Disclaimer: Okay, finished messing around with disclaimers. I know POTO doesn't belong to me and fired my lawyer's ass for not being able to rectify the situation. All credit for POTO goes to Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Note: I messed up slightly in Ch. 1. No biggie, just figured out that I left a small thing out that I have decided to reference to in this chapter. It is a very small change and you will probably remember the section I am writing about when Christine is telling Erik about her second job:
'No sir. I work two jobs and one of them is at a place called the Daae Home which is both a retirement home...'
Brief info you might want to know concerning this chapter:
100 metres (according to an online convertor) is about 328 feet.
I have never been to a Holiday Inn, let alone Cleveland so it probably is a good inn.
Anyway, I'm back! And currently sicker than a dog! Only went to school yesterday coz I had two speeches (one worth 40% which I aced! : )) and a test and I stayed for two classes this morning and am now in bed. I think blowing your nose to the point that you give yourself nosebleeds is probably an indicator of ill health. Enough about me. Here's chapter 3:
Erik caught a taxi to his hotel. He managed to check in without incurring too many strange looks. After unpacking, he sat on the bed and stared at the phone for a few minutes
C'mon Erik, it's just a phone call. Just pick up the phone and dial the number. He reached for the phone. Picking it up, the operator on the other end greeted him.
'How can I help you Mr. Durrante?'
'How do I, uh, make a phone call here?' Erik babbled. Stupid Erik, said the voice in his head. You just need to push the buttons.
'What type of call sir? International, local-'
'Local,' Erik interrupted.
'Land line or mobile, sir?'
'Mobile,' Erik said, not sure if he welcomed putting the call off because of these questions or if they were beginning to annoy him.
'Not a problem. Dial the number once I leave the phone. You will hear a dial tone in just a few seconds.'
'Thank you,' Erik said to the dial tone. He pulled the phone away from his ear and punched in the number he had scrawled on a piece of paper in front of him. Erik held his breath as the phone began to ring.There was a click as the person on the other end picked up.
'Hello?' a cheerful female voice said.
'Hello, this is...' Erik cleared his throat and continued. 'This is Erik.' He heard a sharp intake of breath.
'Erik? Erik...my son? Is that really you?' she asked, the tremble in her voice clearly coming through. He chuckled nervously.
'If this is Madelaine Richards, then yes, I am your son.' She laughed.
'It is so good to hear your voice. How are you? What have you been up to?' Madelaine asked.
'I'm still composing for the French Opera Company. We've become quite well known over the years. I decided to take a holiday and I'm currently staying at the Holiday Inn in Cleveland. I came to see you,' Erik revealed at last.
'You're in Ohio? Here? That is wonderful. The Inn is ten minutes from where I live. Can you come today?' she asked excitedly.
'Of course, Mother. My hire car should arrive in about ten minutes. How do I get to you?' he asked.
'Drive north on the road the inn is on, take the second right and the Home is about 100 metres ) away on the left side of the road. Come as soon as you can,' Madelaine said. Erik was slightly confused with her directions.
'The Home?' he echoed. Erik didn't remember exactly where his mother lived. It had been more than just a few years.
'Of course. The Daae Home. That's where I live now. I'll see you soon Erik.' Erik sat frozen. The Daae Home? His mother was staying at that place where that Miss Christine person worked? Christine had said that there was somebody staying there that had acid burns-perhaps it was Madelaine she was talking about?
Erik was surprised to find that he was slightly intrigued at the possibility of seeing Christine again. He shook his head and walked down to the Inn's car park to see if his hire car had arrived, using the stairs rather than the elevator in order to avoid the other guests. Erik wasn't incredibly impressed with what he had seen of the hotel so far. The rooms were adequate but the information folder that most hotels issued to their guests was absolutely useless, only promoting unattractive tourist sites and the services that the hotel would provide-at outrageous costs, of course. As he had walked in, he could see staff lounging around all over the place, causing him to question whether they had ever actually been trained before. Erik could see many things that they should have been doing- one of the guests walking in was an old lady and she was not offered any assistance with her bags. Erik's car arrived followed by a second car to return the driver of his car. After one of the company men had given a spiel about what he wasn't and was allowed to do with the car (Erik was embarrassed when it was strongly suggested that certain activities should not be conducted in the back seat) and the fines that would occur if he chose to do so anyway, Erik finally got into the car and drove away.