Phantom

I tiptoed into the basement of the opera house. I wanted to see the phantom. I wanted to make sure no one got hurt.

When I got down to the basement I found that Christian and Raoul had already left. The phantom was kneeling in a corner with his face in his hands.

I walked over to where he was and gently touched the back of his hands. He quivered and cried out, " I told you to leave, Christian!"

"I am not Christian," I replied.

"Then who are you?" He asked with his hands still on his face.

"My name is Meg. I am one of the dancers in the Opera house."

" I have seen you dance. You ... you are very good."

He was sobbing with his hands still covering his face.

" We should have a proper conversation." I said as I pushed his hands away from his face.

He stiffened and clamped his hands over his head.

" No. I can't go through this again. When you see my face you will just run away like everyone else. You will find someone better and go and live a better life. A real life."

I had already seen his face. It was years ago when I first started as a dancer. I saw him talking with my mother, Madame Giry. I thought I was going insane and if I told anyone I would lose my job. Now I know I was not going insane.

" I am not like the others. I will not run away. I promise." I said.

The phantom slowly lifted his head from his hands and stared at me. I stared back at him but not in the horrific way like most people would. I was taking it all in because I knew that as soon as he got a chance he would put his mask on again.

"What's your name?" I asked

" No one has every asked me my name." He said, " People have always called me a phantom, a murderer, a deformity, or recently an angle of death."

"I want to know you. " I exclaimed, "Not the phantom or the murderer or the deformity or the angle of death. I want to know the real you!"

He simply replied, "My name is Erik."

He sighed and the silence lingered between us. I finally brought myself to break it

"The police are probably searching for you. We need to leave."

"Where will we go?" He asked with a quizzing look.

" Where they would least expect you," I replied, "With me. Take your music and anything else you want."

Just as I expected he asked me one more question.

"Do you have my mask?"

I sighed. I didn't want him to put the mask on but I understood.

"Yes," I replied.

I reluctantly handed him the mask. His swiftly put it on, smoothed his coal black hair, and sprang to his feet. Erik seemed to have regained his confidence as soon as he had his mask back.

He swept his stacks of music sheets together and grabbed my wrist. Before I could blink, we were standing outside on the street. Erik was still holding my wrist and I looked over to see him staring at me. My heart leaped.

"Where do we go from here?" He asked while pulling an big black hat out of his coat. I don't know why he was trying so hard to hide. I was a little more than conspicuous in my white ballet shoes and tutu.

"Meg?"

I looked back at him to find that he was staring at me again. My mind cleared itself.

"Umm.... This way." I said pulling him to an alley.