That Face in the Mask

Chapter Three: Return to the World Above

A/N: Hey! Hope everyone liked the last chap. This chap will introduce a new male chracter. He is in the movie briefly. He's the chello player they show in the orchestra pitt (when Christine is singing "Think of Me" the guy that's playing the chello right on top of the vent we first see the Phantom through) yeah, that's him. His name is Cedric, and he may turn out to be very important. (And yeah, I know I'm crazy when Istart naming randomn orchestra players in the movie and put them in my fics) Anyway, enjoy!

P.S. : Does anyone know what voice typeMeg is? -contralto or soprano- (I need the info for an upcoming chapter an I cannot tell what voice type Meg is.) Please email me or leave it in a review if you know!


Disclaimer: I totally own the Phantom of the Opera. And, if I'm lying, let me be struck down by-

(Lightning strikes in background)

Uh-oh. Never mind. Don't own it.


Meg dried her eyes with her sleeves as she returned back upstairs. The fires had all been put out, thank god, and only a few people had been injured or killed in the destruction. People were now going back, claiming purses and pocket watches and whatnot. Some were looking for their half burnt programs or sheet music to keep as souvenirs. Why anyone would want a souvenir to remember this horrid night, Meg would never know. The stage was completely ruined, the chairs were burned and smoldered, and nearly everything was destroyed or burnt to a crisp. Meg passed it all by in a trance, barely noticing anything as she went backstage. Her thoughts kept returning to that strange man downstairs. She knew he was the Phantom now. And yet, even though he had caused all that destruction and death and ruined her home, Meg felt strangely sorry for him. How awful it must have been to be completely alone in the world and have someone you loved abandoned you.

As Meg took a shortcut to the ballet dormitories, she saw her friend Cedric running up the steps, his face blackened with ashes and the arm of his tuxedo ripped off.

"Meg! Thank goodness. I'd been looking all over for you!" he cried. He ran towards her and embraced her closely. He looked up at her blank, bleak eyes and was immediately concerned "Meg, what happened? Are you all right? Nothing happened to you down there, right?"

In that instant, Meg made a sudden decision: She wasn't going to tell anyone about her encounter with the Phantom. She didn't know why, but she wanted to keep it her secret she'd carry to the grave. She didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to herself, or to that man. Especially not to that man.

So she lied.

"No, nothing at all happened. I guess I'm just a little upset over everything that happened today. It's all so overwhelming. I mean, my home was destroyed, my best friend was kidnapped, I just discovered that there's an entire underground ground no one knew about, and it's a bit exhausting for one day."

Cedric nodded "Of course. What you need is rest. Come, I shouldn't be bothering you with questions" He chuckled "Well, it is fortunate you didn't have any nasty encounters with this infamous Phantom of the Opera"

"Yeah, how fortunate" Meg said weakly

Cedric casually slung his arm around her shoulder and started leading her towards the dormitories. It was then Meg noticed his ashen-covered face and ripped jacket. She gasped

"Cedric, what on earth happened to you?"

He looked down at himself and sighed "Oh, it's nothing. I was coming back upstairs from underground when I noticed there was a huge burning rafter in the middle of the audience section. I heard some screaming and went over to look. Turned out there were two families trapped underneath it. So, some other staff members and I went over to help them while the fire was being put out."

Meg sighed "Cedric, that was so heroic" Then she swatted his arm "But you shouldn't have put yourself in danger like that! You could have been hurt, or killed!"

"As could you, staying down there underground, alone, in a secret lair that we're not sure if it's inhabited or not" Cedric pointed out

Meg grinned sheepishly "All right, I put myself in danger too. But, at least your acts were heroic and charitable. Mine were just out of pure curiosity"

Cedric chuckled " All right, all right already. I can't stand to take advantage of you anymore. I wasn't trying to be some knight in shinning armor. I was simply looking to see what had remained, and hoping my cello and sheet music hadn't all been destroyed."

Meg smiled "You are very devoted to your music. It's your passion, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's my life. I couldn't live without it. Just like I couldn't live without you." he said, with a mischievous glimmer in his eyes

Meg flung his arm off her shoulder "Oh, stop it! You know neither of us cares for the other that way."

"I know. I just like teasing you"

They finally arrived at a very badly burned ballet dormitory. Meg couldn't believe it. Apparently the fire had spread back here too.

Suddenly, Meg saw her mother bending down to pick something up that was scattered amongst charred remnants and ashes. Mme. Giry stood up, dropped what she had been holding, and ran over to embrace Meg

"Meg! Oh, my darling! Thank god you're all right." She squeezed her shoulders gently and stepped back to look at her.

"Oh god, Meg, where were you? You don't know how worried I was! The whole Opera House was burning and I couldn't find you anywhere after I came back upstairs! Where did you go?"

Meg twirled her hair absently, desperate for an excuse. She couldn't think of any possible explanation her mother would believe, so she supposed she'd have to settle with the truth. (Well, sort of)

"I was leading the mob downstairs, Mother."

Mme. Giry's eyes flashed dangerously "You were what?"

"I was leading the mob downstairs. They were looking for the Phantom and Christine and everyone, and, well, so was I. None of them knew how to get downstairs, so I helped them. We were only down there a few moments mother, and nothing happened. No one was even in there."

Mme. Giry sighed angrily "You shouldn't have disobeyed me like that! Do you realize how much danger you could have put yourself in? That was extremely reckless and stupid behavior Meg Giry! I thought I'd raised you better than that"

Meg's face turned bright red from the stern scolding.

Cedric cleared his throat, partially to remind everyone that he was still there.

Both women turned and looked at him "Oh, Cedric. Pardon me, I forgot Meg wasn't alone" Mme. Giry said

"That's all right. Not to contradict you, Mme. Giy, but nothing really dangerous actually occurred. Meg was just trying to help out"

Mme. Giry sighed "Well, you are all safe and no one was injured. I suppose that's something to be thankful for."

Meg looked up at the burnt dormitory "Mother, is this our dormitory?"

"Yes, darling, I'm afraid so. The fire spread to certain parts of the backstage area too."

"Oh no. Everything's destroyed."

"No, not everything Meg. A few little things survived" Mme. Giry gestured to some unharmed picture frames, hair ribbons, a few of her and Meg's trinkets, and some jewelry.

"Well, that's nice mother, but where will we stay? Where are we going to work? This place is burnt to the ground."

Cedric agreed sadly "It'll be months, possibly years before this Opera House could be restored again"

Mme. Giry sighed, and sank down into scorched vanity chair " I don't know what we'll have to do Meg. A few dormitories in the back weren't harmed, and the Prima Donna's dressing room wasn't harmed. Maybe I could make some arrangements for us to stay there until we can come across some more suitable lodgings"

Meg turned to Cedric " Where will you have to stay?"

"Probably with my brother and his wife out on the coast, just until I get a job. It would probably be a few miles out of the city"

"Oh" Meg said. It would be lonely with so many other staff members and her friends gone, and now Cedric too.

"Well, I suppose I'd better leave you two alone now. See you soon Meg, Mme. Giry" Cedric said, nodding to both of them. They exchanged goodbyes and then Meg and Mme. Giry started scourging through ashes and remains to see if they could find any more personal things that had survived.

After a few minutes, Monsieur Firmin came bounding into the dormitory and stopped when he saw what remained of it. "Oh, good heavens. So sorry, pardon me for interrupting Mme. Giry, but Andre and I have spoken amongst ourselves and others and decided that the few loyal staff members such as you and your daughter who have decided to remain will be provided for and housed here at the Opera. You may move into the Prima Donna's dressing room if you wish and you can remain there for as long as you like."

Meg gasped with delight. They could stay at the Opera House! In the Prima Donna's dressing room! But, her delight soon faded. Meg knew her mother's pride wouldn't let her accept something like this that she considered to be charity. And Meg was right

"Well, thank you for the generous offer Monsieur Firmin. But, my daughter and I will be absolutely fine in other housing arrangements. We wouldn't want to impose, especially after all that's happened today. We will find some housing elsewhere for tonight."

But, Firmin was persistent "Mme. Giry, I insist. It would be ridiculous for you not to stay here, if only for tonight. You are more than welcome."

"No, thank you kindly monsieur. You needn't trouble yourself"

"Mme. Giry, don't be ridiculous! We'd be delighted to provide housing for you both. And after all you two must have gone through today, I don't think you'd want to have to search for other housing arrangements at this late hour."

"Please Mother? He is right you know" Meg whispered helpfully. Mme. Giry silenced them both with her hand

"Only for tonight? We wouldn't want to become dependant or an annoyance to you"

"Of course you wouldn't be! You can stay as long or as little as you wish"

Mme. Giry relented "Well, I suppose. But, only for a short while, until other arrangements can be made."

"Excellent. You two can move in tonight. Tomorrow morning, Andre and I are going to assess the damages made and hopefully figure an estimate to how soon this Opera House can get up and running again. Would you care to join us Mme. Giry?"

"Yes, monsieur, I think I shall ."

"Splendid. Well, until tomorrow, Mme. Giry, Mlle. Giry."

Meg smiled. They would get to stay here! And, in the best room. Meg also remembered that there was a secret tunnel behind the mirror that led down to the other underground tunnels. Maybe tomorrow, she thought, I can find out more about that strange man that lives down there.