Erik

Christine came home shaking. She looked pale and terrified.

I immediately rushed towards her and took her into my arms. She let out a choked gasp and snuggled into my embrace. "Oh, Erik!" She whimpered, pulling my arms tighter around her. "What's the matter, love?" I cooed, stroking her face. "He-he t-touched m-me." She stuttered, near tears.

"Who touched you?!" I asked, enraged. Who would dare touch my Christine?! They would pay with a broken neck.

"J-Joseph B-Buquet." She trembled in my arms. "Did he do anything besides touching you?" I asked. "N-No. Mme. Giry happened u-upon us. Then I-I made my escape." She said in the softest voice. She trembled like a little rabbit who has been tormented by a fox.

I pulled her closer, stroking her perfect face and curls. "Tell me what happened, dear." I whispered, "It will help you."

"O-okay." She replied and began her horrible tale.

"I was w-walking back home after the first rehearsal for Don Juan Triumphant. Apparently, I t-took a wrong turn. J-Joseph f-found me, asked what I was doing. He wanted to know how I had come upon him, how he had b-been b-b-blessed w-with m-meeting s-such a s-stun-n-ing c-creature. I d-didn't understand what he meant, and aced what he meant. He th-then t-took h-hold o-of me. He-he caressed me! Touched my nose, told me how lovely I was. He grinned as I shivered with fright. Oh, Erik, I was so terrified. I tried t-to call out because I hated him holding me. Then he put one of his filthy hands over my mouth. He told me that if I didn't his he would give me pain. I was silent after that. He touched my lips, and stroked my chin, all the while wearing this hideous grin. He said I would enjoy this! I began to cry, and he began taking off my dress.

That was when Mme. Giry happened upon us. Oh, Erik I had never been so thankful to see her! She separated us and yelled at Joseph Buquet, saying that if our new Manager—You—ever found out, you'd use your lasso on him. Joseph didn't look sorry at all and Mme. Giry rushed me to where I needed to go, and told me not not to tell anyone of this." Then, my angel broke down and began sobbing. "Oh, Erik! I was s-so scared! I di-didn't know what to do!" She sobbed as she clung to me. I held her close in my arms, murmuring how she was safe now and that I would never let any one hurt her. I nearly told her I loved her.

She seemed comforted, at least a little bit.

"Erik! D-don't leave m-me!" She cried, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Of course, Mon Angé. Any thing you wish. I am so sorry that happened to you. I need to do something about that. I must make sure that......that he never does what he did to you ever again. He will regret it." I vowed. "Erik, d-don't kill him, p-please." She begged. "he deserves it." I replied. "May-haps, b-but y-you need not kill him to teach him a lesson. Besides, do you want his death on your hands?" She asked. "I suppose not. But he will still pay." Christine nodded in agreement.

"Erik, can you sing to me? I feel I cannot sleep unless you do so." She looked at me, her eyes wide and pleading. "Of course."

"~Night time sharpens,

Heightens each sensation....

Darkness stirs

and wakes imagination......

Silently the senses,

Abandon their defences,

Helpless to resist

The notes I write...

For I compose

The Music of the Night....

Slowly, gently,

Night unfurls its splendour,

Grasp it,

Sense it-

Tremulous and tender...

Hearing is believing

Music is deceiving

Hard as lightning

Soft as candlelight!

Dare you trust

The Music of the Night......

Close your eyes,

For your will only tell the truth

And the truth

Isn't what you want to see!

In the dark

It is easy to pretend

That the truth

Is what it ought to be....

Softly, deftly,

Music shall caress you......

Hear it, feel it

Secretly posses you.....

Open up your mind,

Let your fantasies unwind

In this darkness which

You know you cannot fight-

The darkness of

The Music of the Night!

Close your eyes

Start a journey through a

Strange new world!

Leave all thoughts

of the world

You knew before!

Close your eyes

And let music set you free!

Only then,

Can you belong to me.....

Floating, falling......

Sweet intoxication!

Touch me, trust me,

Savour each sensation....

Let the dream

Begin,

Let your darker side

Give in

To the power of

The music that I write—

The power of

The Music of the Night!

You alone

Can make my song take flight....

Help me make

The Music of the Night......~"

Christine was asleep and clutching me by the time I had finished singing. I carefully disentangled myself from her and left the house. I had a score to settle.

Joseph Buquet was not that hard to find, he was chasing some other petit rat when I found him. "Going somewhere?" I hissed. He turned around and looked everywhere for the voice's owner. Stupid man.

"You'll not find me by looking, Joseph Buquet. I am everywhere and nowhere. You know me, yes?" I asked softly, dangerously. "W-who are you?" He snapped, frantically looking around. "I am someone who does not appreciate you touching innocent girls." I snapped. "H-how do you know that?" He cowered in a corner. "I know everything. I also do not appreciate you touching my Christine, or giving my Opera House a bad reputation."

"I know who you are! You are the Opera Ghost!" He exclaimed terrified.

"You shall have to pay for your crimes. Did you know that in some countries if a man steals his hands are cut off? Or if he rapes..." I trailed.

Buquet's eyes bulged. "I know, how horrible! Though, then again, not really." "Please! D-don't hurt me!" He whimpered. "I imagine that is what your helpless victims say." I snapped. "N-no!" He cried, falling to his knees. "Y-yes!" I mocked his pitifulness. And in a flash I had stabbed him twice, cutting off a piece of horrid flesh.

"I want you out of my Opera House by morning or I shall find you and you will not come out of it alive. Are we clear?" I threatened. "Y-yes!" He cried, curled up in a ball.

"Good." I said, before going back home.

"ERIK!!!!" Christine cried when she saw me. Her hair was wild, her eyes red, huge and filled with tears. She rushed forward and began to cry again. "I-I th-thought y-you'd l-left me for good! Oh, Erik! N-never do that to me, ever again! Promise me!" She sobbed, clinging to me.

"I am so sorry, darling. I left for but a minute." I cooed, stroking her face over and over. "No! It was longer!" She sobbed. "Come, let us go to bed. I'll not leave you, I promise." I whispered, carrying her to bed. "Sleep with me." She commanded. "Of course, love." I murmured, lying on top of the sheets beside her.

"In the sheets!" Christine murmured. I complied and she wrapped her arms around me, placing her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, resting my hands on the small of her back.

I praised my good fortune, wishing that it would continue.