Music of the Masquerade

Why So Silent

   Lizzy had walked into Marie's mothers shop. It was silent as a tomb. "Marie? Anyone home?" She was then greeted by the sound of a faint coo of Marie's voice. Marie had been shot, she lay on the ground, blood seeping through her dress, and pooling around her. "Help me please...." she whispered.
Lizzy jolted awake, she saw she was in her room at Mama Vera's. She ran downstairs, and started crying and smashing things. She was distraught. She craved him. Needed him. Yearned for him. No one came to her aid, so she threw on a dress, boots, and a coat, and ran outside, the cold wind stinging her eyes.
She ran the whole 2.7 miles to the opera house, and stormed down to his lair. She got on shore, and wept the whole time when she couldn't find him. She heard the noise of water splashing nearby, but she didn't care. She was curled in the bed surrounded by her own tears. She knew that was real, it had to be.
"Elizabeth?? Please be you...." a scared voice called from the water. She sat up, and ran to the figure that grew. She ran into the freezing water, not caring, and threw her arms around the man. He returned her strong embrace, and kissed her deeply.
He was sobbing, as was she. They wept together. She needed to know it was real; she looked at her left hand. Just as before, a glimmering diamond ring rested on her finger.
He placed two fingers below her chin, getting her to look at him. She tore away his mask and hat, dropping them in the boat, and kissed him again. He had already fallen onto his knees, and she was standing in the frigid water, so they were the same height, that made it easy for her to clutch onto him.
He looked at her pale, thin frame, shivering violently in the frozen pond. He stood and carried her to the velvet arm chair, where he set her down. He ran to the large black wardrobe, and got one of her dresses he bought for her. He gave her privacy to change, and when she came back she looked warmer.
"What happened?" was all she said, and he swallowed, knowing she could hear it along with his heartbeat in his chest. He felt hollow as he began recalling the awful night that took place weeks ago.
"We went to Marie's mum's shop, seventeen days ago. She had been shot, and I heard you scream. I ran to the source of the sound, and I saw the silhouette of a cape, and your hair.
"I followed your captor, but wasn't quick enough. He disappeared into an alley, and I hung around, hoping to see you. I had some people who owed me a favor ask around, and I gathered Mme Vera had found her 'long-lost daughter'. I knew it was you, and I also knew she'd try to rid you of me.
"I'm so sorry I didn't try to find you. I'm sorry I didn't try to get to you. I'm sorry. Did you wake up before today?" She shook her head, no. "I can't remember much, but I do remember being fed applesauce twice, and some water, but that's it. I didn't know I was gone for so long. I'm so sorry." she wept into his shoulder.
"I'm so hungry...." she whispered, feeling her empty stomach. He realized it, of course! She probably hadn't eaten much more if she was unconscious most of the time.
   He took her hand and dragged her to the boat, and took her out to a restaurant; not caring for once about what people would think of him, thinking only about his soon-to-be-bride's health. They arrived at a small bistro, that was locally owned. She ordered and he had only water. Her food came out, and she ate slowly, like a lady in public, but when she and Erik were alone, she'd make him laugh by eating like a pig.
They conversed, and suddenly, a switch flipped in him. "Lizzy! My mask is in my coat! What if someone recognizes me!? I'm not exactly a secret. Everyone knows of the opera ghost!" He reached up to his face, trying to hide in his hand.
He had on his black wig, and his nice suit, with his coat and hat on the rack by the door, but no mask; just scarring. His eyes started to water, but Lizzy placed her hand atop the hand he had resting on he table. "You're fine dear. People will just assume they're battle scars,
and think you to be brave. No one will care, it's all in your head."
After her meal, they left the restaurant, happy as they were when they entered. A young schoolgirl. recognized the singer.
"Madame Clairee, êtes-vous avec le fantôme de l'opéra? Est-il votre tuteur comme il l'était pour Mme Daaé?" she asked. (Madame Clairee, are you with the opera ghost? Is he your tutor as he was for Madame Daaé?) "Oui mon cher. Êtes-vous dans l'école de ballet de l'opéra?" (Yes dear. Are you in the opera's ballet school?) "Oui! Ma maîtresse, Mme. Giry a beaucoup parlé de vous deux. (Yes! My teacher, Mme. Giry has spoken very highly of the two of you.) Eh bien, c'est très gentil. Remerciez-la pour moi. Maintenant courez, il fait de plus en plus sombre. (Well, that's very sweet. Thank her for me. Now run along, its growing dark.)
The girl ran ahead, and Erik stood looking at her with such love, and joy, she was blushing fiercely. "I want for you to be a mother." he sighed. "Even if that means you leave me-" she moved to interject, "-you need that. You need to be someone's mother. I wouldn't want to jeopardize our child with my hideousness, but if she had my passion and your beauty, don't you think that'd be amazing?"
Elizabeth looked at the man before her. Willing to give up another chance at happiness and love, so that she could be happy. Elizabeth knew though, only he could make her happy now. She needed him, he helped her more than he knew.
She reached out, and took his hands. "Darling, I told you I'd never leave didn't I?" She kissed him quickly, and then walked, leading him back to their home underground.