Meg and Erik emerged from the tunnels still in a dreamlike state. Neither of them could believe that the past few hours had happened. Erik couldn't believe that Meg didn't think he was a monster, and Meg was astounded that she could feel the way she did; then again she couldn't believe that Erik kissed her. When they reached fresh air, Meg gasped in horror. Around them were about eight policemen, some with loaded guns, and others with unsheathed bayonets. Instinctively Erik stepped in front of Meg. "Hello gentlemen, how may we be of your service?" He asked coolly, luckily he had replaced his mask before they left.
"Monsieur… erm…" one of the officers began, stepping to the front. He was a pudgy man with short slightly balding, blonde hair and cold blue eyes. His gut protruded slightly over the belt of his pants, causing Meg to grimace as it jiggled slightly when he walked. Erik raised his visible eyebrow mocking the stuttering officer. "Monsieur, there has been a warrant issued for your arrest. Please come quietly and there will be no trouble." His words came out in a hurried rush.
"By whom?" Erik received a sharp jab in the back from Meg.
"We are not permitted to tell you, we need the girl as well." The officer stood stiffly, looking unsure of what he was saying.
Startled, Meg stepped out from behind Erik holding his hand. "And what do you need me for?"
The officers gasped collectively. They could not believe that this angel, the beautiful young woman would so much as look at the deformed monster, let alone touch his hand. "Mademoiselle, your brain has obviously been addled by the monster. Certainly you would not normally touch this… this thing."
Meg puffed up like an upset hen. "How dare you tell me I am addled in the head, I can assure you I have never been better. And how dare you call anyone a monster! And who the devil are you to tell me who I can and cannot touch?" Erik shot Meg a warning glance which she ignored. "I will touch whomever I wish, with what ever I wish and you good Monsieur, cannot stop me." As she finished saying that, she whirled toward Erik and planted a large kiss on his lips, twining her arms around his neck. Once again the officers were shocked, yet this time they were shocked dumb.
Erik likewise was shocked at Meg, who was kissing him with vigor. "What are you doing?" He whispered against her lips.
"Play along," she whispered back. "They cant believe you are the ghost." Erik cradled her head and deepened the kiss to show he understood, also so that when he threw his voice the police wouldn't believe it was him talking.
"Who dares to walk upon the sacred ground of my opera house?" a voice slightly deeper than Erik's normal voice manifested behind the surprised officers. All of them whirled around to face the voice that wasn't there. "Who are you to threaten those whom are guarded by the Opera Ghost?" the voice melted into a statue, once again causing the officers to look. "Act afraid." Erik's voice entered Meg's ear. She peeled herself off Erik and looked around fearfully, clinging to Erik in mock fear.
"W-we were sent to arrest the man." The pudgy man stuttered fearfully, looking around wildly.
"But the man and woman are protected by the Opera Ghost, and it is not advised that you should do anything but tangle with me?" The voice swirled around the room and on the word me filled the whole room and bounced off the walls.
Tears of fright welled up in Meg's eyes as she looked up at Erik. "Darling, I'm frightened."
Erik stifled a laugh, not much to his surprise Meg was quite the actress. "Do not worry," he enveloped her in a protective embrace, "No one shall harm you." Meg buried her face in his chest as the tears spilled over her cheeks and onto his starched white shirt. Erik turned to the officer.
"Now my good sirs, you have frightened the lady. You had best leave or I would fear for your safety." The 'Ghost' said. Erik noticed the looks the officers were throwing each other. They looked genuinely frightened, quite nervous, and just a tad suspicious.
"We were sent to arrest the Opera Ghost and retrieve a Meg Giry." The bumbling policeman said, stumbling slightly over his words. "Do you deny that you are Meg Giry, mademoiselle?"
"No sir I do not." Confusion spread across Meg's features.
"Why do you need her?" The voice boomed and echoed off the walls once again.
"We are not permitted to give that information to anyone."
"Then you cannot take Mademoiselle Giry away from my opera house."
"Yes sir we can."
"On what grounds?"
"We have a warrant for the arrest of the Opera Ghost and Mademoiselle Meg Giry."
"A warrant for my arrest?" Cold hands squeezed Meg's heart and her blood ran cold.
"Yes we do," a smug look spread across the face of the pudgy man. "Come quietly please or we will take you by force."
All the while Erik had been getting angrier and angrier. He had bit his tongue until the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, trying to stay as quiet as physically possible for Meg's sake. Absentmindedly, Erik fingered the rough braid of his Punjab lasso.
"Now Meg if you would come with us," the officer stepped forward and laid his hand on her wrist. Meg shot back in horror and disbelief that the man had called her by her first name and touched her! That had to be against some code of conduct somewhere!
"What did you call me?" Meg said in slight shock.
"You are not in any position to call her by her first name." Erik growled, stepping forward his temper reaching it breaking point.
"And you are in no position to threaten me." The pudgy man tried to sound authoritative, but he cowered under Erik's glare and shrunk back a bit. He turned to Meg, "Now Mademoiselle, if you would come with me."
Meg clung to Erik in fear. "Do you not have to tell me what I am being arrested for?"
"Bloody hell woman! JUST COME WITH ME!" the officer lunged, wrenching Meg from Erik's protective hold. A terrified scream pierced the night, echoing through all the streets of Paris.