'Lo there all you happy readers! Here's my update. ((Btw, people who get this…"Erik I love you!" and they kept going.))
The Persian's flat was rather small and only mildly decorated. There was a rather large Persian rug in the center of the living room, which connected to the dining room, kitchen and a hallway to the bedrooms. Beside the rug were an overstuffed couch and a table that had many papers with the former policeman's writing scribbled on it. The wallpaper on the walls was as old as the building itself and was turning a yellow tinge with age and had started to peel itself away from the wall. Naidir brought over a chair from the kitchen and sat down waiting for his guests to sit in the couch.
"Excuse the mess my friend. I have been working…" Naidir said trying to get his papers out of view.
"Wait," Erik ordered taking a page and reading it. The whole room seemed to hold its breath waiting for what the Phantom would do and if he would allow for the orderly evacuation of the papers. "You're taking notation on what had happened that night?" he roared as he feverishly started to grab and rip any page within his grasp.
"Erik! STOP!" both Naidir and Madame Giry yelled as they grappled with Erik trying to get the papers from him and not get hurt themselves. They knew that when he was in a rage, there was no telling what he would do, even if they were his only friends.
"You can NOT do this Daroga!" Erik yelled as he lunged at the Persian, but the mounds of papers that had collected restrained him near his feet and also the stern grip of Madame Giry. "It's my life! It's not yours to document," he growled as he sat back into the old couch.
"I am sorry my friend. I was out of place…but you must admit, it is a truly wondrous tale," Naidir said while sitting back across from the two on the couch. Erik simply glared at him from behind the mask.
"Have you heard about the recent murder that occurred near the Opera House?" Madame Giry asked wanting to continue why they were here after sending a chiding glare to Erik.
"Yes I have. I was going to go have a chat with you Erik about that. You do realize how serious this is don't you?" he asked.
"I am not a child," the Opera Ghost snapped at both the ballet mistress and the Persian. "I know the offense all to well, but I promise you both, I did not kill that man!" he said darkly making his voice cut through the quiet of the room.
"We aren't saying that you did Erik," Madame Giry said trying to ameliorate his short temper.
"But…the police are. My friend, you must be careful, now more than ever. They know how you look and sound and most importantly, that you are just a man and have weaknesses just as the rest of us," he Persian explained as if it were a death sentence.
"My old friend, one cannot catch me that easily. You of all people know that," Erik stated as he stood. He was restless and didn't want to stay there being accused. After counting to 100 to himself he asked the question that was lingering on his mind since he first found out about this murderer, "Will he seek out Christine?"
The carriage ride to their destination of Normandy was a rough one. Most of the time Christine rested against Raoul hoping that what he had said was not the truth. Why would he kill? Was that man trying to hurt poor Erik? She had been feeling sick since she had heard the news, but Raoul dismissed it as nerves. This pain, she knew was in her heart and had been there since they left the Opera House and now had been renewed. It was the pain of heartache, loss and guilt. Deep down, she dearly missed her teacher and Angel of Music. She worried constantly about him and scoured the papers to see if they had found him or if anything happened to him. Also, without Raoul's knowing she paid visits to the church to pray for him.
A large bump in the ride to their new home jostled her from her thoughts. Looking up at her husband she noticed how tense he was and she assumed it was from nerves and worries. He kept a steady gaze out the window at the mundane and melancholy landscaped that past by.
"Raoul?" she asked trying to shake him from his thoughts, which she assumed was the damning of her Angel of Music, the Phantom of the Opera.
"Yes Little Lotte?" he asked feigning a smile.
"I'll be fine. He won't-"
"He's done it before Christine!" he snapped cutting her off. "Christine…Christine please. I just want you to be safe. We're almost there."
Christine sighed and looked out the window to see a large cottage coming into view. It was a lovely looking white cottage with a garden and a beach below the cliff it was located on. Pulling up, the driver got their bags for them and started inside. After getting their things somewhat organized they paid the man and he left. Christine sat a small writing table.
"Raoul? Where is the stationary?" she called to him.
"Why?" Raoul grunted as he heaved one of her bags up the stairs.
"I want to write to Meg. Oh! I've found it," she said finding the paper she needed and began writing.
Dearest Meg,
I pray that everything is fine with yourself, Gustov, and your mother. I am so happy that you found Gustov. It's a wonderful match if I do say so myself. Raoul and myself have moved due to the events that happened recently at the Opera House. We're here at a beautiful white cottage in Normandy right on the beach. Raoul thinks that it will keep me safe from him. I know that he will do no harm to me nor you or Madame Giry, but you know how Raoul worries. Do you know any details on what has happened there at the Opera? Was it really him? I'm probably not thinking straight, but I do not believe he has done a thing. Please, if you could, send my greetings and love to your mother and give the other letter enclosed to her to give to him. Please do this for me my friend.
Love,
Christine
After folding the note neatly she took out another piece of paper.
Erik,
I pray the rumors are not true and you have not done any harm at the Opera House again. Know that killing will not bring me back. I am happy with Raoul and we are living in peace. I do thank you for letting me have this peace and I can't even begin to grasp how much pain I have caused you. Please accept my apologies for I never meant harm. I never meant to harm my Angel of Music. Please, do not take this letter the wrong way for I do love my life and will not return to the Opera, though I do miss it so. Thank you for all that you have given me and I hope my fallen angel has found some peace.
Christine
Sealing both and writing to who should receive each, she put them both in an envelope and walked briskly out to catch the mail carrier. She could not let Raoul see the letters, but she knew deep down that even a ghost should find some amount of peace. His cry as she left him still haunted her in her sleep. The image of him standing on the shore defeated, alone and heartbroken calling out to her as she looked back made her shiver and become on the verge of tears. "Christine I love you! You alone can make my song take flight! It's over now, the Music of the Night!" The moment she heard those heart wrenching words she felt all hope in him and her die. She said a short prayer that the sweet angelic music hadn't died within him and that one day she would see her teacher again and then turned back to enter again into her life with Raoul. Softly, she almost heard the Phantom's song in her head again.