Chapter 4

It had been two weeks since that day, and Meg and the Phantom had spent them in comfortable routine with each other. The Phantom would wake up early, maybe take a walk, and then sit to play the piano. Meg would come down, do her stretches, dance, and they would eat lunch together. The would each go about doing different things, Meg normally keeping things nice in case her aunt and uncle decided to come visit, and washing clothes so they didn't run out. The Phantom however, spent his time exploring the land in front and behind the house. The house itself was a mock-Colonial style on a slight incline behind a dense forest, behind the ground was a path leading to a small gazebo and more forest lands. The Phantom had spent almost every day for the month he'd been there, exploring the forests.

On this particular day, Meg was cleaning the dishes and the Phantom called her 'an insufferable woman' and Meg had retorted by splashing him with the water, which resulted in him relentlessly tickling her until her face about ready to turn blue. The were interrupted by a particular loud pounding on the front door. Meg had first thought that her aunt and uncle had returned but, they wouldn't have knocked at their own home. Both movements and laughter had stopped and they stood dumbfounded staring at the door.

It had taken a couple of weeks but finally, Raoul had a private investigator find people with the name Giry that lived in the Paris area, Raoul was not sure of they were any relation at all or if this was where Meg was staying but it was worth a try. He brought Christine along, much to his dismay, he did not want her to be disappointed if Meg really wasn't here.

He heard noises coming from inside and decided to knock loudly to make sure they heard him. He heard the noises cease, and waited a few moments for knocking again.

As the stranger knocked again, Meg finally started moving toward the door. The Phantom stayed behind, just in case and watched curiously as Meg opened the door.

He heard the sharp intake of breath, and finally the unmistakable voice yell: "Meg!" as Meg stood at the door dumbly. He couldn't believe after a little over a month, just when he thought he was getting over what happened, Christine and that fop showed up where he was staying. He watched, almost in a trance-like state as Raoul and Christine barged into the home and started to interrogate Meg.

"What have you been doing all this time, Meg?" Meg was at a loss for words of what to say. Honestly, she couldn't just tell them she has been living with the Phantom and, quite frankly, getting know him for the past month. She looked around nervously to see where the Phantom had actually gone. Which of course, caused Christine to look to see what Meg was looking for. That was when she saw him, and Christine thought it was a horrible nightmare. She grabbed Meg's arm and dragged her to the door.

"What is he doing in your home!" Christine couldn't believe after all this time, this is who she was seeing. "Everyone thought he fled the country!"

"He's been staying here, actually." Meg answered, quite irritably. Christine had not taken the time to get to know the Phantom like she had.

"What were you thinking Meg? He killed many people!" Raoul interjected. "He tried to kill me! He tried to trick Christine!"

"He's different! Yes he has a temper but who doesn't? He was so blinded by his love for Christine that he did not realize what he was doing." Meg defended him defiantly.

"Do not defend this monster!" Raoul hollered.

"Christine tricked him, how could I not defend him!" Meg yelled, and soon after regretting her decision. All of them looked at her mutely. "Christine led him on to believe she actually cared about him when she only felt pity for him! She felt nothing and yet she let him carry on with his fantasies, he thought she loved him!" She finally confessed.

"Oh dear Meg, you're under his spell. I once was too. Come along; we're getting you out of here." Christine said condescendingly, taking Meg by the hand and leading her out of the house.

"I do not want to go, I am very content!" Meg struggled but Christine's grip was firm. Finally Meg broke away an ran back to the threshold of the house. "Christine, I considered you a sister to me but, I cannot overlook how much hurt you've caused this man. If this must be goodbye, so be it. I will continue to defend him." Christine nodded solemnly, not saying a word, and let Raoul lead her to their carriage and they drove away. "I love him..." She whispered to no one in particular as the carriage drove down the lane.

Meg sighed dejectedly and walked into the house. It was unusually silent when she walked in and she no longer saw the Phantom in the kitchen. Walking through the kitchen into the dining room, and then into the drawing-room he was nowhere to be found on the first floor. Deciding not to worry, she went upstairs to look, but she didn't see him. She decided he must have gone for a walk to clear his head, she understood, it must be hard for him to see Christine.

Why had Christine and Raoul suddenly showed up? They had obviously not known, prior to coming there, that she was staying with the Phantom. But there was another reason for their visit, and how had they known? Meg never mentioned the home to Christine, her and Raoul were long gone by the time her mother had told Meg that was where she was staying.

They had taken Meg out the door. She didn't resist. The pain Erik felt in his heart was almost too much to bear. No, he had not loved the little ballerina but, he had thought they were becoming close friends. He quickly wrote out a letter, telling her that he was leaving and left his bank account number so she could live. He didn't need the money. He'd never needed it. He snuck out the back door and out through the woods. He did not know where he was going, but he knew he could not stay there in that house, and he could not go back to the opera house.

He wandered aimlessly through the woods until he finally came about a small town just outside the border of Paris.

"Daddy, why does that man wear a mask?" a young child asked pointing at Erik.

"I don't know, Jacob but it's rude to stare." The man said, meeting Erik's gaze. "You're not from around here are you? I'm Daniel."

"Matthew," Erik lied quickly, if he couldn't trust Meg with his name how could he trust a complete stranger? "I was just passing through."

"Its getting late, do you have anywhere to stay tonight, Monsieur?" Erik shook his head. "Please, stay with us."

"But how do you know you can trust me?" Erik asked curiously. This man knew nothing of his past.

"You have an honest face." He replied, turning and motioning for Erik to follow. He led him deeper into the town and noticed people did not stop and stare at his face as they did in Paris. They merely smiled and nodded in acknowledgement when he passed by.

"I must say, I do not have a very kind past." Erik mentioned as they made their way to Daniel and Jacob's home.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Matthew, it is by the grace of God that we are forgiven of them." Erik did not say nother word for the rest of the journey.

Daniel led him to the back of the small town to an equally small country house with a carriage house. Erik looked at the property appreciatively and was thrilled to have somewhere to stay.

"The carriage house is where guests stay, it's private but still close to the house. It has a bedroom, a washroom and a small living area you're welcome to make yourself at home."

"I will be forever indebted to you, sir."

"Not to worry, the townspeople call my home the Welcome House, guests from all over stay with us. But, I do see that you are without a bag. I'll see about finding you some extra clothing." Erik nodded and said thanks again before entering the carriage house. It had been remodeled to accommodate the needs of guests. As he said, there was a small washroom attached to the living area and down a small hallway there was the spacious bedroom. He plopped down on the bed after taking off his boots and removing his mask, placing it on the bedside table.

He sighed sadly and though of the blond girl who was not waiting for him to come back. Maybe he did care for her. But it was too late now. By now she was with Christine and Raoul at their home, probably meeting plenty of other suitors. Why would she miss someone like him? He was a brooding old man who held too tightly onto his past.

"Raoul, I'm going back in a few days." Christine informed her fiancé that night.

"Whatever for, Christine? You hear her yourself that friends or not, she was going to defend that monster. We must call the police and let them know where he is staying!" Raoul asked, he was thoroughly confused as to why Christine would want to go back there.

"I saw him leaving into the woods after we started driving away. She's going to be alone. I cannot leave her like that. I'm going to bring her back here and have her come to our ball next week, possibly find her a suitor. Someone who can actually make her happy." She explained. Meg was her oldest friend, and she couldn't sit and watch as Meg was left alone by someone Meg thought cared about her. Meg was inexperienced when it came to these sort of things, no one had shown an interest in Meg. Christine was going to find a nice man who would care for her and love her like she needed to be loved, Christine was sure of it.

The sun was just below the horizon, and Meg still hadn't seen a sign of the Phantom. She was starting to get a bit worried. What if he had found his way back to town and was mobbed? What if he got lost in the woods and couldn't find his way back? She impatiently shifted in her chair and ignored the sting of the needle that pricked her hand. She had put a pile of her and the Phantom's clothes that needed to be repaired. She had neglected the pile until now, when she had nothing better to do. She was not a great seamstress and had almost no patience for this sort of task but she wanted to wait for the Phantom and give him an earful of how much she was worried.

Finally, when the clock mentioned that three thirty was the time, Meg decided to drag herself upstairs. She hadn't fixed any dinner, she finished the clothes long ago, and had spent an hour trying to read the same page of a book. She was beside herself with worry. The Phantom always explored but never this late. He was always back in time to have a small informal dinner, and then they would sit and talk about anything and everything. Or rather, she would sit and talk. The Phantom never really shared anything about himself and when he did, Meg made sure she was all ears, for she knew no one else knew these things about him.

She placed her hand on her bedroom door, and looked down the hall to his room. He had left his door open. She remembered it was ajar when she was searching for him. He never left his door open, not even when he was late for their morning practices and in a hurry. Moving down to his bedroom, she saw his clothes were in disarray and his bedroom was a mess. It was normally kept clean and tidy. She went back down to her room and saw a white piece of paper she hadn't noticed when she was busy looking for him. She felt the tears sting her eyes as she read its contents. He thought she had left with Christine. So he left. He left her his bank account number to access whenever she needed. He told her to buy that black pair of toe shoes she had always wanted. He told her to buy lovely dresses to catch even more eyes than she already did.

She cried herself to sleep that night. And the night after that. And the night after that. And the night after that.

A/n: I'm back! Sorry it took so long to get out, I've been super swamped with work lately and just been too tired to get on my computer. (Literally this is the first time I've turned it on since I uploaded last)

So, I'm sure I had a laundry list of things to say about this chapter but I've forgotten them all. I hope you enjoyed!

Anonymous Review Replies:

Newbornphanatic: I mean Meg is pretty much an angel so of course she uses her innocence to manipulate the game! hahahaha. Thanks again for being a fiathful reviewer and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Good? Bad? Lemme know!