The Underground Music (Phantom of the Opera Fanfic)

Chapter 20: The Trial

Walking backwards, I dragged the ladder up the short flight of stairs and onto the observation platform. I set down the ladder and turned around to scrutinize the glass roof of the torture chamber. Being a roof to a place that is designed to keep prisoners in and without any means of escape, I figured that there wouldn't be a way to open one of the glass panels without having to break it. Yet, before resorting to shattering the glass roof, I thought it a worthwhile cause to see if there was another way to somehow open any of the panels.

I felt around each of the panels, searching for a latch of some kind, or possibly a handle. But, as I was expecting, I found no such thing. 

I sighed and glanced at the ladder behind me. I guess I have no choice.

I twisted my body halfway around and bent down to pick up the ladder. Facing the chamber again, I held the ladder high, positioned it about a meter directly above the glass roof, then brought my arms down with all the force I could muster.

The ladder struck right through the glass, causing the roof to shatter and crumble, and sending all of its pieces falling and then clattering against the chamber floor. I couldn't get too proud of myself, for I knew that it was only glass...and anyone could shatter glass. 

While the loud clattering of shattered glass broke my nerves, at the last moment, I felt the ladder slip through my hands.

Dread flooded my chest for a short moment that seemed like forever as I moved quickly to regain my hold on the ladder.

And when I did, I felt such a catharsis that I let out a long, thankful sigh. "That was a close one," I muttered to myself. 

My heart still pounding from the scare, I tightened my hold on the ladder and shimmied my hands to the very end of the ladder. I leaned myself and the ladder's length forward and down below where the roof used to be, until the ladder's other end touched the opposite wall of the chamber, right below the opening to the short tunnel leading to the third cellar.

I forced the end on to which I was holding downward, grating it against the wall of the chamber on my side, wedging it in place. Seeing that the ladder was now secure, I took my hands away.

Happiness swelled within me as I beheld the success of my idea. It worked! I must say, I wasn't completely expecting that...

But I couldn't test it out yet. I was going to be walking across this; so I had to be one-hundred percent sure that it would hold my weight. 

So, I leaned forward as far as I could and reached my arms as far out as they could stretch, trying my best to reach the place on the ladder where I could extent it out even further.

No luck. The tips of my fingers weren't even a fifth of the way to the other end. 

I guess I'll have to take my chances.

I began to feel so afraid that I felt sick. I tried to comfort myself. I must do this, I can do this. 

I forced myself to step up and onto the rim of where the roof used to be. Looking down at the ladder which I had secured just a short way below where I stood, I became even more sick. 

I have to do this. I can't back out now. I have to do this.

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted-

By the sound of a door opening. 

My eyes widened, and my heart started to beat so fast, I swear it was going to jump out of my chest.

"Jennifer?" The Daroga's voice called.