Author's note: Yay! People actually read my story! I'm so happy. Anyway thanks to the two people who reviewed- made my day. Anyway, on with the story!
Disclaimer and warning: Read first chapter. They hold true for all of the chapters.
Phantomess13: Actually, that would make a better plot line than what I have, but no. I set this a month before the masquerade, and I have absolutely no patience. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this story...anyway, thanks for the review!
Whatevergirl: Thanks!
Chapter 2: Raoul's Flight
Raoul ran. There was nothing else he could do at this point. He slipped through the streets, trying to avoid the many puddles God had seen fit to torture him with. Although he was unsure of his destination, his feet seemed to have a plan to get away from his pursuers. While he let them lead him, he heard bitter laughter in the air. It took him a few moments to realize he was the source of the heart wrenching sound. He had expected betrayal from Christine, but hadn't realized she could cause this much damage quite so quickly. Being a popular singer had it's advantages it seemed, and she had used her fame to spread lies about him, and worse: the truth. It seemed everyone in Paris now knew his sexual preference, and that Christine had ended the engagement. At the moment he was being pursued by four people who were either against him, or fans of Christine. They were only a few of those who had come after him, as he was reminded by the many scratches and bruises that now adorned his body- courtesy of the...wonderful city folk. He soon found himself in front of the opera house- the one place he had felt safe in this dreadful city. As he started to trip over the stairs, he felt a sharp pain on the side of his head and knew he was caught.
"Lovely evening isn't it, monsieur?" A man twice his size jeered at him. His vision swimming before him, he could do nothing but glare in the direction of the massive blur.
Just as his eyes began to focus, he received a kick to the stomach by a much smaller, but equally as daunting figure.
"It's quite unfortunate you had to be so greedy, or you could be enjoying a stroll with Mademoiselle Daae."
Raoul rolled his eyes at the mention of one of the many lies Christine had concocted- that he had betrayed her with more than one unrespectable young man. Oh, how he wished he had.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, freak!" A sharp blow to his side followed the harsh comment. He was still at a loss as to why so many people were taking this strongly. He supposed it was because of the creative story telling ability of Christine. He had to give her credit: she was clever.
"Monsieur, I think we should take some time to examine who exactly is the freak here. Why take this so personally?" Seizing the chance to escape in their moment of confusion, he continued up the stairs, taking a detour to the side of the building. Monsieurs Andre and Firmin had arrived at the entrance when the commotion started and had done nothing to help him: entering through the front was out. He made his way along the side, hoping there would be another entrance. The phantom Christine always spoke of had to get in and out of the theater somehow, didn't he? The footsteps of his attackers came closer and closer, and he spied a vent on the wall. Upon closer- hurried- examination he found it to be a small opening that had to lead to the depths of the theater. He quickly pried the vent off with all of his remaining strength and fell through just as his pursuers grabbed his cape. The cape ripped as he continued to fall, landing on some hard stone surface. Then darkness overtook him.