The Repayment

Christine felt like she was dying. She was coming to, but the pain of it made her want to return to that unfeeling state of oblivion. She couldn't take this right now... With that, she passed out again.


Erik drove trying to fully focus on the road, but his line of vision kept returning to the rear-view mirror in order to see his injured angel in the back seat.

If only there was not such filth on this earth.. If only everyone could be as she is.. So innocent, so happy..

If he had only parked closer, she wouldn't be in this state right now. But, if he hadn't been there at all, she could be in a far worse state. And he would have no idea of it.. The thought made tears come to his eyes.

However, am I a hypocrite? To wish that there wasn't filth walking the planet was to disregard his own self. In reality, he was the very filth he was referring to. He'd proven that many times throughout his life.

None of that was currently important, though. He shook his head roughly and looked in the rear-view mirror again to make sure she was still there. I am taking her to the only place she is truly safe. She needs attention and care, and I am more than willing to give her both.


The next time she awoke, Christine felt some sort of warm moistness on her forehead. It felt good.. Her lips curled upward peacefully.

She opened her eyes a little and noticed there was dim light coming from a lamp to her right. She was grateful for that because, strangely, she felt too much light might be painful. I wonder why? Then, opening her eyes more, questions came. Where am I? Was I only dreaming, or did something bad happen?

The first question needed to be addressed before anything else. No, this definitely wasn't her little apartment. The room she was in was about the size of the whole apartment, and it looked to only be a bedroom! She sat up slightly to look around, but the simple act made her head pound as the cloth that had been on her forehead fell off. The pain was excruciating! She couldn't help but moan.

Someone she wasn't expecting to see suddenly walked into the room.

"Good morning, Christine." It was Mr. Kahn.

"Mr. Kahn?" She found she had to lay back down and put the damp cloth back on her forehead due to the pain. "W- what's going on?" Unwanted tears came to her eyes. Why can't I remember coming here?

It seemed he noticed her distraught demeanor. "It's alright, Christine. You're safe. You are in the Delozier Designs mansion."

"Wha-.. But, why?"

"All questions can be answered soon." He walked towards the bed she was on. "You must be in immense pain. I've brought you some water and medicine for the headache I assume you have." He handed her both before saying, "Now, please relax." And then he left the room.

Christine could only lay in confusion for a moment, but the pain wouldn't leave her alone, so she removed the cloth and did her best to sit up before taking the medicine and drinking some water. She adjusted her pillows so that she could sit up more comfortably. Now, she thought, finally ready to figure this whole strange mess out.

The bedroom she was in begged to be looked at. It was huge, with a gorgeous chandelier hanging from the ceiling. She lay in a bed fit for a queen and was surrounded by shiny things. Gold, silver, glass... Yeah, she was afraid to move in fear of breaking something.

It was then that another person she wasn't expecting to see entered the room. "Dad," she announced in surprise. Christine wanted to get up to hug him, but her head wouldn't allow it.

Gary approached the bed looking paler than usual. "Hi, sweetheart.. How are you feeling?" Before she could speak, he shook his head and made a, "Shhh," sound. "You're in pain, don't talk. I will ask 'yes' or 'no' questions. Is the pain in your head bad?"

Christine nodded. "Yeah."

"Do you remember what happened to you?"

She tried to think about it but finally shook her head with frustration. "No."

Gary sighed worriedly. "Have you taken the Excedrin?"

Christine became a little annoyed at how he purposefully avoided telling her what happened. "Yes."

He nodded, a relieved expression coming to his face. "I- I just.. Thank goodness you're ok. I don't know what I would've done-.. They've been so good to you."

"Who's 'they'?" She only remembered Mr. Kahn.

"Mr. Kahn and Mr. Delozier. But really, if it hadn't been for Mr. Delozier..." Gary's eyes focused a certain part of her head. "You really don't remember anything?"

She was trying to think back, but her memories were nothing but a blur of colors. "E- Erik? He helped me?"

Gary nodded and very seriously said, "Yes, sweetheart. He saved your life."

Christine was rather dumbfounded by that new piece of information.


Erik paced his favorite den running his hands through his hair and sighing. The lights were off, but a fire was burning in a regal fireplace on a far wall.

Nadir entered the room. "She's talking to her father." He was smiling.

His eyes found his business partner's smile. Nadir was proud of him, and Erik hated it. He continued pacing. "I did not wish to involve her father," he spat.

Nadir's brow furrowed. Erik's lack of wanting to involve the appropriate people in this was frustrating. "Erik, you did the right thing. You would have been in a tremendous amount of trouble had you not told her own father."

"I know that! You do not need to remind me!" Then, he stopped and looked at Nadir desperately. "H- How is she?"

Nadir blinked at his friend's quick change in demeanors before giving him reassurance. "She'll be alright. Though I believe she suffered a concussion."

Erik's teeth grit and his hands turned to fists at his sides. "The cold-hearted bastard.. She was nearly killed!"

"But she wasn't because of you."

Nodding, he murmured, "I know. But, I should not have allowed him to lay a single hand on her!"

Speaking of the man who hurt her, Nadir tentatively said, "Erik.. I have a question."

"What?" he snapped. His thoughts were focused on what could have happened, not stupid questions.

"What happened to the man that did this?" He was afraid of what the answer could be...

Erik's attitude turned unfeeling and business-like. "Christine is safe. That is all that matters." He walked past Nadir and left the room.

Nadir didn't like the dismissiveness of that. Erik, what have you done? He feared he already knew the answer.


Christine listened as the whole story of what had happened was retold to her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks by the end. It was worse than she could have imagined.. But she still had an important questions. How did Erik know I was going to the bank?

Gary was sitting on the edge of the bed with his hand on her arm. He had tears in his eyes, too. His only daughter might not be here right now if it hadn't been for-..

Christine's eyes found the hallway outside the room. "Erik." Gary turned and looked at the man he couldn't thank enough.

"I need to talk to him alone, Dad," Christine said softly.

Gary nodded. "Of course." He stood and pat his daughter's arm before leaving the room, smiling at Erik on his way out.

Erik walked into the room a moment later. He said nothing. He could only stare at her shyly keeping a good distance from the bed.

Christine found his actions strange and was about to say something, but he stopped her by holding up one finger.

"I am sure it hurts your head to speak."

Christine couldn't help but laugh a little and, yeah, it was painful. But this was important. No more simple 'yes/no' questions. "It's ok," she reassured. "I'm doing ok and, from what I hear, it's all thanks to you."

Erik walked a little closer to the bed. "I do not deserve all of the credit. Nadir helped, as well." He needed to steer her away from certain subjects..

Christine thought for a moment before looking in his eyes and saying, "Thank you for saving me."

Erik felt like hugging her at that moment. She was an angel, and if he had lost her-.. "Oh, Christine.."

"Yeah?" She obviously didn't understand his display of emotion.

He could only stare at her like she was the only human being worth living on this earth. Which, in his mind she was. "It's just, I'm very glad you're here."

"I'm glad, too. But Erik, I have to know.. How did you know where I was? Why were you there?"

"I was there because I needed to be. You needed help."

Christine nearly laughed at his choice of words. Did he really think her curiosity and questions would end there? Her next words made her forget about laughing, though. "Were you.. following me?"

She wasn't going to let this go. And he hated lying to her. She deserved to know the truth. His eyes never left hers as he replied, "Leaving work so late at night isn't safe. What happened to you proves that."

Shifting uncomfortably, she let that sink in. Erik had been following her for some unknown period of time trying, as he put it, to keep her safe. It was creepy... But, at the same time, if he hadn't been there, she might not be here right now. She didn't question him anymore about it. In fact, much to her surprise she asked, "How can I repay you?"

He wasn't expecting such acceptance so quickly. His masked face lit up at the thought of her question. Oh, how she could repay him! He could think of so many ways. Within no time, it was decided. "From what I have seen, you are an hard worker. You remind me of myself. You wish to know how you can repay me... Well, your repayment can be that you resign from your job at Sonic."

Christine's heart skipped a beat. "What? Quit my job? But why? What that guy did happened at a bank. It had nothing to do with my job."

"But it did," he contradicted. "You felt the need to deposit the paycheck you received from your job at Sonic. It had everything to do with it."

She'd brought his answer upon herself. She sighed. "But, I need the money."

Erik smiled. "Yes, I know. That is why the second part of your repayment would be to work here."

"Here?"

"Yes, you can file paperwork, be somewhat of a secretary... that kind of thing."

"I don't know..."

He was desperate. "You can organize my music. You are a music major. I am a composer. You can alphabetize the work I have done." That obviously perked her interest, as he hoped it would.

An excited look came to Christine's face. "Really? Wow, that'd be really neat. I've heard you play. Your skills are unreal."

"So you will work here."

It wasn't a question.

"Yes, I'll work here." She grinned and actually couldn't wait to begin.

"But first, you must rest and get better." Erik was smiling, too.

That was when another question came to Christine's mind, one that she hadn't yet considered. "Erik, you saw that guy hurt me. You were there. Well, what happened to him?"

Erik noticed that she didn't look like she was accusing him of anything, so he said, "Don't worry, angel, he will not hurt you or anyone else ever again."

There was silence. Christine's face paled as she realized what his words meant. "You... killed him."

"I saved you."

She shook her head, her heart racing. "Erik, you killed him? Oh my-.. How could you just-?" Her breathing was ragged as she thought about it.

"He had a knife, Christine."

"Yeah, and what did you have?" she retorted. "You obviously had a weapon, too. But you chose to stoop to his level?" Christine shuddered.

He had to make her see. "I had to, Christine. He would have killed both of us. I couldn't just stand by and watch. It was the only way-"

"You could have called the police," she interrupted.

"There wasn't time for that. Please, you must believe that it was the only option."

Christine gulped. "Ok, so maybe it was self defense, but.. What did you do after you killed him? What did you do with the body?" She gulped again. This was sick.

Erik sighed. "You needed medical attention, Christine. His body was unimportant."

"So... you just.. left him there?" His silence served as confirmation. "Seriously? You didn't, I don't know, call the police or anything?" There was more silence, and it made her shiver.

"Are you cold?" Erik suddenly asked, only wanting her comfort.

"Wha- no! I'm not cold! I'm horrified!" She couldn't even imagine the sort of crime scene that was developing at the bank right now. What if cameras had caught everything? Erik would be in serious trouble. And she'd be involved, too!

"Please, don't worry." He only wanted her to be carefree and happy. "I will drive to the police department today. I will take care of everything. It will be fine."

Christine couldn't be sure of that. She couldn't be sure of anything. Except.. I've agreed to work for a murderer.

It was then that Nadir walked into the room. Christine had never been so happy to see a person. Maybe he can fix this!

"Is everything alright?" he asked, unaware of the serious atmosphere.

"Erik, I need to speak to him alone," Christine told him calmly.

"Why?" Erik demanded. "Why do you wish to speak to him alone?"

"Because you killed a person, that's why."

Nadir blinked and walked further into the room. "Yes, Erik, let me and Christine talk for a few minutes."

His tone was kind and reassuring, which confused Christine. I just said that Erik killed someone, and Mr. Kahn is just.. babying him?

Erik finally huffed, said "Fine," and stomped out of the room.

Once Nadir closed the door, Christine decided to get right to the point. "Mr. Kahn, he killed the person at the bank. And he just left the body there, like that was the normal thing to do."

"Yes, well, I can't say that I am surprised."

"What?" She was in a state of disbelief. "How can you not be surprised?"

"Erik does not know much of right and wrong. He was not raised to know." Nadir gave her a sympathetic look. "I know it is hard to accept what he has done, but then, you do not know him like I do."

"How was he raised?" Christine figured she might as well know everything she could.

"By a mother who cared nothing for him. And that was only for a short time. The streets were his primary home before he came here. He did not have the advantages you have had."

She pondered that. "Because of the mask?" she asked softly.

He nodded but refrained from elaborating on it. "When he came here we tried to guide him to the best of our ability, but some damage cannot be repaired."

"So his past can just excuse the fact that he murdered someone and left his body there to rot?"

"That is the way you think, Christine. Not everyone thinks the same way. Try to see it from his perspective. Erik was defending you. He could not risk the man injuring you further, so he did the only thing he could- he killed him. But you were in need of medical attention. You were unconscious and bleeding. Erik felt he did not have time to deal with the body."

"He could have done something worse with the body, I guess," Christine added, finally seeing Erik's side. "Like try to hide it or something."

Nadir nodded. "Erik needs guidance, it's true. But he is impatient and stubborn. Actually, it seems the only person he isn't that way with is you."

Christine felt like he was trying to insinuate something...

There was a knock on the door. Gary walked into the room. "Sorry about that. I needed to go to the school to tend to a matter with my students. Now, how is everything?"

Glancing at Mr. Kahn, Christine looked at her dad and smiled. "Everything's fine. I think the medicine is kicking in." It just didn't seem right to reveal what she and Nadir had talked about.

Nadir nodded and walked towards the door. "I'll see where Erik went."

Christine had a lot to think about, but she was beginning to know one thing. She was still going to work for Erik. Even though she thought what he did was scary and wrong, he didn't think that. Christine knew what Mr. Kahn had been trying to insinuate. She needed to be the one to teach Erik and to guide him in the right direction.

It would be part of the repayment.