The cellars beneath the Opera Populaire always dripped, even in during its construction. There was always the feeling it had always been there, and that there was something down there, so it was always empty, except for the echoes of song and the phantoms of memory.

Madame Giry raced through the cellars. Her heart pounded in her chest as she gasped for every breath. She knew Erik's plan, and had only one chance to stop him. Darkness pressed in all around her, and rats squeaked and ran away from the light of the lantern. The misty river swirled beneath the sinking arch. How Erik managed to keep his sanity for a lifetime down there, Mme Giry couldn't figure. She didn't ponder it now. There were far more urgent things then unanswered questions.

Mme Giry felt the temperature of the air spike down quite suddenly. She knew the lake was just up ahead. Her stomach churned in fear. Oh God, please tell me it's not too late!

"Erik!" Mme Giry called desperately as she reached the lake, careful to keep the lantern at the level of her eyes, so Erik would be able to see her face. "Erik!" Everything was still.

Then out of the darkness, the Phantom appeared. Mme Giry felt little relief.

"Erik, you cannot go!" Mme Giry cried in exasperation.

"So you know," Erik said tersely and, to Mme Giry's distress, completely impassively.

"Erik please- they know you'll be there!' Mme Giry begged him. Erik raised his eyebrows.

"So? They've never caught me before, even when I hung that meddling Joseph Bouquet," Erik said calmly, "are you saying that they can out smart the Phantom that haunts them?"

"No Erik," Mme Giry said, "But you can get careless!"

"I won't this time! There's no way it will fail!" Erik insisted.

"Erik, if you go through with this you'll lose Christine forever! This can only end in disaster!" Erik laughed.

"Whose disaster? Remember- there are worse things then a shattered chandelier!" Erik sang. His voice was unearthly and beautiful, but the words and the smile on his face were twisted.

"Erik, This isn't a playground anymore! They're armed! they will kill you!"

"I've never been alive, Mme Giry!" Erik shouted, "I am The Phantom! A monster! If they kill me, then I thank them!"

"Erik you pig! You know that what is on the outside is just a façade! You are as bad as Raoul and the rest of them! Christine is not your mask so stop hiding behind her!"

"The Phantom does not hide!" he threw his arm at Mme Giry in an enraged slap. Mme Giry made no move to stop him, just twisted her face away. His hand was just a foot away, 6 inches, four inches, two-

Mme Giry waited. She had been slapped by Erik once before and knew it was no use trying to stop him. But she didn't feel anything, at least nothing yet. She knew better than to open her eyes.

What she didn't see was Erik's trembling hand hovering barely an inch from her face. He wanted to slap Mme Giry for what she said, but couldn't bring himself to do it. For a moment, all he felt was anger at Mme Giry for calling him a coward and for himself stopping The Phantom. All The Phantom's hatred and self-loathing bubbled up inside of him, threatening to burst out and destroy everything as his two sides battled.

Erik's soft side won out. His hand went limp and he let out his breath. How could I slap Mme Giry again? I really am a monster. Erik's hands gently gripped the sides of Mme Giry's shoulders. Mme Giry looked at Erik in surprise. Her eyes welled up with tears, so she looked down again.

"Erik, please… your just going to hurt yourself again- I can't let you do this to yourself all over again."

"I have to. If I don't do anything, I may lose my chance forever."

"But Piangi-"

"He's going to die very soon anyway. That what he gets for pigging out while the world around him starves."

"Erik…" But Mme Giry could not finish. She looked into Erik's black deep eyes, deep as a starless night sky, and couldn't look away. In love and war we shall support each other. Erik is in both.

"Mme Giry, you know I'm grateful for everything you've done, and I've made sure not to waste it. You know I have to do this. Trust me, it's the most terrifying thing I've ever had to do, and I wish I didn't have to do it." Erik tilted his head forward slightly so his forehead touched Mme Giry's. "If I know you support me, I can do anything, Giry. Please. Trust me." Mme Giry cringed at these words. She could no longer say no, for she always trusted Erik. Angel or dark seducer… Erik was dark. But some just couldn't see the light in him.

"Do as you must," Mme Giry said quietly.

"Thank you Mme Giry. That means a lot to me." For a moment Erik didn't move. Then Mme Giry heard the low whistle of a moving cape and Erik was gone. He made his choice. Please don't make me break my promise to trust you, Erik!