Before the Phantom

An Engagement

   The young pianist let out a scream as she turned and watched the audience scramble to get out of the way.  Most made it, but an unfortunate few were pinned by the huge light.  Luckily there were no flames to chase those who ran from the chaos.  Nadette ran through the isles and reached a young woman who's leg had been pinned.  She tore away at the woman's garment, her hand catching a piece of glass as she did so.  With the help of a few others who lifted a section of the chandelier the woman was freed with nothing more than a scratch. 

Nadette glanced around the rest of the destroyed chandelier.  Others had come to the rescue of the other people who had been trapped, and were effectively freeing them. 

The woman rushed to her practice room, both appalled and worried for her friend.  What had happened?  Why had he done this?

She slid the mirror aside, making sure to shut it before she walked down the corridors.  Erik had showed her the traps, and how to avoid them, but she slowed to be sure she would not trigger them. 

As she neared the lair, she heard quite the commotion.  It sounded like there was a twister throwing things about.  Erik was angry.

She stopped just out of view of the cavern, and thought about how best to approach. Should she wait? Should she demand that he calm himself? Nadette knew he did not want to hurt her, but after years of abuse she did not know if he could control himself. The woman peeked around the edge just as she heard the sound of glass breaking.

She made a decision. Slowly, but without effort to be silent, she walked into the cavern and took a seat on the arm chair. One of his drawings of Christine was lying on the ground next to the chair, and she picked it up. To her confusion, the picture had a large tear in it.

What had Christine done to make him this furious?

Erik stormed into the room, Punjab in hand, but stopped when he realized the intruder was only Nadette. 

"Go back." He seethed.

"Is that what you want?" She questioned without emotion.

Erik only nodded, so Nadette got up and began to exit the lair.  She was almost to the corridor when she heard.

"Wait."

The woman turned, one eyebrow raised at the masked man.

"You are bleeding." He said.

The woman scoffed, "I wonder why."

She regretted her words almost immediately after saying them.  Surely this was a sore spot for him.

"I was not thinking." The man said simply.

Truth is, Erik did not want Nadette to leave, but he feared for her safety if she did not.  He knew how out of control he was, and did not want her near him until he had calmed himself.
However, when he caught a slight glimmer of something wet upon her hand, his anger dissipated.  Had he done that? Was he the cause of her pain?

"Come." He said.  The word still came out harsher than he had planned, but the woman turned around anyway, and took his outstretched hand with her good one.

Nadette watched Erik as he cleaned and bandaged her hand, noticing how tense and stiff he appeared.

"What happened?" She asked softly.

Erik stopped wrapping the bandage, seeming to freeze at her question.

"That fop proposed to Christine," he muttered, "and she accepted."

Nadette drew her hand back, rubbing the now bandaged area in an attempt to loosen it, "Ah," she replied, "and you feel betrayed."

"I gave her everything, Nadette! She has my music! My heart and my soul! Everything I have is hers! How could she deny me?" Erik spat harshly. He was truly attempting to stay calm, but it was difficult while the emotional wound was fresh.

Nadette felt a sharp pang in her chest at his words, and she dismissed it quickly. She placed her hands in her lap, and her eyes were downcast as she replied, "Oh."

"Oh?" Erik asked incredulously, "Is that all you have to say on the matter?"

"Well, I suppose if the man I loved asked another woman to marry him I would be rather upset as well." She mused.

Erik was perfectly flabbergasted. Was she not going to shout at him for his actions?

"Was anyone hurt?" He inquired quietly.

"Not seriously. Only a few cuts and bruises. I think one man twisted his ankle." Nadette once again looked at the man across from her, his head was in his hand, and he was massaging his temple with his fingers.

"Good."

"I think you need a distraction, mon ami." She said with a slightly forced smile.

"What exactly do you suggest?"

Nadette had not thought about that, "I don't know. Give me a moment and I shall think of something. I always used to think of our games, remember?"

Erik did remember, and he watched her as she traipsed about the cavern.