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Chapter 2

Overture

The mob approached. They had circled around me. I couldn't see one kind face. All of them having the same expression: revenge.

"Where is he?" they demanded. Torches lit and clubs held high.

"What? What do you want with me?" I sobbed. I am a good fake crier.

"Don't play innocent you little whore, TELL US where is the man?" A man shouted.

"What man?" I said. Trying to look for a friendly face. Finding none.

"He's a monster, the opera ghost; the murderer-he must've escaped from here! WHERE IS HE?" Another man shouted at me.

"Did he have a disfigured face monsieurs?" I was trying to keep up this innocent act.

"Yes! Yes! He does! You've must have seen this man!" They got excited.

"Oh yes, he ran into me as the fire consumed the opera house. He literally ran me over and then asked me where the nearest stables where. I told him what I knew and then he asked me what way was…was..Marseille…. I said it was north of here…." I sounded somewhat convincing. I hope.

One young man in the crowd came forward and sat beside me. He gently asked

"You lied?" He had these beautiful blue eyes. I wish I didn't need to lie to them. The young man was much more handsome than the rest. I wish I would have been able to know him. He must have been at least two years older than me. Taller than myself, which is not saying much. He had medium length black hair. His face was perfection; I have never seen anyone as beautiful.

"Why….. of course….he scared me… he was too in a hurry…then he just vanished. He scared me. "I stared into those big blue kind eyes of his. His eyes were captivating. As I repeated the words "he scared me" I faced him, hoping that he would take the bait. At the same time I hoped he didn't. But I knew I had to do the right thing. I was really crying now. I wouldn't see this young man again. Even though I didn't know him at all, I felt that he was something special.

"Thank you mademoiselle. North?" He took the bait. I'm so sorry he did.

"Yes." What I wanted to say was no. Don't leave.

"Go home. Be safe." He helped me stand up. He stood there, until the mob began to head north.

"Yes, sir." I couldn't stay here any longer. Even though I just seen him, let alone have a regular conversation with him, I felt like I liked him...I couldn't look him in the eyes, because if I did I knew I would have fallen.

"The name's Destrey Garcia by the way, "

I nodded. An awkward pause.

"This is where you tell me your name."

"Oh, my names Faye, just Faye."

"Faye" he smiled. "That's a nice name." A pause. "Do you live around here?"

"Yes, I do."

"I must insist to escort you home; the night is where the most evil demons pick their prey."

He said this in a teasing sort of way, which I was forced to laugh at. But I knew how it was at night here; I don't have to be reminded.

"Destrey, it's nice to know you, but I can find my way home. The sun is about to rise, I will be fine. It seems you have to find the opera ghost correct?"

"Oh… yes." he sounded disappointed. Damn so was I, why did I say that?

"Well, once we find him, we will be returning to the opera house. Once we arrive home, I hope that we will meet again…" he paused.

"I hope so too Destrey". Once I said that, he smiled.

"Goodbye Mademoiselle Faye."

"Goodbye Monsieur Destrey."

He began to follow the light of the torches. I hoped to one day, see him again.

Once they were gone, I picked up the man with the scarred face. Hoisted his arm over my shoulder and walked him to my home. Hopefully his consciousness wouldn't return too soon.

Before the mob had closed in around me. I hit the man on the head, hard. So he'd be quiet. I made sure he was still alive. He was simply knocked out. I dragged him over to a side of the building, which he was concealed by a box of crates that were filled with old costumes and sets. I thank the forgetful stage hands for putting them there. The mob had then saw me and circled around me. I hope he didn't regain his consciousness too soon…

I couldn't stop looking at that man's face. I've never seen anything like it before. It was like it represented the good and evil. All in one man. It was ugly yet beautiful. Deadly but harmless. Finally I snapped back into reality and remembered I wasn't alone.

"How is he Charles?"

I've known Charles all my life, he used to watch and take care of me when Dior was on errands and such. He was like an old brother of mine. He studied medicine with a professor. I was lucky he was home for a while. For being twenty-five and with his good looks, I'm surprised he doesn't have a lady friend and live somewhere else. He has enough money now. To at least have a proper home, to make him look like a real gentleman.

"He's fine, Faye really he is now. "

"Was…. he always like that?" I didn't really know how to say it. I got up from the chair I was sitting in next to the bed and crossed over to the table. I turned my back on the strange man. I wouldn't dare look at him when I have said just a thing.

"I'm afraid so." Charles was a great guy who understood everyone has problems. He had to work hard, really hard for money just to enroll. He told me when I brought the man in that he must've been faced with a world of hatred. He saw past a lot of things, for example this man's face. He didn't look away, he did but not like in a disgusted manner, is what I'm trying to say.

"Oh…well is his fever out of danger now?" I sit down now in one of the chairs by the kitchen table. It's not actually a kitchen, it's just a small room added on to the bedroom.

"Yes, yes it is."

The man stirred but didn't make a move that he was awake.

Oh I'm so tired….I could barely support my head with my hand. I could've fallen asleep with my head on the table. I almost didn't care.

"Go to sleep, I'll take care of him, don't worry. Everything will be fine."

I was out like a light.

Erik's POV

I woke up in a strange place. I was on….. a really hard bed? Whatever it was, I also noticed my shirt was off. I grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to my chin. Then I noticed something else even more horrifying. My mask was gone. A man on the other side of the room saw me, he smiled and got some water and gave it to me. Then reality came crashing down… Christine….my beloved angel… had spread her wings and left. My purpose in life was over. She was gone, left me for that stupid boy. Her kiss….I could still feel her soft tender lips on mine. I felt her pity, nothing more. She didn't love me. I loved her, and still do and forevermore. I would never sing again. My life had ended, all my life I wanted some compassion and love….was that too much to ask from the beautiful Christine? Her face, her voice, her beauty would forever more be in my memory. Her face would haunt my dreams. Her voice invades my thoughts and her beauty would always remind me of who I…what I am. A monster. I could've killed the boy and she could've been mine! She could've been mine! But would she be herself? No, she would have despised me and perhaps killed herself… I would never know. But one thing for sure, I needed to get out of here, I needed to be far away so nobody could find me, so nobody would interrupt my thoughts of Christine. I tried to get up…but a surging pain stopped me.

"So feeling better monsieur?"

I looked at him confused. Wondering what to say when he interrupted my thoughts. I felt a horrid pain in my chest. As well as my head. I had an awful headache.

"Miss Faye found you and you are a very lucky man, monsieur. You were very, very lucky."

Found me? What was he talking about? I then saw the girl. She was sitting on a chair, but she looked asleep. Her head was facedown. I couldn't see her face. Her hair was in front of it.

"I need to go out and get some more medicine. You better stay in bed. You are still healing. I'll be back in a while. If you need anything just ask Faye."

And before I could say anything, he was out the door. Leaving me with this girl alone.

I faced her. She had long dirty blonde hair and she was wearing an overlarge white night gown. I couldn't see anything else about her.

I didn't want to disturb her. But I felt a horrible pain in my chest.

"Um miss…"-I said in a whisper. I tried throwing my voice to the other room. She didn't budge.

She didn't even stir.

Um, mademoiselle Faye? I said just a bit louder. It hurt to talk. But my voice carried.

"What?" She was up immediately.

"Um, sorry mademoiselle Faye, I have this awful pain.. Do you have anything that could help it?"

"Oh yes sir, I'm so sorry! Yes of course I do!"

I've never seen a women move so fast. She fell as she got up from her chair. I laughed silently. But she was up in a flash and gave me something for me to drink. Her hand was shaking as she gave me the cup. I took it and drained it. And gave it back to her.

"Anything else, monsieur?"

I was taken aback by she formally called me. I answered no.

She nodded. I noted her face. She wasn't Christine I tell you that. She had dark circles under her eyes, she was very pale, she had a large nose, and she was short maybe around five feet four inches. Her hair was very long, somewhat straight but wavy. Her eyes were a normal brown. She was nothing to Christine. Maybe even lower. Christine. She was there in my mind again. My angel. My life. My love.

She sat down on the chair next to my bed. She asked me very intently

"Are you the Opera Ghost?"

So she knew about me….

Thanks for reading! Please Review! I know this was much longer than the first chapter (sorry!) Thanks to my friend Juliet for a good city name, when I couldn't decide! Thanks again for reading!