The Phantom of the Opera: INNOCENCE

So this is actually the first Fan fiction I made, since I usually write stories and books. I'm really sorry for the stupid title. I didn't have enough time to think.

I apologize for my bad originality also. I got some of the story from LND, but everything else that wasn't there was pretty much my work. I'm a beginner and I'm new to the Fanfic world, so apologies in advance.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone, but it would have been awesome if I could.

Chapter 1: Old Friends

Erik lay on his bed, wide awake even in the dead of night. He hasn't slept in a week because all he could think about was Christine, his Christine. It's been ten years. Ten years since the Opera Populaire burnt down. Ten years since Christine saw the truth behind the mask. Ten years ever since Raoul , the viscount, won her from him. Ten years since he heard her heavenly voice. He longed for her ever since, but Raoul made his move. He already married Christine, so Erik lost his last chance. How he wanted Christine to sing for him again, to hear the voice he spent years shaping.

A knock on his bedroom door interrupted his thoughts. The door opened. Standing in the doorway was a man who had olive skin, dark green eyes and dressed in Persian robes.

Erik groaned. "Nadir, I don't want another talk. I'm in a really bad mood."

"Erik, you're always in a bad mood." The Persian replied. "And this is not about that anymore. Someone's waiting to talk with you downstairs."

Erik faced his friend straight in the eye. He gestured to his deformity in the right side of his face. "Who would want to talk to this? I'm a monster."

"She came to help you." Nadir said. "You know her."

At that sentence, Erik jolted up. "Her?"

Nadir didn't reply and simply walked down the stairs. In haste to see whoever wants to talk to him, Erik followed the Persian.

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When Erik reached down the stairs, the person was sitting on one of the dinner table chairs. She had a dingy back dress, gray bonnet, honey blond hair and that stern expression on her face. Erik knew exactly who she was.

"Mme. Giry?" he said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

She stood up. "Erik, I came to talk to you."

Erik made a wry face. "This is about Christine, isn't it? It's always about Christine."

"Some of it," Mme. Giry said gloomily. Erik sat down on a chair for he could no longer sit up. "I heard you were here in one of Nadir's properties here in Paris and I came to see you." Giry continued.

A knock on the door interrupted her. The door opened and Erik saw a young ballet girl in a white shirt, brown pants and black boots, long honey blond hair and some kind of bag in her hand.

"Meg? Meg Giry?" Erik exclaimed.

"Monsieur," Meg said to the man. "We are about to depart."

Erik faced Mme. Giry. "Antoinette, explain what your daughter is saying. Depart to what?"

Mme. Giry sighed as she explained. "Erik, it's been ten years ever since your mischievous (or deadly) crimes back in the Opera. Police guards have been patrolling all over Paris ever since. You need to go from here. My daughter and I know where a safe place where you can stay in: the Opera Populaire."

"The Opera Populaire?" Erik echoed. "Last time I heard of the place, it was a pile of ashes and burnt opportunities. Why would I even stay there?"

"Erik," Mme. Giry explained again. "Police are done investigating there. No one goes there anymore. Why, you can even stay at your underground lair there."

"It might seem like a nice strategy," Erik said skeptically. "But it's very risky. How will I get there? Guards are prowling around the streets of Paris, and I'm practically the most wanted criminal now."

"That's why Meg and I," Mme. Giry gestured to her and her daughter, "have formulated a plan to get you out and to the Opera again."

"Well," Erik said dusting off his shirt. "It can't hurt to try."