AN: Ever since I first saw the Phantom in elementary school, I have always wondered how a child could have changed Erik. 6 months have passed since Christine left with Raoul. Haunted by his past and ashamed of who he was, Erik is now a broken man. Can a blind orphan show Erik that there is more to him than pain and anger? This story be told in the POV of both Erik and the OC, Lucas.

Update (6/15/18): After reading the comments, I decided to rewrite parts of the beginning of the story (mostly Lucas' parts). Nothing in the plot has changed though, so people who started reading before 6/15/18 shouldn't have to reread the first 5 chapters unless they want to.

Erik:

I squinted through the storm, searching for a place to take refuge. I had been walking for miles, unable to find an uninhabited shelter. As I continued to look around, I could not help but think about how accurately the weather reflected my emotions.

Perhaps I will simply die of hypothermia, I thought darkly as my cloak billowed in the wind. There had been many times when I had contemplated ending it all. Nobody would miss me. The only person who ever cared was Christine, and now she was gone. I knew that I could not do it though. I deserved this punishment for what I put her through. I love her, and I only brought fear and misery into her life. I deserved to be in this constant state of Hell.

Then, I spotted a church in the distance. It was difficult to see through the rain, but the church appeared to be abandoned. The exterior was certainly unkempt. There were multiple dead plants surrounding it, including a fallen tree that leaned against the building. I braced myself against the wind and made my way toward the shelter.

Lucas:

I was sitting with my back against the wall. The wind was howling outside. I usually felt safe in my church, but I was scared. I just wanted the storm to be over.

My eyes don't work anymore, but my ears work really well. I can kind of see with my ears, if that makes sense. I don't really know how to explain it. When I make a noise, like snapping my fingers or something, I can hear it bounce off of the things around me. It's like the sounds are telling me where things are. That's how I get around by myself. I don't need anyone to take care of me.

The storm made it really hard to do this though. I was trying my best to listen, but all I could hear was the stupid wind. I didn't like it. I felt more blind than usual. That's why I had my back against the wall. I didn't want anything scary to attack me. I'm no chicken, and I know that monsters aren't real. People are real though, and people can be very scary. Trust me.

As the thunder roared around me, a dark melody started playing in my head. I guess that's the one good thing about going blind. Ever since everything went dark, it's like I've been living in a different world. A better one. A beautiful one. Now, I really hear the world around me. And I mean really hear. Every note. Every tune. I can feel the music that fills the world. Music is everywhere; people just don't listen right.

Erik:

Oh Christine, I thought miserably as I stumbled into the old church, drenched from the storm. I miss you. I need you.

6 months. It had been 6 months since my angel left me. It had been 6 months since I last heard the music of the night. It had been 6 months, and my life had been empty ever since. Life. I do not know if this word even fits my position. Existence is more fitting. I had been nothing more than a fleeting shadow, constantly on the run. Without Christine, all that was left in the world was suffering. Pain.

I'm so sorry, Christine, I thought as I sat on a bench. If I could take it all back, I would. I would have never approached you all those years ago. I would have left you alone. I hope you know how sorry I am.

I let out a loud cry of anguish.

"Hey! Who's there?" I heard a boy's voice call out.

I jumped up immediately. My mind on Christine, I had not noticed that there was a boy leaning against the wall not too far from me. What is this kid doing sitting in the dark? I wondered. He is obviously up to something. This must be a trap. He has come to finish me off.

But then it occurred to me that, had this boy been planning an attack, he probably would not have called out to me. Curiosity began to get the better of me. Instead of fleeing, I decided to remain silent.

"I know you're still there. I can hear you," the boy said.

How could the child hear me? Years as the Phantom of the Opera had taught me how to move silently, unnoticed. My anguish and curiosity had driven me reckless, and I stepped out of the shadows.

The boy did not react. I was used to people screaming when I appeared. Ever since the famous disaster, I was easily recognized by the public. People either fled or attacked at the sight of me. But the boy just sat there. Did he not know who I was?

"I know you're there!" the boy repeated.

Well of course he knew I was here; he was staring right at me. But then I noticed that the boy was not actually looking at me. He seemed to be looking about a foot to the right of me. It occurred to me that the boy may not be able to see me. How curious…

"I am sorry to have disturbed you, child. I mean no harm," I replied stepping towards him. I could not hurt an innocent child, even if he was the only thing standing between me and shelter. There are lines even monsters will not cross. I would have to spend the night outside in the storm.

The boy was very small, but it was difficult to gauge his age. He was very disheveled and, like me, had clearly been on his own for quite some time. It was clear that years of undernourishment and neglect made him appear even younger than he actually was. There was an oddly familiar look in his bright blue eyes, which had fixed onto me when I had spoken.

I was still unsure of whether or not the boy could actually see me. I stopped in front of him and slowly waved my hand in front of his face.

"Stop it. I know you're doing that," he said scowling.

Oops. Perhaps, he could see. "My apologies. I just… I was just checking to see if you were blind," I replied bluntly. A lifetime of solitude had left me with a lack of finesse when interacting with other people.

The boy looked annoyed. "I am, but I could feel you waving your hand in front of my face."

"Oh. Again, my apologies. I will be on my way. I had not realized that anyone was here. I did not mean to invade your abode." I began walking to the door.

"Wait!" the boy cried out. "You don't have to leave. It's storming out there, and there isn't another shelter close by. Plus, I'm all alone here. I could use the company."

I eyed the boy suspiciously. Never had anyone ever asked me to stay or wanted my presence. As the thunder roared above me, I sighed. Realistically, I did not have much of a choice. I took a couple steps back toward him. "Fine. I shall stay, but only for the night. Once this storm passes, I will be on my way."

The boy grinned. "Great."

It was the first time since Christine that anyone had ever smiled at me. It made me feel unsettled. As if I were doing something wrong. I did not deserve the smile.

"My name is Lucas by the way. What's yours?" the boy named Lucas asked me.

"My name is of no importance. I will be gone soon. There is no need for you to know it."

He frowned slightly at my response. Clearly, I had hurt the child's feeling. I have never understood the emotions of others, especially children. They are so delicate.

I sighed. "If you must know, I am Erik," I said stiffly. It was weird to say my name; hardly anyone had ever used it. It brought back the horrifying moments of my childhood, but I knew that it would appease the boy.

"Nice to meet ya, Erik. Let me show you around."