.
Gasping from her efforts, Meg paused to turn down one final street. Unfortunately, the road was deserted, lined only with shops closed for the night, there were no residences nearby where she might find help. At last she stopped, pulling shaking fingers through her hair, the sound of her enemies growing closer. She lacked the strength to continue, and as her legs buckled painfully beneath her she cried out, inadvertently alerting the men of her presence
"Aw, there's our little dancing girl!" shouted one of the drunken men from behind her.
Soon they were all gathered around her, laughing Meg rose shakily and attempted to reason with them.
"Please, monsieur-" She was cut off however, with a firm slap to the face and she fell to the ground once more, crying out…One of the overweight fiends tugged painfully on her hair as he bellowed: "Don't you try none o' that fancy talk now you little tease!" The others laughed and continued to shout more obscenities at her. And roughly pulling at her skirts Meg screamed in a faint attempt to alert anyone around her of her whereabouts. Unfortunately, that attempt was cut short with another slap to the face.
"Don't you be yelling now missy, I promise you'll like it..."
Meg choked back her tears and closed her eyes at the man's putrid face, and offensive breath that smelled of ale. He grabbed her arm roughly and hoisted her upwards, but before he could go any farther a raspy voice from behind them called out.
"Unhand the lady," the voice said evenly.
"Get out of here, mister!" shouted one of the guards. "This here is police business, so you best just be on your way!"
The mysterious stranger spoke , "Yes, police business…I doubt any authority figure has just cause to assault a lady, don't you agree, gentlemen The dark figure that owned the voice stepped forward from the shadows, and the man who held a grasp on Meg released her immediately. and Every guard charged towards the mysterious man that they knew to be their prisoner.
Erik made a valiant attempt to fight the men but he was injured and outnumbered and he also appeared to lack any weapons other than his hands and the strength to incapacitate every one of them. Even so, he managed to disable a tow of them before a Punjab lasso appeared from his hands like magic. The lasso was around one of the men's necks within an instant gagging and straining against the weak rope supported by Erik's hands. Once the man went limb the Phantom assaulted another attacker with the lasso, and it wasn't long before he too fell to the ground. Before he could injure another man he dropped to the ground from a firm kick to the back of the leg. The remaining policemen surrounded him as they had Meg only moments before, and laughed menacingly. One man pulled a revolver form his holster and pointed the cold weapon to Erik's forehead.
"You know what I think happened, boys? I think we've been deceived…you know what else I think?" he teased "I think our friend here not only escaped but was about to murder yet again, he nodded significantly at Meg's swiftly crumpled form, so we had to…use forceful measures." The men chuckled and laughed in agreement. As the encouraged their colleague on.
The sudden sound of a pistol going off nearby startled the men, drawing their attention to the shadows once more. A woman stood there, resolutely aiming the weapon directly at the man holding the gun to the Phantom head. Without hesitation, she fired in his direction, hitting the man plainly in the shoulder and giving Erik enough time to render another the man beside him unconscious. The others remained motionless as Christine continued to silently threaten the remaining men with her pistol. They looked at each other in panic before turning around and rushing blindly back to the safety of the station, leaving the three conspirators alone in the darkness, the wind the only sound as Erik collapsed.
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"The Fantôme of the Opera escapes police custody and kills two members of police de Paris"
Foreword By: Delmar Florismart
Article published by: Le Courrier de Mantes
An outraged crowd gathered outside police headquarters this morning as word of the Phantom's escape traveled throughout the city. Tragically, two officers: Detective Maurice Boutet de Monvel and Sergeant Antoine de Saint Exupry were killed in efforts to recapture the Phantom. The remaining officers who were present at the scene were reluctant to answer questions about the incident but an unidentified source testified that the sound of a pistol could be heard around the time of 1a.m. This injury relates to another officer: Francisque Poulbot, who was shot, but remains in stable condition. However, one questions remains on everyone's mind: How exactly did the phantom make his escape so successful?
Truly, an odd question to ask an apparition…
Guards and volunteers have updated security in the Opera Populaire for fear he may return, but no signs of mischief or odd occurrences have transpired in the recent hours so Police suspect he may be trying to flee the area. As a result, roadblocks have been stationed every few miles and extra guards are searching residential homes with the hope that the nameless accomplice who assisted in the breakout will be found.
To insure the safety of Paris's citizens, Monsieur Chief Bartlett has issued a curfew, requiring everyone within the cities boundaries to be within their homes by sundown. The police chief commissioner also wishes to address any civilian who may feel the need to take justice into their own hands.
"…While I realize the citizens of Paris are distraught with the situation concerning the 'Phantom of the Opera,' I encourage everyone to rely on our squad and to trust that we will indeed catch this murdering ghost, and he will pay for his crimes!"
On a related matter, the young Prima Donna, Christine Daae has taken ill after hearing of the Phantom's escape and has refused to speak with media or Opera personnel. Due to the particular obsession the Phantom appeared to have with Mademoiselle Daae, her dressing room, (where she is supposedly staying) will be heavily guarded and citizens are to rest assured that the protégé shall be save from the Phantom's evil hand…
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A/N: I was afraid if I made this another cliffhanger one of you would go nuts and kill my goldfish…so I hope you know your threats were effective! (smiles nervously)