Paris 1865
"Erik! Raoul! Be careful! Stay together and don't go so far!" Rita, their mother, yelled from across the yard.
It was the summer of 1865 and Erik had just celebrated his 5th birthday only but a few weeks ago. Raoul, Erik's brother, was older than he was, but only by a year. While out side, the two boys played with sticks in their hands and pretended to fight one another. This was their favorite game to play when they were bored while their parents were dealing with some finical business in the house. Erik always was the one that played the good guy, while Raoul played the bad guy. They were good little boys, but had a tendency to not follow the rules. They always did things they weren't suppose to such as climbing trees, playing with sticks, and jumping in mud. Their mother would always get onto them for being stubborn little boys.
"Erik! Do not hit your brother with that stick!"
"You will die for betraying the queen!" Erik screamed as he tried to hit Raoul with the stick. Raoul blocked it and swung at Erik.
"I will never die by the hands of you!"
As they ran and fought, Erik saw a huge rock in the middle of the ground. He jumped on it and began to swing at Raoul. Raoul was trying to fight back when he slipped. Without thinking he grabbed onto Erik, who was still on the rock. Erik slipped off the rock and landed on Raoul. After a moment laying on the ground, they looked at each other and started to laugh.
Rita was furious and walked out the door and screamed at the top of her lungs, "ERIK AND RAOUL IF YOU DO NOT GET OUT OF THE MUD YOU WILL BE SENT TO YOUR ROOMS FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING WITHOUT ANY SUPPER!"
Erik and Raoul looked at their mother and then at each other and began laughing even harder, clutching their little bellies. Their mother rolled her eyes and went back inside.
"I swear those boys are going to be the death of me, André."
The Vicomte shook his head, "Now Rita, you know perfectly well that they are only small boys! Let them have their fun while they can."
With that he turned his attention back to the guest. The Vicomte De Chagny's was a viscount and often worked with business within the law and from time to time would help with money issues towards anyone who are willing to pay their loans back. The guest that they were currently chattering to was stating that his farm was going to get foreclosed if he doesn't get enough money to pay off the payments in a month. André had heard all of this before, but felt sorry for the poor farmer. He wanted to help him anyway he can, but in order for André to help him he needed something in return. All André needed from the farmer was a promise to pay back the loan, and thats what they were discussing today. They were mainly trying to figure out how the farmer can pay the Vicomte back for his generous "gift".
"But I have nothing Monsieur De Chagny. All I have is my farm... and my daughter." the farmer said.
"A daughter?" Rita questioned. "Well, then I have a wonderful idea. How about your daughter comes to the house and pays off you debt by working all day, everyday. We are always in need of new maids. She will make a fine addition to our staff, and while your daughter works here we will continue to pay off your farm."
Soon enough, Erik and Raoul finally stopped laughing and rolling around, they gave each other high fives, and reluctantly went inside. They ran inside, sneaking past the living room, and headed to the kitchen. Just before they got to the door of the kitchen their mother spots them.
"Raoul and Erik what on earth do you think you are doing? If you wish to eat something go and take a bath and change into something suitable without any dirt on it."
They tried to protest but their mother was a very stern women. She hated it when they argued back and made it very clear she would not tolerate it. They slumped their shoulders and headed upstairs to the bath chamber. Once they got to the bath chamber they stopped, looked at each other for a moment, then smiled. They always knew exactly what the other one was thinking. They raced toward the bathtub, while stripping their clothes, and jumped into the bathtub. Then they turned on the water and pretended the tub was an ocean and they were captains battling the ferocious waves.
"We must keep going straight Captain Erik!" Raoul yelled.
"If go straight we will die from the waves! Look! The British are upon us, brother!" Erik pretended to turn the wheel of the boat as both of the brothers leaned to the right.
"Captain Raoul, fire the cannons!"
"Firing cannons!"
Both the boys stood up and jumped into the water causing water to spill over the sides of the tub and fall on the floor. The maid who usually took care of the boys stomped inside and threw a fit when she saw all of the water on the floor. She stormed out of the bath chamber and into their room to clean up their room. Once the boys were out she would have to mop the floor a second time today. They both stared at each other. But only for a moment, then they ended up busting into laughter and laughed until their stomachs started to hurt.
"We're gonna be brothers forever, Erik." Raoul said once they were out of the tub and getting dressed.
"Of course! You are my best friend!" Erik said.
For a moment it was silent. Then, while Raoul had his back turned, Erik jumped on him and they began to wrestle around the floor until their maid showed up to break them up.
1870
Erik and Raoul were closer than ever before. One day, on a typical sunday afternoon just after mass, Erik and Raoul were playing Hide and Seek. As Erik was looking for Raoul, he came across a rather odd room he had never been in before. Curious, Erik entered the room. It turned out to be a rather large music room. There was a massive piano in the center of the room, a bookshelf on the wall next to the window, and across from the bookshelf were more instruments. Erik could not believe how many instruments there were. There were violins, flutes, trumpets, horns, but the only thing that truly caught his eye was the grand piano.
He slowly made his way to the piano, not taking his eyes off the piano once. He sat down on the bench, opened the lid to the keys and slowly did he push random keys down. He closed his eyes and savored the sound of the beautiful notes floating around him. Erik began to feel things, things he himself, could not describe. He let those feelings flow through him for only a second until he began to play those emotions on the keys. Erik was even astounded himself as he played. Never has he had the chance to express the emotions that piled within him, so when he played, he played right from his very soul.
The music that Erik played filled the long hallways of the Vicomte Mansion. At one point, a little servant girl heard his music. She stopped her task and just listened. Then, without even thinking, she got up and followed it down the hallway until she found a boy playing. She was not stupid, she knew who this boy was and did not care at the moment. The only thing she could think about was the beautiful music that seemed to drag her to him. Not even causing a sound, she sat down on the floor next to piano and just watched Erik in wonder. Erik glanced over to his left and noticed the little girl sitting beside the piano bench and stopped abruptly. His eyes softened and he gazed at the servant girl in wonder.
She was so beautiful. Never had he seen such a beautiful creature before. He was astounded he has never seen her before! Her eyes were so blue and her curly brown hair was tied back with a small red ribbon. She stared in awe at the boy and he stared back. For a long moment that stayed like that, just staring at one another. Then his heart stopped in his tracks the moment she spoke..
"Please," she pleaded quietly, never taking her eyes off of him, "Don't stop playing your beautiful music."
He kept his gaze on her the entire time and just nodded. Placing his hands back on the keys, he began to play again. They gazed at each other for a very time long, just listening to the music that came from his nervous shaking hands. For some reason, they had some sort of connection to one another, even though she has never talked to him before, only seen him. And he was very handsome for an eleven year-old, she pointed out in her never ending thoughts of him.
Many others came to join the girl as well and they watched Erik in awe, as he laid his very soul out for everyone to witness. Erik broke eye contact with the beautiful girl and closed his eyes. He was letting his soul move his fingers for him. Not once, had he taken lessons, but the way he played seemed to make everyone believe he had taken lessons for years.
Thats when the Vicomtese heard the music. She was in library reading. She put her book and just listened.
Who in the world is making such beautiful music? She thought.
She stood and followed her ears to find the source of the music. Never, since they had boughten that piano, had someone played it but Andrés had to have it. He said that eventually someone will play, and she hoped that one of her sons would learn. Once she got to the music room she stopped and her jaw dropped. Erik? How in the world can a eleven year old play as those he was a famous pianist?
"Mummy, what is tha-" Raoul stopped in his tracks as he entered the room. His stare was fixed on Erik. Then he glanced around and noticed everyone around him stared at Erik with awe as he played. A feeling of jealousy came and hit Raoul right in his heart. He was the oldest, and normally it was he whom they loved and adored. The servants should be looking at Raoul with such awe, not Erik. Even his own mother was watching his younger brother as though he was a piece sent straight from God. Raoul shook his head. No, he loved his brother. Maybe all this will pass. Maybe this is something, that maybe, Raoul can learn and become just as great as Erik was. Besides, Erik wouldn't take all of the attention from Raoul. Erik just wasn't that type of person to want glory and to have all eyes on him. Raoul watched as his brother played but secretly began to plot ways to make himself aim higher than ever before.
After that moment Raoul was always playing the piano to try his hardest to be better than his brother. He needed to be better than his brother. All his life he was chosen first for everything, he was always the one people would want to see, and he was the one that had more friends than Erik. Raoul was the main one everyone adored. Nobody really took a liking to Erik because of the way he talked, like he was older than he really was or how nice Erik was. Erik would always ask questions about everything because he was so curious about every thing! Of course the servants loved him, but nobody in the wealthy, rich side did. But now all everyone would talk about was Erik, and Raoul was getting angry.
1872
Erik and Raoul's friendship went down hill. Erik was smart, handsome, charming, and to top it all of, he could play any instrument he put his hands on. Erik could do anything he wanted to. He read books, did well in their tutor classes, and also learned all he could about music. He loved music with a passion. Even though Erik could play any instrument, he preferred the piano. He would play for hours and most of the time he would make up his own melody's in his head. As he played, most of the servants would stop and listen to him, especially the girl he fancied. Erik would try so hard to talk to the beautiful servant girl but he never had time, nor the courage. But every time he played, she was there. In his head, or in person, listening to him and making him feel more confident and loved than he had ever felt before even if not one word was spoken to each other.
Jealousy ended up striking hard in Raoul's heart, and so he made the Vicomte had to buy two grand piano's. The boys never even played with each other anymore. Erik was focused on his music, and Raoul was more focused on exceeding his brother in every thing imaginable, including music. Sadly, Raoul was not smart. He was not a musician, and he certainly was not Erik. It was so strange how he began to loath his own brother. How could his entire family, including his own mother, forget he existed?
Now, Erik was the only thing that existed in the Vicomte family. And once Raoul figured that out, he started to hate everything there was to hate about his brother. The way he held himself with such confidence when he played his music for people, the way his father would buy Erik all kinds of new instruments and music tutors, and also the way mother beamed at him with adoration every time he played for her every time he composed a new song. His mother... Raoul was born first. How can she just forget that? It's as though Raoul never even existed at all. Just thinking about all of this was making Raoul's anger escalate even higher than he could possibly imagine. But, even through everything, this was still his brother. How can he hate him?
No, Raoul thought, Erik lost the title of being my brother the moment he took everything from me.
As the days went on people from all over came to the Vicomte's house just to hear the music Erik wrote. He would play all day, and sometimes even at night. Everyone loved Erik. He was so charismatic and intelligent. Even famous musicians could not believe the talk of a twelve year old playing music that they themselves found difficult to play. But when Erik played everyone stared at him in awe. The room would go silent and the only thing that filled the room was the music of Erik's very soul. Music became part of Erik's very existence and every time he played, he played for himself. He would lay his emotions out in the music for everyone to see and that's what made his music even more wonderful and brilliant. Erik eventually managed to obtain many job offers to work for so many Operas as a Maestro, that he was a bit overwhelmed. But the best part of all of this was that Erik got the chance to take trips to most of the Opera's in France.
Erik was gone for quite sometime when he traveled. Raoul felt relieve to finally be rid of Erik's annoying presence, but only for awhile. During Erik's trip, his parents seemed to focus on Raoul more. Raoul began to love the attention once again. To Raoul, it felt good to finally be the center of everything. His father would take him on walks around the park and talk to him of the history of their family, his mother would take him shopping with her in the market, and above all they would read him stories. Stories that filled Raoul with a joy that he couldn't remember possessing before his hatred for Erik even began.
Raoul knew that Erik would be back from his trip any time soon and he needed to develop a plan to rid of Erik once and for all. Raoul loved his brother but the moment Erik became the center of attention was the moment Raoul go angry. He was not the sort of child to get angry and keep it hidden. No, Raoul was the sort to get rid of this anger by fixing the problem and in his mind, Erik was the problem. But God, he was only thirteen. Why would he be thinking of ways to get rid his brother? Because, Raoul thought to himself, if he doesn't do it now he will end up living in Erik's shadow for the rest of his life. All Raoul ever wanted was to be great. He wanted to be better than Erik, and his goal apparently was a lot more important to him then his brother's life was.
One day, while Raoul was in his room pacing, listening to the damning music that was playing from Erik's room, there was a knock at the door. Raoul stopped facing the window and turned to the door.
"Come in."
It was Issac. Issac was an advisor to his father. He helped the Vicomte's with almost everything. He was tall and had blonde long hair that hung just above his shoulders. His eyes were a bright blue that almost looked as if you were staring into the ocean. Issac did not seem like he was a very built man. He was tall and lean and he had a long torso with long arms to compliment them. He always wore a brown suit with a black tie and a white vest. It never really looked good to Raoul but it wasn't Raoul who wore it so why should he care?
"Good Evening, Raoul." Issac stated with no emotion in his voice, as always. He always sort of freaked Raoul out a bit, because of the way he held himself... Like he has killed someone and he was not afraid to do it again, if necessary.
Raoul turned back to the window, with his hands behind his back, and stared out into the darkness. "Issac. What are you doing in my room at this hour?"
Issac walked in the room and shut the door. Then he turned and walked towards the window as he spoke. "I have noticed that you have had a lot on your mind lately, little Vicomte. Is there something you need to talk about? You know you can come to me about anything."
He was right. Raoul went to Issac about everything. He trusted Issac with his life, but would he be able to trust him with something as big as this? With the thought of Raoul getting rid of his own brother? Raoul shook his head. These were thoughts of a jealous boy and Issac might report him to his father. But Raoul was so confused on what to do. He needed an adult to help him come up with a plan and he certainly could not trust his parents or any of the servants, seeing as how they all love Erik. Maybe Issac could help him..
"It's my brother."
"Has something happened to him?" Issac asked questionably as he stood next to Raoul looking down at him.
"No," Raoul stated harshly. With a bit of hesitation he finally said firmly, "But I need to get rid of him. I have had enough of everyone caring more about Erik than me. I am the oldest. I should be the one everyone worries about, not pathetic Erik. I am tired of being in Erik's shadow. Seeing everyone fall for him... but I'm only thirteen years old! How can I possibly be thinking about things such as killing own brother? I don't want to think about these thoughts but Erik has left me no choice. We use to best friends and now, now he doesn't even know I exist. All he ever does is with learning or playing music. And I know he fancies that servant girl also! Ugh! He is just getting every thing he wants and its driving me crazy. Sometime has to be done about... but I simply can't do it alone."
Issac listened to Raoul's ranting. Once Raoul was done ranting, Issac looked at the window and after only a moments hesitation did he whisper, "I will help you."
Raoul glanced at his fathers' advisor with wide eyes, "I thought you loved Erik just as mush as everyone else did."
"No. Your infernal brother is directing your fathers' attention from his business and how his money is being handled. About a week ago, your father came to me and told me was cutting back my pay in order to pay for Erik's trips and music tutors. I was outraged. I will not continue to live in this house anymore if I am to be cheated out of the amount of money I deserve. The moment your brother is gone your father will need a friend and an advisor once again... and once I earn my way into his heart I will begin to be trusted more. The more I am trusted, the more your father will listen to me and see that spending money on that ridiculous boy is not good."
Raoul took in all of this information. Raoul felt relief flow through him, because not only was Erik's annoyance effecting Raoul, but someone else as well. Raoul cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the window. "Well then, we need to make a plan."
"That is what I am here for, young Vicomte. I will develop a plan to get rid of Erik. All you have to do is follow my lead. You must have enough strength to do this, Raoul. You cannot back down once the plan is in motion. After our plan has successfully taken flight, you will get out of Erik's shadow and I will become not only a trusted employee but a friend to your father." Victory was shown in his smile as he looked down at Raoul. Now that he has Raoul in his plan, everything should work out just fine.
Raoul looked up at Issac and mirrored his smile. Finally, he would be his own person. He would be able to live without fear of being forgotten. Issac and Raoul then spent most of the night developing a plan, and putting the pieces together. Soon, Raoul and Issac will both have exactly what they want and no one will stand in their way.
1873
Erik finally returned after months of traveling. He had felt bad for the time of his trip because he had missed Raoul's birthday, and he had spent so much time away from that girl his heart was beating so fast just to glimpse her face again. But, to make it up to Raoul and the girl, Erik brought back a gifts for them both.
Raoul's gift was a sword with the words "God is with those who serve with dignity and honor." engraved on both sides of the blade. The handle was made out of pure gold, and the blade made from pure steel. It would have costed Erik a fortune had he not known that the blacksmiths' wife heard of Erik and was a fan of his music. So a deal was made and in order for Erik to obtain the sword he only had to meet and play the blacksmiths' wife a few pieces of music.
The gift for the girl was a red rose. Just one. Erik had no idea what to get the girl, or any girl for that matter, but he thought that maybe she might like this rose and they could finally talk! Erik would have to give her her flower tomorrow, though because he was so tired from the trip home that he barely had enough strength to give Raoul his gift!
Once the gift was given to his brother, and Erik told his story of how he obtained it, he went straight to bed. Claiming he was exhausted from the trip home. Raoul stayed up and stared at his gift in awe. He couldn't help but love his gift. He almost felt unworthy of the gift, but when he thought about the person who gave it to him, all thoughts of doubt went away and anger flooded in.
"No," he said out loud as he gripped the swords handle tightly, "I will not fall victim to my brother any longer. This plan should get rid of him once and for all and I will not feel guilty about my actions now, or later on in life."
And with that thought he went to bed and dreamed of fighting pirates with the sword his brother had given him.
Erik was awoken by the strangest dream he had. It was about Raoul and it had something to do with a barn.. It was nearly noon when he awoke and he could hardly believe it. How could his parents let him sleep in so late? Without another thought he shot out of bed and put on proper clothes. He headed downstairs, leaving the rose by his bedside with a note attached to it. He was so shocked by his lateness that he had forgotten to hand it to the servant girl! More shock flooded him as he entered the dinning-room. His family was eating, without him. They never ate without him.
The Vicomte sat at the far left of the table with a newspaper in his hands. He glanced above his paper and placed it on the table. "Ah," his father started,"Finally you decided to grace us with your presence, Erik."
Erik straightened his posture and placed his hands behind his back. "My apologies father. I hadn't realize I had slept so late in the day. It won't happen again."
"Good. Now if you would be so kind as to take a seat and have some lunch with your family." The Vicomte said as he waved his son to sit down.
Erik only nodded as walked to his seat As he walked to his seat Erik glanced at Raoul and watched his brother watch every moment he made. It was almost as if he was waiting for something to happen. Then finally, breaking the silence, Raoul spoke as the servants were placing food in front of Erik.
"Erik, how would you like to come to the stables with me after lunch? We could go riding and you can tell me all about your adventures you had while you were gone."
Erik could sense there was something more to Raoul then he was letting on and also the dream he had kept crawling its way into his mind. Erik could tell when his brother had a plan up his sleeve and this certainly was one of those moments. He knew that Raoul had no interest about his adventures in France and Raoul also never liked riding horses. Erik always had to drag him my his arm to get him to go to the stables with him.. So what could he possibly want to talk about? Curiosity finally took control and gave Erik his answer for Raoul.
"Of course we could, brother. I'm sure you would love to hear every little detail of my trips! But I have to warn you that they might bore you. They do indeed revolve mainly around music and the Opera's I had gone to, and I know how much you hate listening to me talk about my music." Erik stated as he began to eat the crepes that were placed in front of him.
"Nonsense, Erik. I would love to hear about them. As soon as you are finish meet me in the stables." With that Raoul got up, took the napkin out of his lap and raced for the door.
What on earth has gotten into him? Erik thought. Oh well. Might as well enjoy this lunch with his parents. How he had missed them when he was gone! They eventually started up a conversation only minutes after Raoul had left. They wanted to know of Erik's adventures, and if he had found the Opera he liked the most.
"I really did enjoy The Opera Populaire in Paris. The music, the stories they play there, the costumes, just everything about the opera house inspired me to use the best of my abilities and create something more. It was still being built but the theater part, where they preformed the plays, was exquisite. Never have I seen such beautiful architecture before. I only ever seen them in my books." Erik rambled as he ate and his parents just stared at him all while, trying to figure out how a musical genius was granted to them.
Rita glanced over at her husband and the moment their eyes met, he nodded. She smiled and cleared her throat and spoke with such softness, "Erik, sweetheart, how would you feel if we moved to Paris?"
Erik stopped all movement and glanced at his parents with wide eyes and wonder. "Oh, mother! That would be brilliant! To be able to watch opera's be performed from time to time is one thing but to live in Paris and work in the opera house? To have my music star in an opera? That would be the greatest achievement of my life!"
"Then it's settled," his father stated as he flicked the newspaper open and began to read it, "We shall began looking for a house in Paris, immediately. But now that the war is over I'm not entirely sure if there are many houses for sale. So, if not that be the case then perhaps our little architect could build us a home?" he said with a smirk and winked at his son.
"Oh come now, father," Erik said as he waved one of the maids to make him another crepe, "my skills in architecture aren't as great as you make them seem."
André put his newspaper down abruptly and looked Erik in the eyes. "Erik, you are being too modest. You must embrace the gifts God has given you. You must show them off every chance you get or you will regret it later in life. Erik, you are gifted son, gifted beyond you're wildest imagination. Use them, and you will go very far in life, I ensure you. You must stop looking at them as if they are nothing, my boy. You are special, and sooner or later you are going to have to embrace it." After he gave his son one last look he picked back up his newspaper and went onto reading it once more.
It was after those spoken words did silence finally fill Erik. Was he really that special? Were these gifts something he should use and show off to the ones who aren't as gifted as he was? It felt wrong.
No one spoke again until Erik finally dismissed himself from the table and walked out to the stables. He felt relieved to be out of that room. The silence nearly suffocated him!
"Raoul?" Erik asked as he entered the stables, but no answer. Erik stood in the doorway and placed his hands on his hips. "Raoul this isn't funny. Just come out so we can ride."
Still no movement was made as Erik made his way through the stables. "Raoul! Where are you?" Then Erik heard a noise from behind him. He turned around and saw that the door had closed on him. He ran to the door and tried to open it but it was locked.
"Raoul! This isn't funny! Help!" No matter how hard Erik pushed against the door it would not budge. "Raoul! Help me! I'm locked in!" Erik stopped working with the door and looked around. There was no back door to the stables. Only a front door. Then as if god himself started it, a fire broke out at the back of the stables. Erik's eyes widened with fear.
"Raoul! Open the door! There's a fire! I can't get out!" he screamed as he banged his fists against the door.
Raoul stood outside of the stables and watched as the back of the barn began to grow in flames. Soon, his brother will no longer be a nuisance in his life. Once this is over, Raoul will be the center of everything and he won't be in Erik's shadow any longer. Issac was right. This plan was fool proof! After a few more moments of watching did he finally turn around and ran inside to find help.
"Mother! Father! Come quick!" Raoul screamed as he ran into the house.
"What, what was it?" his father asked him as he and his wife were rushing down the stairs with urgency in their steps.
"It's Erik! He's trapped in the stables and it is on fire!" Raoul said as he quickly ran to his father, took his hand and dragged him to the door.
"Oh my gosh! Erik!" His mother screamed as she ran down the stairs, past her husband. She ran right out the door, holding most of her dress in her hands with her husband only two steps behind her.
Before they could make it even 50 yards, the whole barn exploded.
"NO!" Rita screamed as she ran to the half standing stables. Her husband quickly caught her around her waist and dragged her body against his to keep her from going any closer.
"No! My son! My Erik!" she cried as she fought against her husband. "Let me go! André he could still be alive!" Her knees buckled in and had it not been for her husband holding her she would have fallen.
André turned his wife around quickly in order to look at her in the eyes. "Rita, my love, he is gone! You cannot go in there or you will get hurt or worse! I will not lose two of the most important things in my life in one day!" Rita sniffled and flung her arms around his neck and cried on his shoulder. André wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. Then he turned his attention on his only son now. "Raoul, go and get Richard. Tell him what happened and to call the firemen. We need all the help we can get if we are to put this fire out. Come on darling, we need to get you inside."
Raoul walked away with satisfaction written all over his face. He had finally gotten rid of his brother, but as he turned around and looked upon the scene. He began to feel grief, guilt, and sadness all mixed into one feeling. His brother, his best friend, was gone. By his hands..
No, he thought, Erik had brought this upon himself.
He walked into the house, found the butler, told him what happened and went to his room. Raoul slammed to door and threw himself on his bed and wept for his lost brother. What had he done? Erik was his brother! But for something strange reason, Raoul wasn't really sad at all. He sat up on his bed. He crossed his legs and glanced out the window to watch as the servants were throwing buckets of water on the fire. Raoul wiped the tears off of his face and stood up on his bed. No. This was the day he finally got what he wanted and nothing, not even grief, was going to stand in the way of his victory celebration. Raoul ran into his bath chamber and began to prepare a bath to calm his nerves.. He had finally done it and now it was time to begin his life as a single child.
It took a little over five hours to finally get the fire to calm down. After nothing was left, they finally began to search for Erik but with no luck at all. They found absolutely nothing. No body was found and no trace on how the fire even began. Struck with grief the Vicomte's mourned their loss and never forgot March 3, 1873.
Erik had gotten out of the burning barn safely before it blew. He stood behind it and turned his face to side to look at what the fire had done. Before he could even think about Raoul and his betrayal, the burn blew up. The moment it blew the side of his face, that was turned towards the side, was hit by the blast and he was blown into the river. The river flowed only a few feet away from the barn but still, he did not land softly. Erik drifted down the stream, unconscious, and on his back.
Thats where Léon La Fraé had found him. He was fishing in the stream, miles away down the stream from the Vicomte's home. Léon was part of a group of traveling gypsies. Having working all night with the circus, he had needed some quiet from his fellow gypsies. Léon sat on a rock and held the fishing rod in his hand as he took a little nap. Then all of a sudden something tugged on his line and he awoken startled and alert. Once he fixed his attention on the rod there was another tug. Léon pulled the rope up and began to fight with the fish.
"This is gonna be a big one! I can feel it!" Léon exclaimed as he was pulling in the fish. Then, something caught his eye and he took his mind off of the rod, only for second, when the fish tugged to hard and the rod slipped from his hands.
"God damnit!" Léon shouted as he turned back to the rod in the water. He jumped down off the rock to retrieve it but as he gazed into the water to search for his rod something, again, caught his eye.
"Huh?" he murmured as he looked toward a large object floating in the water. As the thing floated closer he could quite clearly tell that it was a person. Is he dead? Without another thought to his actions, Léon immediately rushed into the water and dragged the boy out and onto the small shore of stream.
"Oh, come on kid, please be alive," he muttered as he was lifted the boy up and looked at his face. It was horribly disfigured on the left side and it looked as though he had been seriously burned by something, or someone. There was so much swelling and blisters, part of his nose was almost burnt off to were you could practically see the bone! Under his eye was swollen and bruised with blisters and alongside his cheek there were cutes deep enough for him to have almost bleed out and died. Léon shook his head and leaned his ear on the boys chest. He's breathing! Léon shot his head up and lifted the boy into his arms.
He knew actually what to do. He headed towards his horse and quickly put the boy on the back with his stomach laying across the horse, while his arms and legs dangled on either side of the horse. Then Léon held the reins and made the horse trout around in a circle around him. Léon had done this before and he knew the boy would began to bounce along the horse on his stomach, thus applying and releasing pressure on the chest cavity causing any water to come out of his airway and through his mouth. Then before he knew it, the boy was coughing up water and breathing heavily. Léon quickly brought the horse to a stop got off, and helped the boy down. He put the boy on the ground and watched as the boy opened his eyes and coughed more.
"Thank heavens you are alright boy! Gave me quite a scare there," he said as he sat down on a boulder closest to the horse.
Erik with his hands on his knees, kept coughing, wanting to say something to the man that just saved him. Finally when the coughing ceased and he looked at the man who had just saved his life fully. He looked as though he was in his late twenties, looked very strong. Perhaps he was a laborer of some sort, Erik thought. The man had brown hair that was pulled back out of his face. Erik looked into his eyes noticed they were some sort of a green color just like his were.
"Where am I?" Erik asked as he looked around. Then, as if he had just realized that a strange man was standing next to him, he glanced back at he man with a glare and asked firmly "And who are you?"
"I don't quite know. Somewhere along a stream, I suppose." Léon replied with a grin as he gazed at his surroundings. Erik gave him an annoyed look. "What? I should be the one asking you questions." He stated and crossed his arms across his chest. He stared at Erik for a long moment then finally said, "Tell me why you were floating on the river, unconscious and barely alive."
Erik studied the man for a moment and then closed his eyes. He knew exactly what had happened and remembered everything. He knew that Raoul had locked him in the barn and set it on fire. The only thing he didn't know was what was going through Raoul's mind when he decided to try and kill Erik? Erik had no idea what to do. Should he go back? No. Why would he would go back to a family that doesn't even seem to care about him? Erik was heartbroken and confused. Why would Raoul do this? He thought Raoul had loved him as a brother should love his younger brother. God was a cruel man to let this happen to someone like Erik who was talented beyond his years... or maybe, he was being punished by God himself! That was the only logical answer Erik could give himself.
"You never answered my last question. Who are you?"
Léon narrowed his eyes and sighed. "Damn, you are one stubborn little boy, aren't you? My name is Léon La Fraé, but my fellow Gypsies call me Leo. And your name is?"
"Erik. Just Erik." Then all of a sudden the side of Erik's face began to burn. He brought his hand to his face and touched the burning side gently, yet it hurt even worse with his touch. Quickly, he pulled his hand away. Oh god, was his face damaged? What else could possibly be damaged other than his soul? What if his hands were damaged? He quickly looked at his hands and sighed with relief. Thank god they looked fine. If anything happened to his hands, his world would be crushed. His hands were the most important part of his body, because without his hands, he couldn't make music, and without music life would mean nothing to Erik.
"Ah yes, the side of your face is burned. I'm shocked because a burn like that would have most grown men screaming in pain, and yet, here you are standing before me just now noticing the pain. I'm also surprised you're even alive, let alone talking and moving on your own." Leo stated.
What on earth was Erik's story? Was he abused? Did he even have a family to go back to? Well he can't just leave the boy here alone to die. Those burns are pretty serious and they need to be tended to.
Without another thought Leo said, "Come, we must get you healed. We have to clean the wound on your face before it gets infected." Erik stood still, not moving an inch. Leo looked back at him as he tied his sack to the saddle on his horse. "Don't look at me like that, you ignorant boy!" he snapped. "I am trying to help you." Leo turned back to the saddle and when he finally had it tied he turned back to Erik.
Erik looked at Leo for a few minutes until he finally asked, "Do you have a mirror with you?"
"No, but I do have one back at my camp. Again, if you come with me we will began treating your wounds properly... and you can stay there with me."
Erik could only nod and tried to stand up. Leo noticed his attempt to stand up had failed, so he strolled over to Erik and offered his arm for support. Erik took his arm and stood straight up, barely applying any pressure to Leo's arm. The last thing Erik needed was to show Leo he wasn't strong. He needed to be strong now that his entire world had collapsed.
"Thank you," he said softly as Leo helped him towards the horse.
"You and I have much to talk about, Mousier Erik." he said with a grin. And with that said he helped Erik on the horse and climbed atop himself.
As they began ride off, Erik turned and looked back at the stop where Leo had found him. Tears began to fill his eyes as he knew today would be the last day he would ever see his family again. Erik even cried for Raoul, too. But, those few moments spent thinking about Raoul turned his tears of love to tears of hate, and he began to despise his brother.
Erik turned around and pressed his undamaged face into Leo's back and his grip on Leo tighten as he silently made a promise to himself.
"I will never forget what you have done to me, Raoul. I will never forgive you, and one day I will find you, and when I do your life will be destroyed just as mine is."
The last thought he had before he drifted off to sleep against Leo's back was of the beautiful girl he never got the courage to speak to...
