The Phantom's Daughter (Book 2)

Prologue

13 year old Elise and her father crept through the streets of Paris late one night.
They were following Madame Giry and her daughter Meg, towards the docks.
Elise's guardian had found a way to get them out of France, by sneaking them across the sea to America.
After he killed Piangi, a man hunt had begun, as everyone began looking for Elise's father; Erik, otherwise known as the Phantom of the Opera.
Elise had given up everything to remain at his side, and the people of Paris now believed that she had been kidnapped by the phantom, so she could no longer walk about town freely during the day.
She carried all her belongings in a small bag, which was fine for her as she didn't actually own many things.

Elise had grown up in the ballet house with her guardian Madame Giry, and her best friend Meg.
Madame Giry had lied to the world, claiming that Elise was her orphaned niece.
But after recent events at the Opera Populaire, Madame Giry had been forced to reveal the truth about Elise's parentage, to Meg.
Their other friend, Christine Daae, had married the Vicomte de Chagney, a few days before. And since Elise was a missing person she had been unable to attend the ceremony, but that didn't stop her and her father watching from the shadows as the happy couple exited the church.

"Are you sure about this?" Asked Elise.
"Don't you trust me?" Questioned Madame Giry.
"Of course I do. I'm just not sure about this idea. I mean, we don't know anything about America. I don't even speak English that well" admitted Elise.
"You will learn. You are still young, so I'm sure you will be able to adapt. Besides, you cannot stay here any longer, it is too dangerous. The police are still searching for you both, so it is best that we all leave France".

Elise looked over her shoulder at her father who was walking silently behind her.
"Why America, it is so far away? Why can't we move somewhere closer?" Complained Elise.
"The further away, the better. America is so big, that we don't have to worry about being recognised" replied Madame Giry.
"Are you sure you want to come with us? You have a whole life here in Paris, do you really want to give all that up?"
"It is not a question of want. It is something I have to do. You two won't get very far without me. I have raised you since you were a tiny baby, and I'm not about to let you go halfway across the world without me. Besides, after what happened, I'm not sure I have a career here anymore".

Meg laced her arm through Elise's, "Think of it as a big new adventure".
"Im scared" admitted Elise.
"Me too. But that's what makes an adventure so exciting. There is a whole new life waiting for us in America, that is why they call it the new world afterall" smiled Meg.
"I guess. I did kind of like our life here though"
"Me too. But who knows, maybe in this new world, me and you can be the stars. Christine found her fame and her prince Charming, so it's our turn to experience those things".

"Im glad that I will have you by my side. When I chose to join my father, I thought I was saying goodbye to you as well. So I'm glad that we get to go on this journey together" grinned Elise.
"I was surprised when mum told me who you really where, and what you'd decided to do. I thought I lost you forever. So I'm so happy that we found where you were hiding. Nothing will ever separate us from now on" Meg replied firmly.
"I hope not. But we will just have to wait and see what the future holds" sighed Elise.