Disclaimer: Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux. All Phantom related works, as well as lyrics quoted in the story, belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 9 - Unexpected invitation
"Say, if the situation absolutely required it, would you ever take your mask off?"
Erik lifted his eyes from the soup and gave Carlotta a watchful glare. "I do take it off when the situation requires it," he said slowly, "for example when I shower."
The girl fidgeted, clearly unsure how to speak out whatever she had on her mind. "I meant, would you take it off in front of another person?" she finally spat out.
The spoon stopped halfway to Erik's mouth. "I refuse to ever show you my face and if you even attempt to rip my mask off there will be severe consequences."
"No, no, no!" Carlotta tried to cool the ghost's rising temper. "I don't want to sneak peek at your face, I know what it looks like from the book anyways."
Erik let out a snort. She knew from the book! Ha! It was one thing to read about something and another to actually see for yourself!
"I rather meant someone like a doctor or perhaps a policeman, and assuming it actually served some higher purpose."
"The only purpose it could possibly serve would either be to entertain some gore loving crowds or scare small children out of their minds."
"So your answer is no?"
"That's correct."
Carlotta just let out a defeated sigh and didn't further drag on the subject but the more Erik thought about it, the more he was convinced that the unexpected question was part of some wicked plan forming in her lovely little head. About four weeks later his suspicions were confirmed.
They were taking a lazy stroll across the backstage after their usual evening lesson in the Salon du Chant when Carlotta announced all of a sudden, "I'm flying to Milan tomorrow, going home for Christmas."
"Thibault let you?" Erik asked, surprised. The last performance was on the 25th.
The soprano sneered, "I'm just a chorus girl, one of many. They can easily do without me."
He just nodded, making a mental note to take care that Carlotta's career progressed. Blackmailing Thibault would be pointless as the man neither feared nor respected him, but he could always persuade Julianne to take a timely sick leave.
"Anyways," Carlotta went on, "I've been thinking, how about you come with me?"
Erik wasn't sure he'd heard it right. "What?"
"Come to Milan with me," Carlotta asked him again. Christmas was first and foremost about being together and she dreaded the thought of Erik spending it all alone in a deserted Opera House.
"Have you by any chance lost your mind?" the ghost sneered. "How do you expect me to come to Milan with you?"
"Don't worry. I've got it all figured out," Carlotta assured, searching her purse. "I bought you a ticket for the same flight as myself," she handed him a piece of printed paper, "and I used some connections to get you a fake ID. You will need it to get through the airport."
Erik examined the blueish plastic card. It read: Destler, Erik, male, born 21.05.1981 in Rouen, height 1,92 m. The not entirely truthful information he expected but what got him a little perplexed was the photo: it portrayed a complete stranger.
"I can't possibly pass as this guy," he observed.
Carlotta smiled mischievously. "You can if you wear this." She threw him a paper bag.
Erik looked inside and made a disgusted face. There was something floppy that looked like human skin peeled off some poor fellow's head and neck.
"It's an ultra-realistic full head silicone mask," the girl explained. "You have no idea how hard it was to get my hands on it but I figured it was my only option since you said you'd never show your real face to anyone."
"I am truly touched by your thoughtfulness, not to mention amazed by your inventive, but I can't possibly accept your offer."
Carlotta gave him a disappointed look. "Why?"
Why? Was she seriously asking him why?!
"Why can't you come with me Erik?" she repeated when he just stared at her in disbelief. "The plan is foolproof!"
"That's not the point!"
"What is is then?"
He desperately pointed out to himself. "I don't think your family would be too glad to have me around, at Christmas nonetheless!"
Carlotta broke into a relieved laughter. "That's worrying you? How my family will react?"
"Shouldn't it?" Erik rebuked.
"Oh Erik!" she sighed. "We're Italians," she stated simply as it was supposed to mean something, "and mine is a family of actors and musicians who will likely be thrilled to meet someone as talented in the matter as yourself."
"I'm not coming." Erik was unmovable.
Carlotta squinted her eyes dangerously, her temper getting the better of her. "I took great expense at setting it all up because I thought I was doing something nice for you!" she hissed. "I thought you'd actually enjoy spending Christmas like everybody else! I thought that was what you wanted! To be like everybody else!" Speaking, she frantically got her coat and boots on. "Well, looks like I got it all wrong yet again!" With those last words, she stormed out of the room.
Erik was unsure how to react. The little toad had a point there. All he ever wanted was to be like everybody else and now that he was being given a chance for it, he refused it, but how could he not? In what universe would complete strangers welcome him in their home? Then again, crazier things have happened in the past few months.
Battling his thoughts he didn't even realize when he fell asleep on Carlotta's couch. Waking up several hours later, he looked around the empty dressing room and his insides twisted into a knot.
"Erik has to admit it," he told himself, "he'd gotten used to the little toad more than he could ever imagine. He must go after her before it's too late."
"He'd better not!" his reflection in the vanity mirror stopped him. "Does he meant to ruin her Christmas with his abominable presence!"
"Carlotta wants Erik there with her, otherwise she wouldn't ask him to come."
"She well deserves some time to spend with her family and catch up with old friends."
"Old friends, you say? Like Antonio?"
"Yes, like Antonio! The young and handsome Antonio who can offer her so much more than Erik ever could."
"You're wrong! Erik gave her her voice back, that same voice which Antonio stole away from her. Erik can't let him do it again!" he shouted out loud, frantically grabbing the familiar duffel bag along with the mask and the documents and rushing out of the room.
Locking himself in the nearest bathroom he quickly got himself in order and tried the strange mask Carlotta had brought him on. Checking himself in the mirror he couldn't believe his eyes. The mask twisted in accordance with the muscles underneath to match his facial expression, making it virtually impossible to tell he was wearing one at all. Hadn't he known better he would've really thought it was his own face.
With renewed resolve he threw his stuff back into the bag and ran out, heading for the exit.
"Hey, you!" Daroga's familiar voice stopped him on the way. "Who are you? What are you doing back here?"
"It's me you idiot!"
The guard popped his eyes out. "Erik?" he mumbled checking him out. "What's wrong with your face?"
Really?! Now that he finally looked like a normal person Daroga was asking him what was wrong with his face?! He would've gladly ranted about it, hadn't he had more important things on his mind right now.
"What's the time Daroga?" he huffed breathlessly ignoring the comment about the face.
The guard glanced at his watch. "Half past one p.m. Why?"
Erik checked his ticket nervously. His plane left at 15.25 from Charles de Gaulle airport. For what he knew, he might not make it.
"Hey! What's your rush?" Daroga yelled at his back when he suddenly took off without a word.
Running outside he stopped at the gate and scanned the surroundings for a cab but there were none passing by.
In the meantime, Daroga caught up with him. "Where the hell are you going?!" he asked.
"Airport," he replied. "Get me an Uber!"
Daroga looked at him as if he were crazy. "What... Uber… airport?" he mumbled in confusion. "What are you up to this time?!"
"Dammit, Daroga!" Erik seized him by the shirt. "Carlotta's plane is leaving in two hours' time and I need to get there before it happens so get me that bloody Uber!"
"Okay!" the guard yelled, pushing him off.
When the car arrived good five minutes later, Erik jumped right in.
"Don't do anything stupid!" he heard Daroga say before he shot the door right before his nose.
The ride to the airport seemed to last forever. When the car finally stopped by a huge gray structure Erik shot out and ran towards the terminal. Once inside he found himself at a loss on what to do next. Nervously he checked the ticket, then looked around trying to localize just about anything that would give him a clue. There it was on a tiny screen to the right: Paris-Milan Alitalia 15.25. In a leap he was at the counter throwing his ticket and ID on top, hoping it wasn't too late yet.
"Bonjour Monsieur. You are just in time," the attendant said trying hard to hide her annoyance. "The check in was about to close." She checked his ticket and ID and making sure he had only a hand luggage, she handed him his boarding pass, wished him a good flight and directed him to security control.
The security agent, a large gruff looking guy, scanned Erik's documents. His eyes traveled from the ID to his face, then back to the ID and Erik felt his blood freeze. Would he figure out the scam? Thankfully the man didn't seem to notice anything suspicious, and asking him to take off his belt and place his bag on the tape, he had him go through a metal detector.
There was a little commotion at the X-Ray and another agent, this one female, said, "Sir, will you please open your bag."
Wondering what the hell had them alarmed, Erik unzipped his duffel bag, letting the woman peek inside. She rummaged through his clothes until she came by his mask.
"What's this?" she asked.
Erik rose a brow in contempt. "A mask," he jeered.
The agent squinted her eyes suspiciously. "What do you need it for?"
Really, it was just a damn mask! It wasn't as if he'd brought his lasso!
"I'm planning to go to a mask party," he said the first lie that came to his mind.
The agent seemed unconvinced but there was no rule against carrying masks so she just gave up and let him pass.
Once past security check, Erik searched frantically for his gate. It had to be the farthest one possible and he ran through countless corridors before he finally spotted the right number. There still were a few people waiting in line and among them, he recognized a familiar dark-haired head.
"Carlotta!"
The girl turned around, surprised. "Erik!" she exclaimed happily. "You came!"
"Of course I came!" he snorted. "Without you there to annoy me, I'd just die of boredom!"
She laughed and pulled him into a tight hug.
The flight attendant called for their attention and handling her their boarding passes they went aboard a small bus that would take them across the field. At a distance, waiting for them there already was their plane, easily recognizable by the green and red markings on the sides and tail.
Getting out of the bus, Erik stopped to admire the machine, wondering how was it possible that something so huge and heavy could get in the air.
"Come on." Carlotta pulled him forward. "I'll tell you how it works when we get seated," she said as if guessing his thoughts.
Once everyone was aboard, the flight attendant did her usual speech and the plane began to roll across the field towards the belt. There it stopped for the briefest moment as the engine roared, warming up, before they shot forward, the speed pushing everyone into their seat. They went faster and faster until the aircraft lifted off the ground. Leaning out of his seat Erik peeked out the small window. In front of his eyes Paris spread out in all its immense glory before it disappeared completely, swallowed by the winter clouds.
A/N: So how do you think Carlotta's family will react to Erik? How will he manage at a strangers house? Will we finally meet the enigmatic Antonio? And where in all of this is the cat?
Fun fact: the Alitalia plane Erik and Carlotta take does really leave on the 23rd this year at 15.25 from Charles de Gaulle.
Next chapter: Erik meets the parents. This has to be awkward!