"She's in love with that monster," the whispers went around. "That beast...diablo..."

I ignored them all. All of the stares. The hushed voices, snickers and taunts. None of it mattered to me...until word got to Christine, as it usually did. Secrets never stayed secrets for long in that place...and the look she had given me was pure malice. Alas, I ignored that as well. I was too busy wondering, why and how the Phantom chose me...

Burying my face into my hands, I sat in the cold, stone cell. It was nearly sunset of the next day...we had been thrown into the jail that afternoon, but not before they'd seperated Erik and I, a leering look in their eyes. I hadn't cried, in that I prided myself, until about two hours later. That is when reality finally crashed in, as I listened to the three guards talking.

"Hang 'em high, that's what I think," a gruff voice said, and I could see a thin trail of cigar smoke coming from outside my cage.

"Ironic, isn't it? Downright funny, knockin' off all them with the lasso, then gettin' snared 'imself," a nasally, younger male snorted. Another trail of cigar smoke, and a low laugh from the trio.

"The madamoiselle's mother is coming soon. Poor girl having to sit here alone like this. Giry is the name," Gruffy suddenly said, and I saw the flicker of a match. More smoke.

The third guard, and older man, let out a long whistle. "Giry? Two-hundred thousand franques..."

Nasally hissed. "We don't know that yet until we see the check."

I stopped my sobbing to listen. What check...? My eyebrows knitted together as I strained to listen, but all I could hear now where the sounds of inhaling and exhaling, followed by a stream of cigar smoke. I coughed, curling up into a ball on the floor. My mind went to when we were dragged back into Paris, and I felt tears threaten me once again.

Erik had looked so...calm. Sighing, my hand clamped tightly on the sapphire ring around my neck. How had he managed to look so certain of things? I was hardly able to keep it together...it was only until the policemen took me to a seperate location had I seen a flicker of hot hatred in his eyes. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head on a wall, trying to ignore the black dust and sticky cobwebs that clung to my hair. I hadn't slept at all, and now exhaustion was beginning to overtake me.

"Meg? Meg!"

"M-mama?" I whispered, eyes flying open as the door to the cell was unlocked and throw open. Leaping at the opening, I landed into my mother's arm, weeping. "Mother! Forgive me...please..."

She held me tight, leading me towards the hallways. "No, dear," she whispered back, "It is I who need forgiveness...you simply hush, and follow me. Do not ask questions until we are home. Is that understood?"

"But...Erik..."

"Do you understand me, Meg!"

Biting my lip, I nodded violently. Mother eyed me, then returned the nod and led me towards the exit. We passed by a cell, and my heart nearly ripped from my chest. Erik sat inside, watching me as I walked past...and walked free. I wanted to scream, to hit the guards or even kill them...anything to not leave him behind in this chamber of tortures. My mother didn't stop me, but continued to pull me along. As I passed, I thought I saw a flicker of a smile on his face, but I blinked and it was gone.

It didn't matter...there was nothing I could do as my mother took me outside and to an awaiting carraige. We got in silently, and drove without a word. But I watched my mother...she often wrung her hands, looked out the windows, or fidgeted in general. Was she sick or something...? Again, a feeling of dread descended upon me. What was going on...? Though before I culd speak, a glance from my mother quieted me. I would just have to wait until we got back to the operahouse...

I must have fallen asleep, for when I next opened my eyes, I was lying on a couch inside the library of the operahouse, covered by an old wool blanket. My nose itched, and I sneezed as I sat up. Mother sat on a chair in the corner, staring at the fireplace. She glanced over at me, and smiled sadly.

"I'm glad you're awake."

"Mama," I said, voice trembling. "What...what is going on? Erik...they're going to hang him, and the guards said..."

My voice trailed off as she stood, walking over to a desk and picking up a book. She looked at it a long time, then slowly walked over to me, not raising her gaze from the book. I looked down at it, curious.

"Romeo and Juliet, a first edition...I had two, one from your father and one from my mother," she said softly. "One copy disappeared a few weeks ago. The day you and Erik left, it reappeared on my desk. I thought someone had found it...until I went to pickit up, and a note was inside. It was from Erik."

Realization dawned on me as I listened. So...that is what had taken so long for him to come up to meet me...

Mother Giry looked up at me, pulling from the book a slip of paper. "If he is correct, we may have a chance to set him free."

"How!" I cried, standing and nearly falling over.

She handed me the paper, and I looked to it. It was a check for two-hundred thousand franques. My mind went numb, and I almost dropped the paper. Was this...this must be what the guards had been speaking of...I looked up at my mother in shock, and she took it back from me.

"Apparently, he horded it for emergancies. I think this counts as one, yes?" she asked, and I could only nod. My mother grinned slightly, humor in her eyes. "Well then. Know anyone that's good at making bribes?"

Thanks to all my loyal readers! Please review. And don't kill me for taking so long to update, I swear I'll do better at keeping the writing blocks away. Loves!