A Song In The Dark

Opening Night

"The De Changy's!" Ada gasped when Erik told her the name. Erik nodded, "She said her father was disowned by the family when he fell in love with a servient girl. He was Raoul's older brother."
Erik explained, "I didn't know he had an older brother." Ada said with wide eyes. "Two actually Philippe and then the oldest Mary's father." Erik paused and then continued with a sigh, "Philippe died searching for me when the mob came."

Ada looked down "I was going to show you this," she sighed. "Raoul and Christine just purchased tickets to the opening night. Erik we have to tell them about her they have legal rights to her."
"Dam the law." Erik growled. "That Fop will take Mary just because of me." Erik hissed tearing up the paper his face full of disgust towards the fop.

The day's leading up to opening night merged together. The de Changy's stayed in the opera house Erik made sure to stay hidden from them. Which wasn't hard since Raoul wouldn't let Christine move about the play house.
Opening night was here and he couldn't hide any longer Erik waited for his cue to come up and give his speech for the opening night ceremony. "Are you going to be ok?" Ada asked her hand resting on her belly. Erik nodded leaning against a prop. "I think so"

"If he tries to turn me in and Take Mary." Ada grasped Erik's hand. "You will figure something out. You always do." His cue came and with a deep breath he walked out onstage forcing a smile. The crowd clapped for him giving him confidence. "Thank you. As most of you know I came here from France to live the 'American Dream.'" He spotted raoul and Christine in the box Raoul was standing up his face full of hate Christine's jaw was dropped in shock.
"I'd like to thank everyone who has helped me pursue my dreams.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me financially. And to my wife who is keeping me sane." The crowd chuckled and Erik spotted Ada blush. "I hope you all enjoy the opera." Erik bowed and the opening song started.

Erik excited the stage dodging the dancers who were scurrying to their places the room was now empty the whole cast on stage. "Well, well, well so we meet again." A familiar hiss sounded behind Erik. His heart stopped, "De Changy, I have nothing to say to you." Erik attempted to move but Raoul had stepped in blocking his path.
"You're the reason my brother is dead, why my dear Christine is unhappy and why my life is in shambles. A demon like you does not deserve this glory."

Raoul threw Erik against the shelves backstage props fell onto the floor shattering. "I don't want to fight." Erik told him calmly, Raoul threw him against the shelves again. Erik stood up once more, this time coming face to face with the barrel of Raouls gun between his eyes. Erik's heart stopped, "Raoul, you are not a killer. You have a wife that you love, a child. You are not a monster like me." Erik calmly stated in attempt to cool the man's fiery rage.

Mary came into view behind Raoul her eyes as wide as saucers her hands over her mouth muffling her scream of shock and fright for the man she had come to view as a father.

Erik breathed slowly as the barrel moved closer.
"You're a madman! A murder! Nothin but a circus freak you deserve to be back in that prison to rot."
Raoul flicked the gun knocking off Erik's mask and wig the sound of the porcelain shattering sounded the room. Mary gasped seeing his face for the first time, "go ahead! Attack me give me a reason to kill you!" Raoul growled trying to kindle the coals of rage he knew were in Erik.
Everything inside Erik screamed telling him to attack the arrogant boy but he stood still. "You are not a killer." He told him again his voice shaking in fear slightly as he silently prayed that he was wrong.

De Changy threw Erik into the shelves for a third time this time Erik's head slammed into a prop. A shot of pain rocketed through him he could smell blood as he struggled to stand back up using the shelves as support. "Mr. Y." Mary cried running to him. "Raoul!" Christine screamed before everything went black.