Chappie 7: Il Muto and My Next Surprise
It had started to snow during the course of the day and I was cooped up in my room. Antoinette came to talk to me but she never got why I did everything. She said that if it was important, I could get up and get whatever it was but other than that, I was bed ridden.
She came back up to tell me that there had been lots of drama and I was to be backstage while the performance took place. She has a seat set up and I sat down in my robe with my Hannibal costume, or what was left of it, on; I couldn't move to change out of the strips of cloth.
'Il Muto' was to show tonight. I was assigned the lead dancer but, of course, my chance was ruined by Erik's stupidity. I hurt physically when I went to shoo a fly away; I slapped my cut in my arm. I winced but focused back on the stage when Carlotta gave a croak.
I laughed so hard and fell out of my chair. My pleasure quickly turned frustration as I found some of my wounds had re-opened. Mme. Giry was helping Christine into er costume and no-one could help as they were fixing the stage to Act 3, the scene of my grand dance that not even a fly could watch.
I, aggravated, stood up, forgot about the pain, and plopped back down into my seat. I looked up as to see what was making the sound in the stage balcony and saw Bouquet. He was running...from Erik! What the hell?
M. le Fantome was trying to, what appeared to be, capture Joseph but I couldn't tell due to all the beams. Finally, I heard a snap and saw a rope around the stage director's neck and Erik standing where the rope was secured on the walk-way.
I gasped in horror, covering my mouth before a scream escaped my lips and then I attempted to chase after Erik. My feeble attempt was slow but working. Erik, as he had so many times before, headed straight to the roof. I took the shortest, but most difficult, route available in order not to be seen.
My steps were light and quick but consequently painful. My whole body went numb from all the pain and adrenaline rushing through my body. I reached the roof to a snowy night in Paris. The streets a light dusting of snow while the grounds were covered with at least four inches. I Eiffel Tower stood lit with the many candle of the winter.
I spun around as I heard the door shut as an action of Christine after Raoul had passed. They quickly entered a warm embrace. Then Christine stepped away from him to speak appallingly of Erik. I couldn't believe my ears! She had fallen madly in love with the pretty boy! She was captivated by Erik though. Raoul started singing a lullaby, I guess, from their childhood and then I saw him. Standing behind Apollo's Lyre, stood my love: The man who had just killed fro the love of his life and had only been accepted as a tutor from her. He was pain stricken and to make matters worse, they kissed. He sunk down to the ground crying. I felt compelled to move but I couldn't move from the pain and the fact I didn't want to be caught and accused of being followed by my enemy.
They ran off, being newly engaged, to finish the show. I finally uproot myself and ran over to Erik. "I'm so sorry." I rested a hand on his shoulder and he did the unthinkable; he pulled me into a hug and cried on my shoulder. The tears stung my open cuts and I jumped as a reaction. He shot straight up and looked into my eyes. His eyes, red and puffy. Cheeks, tear-stained and red. His face, all of his features, held pain.
"I'm sorry." He looked at my torn and ragid body. "We should get you back inside." He wiped away the streams on his left cheek then lifted his mask and repeated the same process.
I started for the door but stumbled as I couldn't carry myself anymore. The snow felt good but the last I saw was my angel's cape covering me and I was secured in his muscular arms.