The Phantom of the Opera: Phantom's Apprentice (Complete)

Chapter 5

The streets bustled with people. Stores were packed of them trying to do their afternoon shopping. The air was cold and small piles of snow covered the ground. Children were seen running and throwing handfuls of snow at each other. The air was also filled with the smell of Christmas pies, and other pastries being baked in bakeries and Christmas candy being made in the window for children to see and long for on Christmas day.

Christia paid no attention to them or anyone. Her eyes were filled with tears and her heart was filled with fear. Her hair was in disarray, but she didn't care. She stood against a wall of a random building she was passing as she bolted out of the entrance to the home. She breathed heavy breathes from running. Her chest hurt from the cold, and she needed to take a rest. The cold didn't help because she was shivering since she only took her cloak when she ran out. No gloves or a hat. She just wanted to get out of there. The tone of her master had terrified her. She could still hear his yelling in her ears.

"Why would he yell like that?" She thought to herself. Her master had never yelled at her like that before. Only once when she was very young and interrupted him from his composing. That was the only other time, but this time it was worse. This time, she was absolutely frightened of him. "How can I return with him like that?" Tears continued to form in her eyes and fall like waterfalls. People passing by gave quick glances or looks of concern but she didn't pay any attention to it. Her mind was elsewhere.

The time she spent against that wall felt like hours when it was only minutes. Tears were no longer falling but she still wept inside. Her breathing no longer hurt, but her heart was still pounding. In her mind she began to think about what Meg had said to her earlier that day.

"Phantom of the Opera," she said to herself. The name rang off her tongue as if it were musical. "I wonder if she could tell me more." Saying this, she removed herself from the wall and began to quickly walk down the street to the dance school. "Madam Giry and Meg should still be there."

With the school only being right around the corner, she quickly walked up the steps, and went to open the door. But it was locked. Confused, Christia noticed a sign on the window.

"Will be back shortly," it read in a bold lettering. Reading it over and looking through the window, she confirmed that no one was inside. Being able to see the clock inside, the time read 4:30.

"I guess I could just wait for them here then." Christia spoke to herself. Going down the steps, she sat on a nearby bench. The wood on the bench was cold and it went through her dress. Shivering at the touch, she kept herself straight and observed the people around her. Her master had always told her to be aware of the people around her in case something was to happen and she had to get away. Many of the people passing by were women doing their afternoon market shopping and carried baskets filled with food and bottles. Some even were carrying parcels wrapped in bows. "Typical holiday season," Christia spoke aloud to herself, not exactly caring for the upcoming holiday.

"You could say that again my dear," a voice spoke up from next to her. Looking towards the voice, she had realized a man had taken a seat on the bench next to her. He was wearing a grey business suit and a black top hat. He had a light brown mustache that covered his entire upper lip. He looked to be in his mid to late 30's. "But it is a wonderful time." Christia nodded, not caring for conversation, and wishing to wait quietly for Madam Giry and Meg to return from where ever they were. "But what I have to ask is," he continued, "if what is a lovely young lady like you doing by herself?" Christia knew that he would continue to persist but she knew how to act. Turning towards him, she responded,

"I'm sorry but it is none of your business what I am doing here alone," giving the tone that said 'I don't wish to be bothered and leave me alone'. Turning her head back around forward, she looked to see if Madam Giry was coming down the street, but the only people she saw were the afternoon shoppers. She felt the bench lighten as if the man got up and left. But to her dismay, he was now even closer. He was to a point where, he was touching her hip.

"Now there is no need to be rude young lady." He spoke, in a tone that Christia did not like. "How old are you?" Christia could smell alcohol on his breath and it made her gagged when the scent went up her nostrils. She then felt him lightly place his hand on her leg. "I don't bite." He began to lean in closer.

"Well good sir," Christia began to say, lifting her hand behind his head. "I do!" With that she, rose from the bench, slamming his face into where she was sitting. He let out a loud cry to where you could hear it from the next street. Christia began to walk away as she began to hear,

"I've been assaulted!" Turning around, she saw that he now had a bloody nose and was pointing in her direction. Behind him, she could see a policeman coming their way. "I was just minding my business and she attacked me! Look!" He showed the bloody nose to the guard. With this Christia began to dart down the street, hearing the whistle being blown for others to come after her.

Being careful not to hit anyone, she swiftly slid passed them, attempting to get out of the guards view and to safety. The cold did not help, since it made it hard for her to breathe as she ran. People stared as she darted passed and the guard right behind her.

"If I could just get to the secret entrance, I should be fine." She thought to herself. It felt like she had been running forever and the guard was still chasing her. After a moment, she saw another guard trying to cut her off, but she learned well from her master. Looking to her right, she saw an alley. Within a blink of a second, she changed course, and pivoted to the right. This caused the guards to nearly collide into each other. Christia didn't stop, and kept going. It would take longer to get home, but whatever she had to do to get away from the guards had to be first. Though unbeknownst to her was that she was trapped and ran right into a guard at the end of the alley.