Chapter 3: Phantom

By: PittsBurghFuzz

Rogue saw a door next to her, as she descended the staircase. Rogue then decided to open the door. What appeared before her was a dock, with a gondola floating on the underground lake.

Rogue shrugged her shoulders, and decided to go on the gondola. "Why not?" she said to herself.

There was an eerie feeling throughout the boat ride that Rogue felt as if someone was watching her. Rogue then approached a gate.

"Damn it!" Rogue yelled.

The gate rose as soon as Rogue stopped speaking. This made her tremble slightly, but Rogue was unafraid. As soon as Rogue entered, she was stunned by the sheer splendor of the place she came into. In front of Rogue was a beautiful lair! There was a nice dock for the gondola with several candelabras, rising from the still lake. On the land section, there were a few doors, more candelabras, and a drawing room area. Then, she saw a huge organ, with sheets of music all over the floor.

"Wow, I feel like I'm in an antique shop or somethin'." Rogue said to herself.

Then laughter came out of the still silence. The laughter seemed to have come from behind her, near the gate

"Who's there?" Rogue asked, turning around quickly.

"Me." the voice said. It was behind Rogue again, at the dock!

Rogue turned around again, but did not see anyone.

"Come out you coward!" Rogue yelled.

"All right then." the voice replied, laughing.

Rogue turned around, and behind her was a tall figure. He had evening clothes on, with a long black cape, and he wore black leather gloves, similar to Rogue's. He also had nice polished shoes, and wore a black hat. The most interesting piece of attire, was a mask, covering his face, carrying a neutral expression.

"Who are you?" Rogue asked.

"I am Erik." he told Rogue.

His voice seemed to give Rogue a sudden, unexpected joy rise from her, almost a sexual one. Erik stepped forward, and Rogue stepped backward.

"Don't be afraid, I shall not harm you." Erik said to Rogue.

Rogue stopped. "Are you the-"

Erik nodded. "Yes, I am the mutant you are looking for."

"How did you know?" Rogue asked.'

"Why my child, I am the Opera Ghost, I know of everything that lies within the confines of this building. You and your friends are from America, right?"

"Yes, did our-"

"Accents? Not theirs, yours. Do you come from the South?"

Rogue nodded, and was blushing. "Yes." she said smiling.

"I see." Erik's voice remained very neutral. "So, your group is here to take me to America?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm not going." he simply said.

"You have to."

"Why? Why is it so important for me to go with you back to America?"

"I got down here, didn't I? I could easily reveal your location."

Erik began to laugh.

"Care to share your joke there, Erik?" Rogue asked.

"Oh nothing, its just that, well, you make a fairly valid point. However, one thing you didn't account for, is me!" Erik said, pointing to himself.

"And?"

"And, I could kill you here!" Erik said.

"I'd like to see you tr-ah!"

Rogue's neck was captured by the punjab lasso! Erik disappeared in front of her eyes. Erik's hand then came from behind Rogue, touching her shoulder. Rogue cried out in ecstasy.

"Well my dear, I tried, and look what happened! Now, I will let you go, if you promise not to reveal the secrets of my lair, understand?" Erik asked.

Rogue was trying to get out of the lasso's grip, and her hands were moving across the noose. Rogue accidentally touched his face, and took off the mask. Erik gave a blood curling scream.

"Damn you! You have no idea how stupid that was!" Erik roared.

Rogue suddenly felt fear, trembling while in the lasso. Rogue was able to escape the lasso, but not the rage of Erik. He lifted Rogue by her arm, lifting the poor girl. Rogue found herself, starring at the death's head of Erik! It really did look like the Lon Chaney movie!

Erik gave a rather sinister grin, followed by laughter. The walls started to crack a little.

"Do you see? Now you understand why Erik must conceal himself in this mask! Otherwise, the world goes to pieces!"

Rogue tried to be brave, but tears started rolling down her face. Erik's blue eyes went from being angry and vengeful, to saddened and in despair. Erik let go of Rogue and stumbled away.

"Oh why did you have to see my face, why?" Erik went on his knees and cried.

Rogue saw the mask, and looked at Erik. She looked back at the mask and returned it to Erik. Erik's teary eyes looked into Rogue's, then at the mask. He slowly took it, but something else came into the lair.

"Rogue!" Jean's voice yelled.

"Jean?" Rogue asked.

Erik dropped the mask and gave a threatening roar. This caused several rocks to collapse in front of Jean, along with Scott and Kate. However, Jean lifted the rocks with her powers, and launched them at Erik.

"Ha! Take that!" Jean said with pride.

Erik then was laughing behind her.

"What?" Jean was shocked.

Erik knocked Jean out.

"Jean!" Scott yelled.

Erik saw that cyclops was about to shoot a laser at him, but Erik disappeared, and his shadow seemed to go behind Scott, and Erik reappeared. Erik kicked Scott, and he fell into the water. Kate was running towards Erik, but was forced back, because of Erik's roar. Rogue came behind Erik, and stuck a needle into him. It was a tranquilizer. Erik collapsed. Rogue picked up Erik's mask, and placed it back on his face. Scott came over and picked up Erik.

"Okay, with all of this chaos going on around here, how the heck are we going to get out?" Scott asked.

"I'll use my powers to conceal ourselves." Jean suggested.

"Good idea, now lets get out of this place." Scott said.

Rogue turned her head for a moment to look and appreciate the beauty of the lair, and continued walking.