Little Phantom on Adventure

Emma

Christine knew as soon as her daughter was born that she wasn't Raoul's. She knew she should get up that instant, get the child far away, and tell her husband that it had died.She almost did.She did not go far, merely to a place that was familiar to her from her past.The Opera Populaire. She wondered if he still lived there; it had burned down. She wandered through the corridors first, but there were no signs of life. She continued until she came to her old dressing room, untouched by the fire. On the desk lay a rose, an unpleasant sight for the young woman. She clutched her daughter tighter in her arms. A single red rose tied with a black ribbon. Christine knew this was the mark of the Phantom. He was here; did he know that she was too?She lit a torch, making her way through the very mirror he had taken her through on her first visit to his lair. She believed that the boat would be on the other side of the lake, and was surprised to find it floating gently right in front of her. She gathered her courage and strength, knowing she needed both to face Erik again. She placed her little girl in the boat, wrapped tightly in a white blanket, and steered it to the other side. As she reached the far bank her breath hitched in her throat: the lair was exactly as she had remembered it. Perhaps Erik wasn't home..."Chr-Christine?" It wasn't like him to stutter; he was normally so cold and controlled. Except when he lost his temper."Hi, Erik," Christine said, planning her escape. She felt uneasy in his presence. She placed the child on the table, softly stroking her cheek. Then she met Erik's gaze again. "She's yours, if you want her. Raoul would kill her if he found her."

She turned around, facing away from him. He had kidnapped her, twice! "Thank you, Christine," he said, and walked toward her. She was relieved when he stopped, but her heart skipped a beat when he picked up the child, her child. She knew that she had given her daughter to him, but she couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor girl. She had to grow up with only a monster for company. Hopefully he would be gentler with her than he had been with Christine.

"Goodbye, Erik," was all she said before turning her back on his underground world, leaving father and daughter alone.

Erik took the girl's tiny hand, holding it gently in his bigger one that smelt of death. "Hello, little one," he cooed, and realized that Christine had not given her a name. "Hello...Emma," he said, pleased with the name. He carried the young girl to a spare bedroom where a crib was already waiting. He had known that Christine was pregnant with his child, and had prepared in case she gave it to him. Even her feeding was taken care of; Madame Giry would help with that. "Goodnight, little one." He switched off the light, closing the door silently.