Chapter 7
As we walked down a dark tunnel, I confronted Erik.
"Tell me of your past," I said, my arms folded, "So I can see if I trust you." Erik sighed. "You want to know everything?"
"Everything." I repeated. We walked in silence for a few minutes. I was about to turn to him again when he started talking.
"I was born with a horrible disease, a disease that wrecks your entire body. My mother screamed when she saw me and presented a mask for my first piece of clothing. My father never saw my face. I would sing in the shadows, and people would beg for me to come out, so they could see the wonderful face that went with the wonderful face." His tone was bitter, and dripping with sarcasm.
"One day, the freak show was in town. I joined it. People paid money to see the three eyed man, the bearded lady, Erik the living skeleton boy, and many others. Eventually, I left to a better paying circus. There I learned many tricks, such as ventriloquism, and a fortune teller told me my name- Erik. I was a good architect, and became famous. My fame reached the Shah of Persia, who hired me to build him a beautiful palace, one which the likes of had never been seen before. I obeyed. After the palace had been completed, I overheard the king planning to kill me so that I could not build for other kingdoms. A Persian(I never found out his name, so I just called him Daroga) helped me escape. I met others, but eventually settled down here as an ordinary builder. I helped construct the Opera house, then built my own house on an underground lake. Unfortunately, Daroga followed me to Paris. He has intruded here before."
"What did you do to him?" I asked. We got into a boat on a lake before he continued.
"I pulled him out of my boat before I realized who he was. This is the same boat. I dragged him to shore. I threatened him. Daroga reminded me that he had saved my life once.
I told him that if he intruded again, then I might forget that, for nothing can restrain Erik, not even Erik himself."
"Oh, so now you're speaking in third person again." I said as we arrived on the other shore.
"Yes, it's a habit of mine. Daroga did not believe me when I told him that someone loves me for who I am."
"who?" I asked. We were now in a house. He led me to a sitting room before answering, with his eyes sparkling, "Christine Daae."
