Erik and Veronique joyfully hurried themselves into their best clothes. Erik, fitted in his best suit and his cleanest white mask, and Veronique, in the wedding dress that Erik had kept on the now-headless mannequin, gazed at their reflections in the many mirrors around the dark and damp cave of wonders, making one final reassurance that everything would be perfect for the happiest day of their lives. They turned towards each other, their eyes twinkling with happiness, and Veronique began to walk towards the gondola. But Erik quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her.Looking deeply into her deep-green eyes, he said to her, "Now that you will be living here, you will need to know the shortcuts." He led her to the wall with many mirrors and pulled back the curtain. Veronique had been down the revealed hallway before, but as she walked it with the man she loved, she saw a door that she had not noticed before. Erik drew a key from his pocket; a key with a long and heavy tassle tied to it, as though it had many importances. Sliding the key into the door, he opened it and helped Veronique through the narrow passageway.
After climbing what seemed like a million stairs, Veronique could see a small stained-glass window above a panel in the wall with a few levers on it. Chains criss-crossed on the ceiling above, but many of them had been broken from the fateful night of Don Juan Triumphant. Another door led to a place only Erik knew, and she willingly followed him through it. A small balcony appeared as the door opened, and as Veronique and Erik stepped onto the dust- and debris-covered structure, they stared at an amazing sight. It was the remains of the Opera Populaire's magnificent stage, and they stood next to a tarnished statue of a naked and sated woman, delighting in the strains of beautiful music that once rose to the ceiling. Veronique stood and gaped at the horrible sight. So much destruction had been caused by the beautiful man that held her hand, and yet she did not care. She did not want to dwell in the past with Erik, for she knew that if she did, they would not have a future of love and peace.
Erik once again took Veronique's hand and led her to the stairs that brought them down to the stage. They carefully stepped around the shards of crystal from the formerly beautiful chandelier and large chunks of wood beams that had fallen and burned in the heat of the night. But Erik soon stopped. A dark figure lurked in the shadows of the wings and stepped forward.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? This is private property!"