Erik sits up in bed,
"Stay here," he whispers to Jeslyn. He gets up and puts his pants and mask back on. Jeslyn is sitting up in bed, the covers pulled up around her. Erik creeps out of the room, keeping hidden in the shadows. He looks out and sees someone moving around behind his organ, where he keeps all his music. The person stands up for a moment, it's Devon.
"No, there's nothing over here," he says, looking almost directly at Erik. Erik slinks back into the shadows, afraid that Devon can see him. A second later someone moves out from behind one of the giant candelabras and walks right by where Erik had been the moment before. It's Dameon,
"What exactly are we looking for again?"
Devon sighs in disgust, "I already told you. Twice. We're looking for anything that could prove that he doesn't love Jeslyn. Kaori already came to me concerned that the monster only wanted her for physical enjoyment."
There is a gasp from behind Erik. He spins around, only to see Jeslyn wearing his shirt. She looks shocked and hurt. Erik motions for her to go back to the bedroom, but she shakes her head no. Erik puts his arm around her and pulls her closer in order to whisper into her ear,
"You know that I love you and what they say is false, don't you?"
Jeslyn nods her head yes and leans against Erik.
"I can't believe she would betray us like this. She's always been my closest friend. Why wouldn't she believe me?"
Erik sits in silence for a moment,
"I know why."
Jeslyn look at him, wide eyed.
"I'm never going to escape my past, what I did to Christine. Kaori knows how I seduced her, entranced her. I think she believer that I've done the same thing to you. That you don't know what you're saying and that I'm controlling everything you do."
Jeslyn gives him a hug.
"Well, we both know that's not true. Now we just have to get these two morons out of here."
Erik grins.
"I know how."
He begins to use his ventriloquist skills, his voice is low and reverberating around the caverns, making it sound like it is coming from everywhere at once,
"Devon, I thought I told you to leave us along. Now there is nothing standing between you and me, but a few feet of rope."
Devon looks as if he has heard a ghost and jumps into Dameon's arms, who promptly drops him.
"Come on, lets get out of here!" he yelps.
As they are running down the canal, Dameon yells over his shoulder,
"We'll be back Phantom, but next time, clever friend, the disaster WILL BE YOURS!"
Erik and Jeslyn step out from the shadows, laughing.
"A handy little trick I learned. People tend to fall over themselves trying to get away from it," Erik says, trying to stop laughing.
He all of a sudden grows quiet and the smile falls from his face. Jeslyn takes his hand and tries to pull him back toward the bedroom. But he won't move,
"Come on Erik, come back to bed," she says seductively.
Erik just pulls his hand away and sits down on the natural, rock stairs, putting his face in his hands.
"They'll be back soon," is all he says.
Jeslyn sighs and tries to pull him up,
"All the more reason for you to come back in here."
Erik still won't move. Jeslyn finally realizes that something is wrong. She sits down beside him and puts her arm around his shoulders.
"Why does everyone hate me? What did I ever do to them?"
It is now obvious to Jeslyn what is bothering him,
"You did do some terrible things, Erik. You killed people. You can't blame them for being afraid of you, or hating you for what you've done."
Erik leans his head against Jeslyn,
"I know that, but before that. Before all of this, People saw me, hated me, and wanted me dead. All because they had seen my face. They don't even take the time to ask me why I look this way."
A tear slides down Erik's face.
"Oh Erik,"
Jeslyn says, pulling him close to her,
"Erik, people are afraid of what's different. They're afraid of what they don't know or what they can't explain. It's human nature to hate and fear something that's not like everything else, something that may not be as beautiful on the outside."
Erik stands up, looking down at Jeslyn,
"Why do I look like this? WHY! What did I do before I was born that made some higher power decide that I should be cursed?"
He storms back into the bedroom and lies down in the bed. Jeslyn come and lies beside him, but he turns his back to her. In response to this, Jeslyn puts her arms around his waist. She whispers into his ear,
"Erik, some believe that the people God gives some of his greatest gifts to have to bear terrible burdens. It makes them stronger and makes their gift grow more and more powerful. I think that's what God did with you. He deformed your face so that you would write music, amazing music. He did it so that you would become an amazing architect, ventriloquist, and scholar. Because of society shunning you, look at what you've done! You've done amazing things. There is nothing wrong with you. There's something wrong with everyone else," She says, stroking his hair.
Jeslyn leans over him and takes off his mask, setting it down on the floor. She brings her hand to the side of his face. Erik reaches up and grasps her hand. He rolls over and looks into Jeslyn's tear filled eyes.
"Thank you, Jeslyn. You always know what to say."
She smiles, her hand still on his face,
"No, Erik, I'm telling you the truth."
He leans forward and kisses her. Erik smiles as he begins to undo her shirt, Jeslyn pulls him over on top of herself.