Memories
February 2nd, 1871
Madame Giry was just about to sit down for breakfast when there was a knock at the door. She got up and folded her napkin back on the table. She headed out of the kitchen and into the living room, eventually making her way to the door. She opened the door and welcomed her guest in.
"I knew you'd be here eventually." Madame Giry remarked sarcastingly.
"Well, you know me too well then, Antoinette." Erik said. "I need a place to stay for a while."
Madame Giry gave him a cold hard look. "Of course you do. But you can't always turn to me for every little problem you have."
"Fine then, forgive me for wasting your time." He said frustratingly as he turned his back to her and walked back to the door.
"No, Erik. Wait." Madame Giry walked after him.
"Please, Antoinette…I need a place to stay, at least until they rebuild the opera house."
"What makes you think they will?"
"I overheard Firmin talking about it."
"Well, where's Nadir? Can't you stay with him?"
"He's out of town."
"I see." She said.
"I can tell you don't want anything to do with me anymore." He began, "but please, I need a place to stay. I'm sorry for what I did." She looked up at him as he said that, and in that moment she could see a glimpse of humanity in him. For a moment there was silence.
"Why did you do it?" Madame Giry finally asked.
"I…I don't know…I guess, maybe it was because…honestly, I really don't have a good enough excuse. I was just angry."
"So you ruined all those people's lives!" She exclaimed. "What about the people who aren't as lucky as us, what if they can't find a place to stay? Well? What are they going to do?"
"I know that, I didn't come here to be lectured at."
Madame Giry stared at him and then slapped him across the left side of his face.
"You deserve to be lectured; you deserve to be in jail!" She yelled.
"Do you have a room for me to stay in or not?" He said starting to get aggravated.
"You can sleep in the basement. But please don't set this home on fire too."
Erik brushed past her and headed for the basement. Meg came down the stairs and saw him walking by. He walked past and went right to the basement door and went down the steps.
"Maman, what was that all about?" Meg asked.
"Erik will be staying with us." Madame Giry replied.
"What? Why?"
"Because, he's like a son to me." Meg just stared at her in confusion.
"I guess I should tell you how I saved him from the gypsies." Madame Giry extended her arm to the living room suggesting her daughter to sit. She walked over to the couch and began her tale of how she went with the other ballet girls to the local traveling fair. And how there was a main attraction called "The Devil's Child". She explained how Erik was that main attraction, and how horrible they treated him. Erik listened in the shadows, remembering how much he owed Antoinette. He never really thanked her for being the mother he should have had. He never thanked her for saving his life, and helping him with whatever he needed. Even now, she provides him a place to stay and still he does not say a simple 'thanks'. Erik gave out a long sigh as he listened to the rest of the story Madame Giry was telling Meg.
"Wow, I never knew." Meg said looking down.
Madame Giry sighed, and wiped away a tear falling down her own cheek. Whenever she talks about it she gets emotional. She looked up and saw Erik watching, he then turned away into the shadows once more.
Next Chapter will go back to April, 1871 (where Christine first woke up from her nightmares.) Just wanted to note that so no one gets confused. lol. The last two chapters are 'The past'. I hope that's not confusing. lol.
