Hidden Abuse
Chapter 2
By Robin Gurl
Erik watched as Christine moved about the room pacing, he didn't know how to help her. He had expected her to shocked to see him but not like this. "C-Christine?"
She turned around, "I can't believe me made me think you were dead for 10 years! 10 years, Erik! You couldn't bring yourself to write?"
He only glanced down, "I tried, several times. Madam Giry told me she didn't know where you had gone. She kept telling me you had gone into hiding."
"And you believed her? If there is one thing I know, Erik, its that you are good at stalking me." She accused placing her hands on her hips.
"Alright, fine. I had started to write letters but the newspapers from Paris showed what a happy life you had…" He trailed off unable to look her in the eye. "As much as I loathe Raoul, if you were happy, I couldn't interrupt that."
Christine looked guilty after hearing that, her anger had been misplaced, she took a deep breath and leaned on the back of the chair for support. She winced as she jarred her injury from before.
He saw it and was by her side in seconds. "Are you hurt?"
"I-It's just sore. I'm alright." She tried to push him away but he was stronger. His hand gently took her wrist into his hand to look at it.
"How did this happen?" His voice had changed from gentle to suspicious as he eyed her. "Did he hurt you?"
"Who?" Christine tried to pull away again but then realized she wasn't going anywhere. Her cheeks flushed as she was reminded of his strength. His hands were warm as he massaged her wrist.
"As you say my Christine, I am a good watcher." His eyes narrowed. "I've seen things that make me question what's really going on. Down at the docks, he grabbed you by your wrist. Wrenched it hard. Then up here in the hotel room, I watched as you two fought over money and he insulted your singing abilities."
Her gaze dropped she was suddenly embarrassed that he had seen all of that, "I-It was an accident. He didn't do it on purpose."
Erik ignored what she said and only continued, "What else has he done to you? What else have you allowed to happen?"
Her head jerked up, "A-Allowed?! You think I want this to happen? I am married to Raoul, I am his wife." She finally pulled away turning away from him. "It is my duty to be a good wife and I haven't been, therefore I deserve it."
"No one deserves to be hit." One of his hands reaches up to his mask. "Especially my angel."
"Your angel!?" She turns and stares up at him angrily her eyes piercing, "My angel of music has been dead for 10 years. The nights I wanted to be rescued and saved I knew no one would because he was dead. Where were YOU when I needed you, Erik?"
Erik stepped back, eyes wide. "I-I was stuck in this forsaken place dreaming of when I would see you again. When I could hold you again and hear your voice."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, "I-I could have married you if you would have just stayed after that night. Instead you left. I was ready to follow you anywhere. Because of a choice you made, I thought you didn't love me anymore. That I had done something wrong. So I chose the only safe route that I thought I had. I chose Raoul." She reaches behind her back and starts to undo the buttons to her dress. "However, I quickly learned that when things got stressful, Raoul would go on drinking binges and come home angry. He would gamble our money away and blame it on me." She then pulls down her dress just under her shoulders. "This is my happy marriage, Erik."
He had nothing to say, there was anger boiling up inside of him that he was somehow keeping from exploding. Her pale shoulders were riddled with bruises, some continued down her arms. His heart broke to see her in his state. He held his hands up to caress the shoulders but couldn't bring himself to do it. "C-Christine, my Christine…. leave him. Come with me. I'll get you out of this."
She pulled her dress back up and rebuttoned, "I can't, Erik. I am the Viscountess. A scandal like this would be every where. And I don't want that for Gustave."
"The child…does he hit the child?"
Christine shook her head, "I make sure of it. He takes it out on me."
Then she turned quickly to look at him, "How do you know about the child?"
"I saw him exit the boat with you and the fop. What is his name?"
"His name is none of your business."
Erik stepped back looking hurt. "I-I'm sorry that was too forward of me to ask." He was fighting to stay calm and collected. "I was just wanting to make sure he was safe."
Christine sighed, "His name is Gustave."
"Christine, please, I can take you somewhere safe tonight. Anywhere but here. We can even take the child with us." Erik pleaded.
"No. I am staying here. My husband will be back soon and Gustave is sleeping."
The sound of the door opening was heard.
"Angel if you decide to leave, just call."
Christine turned back around and he was gone. She wiped her tears away, straightening up. This is what a wife did after all. Took care of her husband. "Hello dear." She turned to smile at Raoul ready to take his coat.
He stomped in, "That was a complete disgrace! He never showed up." Raoul threw his coat at his wife not even stopping to say hello. He reeked of alcohol.
Christine merely went about what she was supposed to do and hung his coat up. "I'm sorry, darling. Maybe he got caught up in something? Or had something come up?"
Raoul looks around the room suspiciously. "Someone's been here…"
"What!? Of course not. Just Gustave and I, dear. No one has here."
"I smell men's cologne." His eyes narrow as he approaches her. "Don't lie to me. Are you now a woman for hire as well as an artist?"
She tried to turn away from his stinking breath but he caught her chin and turned her face back to him. "N-No. I did no such thing! Why would you THINK I'd do that?!"
Raoul growled and raised his hand then slapped her across the face. He watched as she staggered back, eyes wide. "Thats your punishment for lying to me."
Her frame shook as she fought back tears, "I-I wasn't lying to you, it was just us two in here. We were waiting for you to come back." Her hand went up to the side of her face that stung. Her heart was racing, she had to calm him down.
"I'm sure you were." He responded sarcastically. He then unbuttoned his vest, "Not that anyone would want you to begin with. I barely want you. A has been artist who hasn't sang in nearly 10 years."
"Y-You wouldn't let me sing. You told me it would only embarrass the family. I stopped for you."
"So now you are blaming it on me? Tsk tsk, Christine. It's never your fault is it? It's always mine." He approached her rolling up his sleeves. She cowered trying to protect herself from what was coming. He slapped her again, this time she saw lights in her eyes. "I'm going to bed. Clean yourself up then come join me."
She watched him walk into the bedroom, her heart was pounding. Her face stung from where he had hit her twice. Her hands shook as she looked around the room trying to figure out what to do.
The door slammed shut and she paced around the hotel room trying to stop the tears. Trying to recompose herself. She sat down in the chair and realized she could still feel him where he had been kneeling beside her. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath relaxing as she imagined him there again, stroking her face.
It made the pain go away briefly as she was swept into a daydream, one she had every time things got bad. She was with him and not Raoul and they were a happy family.
She reached up touching the side of her face, it still stung. Tears streamed again as she hunched over. "G-God give me strength to what I'm about to do." She took a deep breath and stood up.
She had made the decision to leave.
She snuck quietly into Gustave's room and woke him up quietly, "Shh, dear, get up quietly and put your shoes on."
Christine watched him before turning and grabbing his jacket. If need be she could get more clothes tomorrow. She kept listening for Raoul to burst out of their bedroom but only heard silence.
Hopefully that meant that he had passed out drunk again. If so she was thankful.
"Mother, I'm ready. Where are we going? Are you alright? Why are you crying?"
"I-I'm getting us somewhere safe, dearest. We're going t-to visit someone I trust very dearly." She then took his hand and they snuck out into the cold night.
