Chapter 2: A Night Later

By: PittsBurghFuzz

Madame Giry's Diary (Cont'd)

For the duration of the next day, I pondered about my meeting with the Phantom, or Erik. There was something about him that made him present in my thoughts constantly. Almost as if he really were a ghost. It made wonder, Was Erik really a ghost? My daughter, Meg was practicing with the other ballerinas and they were preparing for Faust.

The manager was a very nervous man. Polingy was like an old woman; nervous, was grumpy at times, and was an outright coward. Polingy's pants would turn yellow if he heard a ghost story.

When I found out he actually had a wife and children, I thought I was about to faint.

After a night of just sitting around and waiting, I was finally able to go back to Box Five and see Erik.

I sat at Box Five for a few minutes thinking Why would anyone want this box? However, my thoughts became the words I spoke, and an ominous laugh came afterward. I jumped a little and the laughter continued.

"Erik?" I said panicking. "Is that you?"

The laughter stopped. "Madeline, are you alright?"

Erik asking me that question as one of the most beautiful things I ever heard. The way his words came together was so beautiful and precise. However, I couldn't see him.

"Yes, I'm sorry Erik. I was just a little frightened and..."

A finger came to my mouth, silencing me. "No need to speak of that now, we have business to discuss."

I felt a little depressed. "Oh, okay." I replied.

"Now, I shall step forward." Erik told me.

I remembered then that Erik never revealed his physicality to me. He stepped into the light and it was a shock.

Erik was well dressed in beautiful evening clothes. His shoes were shined and his shirt and jacket perfect. Erik also wore a black cape, and a black fedora. However, the most peculiar feature was a mask. His entire face was covered by a mask which had two pieces. The first piece covered the top portion of his face, from the top lip up I suppose. The face looked like that of a porcelain doll, but with no mouth. The second piece to Erik's "face" was a cloth of the same color as the mask. It looked very odd. Erik was a very tall man.

"Madeline?" he asked.

I was staring at Erik for too long. "Sorry Erik, I..."

"I'm used to it. Anyway, I must give you the information about my accounts and my other wishes."

"Yes Erik."

"Now, come with me to the dressing rooms."

Erik offered me his hand and I accepted it. He led me to the dressing rooms to a very old looking room with a huge mirror. At his command, it opened! Erik continued to led me down through the labyrinth. It was dark and damp, with beautiful carving on the wall. I presumed they were Erik's.

Once we walked down several stairs, Erik finally led me to a gondola on a lake! It was such a strange yet romantic sight.

"We needed a lake beneath the opera to keep balance. Thus, the method of travel." he explained.

I stepped into the gondola, and Erik followed.

After a few minutes, we finally arrived at his lair. It was a dark, distant place that would seem to only occur in the mind. However, Erik had created it for himself. It had several shelves for books and his nicknacks. I presumed that Erik traveled the world to become the genius he was. I saw several designs and music sheets on the ground, along with sculptures of bizarre kinds. Erik also had an interesting music box in the shape of a monkey.

"Well, this is my lair. You must swear not to tell a single soul about this place." Erik told me.

I nodded.

"Well then, here are some of my instructions. First off, I want 20,000 Francs a month from Poligny. He would be stupid enough to believe in an opera ghost, so it won't be too hard to convince the poor man."

I nodded.

"You must send all letters between me and Polingy. He must also personally deliver them to you to deliver to me. Now for the accounts..."

"Okay then..." I said.

"They are handled by a name named Bernard. He has been a faithful friend for a while now. He generally sends things to me, so don't be alarmed by him. Anyway, he will give you access to the accounts for you. I will tell you how much of each payment will go to which account."

"Erik?"

"Yes? Did I confuse you?" He asked.

"No, but can you answer me this question?"

"I guess so."

"So why are you asking me to do this?"

Erik sighed. "Well, everyone else was too weak-minded."

I stared at him in shock. Erik was giving me a compliment.