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

Chapter 6

The clock on the wall had chimed 4 o'clock, though no one took any notice to it, even though it was loud enough to be heard far down the row of cells. Looking through the window, you could see that the sun was beginning to set and people were making their way home. The sounds of the birds were beginning to quiet down for the evening.

Christia sat in the chair that was in the cell quietly, not moving an inch and not making a sound. The walls were of a grey stone and the door had rusty metal bars that Christia took note of. The air was not as cold as it was outside. On the bed in the cell, there was a dirty blanket neatly folded. Christia did not even touch it. Her hair was in a tattered mess from her running through the streets earlier that day.

She could hear the officers in the office near the front door talking about her, not caring that she could hear them speaking.

"She wouldn't say a single word!" One of the officers exclaimed, annoyed. "All she did was stare at us and then look away. It was like she didn't care that she assaulted someone." Christia rolled her eyes at the comment, but no word was said. Her master had told her to never make a sound if this happened to her. She abided by that, annoying the officers in the process.

"But a witness states that the man was trying to flirt with her drunk and would not leave her alone. It was self-defense." The officer explained. "Of course he left after he called for an officer."

Another officer spoke. "It isn't normal for a woman to be in here. We'll just send for her husband or guardian to come fetch her."

"Well we don't know who she belongs to since she won't say a word." The first officer explained. Christia just sat there listening to them bicker back and forth. She could also hear the door opening and closing as officers were bringing in people or were leaving for their evening rounds. She was growing sick and tired of sitting there by herself, and was bored out of her mind.

Though all she could think about was the way her master had yelled at her like that. How would he react if he had found out this happened? Would he throw her out? Never speak to her again? These questions racked her brain to where she was gripping the sides of her dress so tight, she could feel her nails press into her palms. After a moment though, she looked around again.

"What does a girl have to do to get out of here?" She thought to herself. Looking around the cell again, she took note of a way out in case they kept her there for the night. "The bars are rusty, I could possibly find something to cut through them." As she thought to herself, she noticed one of the officers staring at her. She thought he knew what she was thinking about doing, but he was giving her a look like he had seen her from somewhere but wasn't sure where. He looked roughly the age of 30, maybe 35. He had bright blonde hair that was thinning on the top. His uniform was clean and he was well shaven.

After a moment, he turned away to the desk. She watched him intently open the drawer and put out a photo. She could see through the paper and it stated about a "missing person". He looked at her again and then at the paper.

"Constable?" The officer spoke. "I believe I might know who she is." The officer sitting at the desk looked up at him confused.

"Well speak up, who is she?"

"Do you recall the DeChaney case ten years ago?" The officer who was holding the paper asked.

"Yes I recall. That father was as mad as a dog that we couldn't find his daughter and became even angrier when we thought we had found her and it was the wrong child." The officer stopped at looked at Christia and turned away. "Why do you think it is her?" The other officer held up the paper. It had the picture of a child who looked to be the age of six. The officers studied it carefully and looked to Christia who was now staring back at them with cold eyes.