A Reflection of the Past, Chapter Two
Thanks goes to: erik'sangel527, laverte, DarkSarcasm, MadameAngel, GoldenLyre, mer mer, Lioness-Rampant
Chapter Two
Slowly, Natalie faded back into consciousness. She inhaled a damp breath. Gradually, her senses began to register, and, from the feel of it, she was sprawled on the cold stone floor. Her eyes flew open and widened, remembering what had happened.
The tunnel was dark and cold. She had no idea how long she had been lying there, and wondered vaguely what she was going to do now that she had found what was most likely the passage to underground lake and Erik's home.
Carefully, she brought herself to her feet, only to be overtaken by a strange wave of dizziness. Just before she blacked out again, she squinted, catching site of a luminescent white object floating before her.
This time when she came around, she was able to stand properly. She lifted herself to her feet and looked around. What had she seen?
"Hello?" She asked, feeling stupid.
She heard a rustle in the darkness and jumped.
"Hello?" She asked again, her voice wavering. She could have sworn she had heard somebody breathing. "Is anyone there?"
"Who are you?" Someone asked from the pressing darkness.
Natalie was taken aback at the tone of the man's voice. It sounded like an Angel hissing cruelly. How ironic.
"Who are you?" Natalie asked ignoring the man's question.
"That's no business of yours," the man spat. "I shall warn you, I do not take pleasure in repeating myself. Who are you?"
Natalie hesitated, but decided that it would be best to respond.
"My name is Natalie, Natalie Renoir." She responded.
"Natalie," the man whispered.
Natalie shivered at the sound of her name on his lips. That voice…
"Why are you here Mlle. Renoir? I do not recall inviting you."
"Inviting me?" Natalie asked puzzled. There was a long pause. "You don't live here, nobody lives here. Why would you invite me?"
A cruel laugh rang all throughout the tunnel.
"You have some nerve Mlle. Renoir." The man told her quietly. It sounded as though he was speaking directly next to her ear, but when she flipped around, there was nobody there. "You are terribly ignorant." It sounded as if he were circling her. "I live here. And, I did not invite you. Nor, in fact, did I tell you how to get here…and as I'm sure you know, it's not an easy feat."
"You live here?" Natalie stammered, more confused by the minute. "Who are you?"
There was another pause, though much longer than the first.
"Well, seeing as how you're not going to live much longer, I suppose it wouldn't hurt terribly to tell you. I am the Phantom, the Opera Ghost, Angel of Music, but most of all, I am Erik."
Natalie shivered and her eyes widened as the man identified himself.
"That's not funny." She told him. "Really, it's not."
"Most people don't find it to be," the man who believed he was Erik said, the tiniest bit of confusion evident in his voice.
"I wouldn't expect so, anyone who knows the story also knows that it took place in the nineteenth century, more than one hundred years ago."
This time when he spoke, it was clear that he was puzzled.
"What are you ranting about, this is the nineteenth century."
"Oh, that's rich. It's 2005. You can't get me with that one."
"Mlle. Renoir, you jest. Somehow I do not find it funny either, the year is 1870."
Natalie snorted. She was really beginning to get bored of this imposter man's humor.
"Oh, right. And I suppose you live here…in a house on the shore of an underground lake and drop letters to the managers while at the same time scaring the young ballet rats out of their wits. All through this you're compelling young Christine Daae with your voice, calling yourself, as you said before her Angel of Music," Natalie snapped.
The man drew in a sharp breath.
"How did you know about that?" he hissed. "What do you know about Christine?"
"I know that you were in love with her. I know that she left you to be with the Vicomte. I know that she died nearly a century ago."
"What are you talking about?" He hissed. "I love her still. Christine is not dead. And she will not leave with de Chagny, I'll make sure of it."
Natalie was surprised at the man's reaction. His words were like icy daggers, each of them. She shook her head.
"Sir, I've had enough of this. I don't know who you are, or what you're doing here, but I would like to know the truth."
"Every word I've spoken has been the truth. It can be proven as well."
Erik frowned slowly, this girl fascinated him, she knew so much. She could be a threat, or, if she was willing, she could be a great help.
"Follow me," He ordered her as he set off down the tunnel. If she would not cooperate now, he knew how to deal with her.
A/N: Thanks all, please review!