"Come, Erik. We must go," Madame Giry said hurriedly as she led her daughter out of the opera house, which had been undergoing construction due to the fire.

"Alright," Erik replied with a small sigh as he looked around one last time. He pulled the hood on his cape up over his head, secured his mask, and departed from the building he had once called home.

Together, the three disappeared under the cloak of night and piled into a carriage. During the long ride to the docks, nothing was heard but silence.

Once the trio arrived, they gathered the few belongings they had with them and boarded a ship that was headed for America. Fortunately, Madame Giry and Meg were able to sneak Erik onto the ship without anything more than a few glances of suspicion from passers by.

"Is it just me or was everyone staring at us?" Meg sighed as she and her mother entered their cabin.

"I think it's in your head, dear," Madame Giry replied with a small shrug. "I didn't notice anything."

"I wonder how Erik is doing," Meg frowned. "Maybe we shouldn't leave him alone."

"He'll be fine, Meg," Madame Giry insisted. "It's late. Get some rest."

—————

Erik sighed as he sat down on the bed, his thoughts on Christine and how much he missed her. Soon, he got tired of the silence and dared to venture out of his room. He slipped into the hallway and shut the cabin door behind him. As he did so, a figure crashed into him. "Watch where you're going!" He snapped.

"I-I'm so sorry," a nervous looking, masked girl stammered, taken off guard. "I didn't mean- I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and-"

"Well, maybe you should," Erik said indignantly, making sure his own mask was secure.

The girl tensed slightly and clenched her fists. "Maybe you could learn a lesson on manners."

Erik scoffed. "And you think you're capable of teaching it to me?"

"You don't want that," the girl glared. "You'd end up dead."

"Look, kid," Erik said in a voice low and dark, "I don't know who you think you are, but you had best stay out of my way."

"Gladly," the girl muttered, shoving past him and making her way down the hallway.

Erik let out a frustrated sigh and returned to his room, slamming the door closed.

—————

The next morning, Madame Giry, Meg, and Erik went down to the dining hall for breakfast. They were seated at a table and were about to order when Erik noticed a familiar looking masked girl. "Oh, great," he muttered.

"Is there something the matter?" Madame Giry asked with a frown.

"That girl over there," Erik whispered, gesturing with his head towards the table next to them. "I had a rather unpleasant encounter with her last night."

"I wonder why she wears a mask," Meg said thoughtfully.

"It doesn't matter," Erik muttered. "She's quite an ignorant fool."

"I can hear you, you know," the masked girl spoke up.

"Fine by me," Erik scoffed.

"What is your problem?" The masked girl snapped.

"If you must know, you. You are my problem," Erik spat.

"I have done nothing to you. You got in my way, remember?" The girl huffed. "I was here first, so you have no business getting indignant."

"Will you just-"

"Erik," Madame Giry reprimanded, "don't make me sorry for smuggling you out of Paris."

Erik grumbled something under his breath and returned his attention back to his menu.

The masked girl did the same, though every now and then, she would glance over for a second or two at the masked man.

After the meal, Erik returned to his room, as did Madame Giry. Meg, however, sought out the masked girl. She found her on the outer deck and slowly approached her, clearing her throat. "Hello."

The masked girl jumped slightly, quite obviously a bit startled. "Who are...wait. Weren't you with that masked jerk at breakfast?"

Meg nodded hesitantly. "I just wanted to apologize. For him, that is. He's been going through some difficult-"

"I don't want to hear it," the masked girl replied harshly. "I don't care what he's been through. We've all endured things, so he can just get over it and move on."

"Right," Meg said quietly. "Well, I would still like to apologize for his actions. It was incredibly rude of him to speak to you in such a manner when he doesn't even know you."

"I agree," the masked girl sighed. "Didn't I hear that other woman say you were from Paris?"

"Yes," Meg replied hesitantly, "you did."

"And you smuggled that guy out?" The masked girl frowned.

Meg nodded silently.

"Is he the Phantom of the Opera?" The masked girl gasped.

"He is," Meg sighed. "Please don't tell anyone. He'd surely kill me."

The stranger thought for a moment. "No, no, I wouldn't dream of telling a soul."

"Thank you," Meg replied with a small smile. "Say, what's your name?"

"Bella," the girl replied. "And yours?"

"Meg Giry."

"It's good to meet you, Meg Giry," Bella smiled, turning to leave. "I certainly hope we will cross paths again."

—————

"Insolent girl!" Erik exclaimed angrily as he brought his fist down upon the bedside table in frustration. He'd had enough of foolish girls in his lifetime. Why did yet another have to cross his path?

Madame Giry knocked on the door. "Now, Erik, she had a point. You were acting very rude to her. She is but a stranger, after all."

"Thank you so much for your unasked for input," Erik sighed.

Madame Giry opened the door. "That's it," she muttered, grabbing him by the arm. "You need some fresh air." She swiftly pulled him out of the room and to the outer deck. "Look at the water."

"What about it?" Erik grumbled crossly.

"It's calm. Maybe you could learn a lesson or two from it," Madame Giry nodded before leaving him to his thoughts.

"Calm," Erik said to himself with a quiet scoff. "Calm until an unfeeling person sails through it, cutting into it and tearing it apart until it's an angry surge of hate and loathing."

"That's a very despairing way of thinking about it," a voice said from behind him.

Erik spun around suddenly. "What are you doing here?"

The girl ignored his question. "Well, if it isn't the Phantom of the Opera," she smirked. "My name is Bella. Bella Moretti."

"How do you know who I am?" Erik asked, almost in fear.

"You're the most wanted man in all of France," Bella smirked, leaning over the rail. "Eh, not that it matters. I'm wanted in Italy. Big deal."

Erik sighed as he too gazed out over the oceans. "What do they want you for?"

"Haunting an opera house," Bella shrugged. "Killing people. Threatening the managers."

"You can't be serious," Erik frowned, a look of suspicion plastered over his features. "I'm wanted for-"

"Haunting an opera house, killing people, threatening the managers, and bringing down the chandelier which caused a fire. And now they think you're dead, though some believe you're still alive, hence the fact that you're still a wanted man," Bella replied knowingly. "I've seen the papers."

"Oh," Erik nodded. "So, you're the other Phantom, then?"

"I guess you could say that," Bella chuckled softly. "Listen...I think it's pretty safe to assume that we could both use a friend."

"You want to be friends? After how rude I've been?"

"People say things they don't mean," Bella shrugged. "It's usually as a result of something that's happened in their life. Or at least, that's what I've realized."

Erik felt a certain something stir within himself as he looked at the brunette. There was something so captivating about her bright blue eyes as they gazed into his own.

No. No, he promised to himself, swore to himself even, that he would never fall in love again. Never. He would go through with his plans of building Phantasma and die alone.

Still...

She was indeed very beautiful.

Erik cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but...is it too forward of me to ask you to dinner? I mean, we'll be stuck on this ship together for the next month or so. We might as well make the best of it."

"I agree," Bella smiled. "I'm in room 205. Pick me up tonight at eight." She turned around and walked away, disappearing down a hall.

—————

That night.

Erik knocked on the cabin door and nervously adjusted his tie. "Why am I doing this? What was I thinking?" He whispered to himself.

The door was opened by a dark brown haired, blue eyed girl. She was wearing a dark blue gown with black lace covering the bodice all the way up to the neck, and long, black gloves.

"Bella," Erik said breathlessly, "you look gorgeous."

"Thank you," Bella smiled, taking his hand.

Erik took her to dinner and the two immersed in deep conversation, talking of their painful pasts and their times haunting their opera houses.

"I wish I could say that I couldn't believe that your father kicked you out because of your deformity, but unfortunately, I can. People like us just can't seem to get a break, can we?" Erik sighed.

"It doesn't appear that way," Bella frowned. "What I can't believe is how you didn't win that sword fight with that Raoul guy."

"I hate to admit it, but he was indeed a very skilled swordsman," Erik chuckled, standing up from his chair. "May I interest you in a walk around the outer deck?"

"Of course," Bella smiled, taking his hand.

—————

A month later.

"Here we are," Erik smiled. "Coney Island."

"It's beautiful," Bella beamed.

"But not as beautiful as you, my dear," Erik said softly, kissing her cheek affectionately.

Bella smiled up at him, admiring his charming good looks and thinking herself very fortunate to have him as her suitor.

Together, they made their way off the ship, Madame Giry and Meg following behind them.

Suddenly, there was a great uproar in the crowd. "It's her! It's the Phantom of the Opera! Get her!"

"Oh no," Bella whispered nervously. "I've been recognized."

Erik grabbed her arm and ran as quick as he could, pushing people out of their way as he attempted to get Bella to safety.

Just as the couple made their way through the crowd, a gunshot rang out. Bella stopped in her tracks and her face went white as pain coursed through her body.

"Bella? Bella, no," Erik whimpered pleadingly, holding her weakening figure in his arms.

"Darling," Bella said quietly, "I love you."

"I love you too," Erik nodded. "I'm going to get you to a doctor. Everything's going to be okay. I just-"

"Shh," Bella whispered. "Just kiss me...one last time."

Erik gently pressed his lips into hers, tears trailing down their cheeks.

"Goodbye, my love," Bella said weakly, attempting a smile. "Goodbye."

Author's Note: Thanks so much AudrieBryant for giving me the idea for this one shot.

Also, big thanks to echoawards for awarding this one shot third place in your November 2019 short story contest!

Below is a picture of Alexis Bledel, who I picture as Bella. The picture following that shows the dress Bella wore on her and Erik's first date. Also, the cover for this one shot (at the top of this page) is my own artwork.