The Phantom's Daughter (Book 2)

Manhunt

Since Christine was the last person to perform that evening, by the time Elise returned to the theatre, the show had finished. So she had to turn around and head to Christine's suite.
When she arrived she found Christine and Erik locked in each other's embrace.
After clearing her throat to announce her arrival, she made her way into the room.
"You were amazing Christine, really amazing, and I'm sorry to bring the mood down, but I have a letter from Raoul" revealed Elise.
Christine took the letter from Elise and began to read it.
"He- he's gone" mumbled Christine.
Erik took the letter from her and read it, a smile creeping onto his face.

"What does it say?" Asked Elise curiously.
"He says that he's sorry for the way he's acted, and that he wants me to be happy, which is why he's leaving. He says that my angel of music can watch over me now" answered Christine.
Elise knew that Raoul had bent the truth slightly, as the real reason he was leaving was because he had lost the bet he'd made with Erik.
"Well, hopefully this can be a new start for all of us" replied Elise, knowing that this meant she would have to leave soon, as there was no place for her in Erik and Christine's family.

"Yes... Gustave. Oh my God, Gustave!" Gasped Christine.
"What's wrong?" Questioned Erik, his face suddenly full of concern for his son.
"He was meant to meet me here after the show, but he's not here, and I didn't see him backstage when we left the theatre either. Where could he have gone?" Asked Christine nervously.
"It's that idiot Raoul. Oh, I'll kill that drunken fool. How dare he take this child, a child that isn't his" said Erik angrily.
He grabbed hold of Christine's hand and began pulling her from the room, summoning his trio of servants as they ran, before Elise could stop him.

"Mr Squelch, seal the port, and block every road. Call in every favor that I'm owed to get this done. I'll be dammed if he leaves this island" ordered Erik, once they were all in his office.
"No, you don't have to do that" interjected Elise.
"And why not?" Demanded Erik.
"Because I saw Raoul leave. How else do you think I got the letter from him? Trust me, he left alone" replied Elise.
"She's right, I saw it with my own eyes sir. The Vicomte got in a carriage and left Phantasma. There was no one else with him" added Mr Squelch.

"Then where is the boy?" Questioned Erik.
"I don't know. Was there anyone else backstage who might have taken him?" Asked Dr Gangle.
"Yes" mumbled Erik.
"Who?"
"Madame Giry she was there, and she made a comment to me, that I didn't understand at the time. She must have taken him. The ungrateful back biting snake. Go now quickly and track her down, bring the boy back safe and sound. Then I'll tear her limb from limb".
The trio nodded and left the room, intent on finding Madame Giry.
"Are you sure about this? Madame Giry is like a mother to me. Despite everything you've done, I can't see her kidnapping Gustave just to get back at you" admitted Elise.

"You seem to know more than you're saying. Why would she want to get back at me?" Questioned Erik.
Elise sighed and shook her head, "You wouldn't understand".
Her father didn't know about the things Meg had done, and what she had sacrificed for him.
"Don't test me Elise, not when Gustave's life is on the line" snapped Erik.
Christine placed her arm onto Erik's arm, calming him slightly.
"Please, just tell us what you know" begged Christine.
Elise couldn't refuse a mother who was worried for her son's wellbeing, so she had no choice but to answer.
"She was angry at the way you've cast us all aside, to make room for your new family. And she was even angrier when you didn't bother to watch Meg's performance tonight, after all the hard work Meg put in to make it perfect for you. All Meg wants is your praise and attention, and you've denied her both of those things" revealed Elise.

A commotion outside stopped Erik from replying, and they all looked to the door as the circus trio escourted Madame Giry into the room.
"How dare your minions manhandle me in this manner. What is the meaning of this?" Demanded Madame Giry angrily.
"The boy woman. What have you done with him?" Questioned Erik.
"The boy, you think I took the boy. Why would I do such a thing? Do you think that I don't know who he is" snapped Madame Giry as she glared at Erik, and shook herself free of Mr Squelch's grasp.
"All these years, who has been faithful more than I? No one!" Continued Madame Giry.
"Giry!"
"After all these years of being by your side, how can you think that I'd hurt that child?"
"Giry, my patience is running dry".

"All these years I've put your wellbeing above everyone else. I've been a mother to you, Christine and Elise, and loved you as much as my own daughter" reminded Madame Giry.
"Enough!" warned Erik.
"Do you think I don't know how much it hurts to see ones one child brought to harm?".
Erik looked to Madame Giry and realised that she was telling the truth. They had known each other too long, to ever betray one another.
"If you didn't take him, then who did?" Erik asked quietly.

"Sir" started Miss Fleck as she left her companions to join those in the middle of the room.
"Yes?" Questioned Erik.
"Earlier, while searching for Madame Giry, I saw something" revealed Miss Fleck.
"Go on"
"I passed Meg's dressing room, and it was empty as a tomb. But her mirror was smashed, and all in pieces on the floor".
"Meg" mumbled Elise.
"Oh no" gasped Madame Giry.
"Then I saw her down the hall, pulling somone pale and small. And she looked all about, before disappearing out the door" Miss Fleck revealed.

"God I left her so distraught, who knows what was going through her head while I was gone... I'm afraid she's come undone. There's only so much pain one person can take afterall. But Meg won't hurt him, she'd never hurt a soul" admitted Madame Giry.
"We must find them, and quickly" announced Erik.
"In that crowd. There are thousands of people out there" reminded Madame Giry.
"My poor Gustave" trembled Christine.
"I think I know where they might have gone" admitted Elise.
"How?" Questioned Erik.
"Meg is like a sister to me. She knows where my favourite places to go are, and I know her's. I think she's headed to the pier"
"Then we need to stop her before she gets that far. Let's get going".