Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

The audience applauded as the curtain closed after the performance had ended. Erik applauded as well, but only out of politeness. The performance wasn’t really one of his favorites, and Carlotta being the star didn’t make it any better for him. Anna seemed to have enjoyed it though, since she was clapping more enthusiastically than he was. The sight of that brought a smile to Erik’s lips.
Soon, the people in the audience began to leave their seats and slowly empty the theatre. Anna stood up and looked down at him.
“The show is over, Erik.” She smiled. “We can go, now.”
Erik shook his head. “I usually wait until the theatre is completely empty before I leave my seat. I don’t want to be seen.”
“If you say so.” She sat back down beside him. “I’ll wait here with you.”
“You don’t necessarily have to stay with me, Anna.” Erik said. “You can go back to your dressing room if you like. I don’t want to be a bother.”
Anna shook her head. “It’s fine. I don’t mind at all. I rather enjoy spending time with you, Erik. You’re fun to be around.”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “You consider me fun?” He laughed a bit. “I’m probably the exact opposite of that. But, thank you for the compliment.”
Anna rolled her ocean blue eyes. “Anytime, Erik. Anytime at all.”
Erik sighed and continued to sit in silence, waiting in agony for the theatre to finally empty. But mostly, he was eager to find Madame Giry and speak with her. He knew it was a big step to make his presence known to others, but he trusted Madame Giry. After all, she was the reason he was here, and not part of some Gypsy Freak Show. He owed her his life.
After some time, the theatre finally emptied and Erik led the way back through the empty halls and down the stairs. It was pure luck that there was no one in the halls at this time. Erik could roam through the theatre and not have to worry about being spotted.
When they reached her dressing room, Anna stopped by the door and gave Erik a smile.
“Thank you for a lovely night, Erik. I had a great time.”
Erik shrugged, his black cape billowing. “I don’t quite see how sitting next to me in silence for a few hours is considered having a great time, but you’re welcome. I had a great time too.”
Anna laughed a bit, and with one last smile, disappeared behind her dressing room door. Erik sighed, and with one final glance at her dressing room door, walked down the dark halls towards Madame Giry’s quarters. He had much to talk about.

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Madame Giry sighed with exhaustion as she walked down the dark halls towards her dressing room. Tonight’s Gala had been a success, and she was more than relieved that it was over and done with. Now, all she could do was relax.
Finally reaching her dressing room, Madame Giry opened the wooden door and stepped inside. Her room was dark, so she had to be very careful as she slowly crossed the room towards her dresser. Lighting a few candles, the room finally came into clear view. She didn’t seem to notice the dark shadow sitting on one of her chairs.
“Good evening, Madame Giry. How nice to see you again.” Came a man’s voice she was all too familiar with.
She jumped back with a gasp when Erik came into full view. He was lounging back on one of her chairs, one leg crossed over the other. His black cape was spread out over the back of the chair, which strangely reminded Madame Giry of black angel wings. He gave her a small smirk, his sharp green eyes gleaming.
“I see you did not expect to see me.” Erik said.
“No, I did not,” she admitted, having finally recovered from the shock of finding him in her room. “I thought you’d never return.”
“I was only gone a year. How is Meg?” he asked abruptly. “I never got around to congratulating you on her good fortune. She married a baron, didn’t she?”
“That is correct. She’s just recently become the mother of a little girl.” She sighed. “Erik, why are you here? I know as well as you do that chatting about my family isn’t your only reason for this quaint, little meeting.”
Erik stated without preamble. “I need you to answer a few questions for me.”
“What kind of questions?” Madame Giry asked uneasily. This didn’t sound good. Not good at all.
“Questions about Annabelle Hart.” He said. “You seem to like her very much.”
Madame Giry save a weary sigh, sitting down on the chair in front of him. She had been expecting this conversation to pop up sooner or later “Alright, Erik. What do you want to know?”
Erik leaned in towards her. “Why is she so lonely? I’ve heard her in her room at night, crying to herself. How can a woman like her be so sad?”
Madame Giry frowned. “Miss Hart has never shown any signs of sadness around me.”
“Not true.” Erik stated. “She has not only shown it to you, but to the entire theater. Her song, the one she sang this afternoon, it was an expression of her loneliness. Didn’t you listen to the words?”
Madame Giry shrugged. “Not really. I was too captivated by her voice. She has an incredibly beautiful singing voice, Erik.”
“I know.” Erik said, lost in his thoughts. He looked back at her. “Why does she seem like no one cares about her?”
“I guess she is still upset about her mother’s death.” She answered sadly. “It was a tragic loss.”
Erik nodded, apparently thinking hard about something.
Madame Giry smiled a bit. “You have feelings for this woman, don’t you?”
“No.” Erik said, clearly lying.
“I don’t believe you for a minute.” She whispered.
“Neither do I.” Erik admitted. “Madame, do you think that there is any chance at all that she could care for me?”
“I’m not sure, Erik. If you behave, you might just have a chance,” she told him with a small smile.
“She could save me, Madame. I know I would be a fool to try and win another woman over, but I have to believe that there is hope for a wretched, repulsive monster like me. I need a friend. But what right do I have to so much as speak to her? She’s beautiful, talented, intelligent, and kind. I don’t deserve to be near something as pure as Anna,” he said, sounding more guilty and miserable than Madame Giry had ever heard him, and though he believed that he was fooling her with his charade that he didn’t want Anna’s love, Madame Giry knew Erik’s heart.
“Erik, if there is any woman on this earth who can love you, Anna is she.” Madame Giry said. “She can look past your face and see the man, the genius, who looks through those eyes. Anna knows that there is more to a man than how handsome or ugly he is. I know that, at heart, you are really a good man. She is the woman I think most likely to appreciate that.”
Erik nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I know that, Madame. Anna treats me like I’m no different than any other man. Her first impression of me was that she said I was handsome. I’ve never once been called handsome in my whole life. And just a while ago, she told me I was fun. Fun! Madame, Anna is special. She makes me feel normal. No other person on this earth could ever do that.”
Madame Giry nodded in understanding.
Erik’s smile quickly turned to a deep frown. “But can she accept my past? Can she accept the fact that I’m a murderer? That I kidnapped a woman? That I tried to force that woman to marry me? She’ll have to learn the truth, eventually. I don’t want to lie to her, Madame, or keep secrets from her. If she decides to give me a chance, I want her to know what she’s getting herself into.”
“You really care for her that much,” she breathed, astonished that he could be so selfless.
“Since I’ve met her, Anna has become very dear to me,” he answered evasively.
Madame Giry couldn’t help but smile. “Earlier this evening, Anna came here and asked me a few questions about your past.”
“And?” Erik demanded, holding his breath.
Madame Giry smiled. “I answered them all truthfully. I told her what your real name was.”
Erik grunted. “I’ve figured that.”
She smiled. “And she also asked me about how you came to be The Phantom of the Opera. So, I went and told her the story of how we met, and how I saved you from the Gypsy Circus.”
Erik sat for a moment before asking. “And, what did she say?”
“She felt very sorry for you, Erik.” She explained. “She can’t believe how much you’ve been through in your life. But even after hearing all that, she still vowed to stay your friend.”
“Did you tell her about Christine?” Erik asked.
Madame Giry nodded. “She didn’t seem affected by it. It just made her feel sorry for you even more. She really does like you very much.”
Erik sighed, running his leather gloved hands back through his hair. “What am I going to do, Madame?”
“Well, have you told Anna you’re feelings?” She asked.
“Obviously not.” Erik answered.
“Well, there’s an idea!” Madame Giry smiled. “Tell Anna about how much she means to you.”
“What if she rejects me, Madame?” Erik said miserably. “What if she refuses my love, just like Christine did? I can’t take the heartbreak again. I just can’t. I’ll die if she doesn’t accept me.”
Madame Giry leaned forward and placed a gentle hand on Erik’s shoulder. “Don’t you worry, Erik. I told you, Anna is different. If she really does love you, she’ll see past your face and accept you for who you really are.”
Erik sighed. “It’s not as easy as you think, Madame. It’s going to take some time before I gather up the courage to tell her. But I promise you; I will tell her my feelings. Just, not now.”
Madame Giry nodded. “Everything will be fine, Erik. All you need to do is hope. It’ll all work out for the best, you’ll see.”
Erik nodded. “I guess you’re right. Well, I’d best be leaving you now. I’m sure you want to get some sleep after this long day.”
He rose from the chair and headed for the door.
“Will I be seeing you at rehearsals tomorrow, Erik?” Madame Giry called.
He looked over his shoulder. “Rehearsals?”
“Yes. Tomorrow we will be beginning the rehearsals for our new Opera. And I am planning to give Miss Hart the leading role in the production.”
“And what production would that be?” Erik asked.
She smiled. “Il Muto. I’m sure Anna will do very well as the Countess, don’t you think?”
Erik smiled warmly, clearly pleased by Madame Giry’s decision. “Yes, I’m sure she’ll be breathtaking. Il Muto is one of my favorites. And it will be quite entertaining to see Carlotta’s reaction when she hears the news.”
“So, will you watch the rehearsals from your normal seat in Box 5?” She asked with a slight smile.
“What time?” Erik asked.
“Noon sharp.” She said.
Erik smirked. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Very good.” Madame Giry smiled. “Goodnight Erik. See you tomorrow.”
Erik bowed. “Goodnight, Madame.”
And with that, Erik opened the door and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor, his cape billowing out behind him.

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