All That Matters

Ok, I have had some SERIOUS writers block. I was planning to write again for this one, but I never did. It was only when the phantoms cry emailed me and told me to carry on that I decided to do so. So for all those who wondered if I was still writing, I am, and you have the phantom's cry to thank for it! Just to let you know I have had some really bad writers block, therefore this chapter might be off... but hey, give it a go!

Chapter 5

I regained my consciousness a few moments later. My face was sore and my head hurt from where it had hit the floor. I hadn't opened my eyes or made any attempt to move as I didn't know where he was. He might have left. He might be waiting for me to wake up. I felt a hand gently touch my face. I tried to stay still, but I felt my felt my body stiffen instinctively as his fingers traced the burns that he had caused. I heard a deep sigh as he put my mask back over my face, then he got up and began to walk away. "Yes, Go! Leave me!" I shouted in my mind.

He stopped.

Another deep intake of breath. He was contemplating something.

"No, please, leave me here, go, go away…" I thought desperately. Although I hated him for what he had done to me I would have to seek my revenge another way. He was far stronger than me, and less consideration for human life.

He began to walk back slowly. Dropping to one knee, I felt his arms under my shoulders and my legs as he picked me up. I tried to regulate my breathing, slow my beating heart. My heart was beating so loudly I thought that he might at anytime hear it. He carried me to the boat and gently placed me in it, pushing it off the shore before getting in himself.

I didn't stir for the whole of the ride to the other shore. I laid there, silently thinking of how of get out of this mess, trying to imagine all the possibilities I had of escape. What if he tried to kill me when we got to shore? What if he was taking me to some torture chamber? What if he wanted to do… more… with me? My mind racing through all the possibilities made me paranoid and even more frightened. This man had caused my pain and tried to kill me. Why he had tried I don't know, however, the fact remains that this potential killer was now rowing me to somewhere I had no idea about. I prayed to God that I would survive this.

Through my eyelids I saw a small light. I wanted to open them, but the risk of him noticing was too great. I knew that there was some light somewhere. Maybe he was taking me back after all! Outside, to the light! I felt him jump out and pull the boat ashore, hearing his footsteps splashing the water like they did the first time I realised he was there. He leaned in and picked me up again, carrying me up a small hill. I dare not open my eyes. I couldn't see where he was taking me; he could be taking me anyway, to a dark pool of deep water to drown me, to get a knife or something to kill me, to his bed to…

"NO!" I shouted as my paranoid mind twisted my reasoning, making me flail my arms and wiggle against him until he dropped me. I fell to my feet and edged away from him, looking around my new surroundings like a cornered rabbit, my eyes wide with fear as they turned back to the man who was now stood in front of me, looking intensely at me. The light stung my eyes but I He took a step forward towards. Instantly I stumbled backwards, trying to keep my distance from him.

"No, y, you keep away from me…"

"I don't want to hurt you again Mademoiselle, but let me assure you, the only reason why you are still alive is because I believe that you owe me an explanation."

"Explanation? F... for what?"

"For a number of things, Ma Cherie. Why were you wandering aimlessly around in the depths of the now destroyed and closed Opera House, what were you planning to do, and why do you try to mock me by wearing a mask?" I could hear the anger rising again in his voice.

"I, I wasn't doing anything, I was lost…"

"Yes, you may have been, however this does no explain why you were in the Opera Populaire when it has been closed for 11 days now." He took a step closer; I took one back, feeling a wall behind me. Oh dear. "I will ask again. What were you doing up there?"

"Nothing! I wasn't doing anything…"

"Mademoiselle, I will only ask you once more, and if I do not hear a suitable answer, there will be consequences for you. What were you doing?" His tone, deathly serious and deadly.

"I, I was…" I saw his expression, waiting for me to continue, "…I was looking for my sister."

"Why would you're sister be in the Opera House? Unless you haven't realised, it has been closed for quite some time, I'm sure you've heard about the tragedy in the newspapers" That statement. His tone. "The tragedy…" so sarcastically. I felt my rage bubble within me again. How dare he mock the damage he had caused! There was no remorse, no signs of repentance in his tone…

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear about it. I was too busy lying in a hospital bed for days after, or hiding from the world to hear about it." He scoffed loudly at this. He had caused so much pain and he felt nothing… his ignorance to the pain he had caused brought about a terrible feeling of injustice and anger within me. I felt my anger consume me as I began to walk forward towards him, no longer afraid. "I was there that night when the chandelier fell. So were my sister and my fiancé. I was looking for my sister amongst the sea of corpses up there, and I found her, her corpse hiding under a chair, the only recognisable feature being the bracelet that I bought her. My fiancé died that night, with the countless others that couldn't escape the fire. You're a murderer; do you know how many lives have been lost because of you? How many people were injured, how many families affected? You have caused so much pain and you show no sighs of remorse! People have lost everything in their lives because of you and your selfish obsession with a girl who didn't love you..."

Before I knew it was had been thrown back against the wall, the stone slamming hard on my back as I felt his weight press against me, crushing my small chest painfully. I felt his hands lock on to my arms and force them back so I couldn't move them. I fought angrily against him but to no avail.

"How dare you speak to me like that! How dare you even touch that subject with your wicked tongue! You know nothing of pain and suffering! I've been to hell, you have only read about it." I looked him directly in the eyes, not looking curiously at the mask that concealed his face. I was past the point of anger. There was no logic or reasoning in my mind.

"I was there! I was there that night! You have taken everything that matters away from me! And what have you gained? Nothing! Nothing! You claim that you've seen hell, well Monsieur, ever since that night that you changed my fate forever I have lived in it! Who are you to change me life? To take away my dreams of love and happiness with the person who loved me just because you will never…"

He did not hesitate to silence me with a hard slap across my face. My head followed his hand as if fell to the side, hanging pathetically as I felt the blood rush to the surface of my skin. My eyes were closed, trying to register the fact that a man had just struck me, something I had never before experienced, replacing my anger with hate. I felt his chest heavily quickly against my own, his breathing short and laboured, trying to calm himself. He let go of my wrist and seized my face, bringing it up to face his own. He was so close to me…

"Don't you ever speak to me like that again." He said, his tone calm but his breathing contradictingly erratic. He let go of my face and wrists and pulled himself away from me, walking away slowly. I stayed pressed against the wall, my eyes never leaving his form.

"You might know pain and suffering, even hate. But you will never know love or happiness. So the pain of knowing that you will never feel that again is a pain you will never know. That is what separates you and me." He turned to look at me again. Through my anger and hate I began to notice this man. His mask perfectly moulded to the contours of his shapely face. Immaculately dressed, as though he himself was leaving for a fine night to an opera. His hair, which I could only assume was a wig, was jet black and slicked back from his face. He looked over me in the same way that I had noticed him.

"Take off that mask you foolish child." He said. I shook my head. "You will not make a mockery of me, take it off." Still, I refused. He came striding back over to me, whipping my hand from my face, foiling my feeble attempt to stop him. I briefly felt his nimble fingers curl under my mask as he ripped it from my face, feeling the cool air from the waters edge spill across it. My free hand tried to cover it as my head tilted forward from his view, but it was no use. He had seen it now. I automatically closed my eyes, screwing them up tightly so that I could not see his expression, but I didn't need to. His silence told me what I already knew. I heard the mask drop from his hand as he took a few small steps backwards. I opened my eyes and raised my head, lowering my hand that was half way raised to my face. He had the expected look of disgust and shock on his face, but that changed to an unreadable expression. He couldn't bear to look in his eyes, so I glanced away, letting him stare at me.

There was so much that I wanted to say to him, yet for some reason, I couldn't. I don't know how long that the silence passed over us, it seemed like an eternity. Neither of us knowing what to say or do.

Finally, he moved. He bent down to pick up my mask, then straightened, taking two steps forward towards me. I still didn't raise my head. He carefully, almost timidly, offered me my mask. I glanced up at him, unsure of his intentions, and then carefully took the mask from his hands. I didn't put it over my face, for some reason I didn't want him to see me do that. I just held it in my hand.

"What is your name?" He asked carefully.

"I don't have a name. Only humans have names."

"Don't be stupid, you are a hum…" I cut him short.

"Am I?" I asked, looking briefly at him before his stare became too much. "Not that it matters anymore, but my name is Mirabella Bouchard."

"How did… what happened to…" He skirted carefully around the questions that he desperately wanted to ask, but knowing it would be inhuman to ask them.

"My face? Why, you did, good Monsieur. You departed too early; you should have stayed and watched the chaos that you caused. I wasn't born like this. You made me like this." He stepped away again. I still didn't bear to look at him, though I lifted me head. I saw him searching for something to say. But apparently, the words had failed him.

"I… I'm sorry." Was all that he said as he turned his back to me and walked away into the darkness of a different room, leaving me to put my mask back on, and contemplate for what exactly he was apologizing for.

Ok, I am REALLY not sure about this chapter. As I said before I have had terrible writer's block concerning this story, and this chapter is a kinda of block breaker. I can't help but feel that their first meeting should be slightly more. Anyhow, tell me what you think, ideas and improvements would help me a lot. Not on grammer, I know how bad I am. Replies!

Captain Ricciondel- Thank you! Sorry for the long wait!

EtheralSinger- Thank you! I have been following your story, I love it!

the phanton's cry- Thank you!

everysecretcode- Thank you very much! Hope you're still with me!

xxXGoddessXof XdeadXloveXxx- Aw, thank you! Hope you liked this chappie!

Caroline- I didn't fully get what you mean by just read one over, etheralsinger, but I am sorry that I made you cry !(hands over the tissues) Be happy!

Mr Rusty Ryan- Thank you

lady whats-her-face- Love the shudders! Made me giggle! Not as much description I don't think in this one, but hey, give me a break, I had writers block! LOL! enjoy!

Now please leave a review and tell me what you think of this chappie!