Chapter 4: Anger
By: PittsBurghFuzz
As they took the mad man to the police carriage, Erik was feeling the ring with his fingers. He felt something on the inside of the ring. It was an engraving. Erik ran to his office, and locked the door. He held the ring under his lamp, and read the engraving. After he read it, Erik threw the ring across the room. The engraving said, "Christine".
"That mad man, that demon, was Raoul? Impossible. How could they sink so low? No! God damn it, no! If he's here, that means, she's here too." Erik's face was filled with anger and hate. "Why must you follow me? I left you alone, I allowed you happiness, but why can't you do the same for me? First you stalk my dreams, and now you crept into my reality? Why? Fate is so cruel." The angered Erik threw his chair at his closed door. Erik sunk his head into his arms and wept, for several minutes on.
In the afternoon, Paul and Jacob were practicing with their violins.
"Paul? Can I ask you something?" Jacob asked.
"Sure, what is it?" the large man said.
"Is Erik very reclusive?"
"What makes you ask that?"
"Well, it seems like he's always locking himself in rooms, as if he was hiding from something."
"For the most part, Erik does not like people. There are only a handful of people who he can really tolerate. You shouldn't worry yourself about it." Paul placed a hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Lets continue."
"Okay." Jacob and Paul went on playing their little tune.
In a dark and smelly apartment room, a woman, appearing to be middle-aged, was knitting some mittens. She was not very clean at all. The woman had a pretty face, but had dirt all over it, and her hair was very messy. Her dress was torn and looked like she had literally lived in it. A knock was heard at the door.
"Come in." the woman said, with her very pretty voice.
A man came into the room. He had red hair, a long beard, and smelled bad. He had a creepy grin on his face, as if he committed a crime and felt no remorse.
"What is it?" the woman asked.
"I heard you-" the man told her.
"Not today, I can't."
"Oh come on! All my friends tell me how good you are, you pretty little thing." he licked his lips and approached forward.
"Stop!" an elderly man's voice said.
The red headed man turned around to see an old man in middle classed clothes, with a bald head, and a white beard.
"Get out, before I call the police!" the old man yelled.
The young man walked to the doorway and stopped. "By the way, your husband is in prison right now. He attacked a young woman."
"He what!" the woman stood up.
It was 6:30 PM, and Gordon was waiting outside with the carriage. Jacob and Erik came outside.
"Sorry about that Gordon, we took a little longer than expected." Erik explained.
"It was no trouble at all sir." Gordon replied.
"Take Jacob home and tell Vivian and Faith to start dinner without me."
"Where are you going Erik?" Jacob asked.
"I need to take care of some things, but I'll be home, don't worry." Erik patted Jacob's head, and went back inside the opera house. Jacob entered the carriage and Gordon rode off.
Erik went back to the inside of the opera house to have some time with himself. He rested on the chair on his office and yawned. Erik looked at a corner of the room, and saw the golden ring he got mad over. Erik suddenly rested his head upon his arms, and dreamed a dream.
Erik was on in Box Five, and was watching a production of Faust. He noticed that Abbey was portraying Marguerite. Erik was impressed with the beauty of her voice. However, all was not well in the opera. The chandelier crashed! Erik saw a cloaked figure above the patrons of the opera. Erik left his seat to investigate. The cloaked figure jumped down, and took Abbey! Erik ran over to the stage, and rushed towards the menace.
Erik took out his handy-dandy punjab lasso. He was able to use it to tie around the captor's hand, and cause them to fall. Erik approached the figure and uncloaked the dark figure.
"Hello Erik." a pretty, yet familiar voice said.
"No! It can't be! Why? Why are you so obsessed with ruining my life! Don't darken my door ever again!"
"You know Erik, I could forgive you for what you did to me and Raoul, but I cannot forgive you for leaving me with him."
Erik woke up panting. He walked towards his door and left his office. Erik walked back home, in a mad rush. He heard two people, a man and a woman, conversing.
"Please sir, you can't do that! I need the money!" the woman begged.
"Sorry, you this is all you're worth!" the man dropped some coins, of a very small amount.
"You cheep bastard!" the woman slapped the man. He became enraged.
"Why you dirty whore! I paid you good money and this is what you give me!" the man roared. He began to choke the woman.
Erik rushed over to the scene and threw the man off the woman.
"You fiend! How dare you do this to a woman! You little bastard! Why I'll skin you to death!" Erik roared.
The man was not afraid, and tried to punch Erik. However, Erik's cat-like movements were too swift for the man. Erik ended up breaking the man's leg in the process. The man fainted. Erik turned around to find out that the woman was passed out too. Erik picked her up, and walked out of the dark alleyway.
When Erik finally arrived at his residence, Madame Giry was outside the door.
"Erik? Where the hell were you for the last four hours?" Madame Giry roared.
"Look, get some medical supplies and some towels. This woman has been badly injured." Erik explained.
"What happened Erik?"
Erik looked at the body. "Lets just say it would be a good deed if we help her now. Is everyone asleep?"
"Yes, except for me and Gordon."
"Good. Do not disturb anyone from their slumber."
Minutes later, Erik laid the body on the bed.
"I'll be right back, I need some time alone." Erik said.
"Alright then, go." Madame Giry signaled.
Erik left. Madame Giry noticed that the woman's face was covered with her hair and hood. She gently took the hood off, and brushed away the hair. Madame Giry then discovered who the woman on the bed was.
"Oh my!"
Madame Giry could not believe her eyes.
"Oh Christine."