Chapter twelve: That night
Christine glowered at him before biting out. "What makes you think it has anything to do with you?"
"Your reaction Christine. Moreover, the fact that you called me. What is it?"
"It's…that night."
"What night?" He asked gently.
"The last night we saw each other. Remember?"
Erik nodded and she watched as he began reliving those hours that had happened those ten, long years.
She'd tried everything. Warm milk, sleeping in a lighter dress, counting sheep but nothing was working. She couldn't sleep. Christine knew the opera house and the secret walls as well. She pushed the wall open and went down the steps towards the lake. This was her last resort; otherwise, she'd be awake all night tonight.
She walked around the corner and someone grabbed her and pulled her against the wall! Christine screamed as she was slammed against the wall and a knife was pressed against her throat!
She gasped and opened her eyes to see that boy, had escaped! She stared at him as he stared at her with surprise in his eyes. "Christine!" he dropped the knife.
"You're free!" she said. "Oh. Thank God!" she tilted her head. "How'd you know my name?"
"Your father." He explained. "He said your name a few times."
She nodded. "He did. Did he set you free? Please say he did."
"He did."
She smiled happily. "I'm glad." She cleared her throat. "What's your name?"
He studied her before commenting. "The Devil's child."
"Oh stuff and nonsense." She asked. "Your real name."
She waited patiently for him to speak. "Erik."
"Erik." She smiled at him. "I've always liked that name."
"Why?"
"I just did. There's not a special reason for it."
"I mean…why aren't you screaming?"
"You're pretty hung up on that screaming bit aren't you?" he frowned at her. "Sorry, but I don't see any point in screaming at your face. It's not that bad."
"It isn't Christine?"
She nodded, she loved his voice. Even the way he said her name, sent shivers down her spine. "Didn't I prove that? After all, I kissed you, remember?"
he nodded. "To please the crowd."
"To thank you." She leaned against the wall. "If you wanted, you could kiss me again, right now and I'd have no objections. Because, as I said, your face isn't that bad and I've nothing to fear."
"Really?"
"Really." She cleared her throat and added quietly. "I like you."
Erik leaned forward and Christine stood there as he slowly kissed her. delicious shivers shook her body at the taste of his lips. Christine had longed for the day she'd feel so strongly about someone. Erik started to draw away, but she leaned forward and initiated another kiss. She felt Erik loosen up and his hands cupped her hips under her nightdress. The kisses grew more and more feverish and breathing became harder. Christine swung her arms around his neck, loving every second of the feelings that were drowning her.
Erik's tongue invaded her mouth and she shivered against the sensations invading her. Moments later, she barely realized that she was on her back, undressed. She wasn't sure how they had gone from kissing to something as intimate as making love. Erik was above her and she felt a searing pain between her legs as Erik entered her. she bit her lip and forced down the pain as Erik moved inside her. she closed her eyes as Erik kissed her. then, a strange feeling bubbled up inside her and Christine cried out as her body trembled and released. Erik let out a cry as he exhaled and he breathed heavily beside her.
Then, a loud alarm went off and Erik jumped up off her. his eyes were wide and alert. "What?" she asked.
"Someone's down here." Erik began pulling on his pants. He handed her, her nightdress. "Get dressed."
She flung it on and pulled her undergarments up as well. He threw his shirt over his head, without bothering to tuck it in. he held his hand out for her and pulled her against the wall. Her heart pounded as he grabbed the knife he'd dropped earlier.
"Erik!" Her father shouted. "Run!"
Christine jumped at the sound of terror in his voice. "Father?" She called.
"Christine!?" Her father shouted. "Run!"
her father then let out a groan. Christine turned to the sound. "Father?" she turned and ran towards the sound. "Father?"
"Christine!" Erik shouted. "Don't!"
she raced around the corner to find her father wrestling a man! She screamed and ran towards him as someone grabbed her by the hair! Christine screamed as she was thrown to the ground on her stomach.
"Well," she recognized the disgusting voice belonging to the man who had been so cruel to Erik. "I see I found you. since the boy never got you, I'll take my turn with you!"
Christine fought like a wildcat and screamed as the man tore her dress. Her father shouted as he tried to break free from the man holding him. The man laughed as she cried. Then, the man suddenly stiffened and cried out. Then, she turned and saw Erik pulling the knife out of the man's back. Erik stabbed the man repeatedly in the back before slitting his throat. Christine spun away from the disgusting sight. Erik pulled the man off and threw him away from her.
Erik stood up and kicked the man's dead form before spitting on him. Christine turned towards her father who was still fighting the man. Erik turned and ran towards her father to join in the fight. the man punched her father hard and knocked him to the ground. Her father was a musician, not a fighter so she stood there frozen in time as Erik stabbed the man in the back.
The man cursed and backhanded Erik. Erik tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. The man pulled the knife out of his back and loomed over Erik.
"You'll die." He wheezed.
Her father got up and grabbed the man by the shoulder. The man elbowed her father in the jaw and she screamed as the man plunged the knife into her father's chest. Erik, stood up and smashed a rock, hard, upside the man's head. once the man fell unconscious, Erik took the knife from him and stabbed him once in the heart.
Christine's stomach churned as she knelt beside her father. The wound was deep; his hand hung loosely at his side and the blood was flowing from his chest. "Father." She cried as she tore her nightdress and pressed it against the wound. "Don't move."
Erik knelt beside him. "Sir. Don't move."
"Promise," he grabbed Erik's hand. "me that…you'll become….a better man."
Erik nodded. "I promise."
He turned to her and touched her face. "Christine."
She kissed him once before gripping his other hand. "You're going to live." Her father shook his head as he began choking. "Father." Christine had never felt such panic and terror in her life. "Daddy."
"Christine." Erik said.
"Don't say it!" she screamed as her father's grip went lax. "Daddy. Don't go. please."
But her tears and pleas fell on deaf ears and echoed in the caves. For her father, had died, leaving her all alone in the world.
