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Chapter 8: Journey
By PittsBurghFuzz
Arzu and Erik bought their tickets to Paris. The train was to arrive soon. Erik examined the architecture of the train station. So dull and lifeless, Erik thought to himself. As he was walking, he bumped into another masked man. Erik apologized, but the man grunted and ran off. Erik raised his brow in confusion. He shrugged his shoulders and moved on. Another man was waving and yelling Erik's name. It was Ledoux.
"Erik!" he yelled.
"Ledoux? What on earth are you doing here?" Erik asked.
"I could ask you the same question."
"I'm going home, with Arzu. I am not needed here and my appearance here is a joke. I was only brought here for mere amusement."
"Well, I am coming with you guys if you don't mind."
"I don't care, you know I never do."
Erik and Ledoux were walking towards the newspaper stands. They saw some incredible news.
La Carlotta Kidnapped!
Erik bought a paper and looked further.
"Wow, Carlotta kidnapped!" Erik said loudly.
"Nearly killed too!" Ledoux replied.
"Well look at the time, our train will be leaving soon." Erik said as he looked at he large clock in the station. Erik, Ledoux, and Arzu ran to the platform and nearly missed the train.
As Erik sat down he noticed the masked man from before was on this train as well, but on a different car. Erik read the paper to find out that the Opera House should reopen in a short period of time, roughly a year or so.
"I guess there is not enough ink for news about the pursuit of the Opera Ghost eh?" Erik said to himself.
Arzu fell asleep, and the daroga was reading a book. Erik decided to get some shut eye and rested his head and leaned on his seat.
In Paris, Christine was reading a book, until she heard a knock at the door. She opened it, and it turned out to be Raoul's brother, Philippe.
"Christine! Where's Raoul? Philippe asked Christine.
"He left for Belgium a few days ago and is returning home today, why?" Christine asked.
"Did you hear the news? La Carlotta was kidnapped by three man last night! What is Raoul doing in Belgium anyway?"
"He claimed he was taking some time to examine the family owned property."
"Weird, it is not like him to examine the property at such short notice."
"Yeah well, you may return tomorrow to see him. Good day Philippe."
Philippe nodded and left. Christine started to cry. She cried herself to sleep.
Christine was crying at her father's grave site, and she heard singing. It was her father's voice, singing to her. Christine's father appeared in front of her. All of a sudden, Her father's face changed. The left side of his face was masked. It started to sing to her. The other half was Raoul, speaking to her as well. The two split after a minute or so and their faces were filled with rage. Christine realized that her love for her father, was two half of her love for Raoul and the Phantom. Her love for Raoul is her longing for her past to return, especially since Raoul was an important figure in Christine's childhood. The Phantom, represented Christine's dreams as a child, waiting for her Angel of Music and her father's musical abilities. Both sides had a downside. Raoul was controlling and acted like a different person. The Phantom's actions, such as the fearful chandelier crash, were frightening, and like a child, was afraid of the nightmare.
"Opera Ghost," Raoul shouted. "I will end you violence and deception!"
"Bravo monsieur, such spirited words coming from such a dull form." the Phantom sung merrily.
"Christine! He is trying to deceive you! He has destroyed the lives of others and ruined the Opera House! Come with me and you shall be safe!"
"Come on monsieur, let us end this quarrel now and see who the better man is?"
"Man? How can we determine that, you are nothing more and a ghostly coward!"
"Alright then monsieur, come test your strength and see if you can match the Angel of Death!"
Raoul and the Phantom took out their swords and began their fight. The Phantom was dressed in all black, but could still surprise attack Raoul. Raoul on the other hand, was a skilled swordsman and could easily take out a "ghost" who used punjab lassos.
"Raoul! Just end this now, let us go home!" Christine begged as she grabbed Raoul's arm. He knocked Christine over, causing her to have a bruise on her forehead. The Phantom came to her side and held the tiny unconscious body in his arms. Christine looked up the Phantom a moment later, and she caressed the masked side of his face, and the Phantom took her hand, and was like a father. He was interrupted by Raoul charging at the Phantom, and stabbed his stomach. The Phantom fell, and showed he was really a man. As for Raoul, he was a monster.
Raoul grabbed Christine's arm and yelled: "Damn you! I could have killed him earlier!"
"Raoul, there could have been a less violent resolution." she told Raoul.
"Are you mad Christine, he does not settle for simple resolutions, only bloody conflicts!"
"Raoul, you are acting like a different person ever since we left the lair."
"Those damned police, they should have found the ghost and publicly executed him."
"Raoul! You're even sicker than he is!"
"How can you look at me like that and have the audacity to say that!"
Christine woke up, breathing heavily. She looked at the cuckoo clock and Raoul was to arrive soon. Christine tidied the house a bit.
Erik woke up. He arrived at the station. He, Ledoux, and Arzu got off the train quickly and took a taxi to the Opera House.