Belle raced down labyrinthine passages to Sofia's rescue.

Backup was on the way, but it might take them a while. So Belle was prepared to stall.

Meanwhile, Sofia glared at Erik and crossed her arms over her chest.

"What do you want from me Erik?"

"Oh my dear Sofia... You clever little thing. Isn't it obvious?" He purred.

She frowned at him in reply.

"Erik is Lonely, he wants a bride!" Erik exclaimed, walking over to a hope chest and pulling out a white gown. "A living bride..."

He retraced his steps and walked over to Sofia, holding the gown out to her.

"This dress, was for Christine... my Christine. But now..."

"I don't want to marry you Erik."

"Why?" he frowned.

"You murdered Joseph Bouquet."

"No that was an accident." Erik cackled. "An unfortunate accident."

"You're a murderer Erik."

Erik's face fell. "You are afraid of me?... And yet I am not really wicked. Love me and you shall see!"

"You need help Erik!"

Erik frowned and handed Sofia the Gown.

He just continued speaking as if he hadn't heard her.

"You will love me... in time... Plenty of young people who did not care for each other before marriage have adored each other since."

"Erik... No. Just no."

"I know what it is. I'm too ugly for you..."

"Erik!"

"I can wear the mask! And I can do tricks, and we can sing and you will be very happy in my little house on the lake."

He exclaimed, placing the gown's matching veil on her head, and getting close to her face.

Sofia pushed him away from her gently. "It's not your face Erik, it's your actions..."

Erik frowned at her. The tension palpable. When a soft splashing alerted him to Belle's presence.


An evil smirk curled at the edges of his cruel lips. "Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!"

"Belle!"
"Miss, this is indeed an unparalleled delight! I had rather hoped that you would come."

"No!"

Erik rushed to Sofia and wrapped a hand around her throat.
"And now my wish comes true – you have truly made my night!"

"Free her!
Do what you like only free her!
Have you no pity?" Belle sang.

Erik only cackled loudly.

"Please Belle, it's useless!" Sofia sang.

"She's my friend! Does that mean nothing? she's my friend! Show some compassion!!!"

Fire lit up those horrible yellow eyes. "The world showed no compassion to me!"

"Sophie, Sophie...
Let me see her..."

"Be my guest, dear..."

He released her and Belle rushed to Sofia helping her off the floor. Belle nodded at her and she gave Belle's hand a comforting squeeze as we parted.

"And now we end this." Belle whispered, walking away from her.

"Madame, I bid you welcome!
Did you think that I would harm her?
Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours?
Try to change the story now!" He taunted.

"Raise up your hand to the level of your...eyes..."

He realized too late that Belle had.

She slipped the noose off of her head.

Erik's eyes widened and he chuckled in surprise.

"Bravo ladies." He smiled, walking away.

"What now?" Sofia asked.

"We have to defeat him. In order to get back." Belle exclaimed.

"Follow me Ladies." Erik taunted.

"I feel like I should warn you I know Taekwondo." Sofia hissed.

Erik made no reply, and walked over to a door that almost blended into the cavern walls.

"What do we do?" Sofia asked.

"Follow him, but be on guard." Belle replied.

"This feels like some kinda wonky white person in a horror movie logic Belle." Sofia hissed as Erik walked in through the door.

"Do you have a better Idea?" Belle sassed.

Sofia huffed, raised her hand to the level of her eyes, and followed after Belle into the darkness.

The hallway was dark and long, but there was a light at the end of it, that glowed soft and warm.

"This feels like a trap."

"You're probably right." Belle replied.

But they pressed ever onwards towards that flickering light.

As they entered the room the door shut behind them.

"At last! Here we are, at the final chapter." Erik cackled.

Belle gasped loudly as she drew her gaze up the flickering fireplace. To the mantle on which sat two ebony boxes.

"It's time to make your choice Sofia. You will have five minutes to spare your blushes."

Erik circled around the girls, and slowly opened the little boxes, though they already knew what would be inside them.

"If you turn the scorpion it will mean you have decided to marry me. But if you turn the grasshopper."

Erik cackled like a drunken demon.

"The grasshopper! Oh my dear Sofia do be careful of the grasshopper! For it hops you see? AND IT HOPS JOLLY HIGH!"

He cleared his throat and smoothed his suit.

"Tick tock my dear."

And with that he stalked out of the room and locked them in it.

"Damn. What do we do?" Belle asked.

Sofia walked forward and turned the scorpion.

Belle blinked at her in shock.

"Why did you do that?!"

"It worked in the book."

"But we don't know if this changed from the book!"

They listened in tense silence.

And both let out a sigh of relief, as the tell tale guggle of water rushing in doused their fears.

Erik burst in the door.

"That was quick!" He exclaimed.

Sofia nodded, "I'm the kind of girl who knows what she wants. I will marry you Erik."

Erik blushed, and nodded slowly.

Belle slowly lowered her arms.

"I'm glad to hear that Sofia" Erik said, "... And now forgive me for this."

He wrapped an arm around Belle's neck and began to strangle her.

"Erik no!" Sofia exclaimed.

"If I let her go she will go above and get help. Nobody can know you are here!" Erik exclaimed.

Belle sank her teeth into his arm and didn't draw away till she tasted blood.

He howled in pain and freed her. She dropped to the ground, still seeing spots. And was rather surprised to hear a sound like somebody was punching Styrofoam.

"You broke my nose!" Erik exclaimed in a shocked tone.

"You tried to kill my friend!" Sofia fired back.

He growled and lunged for her and Belle watched in awe as Sofia delivered a flawless roundhouse kick to his head.

Erik hit the ground with a sickening thud.

"Way to keep your leg at the level of your eyes." Belle laughed.

She just shook her head at Belle and helped her up. And they stared at Erik in shock.

"Is he dead?" Sofia asked.

Belle bent down and felt his pulse. "No but he'll be very upset when he wakes."

"Now what?"

"Track down this murderer he must be found."

"That's our queue to leave."

There was a strange noise and the air around the girls rippled. A golden portal formed in the corner of the room.

"Ready to go home?" Belle asked.

"Am I ever." Replied Sofia.

They walked into the Portal, Sofia supporting a very dizzy Belle.

The portal closed behind them.

~~~

Erik roused to a flash of light, and dimly became aware of his surroundings.

Voices, many voices echoed through the cellars.

He had just enough time to escape through another trapdoor.

Meg Giry found the mask on the floor near the entrance to Erik's house. But the camouflaged door blended seamlessly into the wall.

She stared in confusion at the only evidence that the police would ever find of the ghost.

Poor unhappy Erik, Shall we pity him? Shall we curse him?

He only asked to be 'somebody' like anyone else. He had a heart that could have held empires. But in the end he had to content himself with a cellar.

If he had been born in our day and age what marvelous works could have been added to the world.

Ah yes, we must needs pity the Opera Ghost.