Erik kept his eyes on Buquet. "I don't think you want to try and be brave now, do you?"
Buquet staggered. Erik wasn't sure at first, but it became obvious the man had been drinking.
"I think I'll take my chances."
He lunged at Erik, who quickly got out of the way. Erik tried once more to reason with him.
"Put the knife down, Buquet. You don't want to do this. I'm hardly worth going to prison for."
"Ha! I'll get a medal. We'll finally be free of your tricks. I might even get a promotion." He staggered again and used the rope for balance. "Now, are you going to come with me alive or dead?"
Erik looked down quickly to see if he could spot Christine. He then looked at his gloved hands. Why must I always be condemned to wallow in blood? "I think you should be answering that question, Buquet."
The man came at Erik once more, and he was blocked by Erik's shoulder. Erik then hit Buquet in the ribs, which caused the man to fall on the platform in pain. Erik lingered over him. He easily should have hit him again or use his lasso but instead he paused.
What would she think?
He shook his head. "You are not worth it, Buquet. Now go home to your mother and stop getting in my way." He turned to leave when he heard Christine's voice. He tried to see where she was and lost his focus for only a moment. It was enough time for Buquet to get to his knees and jab Erik in his side with the knife.
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Although Erik managed to kick Buquet in the face and get away, he was still seeing stars from the stab wound. He knew he had to get back to the cellar and quickly before he was seen, otherwise Buquet's drunkard story may have a witness to go along with it. He was in a dark corridor, inching toward the secret passageway when he felt arms turn him around. He gripped his lasso, only to be stunned by who he saw before him.
"Just what were you thinking?"
"Christine…"
"Do you know you could have killed someone? Do you even care?" I told you to just leave it alone!"
"Christine, I never meant for…."
"For what? For the chandelier to fall and almost hit me? Was this part of your plan to interfere in a discreet fashion, so Carlotta would quit, and the managers had no choice but to offer me the role?"
"No! I wasn't thinking that at all. She hurt you. She deserved to…"
"To what? To die? To be injured? Who goes about taking right and wrong into their own hands?"
"She was hurting you. She…."
"And I told you to leave it alone. You promised me you wouldn't interfere!"
"So, I am just supposed to stand by and watch the vile woman make you cry?"
"I'm not a child. I don't need you to fight my battles for me and I don't want your help."
Erik was starting to get a little swoony from the loss of blood. He realized that was probably what delayed him to use his lasso, when he first felt strange hands on him. He was grateful. He shook his head when he thought what might have happened.
"Christine, I told you that I…."
"I never want to see you again. This… Whatever it is or was…. Can never be. You and I do not see the world in the same way."
Erik needed to steady himself. He had to leave before he passed out right there and then. He leaned in a little on Christine, as he tried to speak. "I can't…."
"You can't? You can't what? You can't stop being a violent creature who thinks all is justified because of his deformity? You think your end justifies any means? Well real human beings do not think that way. Real human beings have feelings and care about the consequences and…."
She then felt something wet on her dress. She looked down and her eyes widened when she realized the blood was not hers. "Erik, why are you bleeding?"