Chapter Thirteen
Who's Next On The Phantom 's List?
Raoul entered the theater the next day, and went immediately to the
managers' office.
"Well? Have you gotten any information about my brother? He's my only
living relative, I hope he made it!" The managers looked at each other
and nodded.
"Raoul, sit down," said Andre. Raoul didn't like the sound of this but
sat down. "I'm sorry Raoul. Philippe is dead," Raoul leaped out of his seat.
" You're lying! He's still alive!" cried Raoul. Firmin forced Raoul back
into his chair.
"Raoul! Your brother is dead! I'm sorry, but it's true!" The patron
began to weep.
"Why couldn't the Phantom just kill me?" Raoul stared at the managers.
"He spilled innocent blood! " Andre and Firmin took their seats at the desk.
"Don't worry, we'll be sure to give him a proper funeral," said Andre.
"You don't understand, my brother was very dear to me. He was always my
source for information. Philippe would listen to what troubled me and
give me his honest opinion. Who could ever replace my brother? Has the
Phantom no pity?"
"Why didn't you show any pity?" roared the Phantom. " At least I didn't
disturb your brother's body after he was dead!" Raoul leaped out of
his seat and began shaking his fist to the ceiling.
"Assassin! I shall get you for this! " The patron thundered. The two
mangers stared at each other and began to leave the office. " Where are
you going?"
"Raoul, we have a theater to run," explained Andre.
"My brother was murdered and you're just going to run the theater?"
snarled Raoul.
"What do you want us to do?" asked Firmin.
"Bring Simon back here! We're going to finish off the Phantom and I
shall be the one who kills him!"
"Raoul, violence never solves anything," said Andre.
" Tell me that when he murders Monsieur Firmin!" roared the patron.
Firmin jumped at this.
" I don't think that was very appropriate Monsieur de Chagny!" snapped
the manager. Andre began to walk out of the office.
" I'll get Simon, but killing the Phantom will not take the pain away,"
said Andre.
" It will help!" growled Raoul. The two managers left the office and
made their way down the hall.
" Do you think Simon Buquet will return?" asked Firmin.
" I don't know, and I'm not sure that Simon and Raoul will even wound
the Phantom." Firmin shuddered.
" Do you think I'm next Andre?"
" I can't give an honest answer Richard. However I doubt that you're
next." Firmin sighed in relief.
In Christine's room she was awaiting the Phantom's arrival. Raoul walked into the room.
"Christine, Philippe's dead," whimpered the patron.
" I know, he died when he fell. Didn't you realize that?"
" What?"
" He died when he was in your arms."
"You mean he was already dead, the managers lied to me?"
"I'm sorry about the Count Raoul. Would you mind leaving?"
Raoul was hurt deeply, but he left the room.
"Christine?" called the Phantom.
"Erik, you are not the only one who has lost a brother. Philippe de
Chagny was just murdered by the Phantom. What do you think the Count did?"
"I can't say Christine. It's just fate I guess," answered the Phantom.
"Poor Raoul, his brother was his only relative. He's the only de
Chagny left now. I'm actually considering spending some time with him to
help take the pain away. Is it alright with you?" The Phantom thought
over this very carefully.
"Yes Christine, it is alright with me," said the Phantom. " You may
see him now if you wish."
"Thank you Erik." Christine dashed out of the room.
"Yes Christine, spend time with him. Even Raoul doesn't deserve to be
alone for the rest of his life," whispered the Phantom.
Christine searched the theater until she found Raoul. " Raoul, will you
take me to dinner tonight?" she asked. Raoul was shocked.
"You mean you can actually go out tonight?" asked the patron.
"Yes Raoul! Can you?"
"Of course! I'll see you tonight Christine!" Raoul ran off jumping in
joy and laughing. He passed by Madame Giry and kissed her. Not wanting
to see any more of Raoul's strange behavior, Christine made her way to
the managers. The two were sitting in the theater. Firmin was reading
the newspaper and Andre was listening.
"Good news Andre! We've made the front page!" Andre smiled.
"Really?" Firmin held the paper up so Andre could read it.
" 'Compt de Chagny Murdered by Opera Ghost'," Firmin said dryly. Andre
snatched the newspaper from Firmin's grip and began reading.
" 'While watching the performance in the Opera Populaire yesterday, the
so-called Phantom threw Philippe "Compt" de Chagny from his box. The
Count died within minutes of crashing onto the stage. The younger
brother, Raoul " Vicompt" de Chagny is now alone and has no relatives to
turn to. The brother said that he and the managers.....' Oh lovely! He was
able to mention us!" Andre growled.
Firmin shook his head and motioned for his partner to keep reading.
" 'The brother said that he and the managers knew that a disaster was
going to happen, but they didn't expect anything like this. If
performances continue to end in tragedy, the community will have no
choice but to shut down the theater.' " Firmin grabbed the newspaper and tore it in half.
"God damn him! Shut down the theater! I'd like to see them try!"
roared the manager. Christine hesitated for a moment, but then walked
up to the managers. Andre was the only one who noticed her.
"What is it Christine?" asked Andre.
"I'm leaving the theater early tonight," answered Christine.
"Why?"
"I'm having dinner with the Vicompt." Firmin looked up.
"Good, take that man's mind off his brother, You do that Miss Daae," said Firmin.
Christine then left the managers. On her way back into her room she ran
into Meg and Lori. " Christine! I must know! What happened to my angel?" asked Meg.
"You'd best not know Meg," said Christine.
"What?" asked Lori. " Why not?"
"Yes Christine! I must know!" said Meg.
"You're not ready to handle it!" cried Christine.
"Tell me!" shouted Meg.
"Your angel is dead! Dead Meg! Dead!" Christine then dashed off.
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Christine stayed in her room until Raoul came to pick her up. The two
left the theater and went out to have dinner. After that, Raoul hired a
carriage to take Christine around the park. While taking a look out the
window, Raoul decided to ask her the big question.
"Christine, I know that you really haven't spent a lot of time with
me. But I was wondering." Christine turned to him.
"Yes Raoul?" Raoul took out a ring.
"Will you marry me?" Christine gasped. " Oh dear! It was too sudden, wasn't it?" Christine
shook her head.
"No Raoul, it's just that, I'm usually very busy," said Christine.
"I thought it over Christine, you and I belong together. And the de
Chagnys are at the brink of extinction." Christine nodded.
"You know what Raoul?" asked Christine.
"What?"
"I thought you would never ask." She took the ring and put it on her finger.
"Only, let's keep it a secret. I don't want my tutor to find out."
Raoul took her hand.
"The secret is safe with me. I'll take you home."
Raoul told the driver the address of Christine's home and had her
dropped off. He then told the coachman to head back to the theater. When
they arrived, Raoul paid the driver and got out. He then walked into the
theater and made his way to the managers' office. On his way there, he
ran into Carlotta. " Carlotta, are the managers still here?"
"They're always here," Carlotta sighed.
"Thank you, goodnight."
"Goodnight." Raoul then continued to make his way to the managers'
office. He found Firmin and Andre reading a letter.
"Hello you two. Have you gotten a response from Simon?" Firmin looked at Raoul grimly.
"Yes we have," said Firmin. Raoul clapped his hands together.
"Wonderful! This day is starting to look up. When is he coming?"
"Never," answered Andre. Raoul gawked at the two.
"What? Why?" asked Raoul. Firmin handed Raoul the note.
" 'We have received your letter to Simon Buquet and regret to say he
won't be able to come. He's been sent to an asylum. Simon was found to
be insane. He was found trying to hang himself. We feel that he won't
ever be sane again.' " Raoul stared at the two.
"The Phantom of the Opera has struck again," said Firmin.
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Back in Christine's house, she heard the Phantom's voice. "Christine, I
must see you tomorrow! Please come!" Then the voice was gone.
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