Chapter 14

"About you," Christine said softly. Erik blinks several times as he is confused to what he had just heard from Christine. "Say that again?" Erik asks.

"Angel, please. Before we started our lessons, you said you would tell me everything about you. Plus you never did tell me where you went when you left a few weeks ago," Christine replied. She looks at him with pleading eyes. Erik knows that he did tell her more about him let alone that he would tell her about the trip. "Please. Tell me. I want to know who you are," Christine said.

Erik glances down and sighs as he decides to tell Christine about his past. "Alright. I'll tell you everything. Besides, it isn't good to keep secrets from you, and it's about time for you to know who I truly am," he said. Christine smiles and makes herself more comfortable in her seat as Erik begins to tell her his past. "When I brought you down here before, I mentioned that my mother didn't want me and so a mask was my first clothing. When I was five years old, I was sold to a Gypsy Traveling Fair as a freak show. "The Devil's Child" is what they called me," Erik started.

"That's so cruel!" Christine said with anger.

"It was. But what the Gypsies didn't know was before she sold me to them, she decided to give me a name. Even though I was a beast to everyone she still gave me a name," he replied.

"What is your name?" she asks curiously. They look deep into each other's eyes. "Erik. It is Erik Destler," he replied. Christine is amazed by his name. "Erik…It's a wonderful name," she sighs. They smile at each other than glances away from each other for a brief moment. "Please, tell me more," she pleaded. Erik leans back and looks away to reflect on how to continue the story. "After I was sold into the Traveling Fair, I was the main attraction for them," Erik continued. However, he paused and glanced upon Christine. Erik sighs as he is unsure of how much he should tell her. "Are you sure you want to know everything about me?" he asked her with concern.

"Yes," she replied.

"Ok," he said. Erik looks down, stands up and walks away towards the wall, next to his piano to continue his story. "Like I said after I was sold to the gypsies, I became the big attraction. "It wasn't until I was fifteen when I finally got out of that terrible place," he continued. Christine realizes that his past is painful for him. Cristine glances down and as a lump in her throat as she tries to ask him, "Did you escape?"

"Yes," he replied softly.

"How?" she asked.

He closes his eyes and slowly turns around as he knows that telling Cristine his darkest secret is hard for him. "I…I…I killed a man that was in charge of my station. He was looking down and counting money that the people dropped on the ground to pay for the attraction. I knew that this was my chance. It was the only way because I couldn't take it anymore. I…I wanted to find a way to be free and not be laughed at anymore. I wanted to find a place where I can express how I feel and what I love to do and when Madame Giry helped me escape, she brought me to the Opera House. Where I could live where no one could judge me, be scared of my face, but live in a beautiful place filled with beautiful music. That's how I fell in love with Opera, then when I was at least living there for two years. Somehow after scaring the cast and crew with my notes on what I thought of the opera, cast, costumes, or props they called me "The Phantom of the Opera".

Christine's eyes express sorrow towards him; feeling sorry that Erik had to go through that pain and suffering when he was young. "Oh…Erik," she said softly. He gazes at Christine and silently sighs. In his mind, he says, "The way she said my name…awe." Christine stands up and walks towards him. "Tell me more," She said softly. He gives her a small and continues.

An hour passes as Christine gets to know more about Erik. Finally, she gets to hear about his trip to Boudreaux. "Wow. It sounds like a beautiful place," she expressed.

"It was. It reminded me a little bit like Paris, but to me, it looked too beautiful. But probably because since I've never seen other places I would think it would be that beautiful," Erik replied. Christine smiles and walks toward the piano. She lightly touches the keys with her fingers as she moves her hand across the keyboard. "It must have. So what did you do there?" Christine asked. Erik glances away for a moment and reflects on the day he met Isabell at the club and what they talked about that day. Erik glances back at Christine and notices her curiosity "Uh…I…I went to see a club. I didn't know it was one, but when I went inside…I saw a singer. A really talented singer." Erik replied. Christine glances away for a moment as she is surprised to hear that Erik would go to a club.

"Oh," she said with disappointment. Erik shuts his eyes as he realizes that admitting what he experienced at the club was not a good idea with him. 'I wish I haven't had said that,' he thougt. Realizing that she is now jealous that Erik might have found someone else; maybe someone better than her. "She must have been really beautiful," she said softly. Erik puts his hand over his eyes and sighs; feeling guilty that he made her upset. He slowly walks towards her. "Christine…" Erik said.

"Maybe…more beautiful than me," Christine implied.

"Christine…she is beautiful I'll admit it. But…" Erik interrupted.

Christine turns around with tears in her eyes. "Tell me. How do you see me? Am I not as beautiful than her? Am I second rate?" She interrupted.

"No! Of course not. You can never be second rate! You're beautiful!" Erik replied.

"How am I?" Christine demanded. Erik takes her arms to get her to look at him in the eyes. "I see you as a beautiful red rose. I see you as a diamond that sparkles when the lights shine on you. I see you as a woman that would have a man fall at your feet. Confessing his love to you, and I cannot imagine having to hear someone not telling you how they truly love you when they would…" he expressed. Cristine puts her hand on his face. He slowly shuts his eyes as she is touching his face. "When they would what?" Cristine asks. Erik sighs and has e removes her hand from his face.

"When they would only want you for your beauty!" he expressed with certainty and concern. Christine slowly backs away as she is slightly confused about where Erik is going with it. "What?" she asked.

"Christine. Rich and powerful men only want one thing, and it's beauty. Once they find that one girl as his wife, he'll not let her do anything she wants. Make her do things that she will not want to do. And if she disobeys him, he'll do something to her that will make her learn her place," he explained. However, as he explains his concern, Cristine begins to hyperventilate and is beginning to freak out. "Erik…What are you saying?" Christine questioned. Erik slowly walks towards her even though she continues to back away.

"I know everything. About what happened to you. What Raoul did to you while I was away," Erik replied calmly. Her eyes grow big as she is terrified that Erik ad found out about Raoul's temper and punishment towards her. 'HE KNOWS!' she thought. He stops and looks as he notices the fear in her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about," she quickly responds.

"Don't lie to me. Madame Giry told me everything. I know it is true," Erik abruptly interrupted. Christine is shocked that Madame Giry told him. "He took away your passion! Not playing the piano, writing and letting you sing anymore. He locked you in your room, Christine! For an entire night!" he shouted.

"Erik…please. All of what you say is true. But don't you see how he's letting me go outside and in town when I want. He's letting me play my music again," Christine shouted back.

"He is your fiancé and is treating you like a prisoner! Christine, I don't think he loves you!" he interrupted.

"He loves me!" she yelled.

"Christine! Please! Listen to me!" he yelled back.

"I've heard enough!" she yelled once more. Cristine lifts her hand and smacks him in the face several times until Erik's mask comes off. They stare at each other; both are shocked that Christine did that. They have tears in their eyes. "I…I…I have to go. I…have my engagement party to go to tonight. You're welcomed to join. Since it's a masquerade." Christine slowly walks away to grab her things. But as she turns to leave, she notices the tears in his eyes and feels guilty to what she did. "Goodbye Erik," she said as she stormed out of the room. Erik glances down but looks back where Christine left and sighs. After Christine moved, Erik began to think about what he said to her.

"Oh, what have I done! What was I thinking!" Erik said. He stands up and walks towards his mask to pick it up. "I wish I hadn't have said that. I mean…I know I meant every word of it. But when she slapped me and my mask fell off…Oh! Christine forgive me!"

Once Christine arrived back at the mansion she went in her room to get ready for the engagement party, she was thinking about what she did to him. "What have I done! I can't believe I did that to him. Oh! I feel terrible! I mean I know he was telling me everything that was true about what Raoul did to me that night. I mean…I know Raoul loves me. He has to. If he doesn't love me and only wants me for my beauty, then I wouldn't marry him. But I don't know. But, what if Erik's right? Oh God! Why can't you tell me what to do?! Oh, Erik! I wish I could go back and take back what I've done to you. It's bad enough to hurt you twice, but now…Oh, God. Oh God! Forgive me! Erik forgive me!"