Sarah hugged Richard rather tightly as he agreed. "Oh thank goodness."
Suddenly, in one quick motion, Richard flipped up Sarah's veil. Gasping, she jumped back, giving Richard enough time to drop his jaw. She pulled the veil back down.
"Je suis tellement désolé. Je ne voulais pas que vous voyiez ça! Laissez-moi, Richard!"
Richard only stepped back, gulping air like a fish. Here was the girl he had loved… but she was so terribly ugly now, it took him back.
Fleeing to her room, Sarah lay on her bed, sobbing. She had loved Richard, and now he saw her face. The scars had healed so terribly jagged, leaving large raised welts on her face… No wonder Richard was shocked.
Meanwhile, Erik was in his lair, still repairing the mess the mob had made as they searched for him many months ago. He was waiting for the wedding dress. Only then would HIS Christine be perfect… oh, his Christine; untouched by the Vicomte, untouched by the world, formed by his hands.
Of course, his Christine was only a wax figure. She had no voice, and her eyes were only glass, unseeing. But she was a proxy for the real Christine, so long ago.
Shaking his head slightly to clear his reminiscing, he returned to the thought of the wedding dress. Sarah should have it done by now. Starting through the mirror to her room, he heard her sobbing.
Was she still upset about that boy? I didn't know he was a former stagehand, or Sarah's friend for that matter… I thought he was going to take her away. Erik was just a bit worried. Stepping from the mirror, he spoke to Sarah. "Je suis désolé de presque tué votre ami. Je pensais qu'il était ici pour vous nuire. Est-ce pour cela que tu pleures?"
Sarah raised her head. "Non, il a découvert un terrible secret que je voulais cacher."
Erik sighed. "I'm sorry for that. I understand how you must feel."
Sarah wiped tears from her cheeks, careful not to upset the veil. "How can you understand? You're a ghost, the Phantom of the Opera, a murderer and an ANIMAL!" she was shrieking now, not even caring, hating everyone and everything.
The Phantom's voice was calm. "You were there, during Don Juan Triumphant, yes?"
Sarah stopped shrieking. "I was. I was backstage... and I heard you had killed Piangi, and-"
"Forget the killing, what else did you hear?" Erik was demanding now, almost pleading.
"Nothing." Sarah concluded. "I... Reyer sent me to comfort Senora Carlotta and..."
Erik raised a hand shakily towards his mask. "I too have a terrible secret, Miss Eklund. A secret I was tormented for." Reaching out and grabbing Sarah's wrists, he raised them to his mask. "Do it." he whispered.
And Sarah, poor, naive Sarah, reached her hand out and almost removed it. Almost...
"Sarah! Sarah! Sarah, je suis tellement désolé pour tout. S'il vous plaît pardonnez-moi, je n'aurais pas levé la voile." That was Richard, knocking on the door.
So, the stagehand lifted her veil. Erik mused, looking at Sarah, who seemed mesmerized, her hand still trailing up to the mask.
The door opened, and Richard tumbled in. Seeing the Phantom's hands around Sarah's wrists, he grabbed the knife out of the wheel of cheese in Sarah's basket. "Lâcher maintenant elle! Je n'hésiterai pas à vous attaquer!"
"No! Richard!" Sarah swung around, grabbing Richard's arms and pinning them to his sides. "Richard, Monsieur Phantom means no harm to me!" Taking a deep breath, as she knew she was walking a treacherous road, she ventured as far to say, "Monsiuer Phantom is my friend, Richard."
"Erik."
"What?" Sarah looked at the Phantom, who stood tall now.
"You may call me Erik, Miss Eklund." and just like that, he was gone.
Author's Note
Sorry for no upload, my school's performance of PHANTOM was this weekend. Rocked it! :D I just keep toying with you, will Sarah ever see what lies behind the mask? Or will Erik see Sarah's secret first? HMMMMMM?
Review, favorite, follow, send oreos, review, etc.
(Did I mention review?)
DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW
1) (FRENCH) I'm so sorry. I did not want you to see it! Leave me, Richard!
2) (FRENCH) I'm sorry I almost killed your friend. I thought he was here to hurt you. Is that why you're crying?
3) (FRENCH) No, he discovered a terrible secret that I wanted to hide.
4) (FRENCH) Sarah! Sarah! Sarah, I'm so sorry for everything. Please forgive me, I should not have lifted the veil.
5) (FRENCH) Release her now! I will not hesitate to attack you!