Chapter 8: Without Hope

~ 10 Years Later ~

Erik had entered Hope's old room and frowned to she it was empty, the coals on the fire had grown cold and all her sketchbooks had vanished from the shelves,

"She's gone" Madame Giry had told him as she entered the room,

"If you came here to kill her it's too late" she said firmly,

"There is no Hope here for you" she finished.

Erik shout up in his bed breathing deeply due to his nightmare and he groaned, putting a hand to his forehead,

"Good Morning, Mister Y" a man said as he entered the room carrying a breakfast tray,

"I hope you slept well" he bid, placing the breakfast tray on the table as Erik pulled on his shirt with an exhausted sigh,

"Another nightmare?" the man asked with a look of concern as Erik stood with a firm expression,

"That is not any business of yours now is it, Nadir?" he asked, approaching the table and sat down to begin his breakfast,

"Was it about, Hope?" Nadir asked, causing a moment of silence,

"You forget that she was my friend during your time in, Persia. I owe her my son's life, remember?" he asked,

"How is your boy?" Erik asked after a moment,

"Still asleep but... His breathing and heartbeat is healthy" he said with a sad murmur,

"I never did thank you properly for returning to Persia and rescuing me and my son from the hold of the shah" Nadir said as he took a seat,

"I needed to repay my debt to you, Nadir... It was you who saw myself and Hope safely to the border of Persia. You saved my life... And hers. So it was only fitting that I saved your life and the life of your son" he explained, pushing the breakfast plate towards him with a smirk,

"Have a piece of toast" he teased, standing to go and review some paper work,

"I shall send for another physician to examine, Reza. Maybe this time we can find out why your son won't wake from his slumber" Erik reasoned and Nadir nodded,

"I hope so... But don't you have more important duties regarding, Phantasma?" he asked but Erik gave him a comforting smile,

"Phantasma may be my home now but you and Reza are my family... As is Madame Giry and little Meg" he replied.

Madame Giry, along with her daughter, Meg had assisted Erik to escape Paris and to repay them he had made the former ballet mistress his business advisor and Meg, the star of his new theme park, Phantasma; Which had been built upon the shores of Coney Island.

Erik had taken on the identity of Mister Y and opened the gates of his new home as a sanctuary to all who were different and lived in fear because of it. He taught them to embrace what made them unique and to display their gifts with pride. He allowed them to choose their own working hours so that they would always feel comfortable. The phantom of the opera was dead and Erik happily left that life behind him.

It was not too far away in the city of New York that Hope had built herself a new life, healing the sick and injured. Her powers had grown and developed as she had spent the last 10 years studying her gifts, learning to control them, harness them and use them for good,

"Thank you for healing my son" A lady bid her as she hugged her child, newly cured from fever,

'It was my pleasure' Hope signed with a smile but the woman grasped her hand,

"Your kindness shall not go unrewarded... For what you have done for me and my son, You're greatest wish shall be granted upon this night when the moon's light fills the sky" she said quietly before leading her son away, not giving Hope a chance to respond.

Hope had been confused by the lady's words, Could it have just been a reaction to her being thankful that she had saved her son's life? Hope wasn't sure but simply brushed the thoughts away before getting ready for bed and she slept peacefully as stars filled the night sky and she did not see the blue swirling sphere that appeared above her as she slept before slowly sinking and vanished within her throat and Hope breathed deeply within her sleep, turning over as she got more comfortable,

"Erik..." she murmured in her sleep with a soft smile as she dreamed of her friend.

Erik shot up in bed having heard someone say his name,

"Hello?..." he called out but no one answered him and he frowned before laying back down and went back to sleep.

Ok... Sort of reunited haha I fibbed lol but don't worry they shall be reunited in person within the next chapter. I give you my word!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996