Eve groaned as she opened her eyes. Her entire body hurt, but especially her head and neck. She noticed she was in her bed in the dormitories and wonder how she got there. The last thing she remembered was going in for her fanfiction review. She was in the room with Webber! Madame Giry, a Middle Eastern man, and an Erik. Madame Giry had been reading her a list of complaints against her fanfiction and…and then Eve could remember nothing.
"Look, she's awake." Eve looked over as several girls ran to her. They stopped at her bed and looked at her in awe.
"What?" But the girls just continued to stare at her. Eve started to feel very uncomfortable. "What?" she asked again.
One girl finally broke out of her state, looked around, and then whispered, "Did you really take off one of the Eriks' masks?" Eve shot up in bed.
"WHAT?!"
One of the other girls nodded. "Yeah, Stefanie from the stagehand dormitory was after you and she heard it all. She heard all sounds of commotion coming from the room as Leroux! Christine was bringing her down. She only caught a glimpse of the room as Christine ran in, but she didn't really see anything. She could only guess based on the noises she heard what was going on. So, we were wondering if you really did it?"
Eve was about to reply that she did no such thing, when her memory began to come back to her. Omigod! She had pulled off his mask! Or, attempted to anyway.
She hadn't been paying attention to what Madame Giry was saying; she kept looking at Erik and was wondering why he was wearing a full black mask. Erik should only be wearing a half mask. She started inching closer to the table while Madame Giry droned on. As soon as Erik had turned his head away from her, Eve dove for him.
Unfortunately, Eve had forgotten that the Phantom of the Opera is not one to be taken by surprise. She also forgot what happens when someone goes for the mask. Eve quickly found herself on the ground with the Punjab lasso around her throat, and everyone was yelling. She felt the lasso getting tighter and tighter. She eventually blacked out from lack of oxygen.
Eve realized the girls were still waiting for an answer. "I guess I did."
"Wow," said the first girl. "That takes a lot of guts. I could never have done it. I am Jacqueline, by the way." She held out her hand and Eve shook it. "So what possessed you to take it off?"
Eve shook her head. "I don't know. I guess I couldn't understand why he had a full black mask on, so I decided to remove it."
"He had a full mask on because he is the Leroux! Erik. Honestly, haven't you read the book?" came a haughty voice from across the room. Eve blushed because she hadn't found time to read the novel, and she assumed that the movie was just as good. Before she could respond, one of the other girls, whose name Eve vaguely remembered was Kat, said,
"Ignore her, she is just upset that she is even here. She thinks her fanfiction is inspired. Plus she tried to attack after one of the Raouls, but ended up being tackled by a not-so-mini scorpion. She has been complaining for a very long time."
Eve nodded. "Alright." She began to rub her throat and remembered the feel of the lasso around her neck. "How am I still alive?"
"You are alive because Christine still has some sway over Erik." All the girls turned and looked at Mlle. Alaina, as she walked into the room. "You are very lucky that she came in when she did, and that she felt some sort of pity for you. I have no idea why because you are not very kind to her in your fanfiction. Personally, I would have let Erik Punjab you."
Mlle. Alaina stopped at the foot of Eve's bed and glared at her. "You're especially lucky since it was Leroux! Erik. He has not been a good mood since the Academy was announced. And now he has retreated back down to the Fifth Cellar, so it will be awhile before we see him again. Unfortunately, Mlle. Eve, you seemed to have made a very dangerous enemy on your first day. Best keep an eye out for trap doors and keep your hand at the level of your eye." There came some clicking noise by Mlle. Alaina's feet. Eve looked down and noticed one of the not-so-mini scorpions. It seemed to be really upset with her.
Mlle. Alaina followed her gaze to the not-so-mini scorpion. "Ah, I guess I should also warn you to stay out of the way of not-so-minis who come from Erik's name. They are very protective of him. Erick, here, is most upset"
Mlle. Alaina looked around at the other girls and then addressed the room in general. "This is a general warning to all students. DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, try to remove one of the Eriks' masks. We didn't believe there would be anyone stupid enough to actually do this, so it wasn't mentioned during orientation. Mlle. Eve was very lucky that Leroux! Christine was nearby. Although, I don't think she will intercede for a student a second time."
She glared at Eve again. "In fact, I believe that she is very upset. She is walking around muttering about 'Poor, unhappy Erik.' And this is causing Leroux! Raoul to become very upset as well. So, on your first day, you have managed to cause turmoil among the three main characters from Leroux. This is not a good way to start the semester."
With that, she turned and left and Erick trailed after her, after clicking his pinchers a couple more times in Eve's direction. Eve fell back on her bed and just thought about how doomed she was.
AN: To all who signed up we want to take this time to 1) say thank you and 2) we are not reading and critiquing your stories. So, do not take anything said with your name personally. We are using your students as a way to illustrate the faults of other fanfiction authors. Remember to not sign up over review and keep your hand at the level of your eyes.