I do not own the Phantom of the Opera.
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Chloe
It had been three weeks since I had come to this place. Erik had said that it would take another three months for my left arm to heal completely.
I looked at my bum arm, letting out an exasperated sigh. It's not like it was bad living here, in contrast it was more like what I imagined heaven to be. Yet at times it became boring here, stuck inside this cave.
Thankfully Erik had given me drawing materials about a week ago when I had shown interest in the drawings that he had done that morning. Since then I have spent most of my time in the garden that I had found my first day under Erik's care.
The sounds of beautiful music brought me out of my inner monologue. My eyes turned from the canvas I was working on to fix on the entrance of the garden. Low mournful notes swelled out of the yawning corridor. It sounds so sad, I thought laying down my charcoal.
I turned my attention back to my canvas. It was a portrait of Erik without his mask. It was beautiful, he was beautiful. I marveled at his handsome visage in wonder.
Why does he wear a mask all the time with a face like that? I wondered idly as I took the canvas off the easel I had been given, and leaned it against the wall of the gazebo I was sitting in.
I cast one last look at the picture before exiting the gazebo to go sit by the creek that ran from the lake through the garden. I took up my usual spot under a tree next to the babbling brook.
I sat leaning against the trunk of the tree before resuming my earlier thoughts. Why would Erik wear a mask that only covered half of his face? It would not make sense to do so if he was trying to hide his identity.
Maybe he had some identifying birthmark or scar that he is trying to hide. But what is he hiding from? Maybe he is some sort of outlaw, I mused.
My eyes glazed over as I thought back to the times before bed when my mother would read me and my sisters roguish tales of gun-slinging American cowboys. For years it had been my favorite time of the day.
The image of Erik in boots and spurs swiftly dissolved my reverie. I snorted shaking my head at the ridiculous image.
A shadow fell over me, making me tense instinctively before I looked up to see Erik towering over me. His eyebrows were knitted together in what I assumed to be frustration.
"Sorry to have frightened you Chloe", he said darkly before taking a seat next to me.
"You did not frighten me so don't worry", I replied casually, as I tried to get my muscles to relax.
Erik turned his gaze on me, giving me a hard look. His eyes eventually settled on my lap were they stayed fixed. I followed his gaze to see that my right hand had clasped my dress. My knuckles were white due to the amount force I was exerting on the poor material.
I immediately released my dress from my death grip, smoothing the dark blue material. I cautiously looked at Erik.
He was sitting criss-cross-applesauce with his cloak spread out around his shoulders. His gaze was fixed on the brook before us. His teal eyes were hard and his mouth was parted into a scowl.
He did this every time he startled me and every time I explained to him that living on the streets for so long had made me skittish. Yet he always took it as I personally.
My brows knitted in frustration before I cast another glance at my scowling companion. I sighed. Erik looked so sad.
I might not have known Erik long but he had helped me, he had been patient with me, and he seemed to genuinely care for me. So of course seeing him sad only made my heart ache.
Even though I did not understand what I had done to hurt him I still wanted to make him feel better.
I comfortingly placed my good hand on the back of his.
His head jerked back before his eyes snapped to our hands. His gaze flicked to my face in confusion.
"Ho- how can you bare to touch me if my mere shadow struck you with fear?" he questioned baffled. I looked at his mask covered face, smiling softly.
"Erik you don't scare me" I said softly. His eyes narrowed at me distrustfully. "Oh yes because your previous reaction-". I gave his hand a light squeeze successfully shutting him up.
I took advantage of his stunned state. "Erik, surprises scare me. When you have to scrape by every day just to be able to get up the next morning to do it all over again; surprises can be the difference between life and death", I said with a shrug.
Erik's eyes softened as he shifted his hand underneath mine so that we were holding hands. My stomach quivered, my heart tripping to catch up with my pulse.
He must have felt the same, because his eyes kept darting to mine as if seeking approval. I squeezed his hand causing mirth to sink into his gaze.
Stop this Chloe! This man possesses wealth and most likely station he would not want a thing to do with a lowly street rat like you. My mind mocked.
You don't know that, I argued back vehemently.
Just think you pathetic girl, you would have had more than enough wealth and station to be a suitable match for him if you had not run away from home, it taunted.
Stop it Chloe! Arguing with yourself is the first sign of going crazy and you don't want to end up like you Aunt Gretta, I mentally scolded.
I disentangled myself from my thoughts to glance at Erik. He was staring at me. Our glances ricocheted off of each other, forcing us to look away.
The grandfather clock in the lair tolled 7, breaking the silence.
Erik cleared his throat causing me to look at him. "Chloe why don't we head in for dinner?" he asked reluctantly taking his hand from mine.
I nodded and he stood to offering me his hand. I smiled taking it. "Maybe you will let me help you this time so that I will no longer feel like a bum", I blatantly hinted.
He chuckled. "Oh yes because you will be so much help", he pointed out as he stared at my wrapped arm.
I put my good hand on my hip. "And how am I supposed to pay you back if you keep refusing my help?" I demanded. Erik sighed looking at the ceiling as if asking some unknown deity for strength.
"Chloe we have been through this before. You don't owe me anything", he stated, his gaze returning to me.
I pressed my lips together in frustration before an idea popped into my head. Erik had told me that we were below an opera house and there were plenty of things that had to be done in order to put on an opera.
Therefore there would be many jobs that had to be filled, which meant that there had to be one job that I could do even with this bum arm.
My chest filled with excitement at the prospect of having money to earn my keep with. This is perfect! I will have to go above the next time Erik goes out so that it can be a surprise.
An arm hooked me from behind my knees making me fall backwards. Another arm caught me around my back, lifting me into the air.
Di- did Erik just pick me up? I thought frantically.I turned to see Erik peering at me from behind his mask. I deadpanned. "Why? I am perfectly capable of walking myself into the lair", I asked in an exasperated tone.
Erik lifted a brow at me. "I called your name like five times and you didn't answer so I figured this would be the easiest", he explained as he began to make his way towards the corridor leading to the lair.
"If I don't use my legs I will lose the ability to walk and then I would be completely dependent on you", I muttered dramatically.
Erik stopped walking and his grip on me tightened. My eyes toggled between his face and the hand that was gripping me at my waist before they finally settled on his eyes. They were storming with emotion. "If that were to happen you could stay with me", he said holding my gaze with his own. "You will always have a place with me", he said tenderly before continuing on towards the lair.
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Read and Review. The gag chapter will be out tomorrow.
