You are Free
She panted. She ran. She ran some more. And yet, it still seemed so far away… So distant, when the flapping corner of the tent was just within a few paces. Her hood was drawn up, pale flesh hidden by a dark blue velvety fabric that encased her like a shadow… Where she longed to be. The ill-fated looking tent was bright orange and red; flames from torches flickered on the inside, casting ominous shadows on the outside, while the not-so-merry jingle of chains, the snap of a whip, and the cheers of a crowd sounded. Within moments, absolute silence filled that place, before a scream erupted, and more cheering…
She had been warned of this place. She had been told never to come here, never to enter this most evilest of camps… And yet… She had. For love. For true love, love that never stopped, love that consumed her mind and body and made her yearn for the touch of those hands again. Pure, unconditional love. A hesitant smile had made it's way to her lips, pale flesh trembling as the flap of the tent was drawn back and at least twenty people paraded out. Some were pale, others were giggling nervously, while still others looked like they had seen the devil himself.
There was a tinkle of coins, and raucous laughter that soon faded into nothing. It was replaced by the heavy breathing of another, and the sounds of agonized shifting across the filthy floor of that person's 'home'. A breathless bout of laughter was bubbling up inside of her, but she held it back, biting her tongue as her eyes took in the sight, not yet wishing to glance at the thing of center attention. The tent was what it looked like from the outside. The ground was packed down dirt and mud, strewn with hay and straw that was rather disgusting looking. As her chocolaty brown eyes swept across the rather revolting sight, they came upon the edge of metal.
Slowly, very slowly, the woman's eyes traveled upwards, studying the rusty bars and aging cage that stood alone in the middle of the room. Shadows covered the back half, while torchlight illuminated the rest of the bars. And from the shadows, she could see a pair of molten, almost gold colored eyes, studying her intently, before they looked away almost lazily… Yet, at the same time, shamefully. Lowering her hood, the female made quite sure that the tent was closed behind her, before she stepped into a pool of light. There was silence for some time; words would not form on her tongue, though she certainly wished they would.
She was trembling still, her eyes blinking and staring innocently as the silence carried on. It was shattered by a soft, yet very deep and velvety smooth voice that stirred with danger and anger. "The show is over, Mademoiselle." She shivered. She knew that voice. And she knew it well. It had haunted her dreams for over the past five years… Slowly, she shook her head, her curls falling across her cheeks and forehead as her pale but beautiful lips pulled up into a smile. "Nay, good sir. 'Tis not quite what I came for…" The smile slid off her lips like water as a form leapt from the shadows, hitting the sides of the bars angrily as the calm voice became an animal snarl.
"Then leave, Mademoiselle." A pair of large hands, calloused, and worn gripped the bars tightly. They flowed downwards into wrists, and past that, elbows and shoulders, to come to the face that she had yearned to see for so very long. But the face she saw now was not what she expected. The lips were twisted into a sneer and a snarl, his white teeth bared into a growl that sent shivers down her spine. But she held strong, watching, studying the being that was kept behind the bars of the cage. As she held up a hand in an almost loving expression, the man behind the cage growled threateningly. "I told you to leave, Mademoiselle. Turn around, and do not come back."
She did not listen. Her chocolate eyes were still drinking in the sight of the man, the Angel that had haunted her dreams and mind for so long. The sharp jaw line, dusted in a rough dark brown beard (that was just starting to grow back in), the dimple in the strong chin… The harshly cut cheekbone, and the fine nose… And those lips… Oh, Lord… The lips, so smooth, so enchanting and full. Her mouth went dry, her tongue darting out to wet her own lips as she stared, her eyes slowly moving up to the one place that begged for attention. She gasped, and took a step or two back in shock. Those beautiful eyes, the smoky jade colour that screamed confidence and… Loathing? Yes.
Absolute hatred and loathing swam deep in those breathtaking eyes, frustration and anger bordering on confusion as to why the woman would not leave him be. Why did she enter, alone of all things, when everyone else had quite clearly left? Was she truly that brave, to face the Devil's son himself? Rage was very evident across his features, as her eyes slowly traveled downwards and to the right… Ah… And so she saw. Strangely enough, however, she eyes did not widen. The maiden did not pale, she did not scream or drop dead into a faint upon the floor. Nay, she looked upon him as though she looked upon any other human… Almost… With adoration… NO. T'was not true! He was letting his thoughts run wild again… Shaking his head, the figure growled furiously and gripped the bars tighter.
"If you are not here for a show, and you will not leave, then tell me, dearest, why on Earth you would choose to come here alone."
At first, she did not answer. No, rather, her eyes kept sweeping across his face in broad strokes, taking in the stretched and twisted flesh of the right side of his nose, the sunken and drooped right eye, the areas of skin where blue veins and bones showed through… Then, slowly, her voice, that sweet, heavenly sound, rang out again.
"I come to find the man I love."
A bitter bout of laughter followed her words, as the man in the cage tipped back his head and roared with those deep, horribly sarcastic sounds. "I do believe you have the wrong cage. Now, if you will excuse me…" As he turned his back, beginning to crawl back towards the shadows, panic beyond anything suddenly grasped at her chest, squeezing until suddenly, she cried out. "NO!" The man paused, his head tipped to the side, his shackled hands curling into fists as he shifted on his knees to look back at her.
"No?," he whispered, his eyes flaring and burning as she bit her lower lip until blood could be tasted. "No," she nodded, her voice quivering as the man in the cage glared at her. "The man I love is in this cage, and I intend to get him out." A startled expression crossed his face, as he paused for a moment, his eyes narrowed in suspicion, mounting distrust, until finally… "I am the only man in this cage, if you please. You do have the wrong tent, so please, get out."
Again, she shook her head, as he gave an exasperated sigh. "It is you I come for, you my sweet Angel… My loving tutor… My friend… My Phantom…" He paused again, his head cocked to the side, his eyes flickering with confusion, anger, frustration, and utter and complete hopelessness. "Me?" She nodded, a smile growing on her lips. "You." But again, another bout of laughter, as he finally shook his head and turned away. This time, no words were spoken, as he crawled back to the safety of his shadows, of where he belonged… "Erik! Your back! It is bleeding!" At this, he rounded on her, his eyes round in shock and disbelief.
"What did you say?"
"I said, your back, it's-"
"No, before that…"
"Erik?"
He stared, nodded, narrowed his eyes, and then snarled. "Who ARE you?" His hands were shaking, his body trembling with frustration as she merely smiled at him. "It is I, Erik… You know me… Come now… You have not forgotten so easily…" All she got was a blank stare. Erik's beautiful eyes were swirling in confusion, his face furrowed in concentration, until… "No. I do not know you." Shaking his head, his face was just being hidden in the shadows once more, when her words shocked him down to his very core, a failing, barely flickering light now. "It is I! Christine Daae, you're student, you're pupil, you're love."
He had frozen up. Erik had stopped, his body tense, his back turned to her, on his hands and knees, crawling in agony back to his spot. But she had seen it. She had seen it all, and she knew he remembered. He remembered… He knew… "Erik… My love…" Whilst he had just been shocked to his core, she too received it moments later. "Mademoiselle, I do not know you. Now please, leave me alone." Frustrated, tears welling up in her eyes, Christine gripped the bars of the cage bravely, and called to him. "What do you mean, you do not know me? What cruel joke do you play, Erik? You do know me, you do remember me, so please, stop pretending! You are hurting me, Erik, don't you see?" Tears fell steadily down her cheeks, as all she received was a cold shoulder and a harsh, 'sorry' back again. Finally, she snapped.
"ERIK, STOP PRETENDING! IT IS NO GAME! IT IS NO MIND ILLUSION! IT IS REAL! IT IS ME!"
She stood, panting, her hair having fallen into her face, her eyes burning as Erik turned back to her, staring, his face utterly expressionless. She hated when he did that. She hated how he kept her from his emotions, from his thoughts, while he could read her as easily as an open book…
"Mademoiselle, shouting like a spoiled child will do nothing to get me out."
"Erik…"
"I play no mind games, miss. Leave, please, before you are hurt."
"I came to find you…"
"I do not know you."
"Of course you do, Erik, you loved me! Stop pretending, please!"
"I have never loved anybody."
"Angel, this is no game! This is no illusion, no silly joke!"
"I don't know you."
"Angel, Erik, Maestro, my guardian, my-"
"I DON'T KNOW YOU!"
By now, Erik had climbed to his feet, slowly, agonizingly, gripping the cage bars tightly, his face so close to her own… She could easily spot the tear stains, the dirt, blood and sweat smudges across his once perfectly clean face… "What have they done to you…?" Christine's eyes flooded with tears, her hand sneaking through the bars of the cage to openly caress his cheek as he shut his eyes, swallowing, quiet and- "No." Wrenching back from her touch, Erik shied away from the cage, the chains about his ankles and wrists jingling as he shook his head. "You are not real."
"Erik, of course I am, I am here… I am real… I came to find you…"
Again, the man shook his head, his own tears flooding his eyes now as he gasped for breath, turning his face away… "No… Stop… Please…" Moaning in pain, the former Phantom sank to his knees, holding the sides of his head in his hands as he trembled and shook. With a start, he caught the sound of a rusty creak, and turned his face back to look at the open cage door, and a welcoming Christine standing within the way. Slowly, she came forwards, taking his wrists in her warm, soft hands… The key she held unlocked the chains, as she brushed her smooth lips across the red, irritated skin. His ankles were unshackled, the edges of his dirty trousers brushing the chains as she dropped them to the floor.
"You are free, my Angel… Come… Fly with me… Leave this place…"
And true to her word, Christine took both of his large hands, and slowly raised him to stand at his full height. She stood on her tiptoes, her lips brushing his ever so gently, her eyes fluttering shut as she drew away, smiling. Erik needed no further persuasion. Five long years, he had suffered, forgetting about her, about his life, falling to the sins of Gypsies once more… And now, here she stood, offering him freedom. He seized it, immediately.
"Yes, my love."
THE END