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

Chapter 7

Pacing back and forth, the clock chimes the hour of 11. Christia's master clenches his fists tighter in aggravation and worry. His mask was not on at the moment but was ready if she came back to place it back on. He had been pacing for almost an hour now, looking to the entrance from time to time.

"She should be home by now. She is never out this late," he spoke aloud. It had been hours since he had yelled at her and he regretted it deeply. "I am such a fool!" He felt a chill up his spine about what could have happened to her. "Maybe she was taken or hit by a carriage." After thinking this, he rolled his eyes. "I taught her too well. She would know exactly how to get out of those situations." Something had happened before and she was able to get away before any type of authority could even apprehend her.

He continued to pace back and forth while the clocked continued to tick the next few minutes. His heart pounded in his chest. Looking over to the organ, the music Christia was playing was still sitting on the stand, wide open to the song. The notes stood out as if they were alive and Christia's master turned his head away. His heart could not bear to even take one look at it again.

"How could she have found it?" Looking to the shelf where the sheet music was kept, he remembered keeping it at the very top and also saw other papers that were on the top shelf had been scattered on the floor near the shelf. "She could have been reaching for a book up there and it fell by accident." He was usually more careful. Diverting this from his mind, he contemplated whether or not to go after Christia or not. He felt he terrified her to never coming home again. It only happened once but she never left home because of it. "She could have chosen to leave." He remembered telling her when she was ready, she could leave and go out into the world and be with all the other people. "She could have made her decision," he spoke, almost crying. The thought of the one thing he held onto for so many years could leave him alone once more.

"I wouldn't think that exactly," a voice spoke from behind him. Without hesitation he quickly placed the mask back on and turned around. Standing in the doorway was Madam Giry. She had an anxious look on her face as if she was not supposed to be there. She wore a dark blue dress and a dark cloak over it. Her grey hair sat on the top of her head in a neat bun.

Christia's master's face went from worried to angry.

"I have told you, never to come here!" He exclaimed. "That was all that I asked of you and your daughter!" He got close to Madam Giry as if to strike her, but he stopped short a few feet. Madam Giry could see his frustration but stayed completely calm, giving him her normal stern look.

"I am aware that I am not to be here, but I felt it was necessary." She spoke calmly, walking towards the organ. "It is about Christia." The master looked to her with eager eyes. "I saw her today."

"Where is she now? Is she safe?" He asked, worried and eager to know if Christia was alright. "Why hasn't she come home?"

"There was an incident near my dance school, and when I was coming back I noticed a commotion and Christia was running. Police were coming after her," Madam Giry explained. "I followed the officers to the police station where they kept her, but before I could go in and attempt to have her released, I overheard them state that she was a child who had been missing for ten years."

"Ten years?" The master spoke. Christia had been with him for ten years so it could not have been a coincidence. "Did they say who she was?" He asked eagerly. Looking to Madam Giry to give him an answer, she only turned her head away. She did not wish to tell him who she was. In frustration he grabbed Madam Giry by the shoulders and forced her to face him. "Who is she?"

"After a while, they brought in a couple. Monsieur, she is none other than the daughter of your beloved Christine." She spoke slowly. He released his grip on her shoulders and turned away. "I did not want to tell you, but you love that girl so much. If you knew, I was afraid you would do something drastic. Besides, Christia had no memory of them. I heard them in the station. She did all she could to come back." The master banged his hand on the table in anger. "The constable would not hear of her returning here. She was forced." Christia's master was no longer listening to Madam Giry's words.

'She was her daughter,' he thought to himself. 'I should have known,' but what had angered him was that Madam Giry could have known for all that time but never said a thing.

"You knew for ten years who Christia was?" He asked confused and angry. "You knew she was Christine's child and never said a word!"

"I wasn't sure about it. I did not wish to make assumptions. Nonetheless, she is now with her and Raul." Madam Giry became silent for a time, then spoke again. "You know if you choose to go after her, Christine would do whatever it took to keep a hold of her, and not just her, but Raul as well."

The Master stood there pondering for a moment, before turning to Madam Giry.

"Where is she now?"

"They have an estate a few hours from here." Madam Giry gave a face of concern. "You are not planning to get her back are you?"

"I told Christia that she had a choice. When she was ready, she could leave here and be a part of the world. This is something she will need to choose." Saying this, he grabbed for his cloak off the chair, making his way to the entrance. "I want to see her. Before she makes that choice. You will show me where this house is." Madam Giry looked to the floor, knowing the great risk he was taking, but that nothing would stop him from reaching his goal.

"I will take you, but after that you are on your own." She responded to him. He nodded, grabbing his cloak and gesturing her out of the home and out into the city.