Hello. This is the next chapter. I think about putting a villain in the story but I don't know if I will do it. Tell me your opinion. What would you like to see next in this story? Help me to find some ideas .

I don't own anyone or anything from the Phantom of the Opera. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

The journey was long. He was already on the train for 4 hours and it seemed like an eternity. He was sitting in a coupe, beside the window, alone. He would go for dinner maybe but for now, he was satisfied in his solitude. He was watching the landscape outside the window which the train was passing by with moderate speed. It had a little bit of air that morning and the trees stood up, dancing to the rhythm of the wind. It was the beginning of September and almost the end of summer. Soon, the scenery would be different. The winter was coming closer and the snow would fall. 'I wonder if Paris has changed at all', he thought. He remembered the crowded streets of the city especially the time before Christmas. Even in the snowy days, the shops were full of people and the children were making snowmen with laughs and shouts. He smiled. He had never had happy days like these and probably he would never have. A wife, a child perhaps. To make walks under the sun with a beautiful woman, to chase each other on the beach, to eat all together every day. A big, happy family. But no. He hadn't a loving wife but he had people who loved him, who weren't afraid of him, who respected him. And that was enough for him.

Two hours later, he was seated at the table for lunch. He had put his hat as lower on his face as he could. He ate little and he returned to his coupe. It was small but comfortable. There were a bed and a little table. That was enough for now. Besides, he would be in Paris in three days time so he would go to his hotel. With this thought, he laid down and fell asleep.

The train trip was finally over. Fortunately, the time for Erik passed almost quickly. He occupied his time reading his novels and looking out the window. He was eating little and he was going out of his coupe as little as he could. At the second night, the train arrived at the station in Lyon and it carried its passengers for one more day and night until their destination: Paris.

They arrived in Paris the next day, early in the morning. The weather was pleasant and the people were coming out of the train, happy and grateful that their journey had finally ended. Erik, having taken his suitcase, went down with the other passengers. He left the suitcase on the platform and looked around. He could not believe he was in Paris. He could smell the Parisian air again. He felt a pleasant nostalgia. He wanted so much to take a walk and explore this area from the start. But it had to wait. He took his suitcase and directed to the exit. He came into the first carriage he saw and asked the coachman to take him to the nearest hotel. When he arrived, he took his key from the reception and with fast moves he went up to his room. Closing the door behind him, he left a breath that he didn't understand that he was holding. The truth was that he had to be really careful but that didn't mean that he had to be hiding. He had to behave like a normal person and that's what he would do. He had an appointment with the managers of the Opera in an hour. The best thing to do was fresh up himself and take the road to his former home.

Getting out of the hotel, the thought that he would see the same building, the same spaces again, after so many years, caused him a shiver that penetrated his body. Determined to drive away any bad thought and every possible destruction scenario, he thought to take a look at the streets of the city and see the changes that might have been made. Some of the shops were the same. He saw new bistros full of people, shops with toys and so many children in front of their showcases to point the toys they liked to his parents. Shops with modern dresses for the young ladies and so many restaurants caught his eye. He smiled. The city of the light hadn't changed so much after all. He was feeling very beautiful now that he could walk among other people. No one recognized him. He was wearing his flesh mask of course. Enjoying his walk he finally arrived at the Opera. He stopped and raised his eyes at the building. Nothing had changed. He took a deep breath and climbed the stairs. When he reached the main entrance, he stopped. For a moment he thought to leave and never come back. Surely all this was a nonsense. It was certain that everyone would recognize him and then everything would end. But another voice inside his head told him to go ahead. Nothing would go wrong. He knew it was a big opportunity for his career. Besides, he would have been able to see his home after so long. With this thought, he pushed the door and walked in.

The first person was a tall man in a costume with a mustache who walked in hurry in the direction of the staircase. Perhaps they were rehearsing today and he was heading to the auditorium. Other than him, Erik saw two ballerinas to climb the stairs talking to each other and one woman to the end of the hall holding some papers. He approached her as he lowered his hat further.

"Excuse me Madame, could you tell me where is the manager's office?", he asked her politely.

"Bien sur, monsieur. It is the last door at the right at the end of the corridor".

Erik thanked her and walked away. He knew all too well where the manager's office was. He had watched them so many times to enter their office where, shortly before, he had left his wonderful letters in which he reminded them his salary. He smiled at the thought. As he walked closer to the door, he heard voices from inside. He took a deep breath and knock on the door.

"Come in", he heard Firmin's voice.

Erik entered the office and saw Firmin sitting at his desk.

"Bonjour Monsieur. How we can help you?", Firmin asked.

"Bonjour Monsieurs. I am Erik Destler. I sent you a letter for my arrival", Erik answered in a serious tone.

Firmin jumped from his seat so abruptly at the sound of his name.

"Monsieur Destler, welcome", Firmin said and shook the composer's hand. "Please, have a seat", he said and pointed to the empty chair in front of his desk.

Erik sat. He liked the way the managers treated him. They couldn't imagine that they were talking to the Phantom himself.

"So Monsieur Destler, when did you arrive?", Andre asked.

"I arrived today. Two hours ago to be precise", Erik answered.

"I hope you had a pleasant journey", Andre continued.

"Yes, a little tiring though. But I survived", Erik joked.

The managers laughed.

"So, I suppose that you are agreed with our proposal", Firmin asked looking Erik expectantly.

"Yes, I do. But I want to make you clear that I will stay only until the first performance. After that, I will return back. Is that understandable?" Erik asked in a serious tone.

"Of course Monsieur. Are you ready now to introduce you to our employers?", Firmin asked.

Erik nodded.

Andre opened the door.

"Shall we?"

"Mama, can't we stay a little longer outside? I don't want to go back yet", little Rosalie asked her mother with a sad frown on her face.

"I wish we could sweetheart, but we have to go back to attend the rehearsals. We don't want to face troubles with the managers, do we?", Christine asked her daughter looking her sympathetically.

"No we don't", the little girl answered.

"Besides, we can always come later", Christine said trying to make her little angel happy.

"Really? Can we mama? You don't have rehearsals in the afternoon?", Rosalie asked happily.

"No my love I will be free and we can play as much as we want, alright?" Christine asked smiling.

Rosalie nodded and her pace became quicker and livelier.

Erik was so nervous as the managers were leading the way to the auditorium where all the employers were gathered. Everything went very well so far. But now he had to be really careful. Everyone was here. He knew that the most of the staff was newly hired but still he was worried. They were close to the backstage now. He could hear whispers from the crowd. Monsieurs Firmin and Andre climbed on the stage. Erik didn't follow. His heart was pounding in his chest. Andre talked first.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. We want to thank you for being here waiting. All of you know the reason why. We are pleased to announce that Monsieur Destler has arrived in our city and we will be honored to perform and present one of his operas to the Parisian audience."

Whispers began to sound again. Everyone was talking to each other and they wondered if this famous composer was already in the Opera Populaire. Meg, who was one of the first people who arrived at the auditorium, turned to her mother.

"Mama, is he here? Monsieur Destler?"

"I don't know Meg. But I really want to know who he is. Where is Christine?"

"She and Rosalie went for a walk earlier but she was supposed to be here by now", Meg said looking behind her. Firmin was talking now but Meg wasn't hearing. She caught a glimpse of her friend beside the auditorium's main door and went to her.

"Christine where have you been? I got worried."

"I am sorry Meg but I came as fast as I could. Rosalie wanted to stay more outside but we had to return. I promised her that we will go out again in the afternoon", Christine said.

"Oh dear. She would be really sad", Meg told Christine sympathetically.

"Yes but now she is better. So, what did I miss"?

"Nothing yet. The managers are still talking about this new composer. We don't know if he is here yet. So, you didn't miss much".

Madame Giry turned around and saw the two girls chatting in the entrance. Relieved, that Christine was there, turned her attention to the managers again.

"So, let's welcome to our Opera, Monsieur Erik Destler", Firmin said and everyone broke out in a loud applause.

'It's time', Erik thought and with a deep breath, he climbed on stage. He shook hands with the managers and turned to the crowd.

Christine tiptoed on her legs trying to see this man at last but she couldn't. If he hadn't lowered his hat so much, maybe she could see his face.

"I can't see him at all", Meg said to her friend.

"Me neither" Christine answered abandoning the effort.

"Do you think that we can leave? I mean, what can he say? Besides, we will have him here for two whole months and we will see him every day", Meg said. She was already bored.

"You think? I agree but what about your mother? Don't you think that she will be bothered?", Christine asked looking worried at Madame Giry.

"I don't think so. Besides we deserve a few hours of rest", Meg told Christine laughing.

The two girls proceeded to the exit but Christine turned around and looked this mysterious man. He was familiar to her but she couldn't remember from where. Meg came closer to her the moment this composer was ready to talk.

Erik turned and looked the crowd. He was terrified but tried to calm himself so he could say something to them. He looked once more the crowd and opened his mouth.

"Thank you so much for your warm welcome….", Erik started.

On hearing these words, Christine paid her attention back to the stage.

"This voice….. No, it can not be…..", she whispered to herself.

Meg looked at her worried.

"Christine, what's wrong? Are you alright?"

"I hope to have an excellent cooperation. We will try our best to make this Opera shine again…".

Christine was pale. Meg shooked her arm but she couldn't talk.

"Christine please talk to me. You are scaring me".

She couldn't talk. That would be a very bad joke. Or one bad dream. A nightmare. Yes, that's it. A nightmare. She felt Meg touch her arm but she couldn't respond. She knew that voice too well. She couldn't be wrong.

"Christine? Say something, please".

Meg made desperate attempts to make her friend look at her. She couldn't understand what was going on.

"I expect hard work from all of you. I will not accept anything less than perfection…..", Erik continued totally ignoring the couple of eyes which looked at him.

It was him, there was no doubt. Her gaze was on him. She wasn't feeling well. The room started to spin. The ground began to subside under her feet. She started to fall into a maze of dreams without end. She heard someone call her name from far away but she couldn't talk.

His face entered her mind….

His voice flowed her ears…

Her eyes closed…..

Darkness…