Erik's POV

Erik was angry. So, so angry at his Christine. She had said some extremely hurtful words to him, and therefore, Erik would not be as forgiving as he was before. Christine wanted to treat Erik like a child, one who didn't know what he was doing. But that would not be the case, for Erik was a man, and he would do as he pleased. Christine came into his room the following morning with a tray. Erik didn't even look at her as she placed it down on the night table.

"Good morning." she greeted, holding the glass of water up to Erik's lips. Erik gently pushed her hand away, never once looking up at her.

"Erik, what's wrong?"

But Erik didn't answer her, he simply closed his eyes, wishing to be left alone.

"I know you can speak." she said. "Why won't you tell me what's wrong?"

When Erik felt her hand place itself against his neck, he flinched away, hoping that she would leave him be.

"Erik, I didn't mean those things I said about you. The truth of it all is that you said some hurtful things to me too."

Erik rested his head against his pillow, still refusing to make eye contact with her.

"Erik, is this about how I slapped you yesterday? It was foolish of me…I could have hurt you terribly."

And then, Erik broke the silence.

"Erik's face still hurts. Erik has never once hurt Christine, and yet, she did just that to Erik."

"I was angry yesterday." she confessed. "Angry over Nadir's plan, angry about the way you were acting. I should have just walked away and took a breath, but I didn't…I promise that I won't ever do something like that again."

"Erik's mother used to slap Erik in the face. Sometimes, she hit Erik so hard that his flesh would bleed."

"Erik, no." Christine caressed Erik's sore cheek. "I would never do that to you. Oh, please forgive me, please say that we can move on from this."

"Perhaps, but Erik is still angry over Christine's actions. Nadir was trying to help Erik, and now, Erik and Christine are up river without a paddle."

"Erik, you can't be moved right now. But I promise you that I will think of a plan, one that will be better than Nadir's."

Christine reached over on the tray for the slice of jam covered bread.

"Eat up." she placed it into Erik's hand, but the truth of it all was that Erik wasn't that hungry. Silence filled the room, and from that silence, Christine's stomach began to growl. Has she even been eating?

"Is Christine hungry?"

She shook her head, but Erik knew she was lying.

"No, I've eaten already."

"How much food is left, Christine?"

"A few loaves of bread-"

"Don't lie to Erik." he growled. "How much?"

"Just three slices of bread." she confessed.

"And has Christine been starving herself for Erik's sake?"

"You need it more than me, Erik. You need all the strength you can get."

In an instant, Erik placed the slice of bread into Christine's hand and forced it up to her lips.

"Erik is not hungry. Christine must eat something…"

"But-"

"But nothing. Eat, Christine."

She waited a few moments, before stuffing the slice into her mouth, savoring its flavor. Erik needed to do something before his Christine starved to death. She belonged with her fop, at least he would be able to provide for her. The last place she needed to be, was with Erik and starving.

"Erik believes that we have enough money to last another two weeks or so."

From the night table, he reached into the drawer where his money was kept and pulled out a few francs.

"Christine must go into town and purchase some milk and beef."

"Erik, we should really continue saving what money we have left."

Erik placed the francs into Christine's hand and closed her fingers around it.

"Christine and Erik must eat."

Christine nodded, and threw on her cloak.

"Are you still angry with me, Erik?"

She turned, waiting for Erik's answer.

"Erik can never stay angry with his Christine. Now go, so Christine can return as soon as possible."

And before she left, Christine leaned down and pressed a kiss to Erik's flawless cheek.

"Perhaps later we can get you out of that bed and to the kitchen to enjoy a home cooked meal."

Oh, how that sounded perfect! If Erik had to lay on his back for another moment he would simply go insane! His lower back was bothering him, giving his body cramps from laying immobile like he was.

Christine's POV

Town was a little too far to walk to, therefore, I decided to ride Cesar. The winter was still alive and here, but there was no snow upon the ground, which made this journey a lot easier. Boscherville was so small, that being the reason why I was stared upon as I passed houses and shops. Did everyone really know everyone here? I just hoped that I wouldn't be known as an outsider and ran out of town. Once in the center of Boscherville, I hopped down off of Cesar and began walking towards the butcher, already feeling eyes watching me.

The butcher shop was cold, lined with freshly cut meats hanging from the ceiling. I stepped towards the front counter, where a large man was standing there cutting up a chicken.

"I never seen your face in here before, Madame." the butcher knife came down over the dead chicken, causing me to slightly gasp. "You new?"

"Perhaps." I shuddered.

"Where are ye staying?"

"Up the dirt road." I stammered. "Near the end of Boscherville."

The man looked up, his eyes wide with fear.

"Not the devil's house I hope?"

"The devil's house?"

"Yes, that wacko Mulheim home. The mother was a crazy, and the son was born with features only the devil himself could be born with."

I just shook my head, knowing it would be better not to tell this man anything.

"Good," he placed down his knife. "Have you got yourself a man?"

"Excuse me?" I was starting to shake with fear. Oh, why did I decide to come into town alone?

"A husband. A woman ought not be living on her own up in that area of town."

"Yes, I do." was all I said. "A dear friend."

The man laughed. "That's a crying shame isn't it? Thought I would finally have found myself a woman. Beautiful you are…"

"I came in here for a slab of beef." I said, changing the subject. "How much?"

"Three francs,"

The man seemed angry that I was not playing along with him, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to purchase the needed groceries and get back to Erik. The man wrapped up the beef I had requested and I paid, carrying it out and placing it into the empty bag that I had attached to Cesar. More eyes were focused on me as I entered the corner shop…Why were people staring at me? How uncomfortable it was to be looked upon while I went about my business. Now I knew how Erik felt, I knew exactly how he felt… To be looked upon as if you were some sort of monster. This was why he would never be able to live a normal life. How badly I wanted to yell at them, but I was new, and therefore, I didn't want to stir up any trouble seeing that Erik was helpless and I was in charge.

After purchasing some milk, bread and potatoes, I hopped up onto Cesar's back and rode off, headed back towards Erik's house. Even then, as I left town, I still felt eyes watching me. As soon as I got inside the yard, I unpacked my groceries from Cesar and ran inside, locking the door and leaning my back against it. I felt safe now, safe away from strange eyes and people.

"Christine, is that you?"

I heard Erik's voice calling me from upstairs. I threw the milk and beef into the icebox, answering him with a simple "Yes." I stood in the kitchen for a few moments more, moving when I heard a strange sound coming from Erik's room. Deciding to see what he was up to, I headed upstairs to find him halfway out of bed.

"Erik," I rushed to his side, lifting up his abdomen and placing him back into bed.

"What were you thinking?"

"Erik had to go to the bathroom. He tried reaching for the chamber pot, but it was too far away for him to reach."

"Here," I handed him the chamber pot and turned my back to give him his privacy.

"How was town?"

"All right, I guess."

"Erik wishes he could get out of this bed. It hurts him so…"

When Erik was finished, I took the chamber pot away from him to dump it, coming back to find a look of discomfort displayed across his face.

"Here, let me make you more comfortable."

I had plenty of time before I had to make dinner, therefore, I took a seat at the end of his bed and gripped his uninjured leg, bending it back and forth. His tense limb cracked and caused Erik to sigh. How painful it must have been for him to not move his legs for so long.

"Better?"

"Yes, much, thank you."

His legs were covered in healing lumpy scars, but I didn't mind touching them. After placing his leg back down, I lifted his injured leg, attempting to bend that one as well, but Erik groaned and squeezed his fist.

"That hurt?"

He nodded, and I stopped, knowing that he wasn't ready for this yet.

"Has your hand healed any?"

I covered his legs back up and crawled into bed beside him to have a look at his left arm that was still in a sling. I removed the sling from around his arm, and brushed my fingers over the two that had been shattered in his accident.

"Erik cannot bend them." he lightly cooed. "So sore, they are."

"They will heal, Erik." I whispered. "It will take some time is all."

"Erik writes with his left hand. His fingers will never be the same again."

"Is that why you haven't touched your music parchment that I brought along?"

He nodded, and I reached over on the night table for the book of parchment I had snagged from his lair. I leaned back against the pillows, and opened it, reaching for his quill.

"You know, I used to be left handed too."

"Mother used to say that only monsters were left handed."

Erik pressed his eyes closed, but I brushed a stray lock of hair away from his face.

"That's not true, Erik. Father said that left handed people are special, that they have something wonderful to share with the world. I broke one of my fingers when I was five, playing on the beach. I had to learn how to write right handed from then on."

I took a blank piece of parchment, and took his right hand within my own, placing the quill between his fingers.

"Now let's write your name."

I guided his hand over the parchment, spelling out the letters that he was writing. It looked childish at first, more childish than his original handwriting, but I knew this would take some time.

"You should practice with yourself." I said. "When you can't sleep, that is."

"Erik will do that."

My angel seemed tired, for he laid there with his eyes closed as I placed his quill and parchment on the night table.

"Is breathing any easier for you?"

"A little. Erik's lungs still cause his chest pain though."

"What else causes you pain?"

"His feet."

From the night table, I opened the bottle of cannabis, and placed it up against his malformed lips.

"Here, take a swig of this. It will help with the cramps."

Erik did as I asked, and afterwards, I moved down to the end of the bed, lifting the blankets just enough to gain access to his feet. I sat there, massaging them, his sighs sounding as if he were in heaven.

"Erik, what should we do when you're better?" I questioned.

"Erik never really had a plan. But he does know that Christine and him cannot return to Paris."

"What about here?" I asked. "What if we stayed here and started a new life? I could get a job working in town-"

Erik moved his feet away from my grasp, causing me to make eye contact with him.

"Christine should not have to get a job. It is the man who should work, not the woman."

"Perhaps, Erik, but the woman does work if the man cannot. I worry for you, worry about everything."

"Christine should go back to her boy."

"And why would you think that?" I asked. "Because you can't support me and he can? I never wanted to be supported, Erik. Besides, after what he did to you, I could never walk back into his life with open arms. Maybe I don't know what I want in life right now, but for the time being I am here beside you, and if I have to take a job to help out, then so be it."

"Erik must apologize for calling Christine a girl the other night. Christine is a responsible woman, one that has been extremely kind to her Erik. He will never be able to repay her."

"We're friends, Erik." I said, "And friends help friends when it is most needed."

"Erik should still go to Coney Island."

"Promise me that you will forget about such a place, Erik. Promise me that you will let me help you instead, and that you will trust me."

"Erik trusts Christine."

"Then don't ever bring up that horrible place again."

"But if not there, than what? What could Erik ever do to support himself?"

"For now, we are safe here."

Erik nodded and I embraced him once more. Time was running out, we would need money soon, but for the time being, we would be safe here.

"Let me make us some dinner, Erik."

And before I left the room, Erik was already asleep. I knew he was worried for us, worried that he would not be able to support me, but I would work if it came down to it. After entering the kitchen, I began searching for a knife to cut the fat off the slab of beef I had purchased. I began rooting through every drawer, coming across one with a key placed inside of it. Curious, I picked it up and examined it…This key was too large to fit into the front door, so, what else could it be used for? And then it hit me…Erik's bedroom! Monsieur LePerriet had told me never to step foot into such a place, but I was curious. Therefore, I quietly slipped back upstairs and to the closed door with Erik's name carved into its wood. The key fit like a glove, and I was anxious to open it.

When the door opened, I was met with a staircase that led up into an attic of some sort. I took precaution with every step I took, climbing the stairs until I was met with a disgusting and dirty room. This was an attic all right, but this attic was more of a prison. The walls were covered in mold, the floor plastered in rusty nails sticking up from its floorboards…There were papers laying everywhere, papers with stick figure drawings on everyone. And there, up against the window was a bail of rotting hay with a torn blanket thrown over it. Was that my angel's bed? Was that what he slept on? The attic was locked, meaning that his mother probably locked Erik in here when she didn't want to see him.

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I left the room, locking it behind me. What a horrible life my angel has lived. Children should be happy, playful and loved…Erik had none of it. A torture chamber, that's what he lived in. His poor feet were probably stabbed constantly by the rusty nails. His back was probably as twisted as a pretzel from the lack of comfort from a bed. He would not live like that! Not anymore! I would bring him happiness, warmth and try to love him. Why not? I was no longer engaged to Raoul, therefore, I was a free woman. Even if I could not love Erik as a man, as a husband, I would love him as a friend. I would find us a safe place to live, and then he and I would begin a new life, one that would be filled with endless wonders. This I promised…Erik deserved happiness, and therefore, he would have it. It was time to leave my old life behind…Close the door of my one love one lifetime with Raoul, to open a new one with Erik.


Please please please review~ More to come soon!