Chapter 27: Finding The Strength

Erik was sat in his office, harshly scribbling his signature upon business documents when Darius entered the room with a smug smile,

"I have good news and bad news" he announced,

"Unless it involves Christine's murderer being captured. I don't want to hear it" Erik growled in response, not looking up from his work as Raoul entered the office,

"Oh but you're not in charge any more" he said with a smirk, earning Erik's full attention and he glared,

"Vicomte" he growled as Darius chuckled,

"I still can't believe how easy it was to fool you into thinking that his beloved Claire murmured Christine... All it took was a few minor mind games, an empty vial of snake venom and a key put in the right place" Darius mocked and Erik's glare soon became a frown,

"You... You murdered, Christine... You killed your own wife" Erik concluded as he turned his horrified gaze towards Raoul whom smirked,

"Christine was a minor loss. One I am willing to bare once I have my revenge on you and once you're dead. Everything will be handed over to my good friend, Darius here... After all. Your lawyer won't hand it over to a fugitive" Raoul mocked,

"Now I suggest you do as your told unless you want your entire collection of freaks to be tortured one by one" Darius warned as Erik glared at the both of them and he knew he had no choice but to follow their instructions.

Claire had taken refuge in a cave located just at the side of the island that was luckily situated just above the waves maximum rising level; She was trying to think of a way to get to the mainland without being caught but her thoughts were soon diverted when she noticed that Gangle's first ferry was not heading to the mainland as it always did,

"I know Erik's angry... But he would never just put Phantasma into lock down because of this" she murmured to herself and sighed, grabbing her cloak, pulling it around her shoulders and the hood up before going to investigate the island.

Phantasma was like a ghost town and in a two word description... Extremely creepy; Claire made her way to the concert hall before removing a service hatch that lead into the air vents.

Darius and Raoul lead Erik to the main auditorium where he saw all his employees... His family tied to the audience seats,

"You won't get away with this" Erik growled causing Raoul to chuckle,

"Oh we already have... NOW SIT!" Raoul yelled, shoving his shoulder roughly so that he would move and sit next to Antoinette whom looked at him in disappointment,

"Let me guess... You realize that Claire is innocent now?" she asked sarcastically and Erik could only sigh in shame, looking down at the ground.

Claire made her way through the vents before arriving at one of the higher floor corridors and she quickly made her way onto the area that sat right above the auditorium and slowly lifted one of the ceiling panels and was horrified to find all of her friends tied up and Erik... Whom looked powerless... What could she do?... The mainland was a no go, everyone she knew whom might be able to help was tied up below her,

"Darius! Make yourself useful and go and get the will from the freaks office!" Claire heard the man she knew as Phillipe yell,

"The will... They're going to kill, Erik... What... Ok, focus" Claire murmured to herself, closing her eyes to calm herself before opening her eyes as she held a firm glare on her face,

"Those bastards are going down" she growled to herself before beginning to put a plan into action.

Darius had made his way to Erik's penthouse office but felt his blood boil at the sight of the wall safe, open. He growled before storming off back to the auditorium,

"The safe was wide open and the will is gone" he informed Raoul whom glared at him,

"How on earth can it be gone?! We have everyone here" he argued,

"Not Everyone!" a voice called, making the two men look up towards a platform that sat around the ceiling's chandelier only to see Claire standing there with a smug smile as she held up Erik's will,

"Did you really think you could take this island without a fight?!" she yelled down to them causing Erik to chuckle,

"Well... You may have beaten the phantom of the opera, De Changny... But now your dealing with the phantom of Manhattan" Erik mocked and Raoul glared up at Claire,

"Either you hand that over or my partner begins shooting each and every person here!" he yelled up to her,

"You harm a single person down there and this will gets burned!" she argued, holding a lighter close to the papers to prove that she wouldn't think twice and Darius growled,

"She always was an irritating bitch. Please let me kill her" he begged of his partner whom smirked,

"No... Not yet... Very well, Mademoiselle. Name your terms!" Raoul called up to her,

"You'll get my terms when i'm good and ready but until then just so you don't think of trying anything... I suggest you take a good look around you... I think you'll find that someone very important is missing" Claire informed him smugly causing the two men to frown as they looked at the people around them and Raoul clenched his fists upon realization,

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SON?!" he demanded,

"Little Charles will be safe with me for now. You just make sure you both don't do anything to upset me" she warned before vanishing into one of the passageways and Erik couldn't help but smirk proudly.

Little Charles was playing with a teddy bear and smiled when Claire returned to him,

"Hi again, nice lady" he greeted with a giggle that made her smile, kneeling down in front of him,

"Are you ready to help me beat the bad guys?" she asked teasingly and Charles giggled,

"Yay! We're the heroes!" he announced causing Claire herself to giggle as she retrieved blueprints of the concert hall from her satchel,

"Indeed we are" she agreed before unrolling the plans before mapping out routes that were important to her plan.

CLAIRE IS A BADASS! REVIEW FOR CHAPTER 28!
Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996