A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I was sooo surprised at the response I got. I suppose I should keep going then =)
This takes place right after Erik yells at Christine to stay out of box 5.
Chapter 32
Erik felt terrible for the way he treated Christine. He had just been so angry for the past two years that she had lied to him. How could she do this to him? She promised that she would come to the Opera House nearly two years ago. Well now that she was here, Erik didn't want anything to do with her.
He watched her run down the steps from box five. Although he was disgusted with her betrayal, he couldn't deny he was still fascinated with her. She was unlike any girl he had ever met. He recalled how compassionate she was toward him in his time of need. How she had opened her house to a complete stranger and monster. The thing about her that bothered him most was that she couldn't stand up for herself. He watched as Giselle brought her down during breakfast. A twinge of anger flickered at the corner of Erik's mind but he quickly brushed it aside.
With a swish of his black cape Erik turned to leave box five until he heard the ballet rats chanting.
"Cry baby, cry baby, cry baby."
Erik paused and turned slowly to see the girls laughing and circling Christine. Erik's hands clenched into fists so tight that his fingernails bit into the flesh of his palms; creating tiny half moon cuts. He quickly opened the secret passageways which lead to the rafters.
In no time at all he was standing above Christine and Giselle. His hand automatically drifted into his robes where his Punjab lasso lay attached to his belt.
"Are the rumor's true," Giselle toyed. Erik grew completely still, wondering what she was talking about. "Are you an orphan," she sneered. Erik's mouth dropped slightly in shock. The giggling from the girls seemed to echo in his brain.
"How did he die, Deary?" Giselle taunted, "Of a fever, perhaps? Or a fall from a horse? Oh no. He must have died over the embarrassment of having such a clumsy, pathetic excuse for a daughter. It takes years of training to be a dancer in the opera house. And you must have some talent to being with…. No one wants to watch an elephant, Darling. Best that you leave- before they throw you out." Her face changed to mock-pity. "Don't worry, Darling. You could always sell flowers."
Erik's jaw muscles tightened.
To Erik's surprise Christine flung her arms out at Giselle right before Giselle hit her. Erik felt a smirk appear across his lips.
Giselle and her friends erupted in a fit of laughter. Erik frowned and cocked his head to the side.
"You know what you are, Christine? You are a freak," Giselle hissed.
At that moment Erik heard a high pitched ringing in his ears. A wave of raw fury washed over him as his body shook in anger. Countless times he'd heard that word; and oh how he despised it.
Erik wanted to shout in anger; wanted to hit, wanted to kill. His eyes fell on the large sandbag in front of him. He looked down and saw Christine was gone. He swiftly grabbed his knife from his belt and began to saw at the rope holding the fifty pound bag of sand. In a matter of seconds the rope snapped and the sandbag plummeted toward Giselle. The bag met its mark, hitting Giselle on her right shoulder.
All the girls screamed and looked up to see what had caused the sandbag to fall. However before they could look up, Erik was gone.
XXX
Erik made his way to Christine's dormitory. He slipped through her door without her even noticing and silently walked to the corner of the room.
"Oh, Papa," Christine wailed. She was sprawled out on her bed, her face buried deep in her arms and pillow. "Why aren't you here? You promised you'd be here. You pro-," her throat tightened up. Her body shook from her cries of torment.
Erik could only watch. He didn't know how to comfort her.
"Where is the Angel of Music you had talked about? If you can't be with me spiritually, then, please, please send me someone to let me know you are okay. Please send the Angel of Music," she pleaded.
Erik felt a grin appear on his face. He could not have asked for a better invitation. He began to hum a deep haunting tune. He threw his voice so that it sounded as if he were right next to Christine; his voice growing louder by the second.
Christine grew still. Her cries stopped as she lifted her head from her pillow. Her face was tearstained and beat red. Her eyes glistened like a China Doll.
"Angel?" she sniffed.
Erik's song faded out as his keen sense of hearing picked up faint footsteps outside the door.
"No, please don't go," Christine begged desperately.
"Christine? Are you here?" Meg knocked.
"Chri-stine," Erik sang.
Meg peeked inside the door. "Oh, Christine, thank god you are alright! I heard the screaming and ran to the stage. I thought you were hurt." Meg ran to Christine's bed.
"Ooooh, Giselle was badly hurt!" Meg exclaimed.
Erik couldn't help the proud smile that spread across his face.
"She was hit by a sandbag. It's said that the Opera Ghost dropped it on top of her. She-," at that moment, Meg realized that Christine had been crying.
"What happened?" Meg sat on Christine's bed.
Christine closed her eyes tight and shook her head; her chocolate curls swayed from side to side.
Christine paused, trying to understand what Meg was telling her about Giselle. "You first, when did this happen to Giselle?"
"Oh, alright, but you have to tell me why you were crying," Meg bargained.
"If you insist," Christine smiled slightly.
Meg looked up, thinking back to what had just happened on the stage. "The girls said that you threw a sort of fit, and ran off stage. Right after that a sandbag fell from the rafters. Mama says that the rope was cut, so all of the girls think that the Opera Ghost did it. Some girls say that he was trying to hit you," Meg paused, a shocked look on her face. "Oh, Christine, you must be careful! "The Opera Ghost could've been aiming for you!" she exclaimed.
Erik folded his arms and started to grind his teeth. 'I was trying to sort that bitch, Giselle, out,' Erik silently retorted.
Christine's eye's widened. "Do you think so?"
"You'd better be safe then sorry," Meg warned, then laughed. "Although Giselle does deserve that sort of punishment the way that she treats people," Meg laughed.
"Oh, you mustn't say such things!" Christine warned.
"Well, I think she deserves everything she gets. I suppose what goes around comes around. Giselle is a fine example of that phrase," Meg giggled.
Christine covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"Now, you must tell me what happened to you." Meg took her hand. "Why were you crying?"
"Someone screamed at me to leave box five and I started to cry because he sounded angry. When I went to the stage everyone was laughing at me and making fun of me," Christine frowned. "Then Giselle was talking about how my father is-," Christine couldn't say it. Christine swallowed the lump in her throat and continued. "I pushed her because she looked like she was going to hit me. She called me a freak. That's when I ran," Christine explained.
"And that's when the sandbag fell on Giselle," Meg said slowly. Her face softened out as if she were in a daydream. "Christine! What if the Opera Ghost wasn't trying to hit you? What if hit his target after all?" Meg exclaimed excitedly. "Someone is looking after you, Christine," she teased.
Christine nudged Meg and giggled.
Christine thought about the possibility that her father had sent her and angel after all. She was so excited that her prayers where answered.
XXX
Madame Giry sighed as she sat down in her office, for what it seemed like the first time all day.
There was a sudden knock on her door.
"What now?" she grumbled to herself. "Come in, the door is open."
"Good evening, Madame Giry. How are you today?" Adrian de Chagny greeted, as he stepped in with his son Raoul by his side.
"What are you doing here?" Madame Giry spat.
"Is that the way you greet your new patron?" Adrian chuckled.
A/N: I just wanted everyone to know about the Phantom's sequel. I'm sure everyone by now knows about it here, but for those who don't know BIG NEWS!!!
I can't copy and paste the news report, but I will let you know of the highlights of the story… it will take place in Brooklyn's Coney Island (a place where freaks are drawn to) The Phantom will reunite with Christine. The cast has not been announced. Andrew Lloyd Webber will be keeping that a surprise. The sequel will be preformed ONLY in London, New York, and Shanghai. Expect it in a few more months. =)
Disclaimer: This information is not owned by me. -_-
Please review and tell me what you think. I'm a little hesitant on where this is going to go, so if you send me reviews saying where you want this to go, this will give me some ideas for the story. ^.^
Questions, comments, queries. =)
