Erik's POV

"Here, Erik, I made you your tea…"

For a while, I sat there holding the rag against my face. I would have done so all night, but it was Christine that made me tea out of the kindness of her heart. With my face burning like acid, I sipped the hot tea, hoping it would calm my nerves. A few moments later, Christine was kneeling down in front of me and attempting to move my hand away from my face.

"Christine, enough…" I begged, pulling away from her. "You would be afraid, and it would kill me inside to see you flee because of my horrid face."

"Erik, I want to help. Please…"

"I don't need it!" I cried, pulling away from her grasp once again. "I don't need your help. All I want to do is rest."

"I've seen your face!" she cried. "And yes, I was frightened at first, but you're my friend."

She made me so angry when she yelled at me like a child! It angered me so much. I had a short temper, one that was famous for getting me into trouble in the past. Instead of asking her to leave, I pulled away the rag and turned to face her.

"There!" I growled. "Am I to your liking now? Do my features frighten you?"

Christine closed her eyes and shook her head. I knew I had frightened her, but I didn't care. Seeing the rejection on her face was enough to enrage me. I tossed everything in sight around… Vases, glasses, blankets! I was enraged! I wanted to make her pay for the pain she had put me through. She had begged to see my face, and yet, here she was closing her eyes.

"No!" I grabbed her by the arm when she attempted to flee and pinned her to the nearest wall. "No! You begged me to see it, now look! Look at me…"

I could see tears slipping down her cheeks as she continued to close her eyes. I was shouting at her, and attempting to force her eyes open, but instead of doing what I wanted her to do, she gave me a swift kick to my groin. No one had ever kicked me there before, and the moment I felt that pinching agony, I let her go. The girl was in her night attire and she went running out the door. No! I wouldn't allow this! No one would get away from me that easily. I quickly grabbed my cloak and headed out the door. I ran and ran, chasing her down the darkened stairs of the opera house and out into the snowy night.

"Christine, stop!" I called her name as she continued to run in her bare feet. She was going to catch her death if she continued on like this. She wouldn't stop, and I was trailing just a few feet behind her. The city was deserted and the streets were getting icier as we went on. At one point, the girl turned to the left and started heading towards the bridge that led to her father's grave. I was getting tired, but I wasn't about to stop for anything. The bridge was even icier than the streets due to the rushing creek water that was below it. I slowed down now, not wanting to slip. Christine was nearly across the bridge, when I saw her slip.

"Christine!"

Her body went backwards and she fell right into the water beneath the bridge. No, this was all my fault! I hurried to the edge and looked down to find her struggling. Without thinking about my own safety, I tore off my cloak and jumped into the freezing water. It burned terribly, but my focus was getting Christine to safety. When I saw her body go under, I acted quickly and grabbed her arm. I hadn't swam much, but over the years, I had taught myself different survival skills, swimming being one of them. There were many times in the past that I had attempted an escape from the gypsies, but I never got far on foot. Swimming, on the other hand was the way I eventually escaped their clutches. The ordeal must have been traumatizing, for she was limp in my arms after pulling her to safety. Walking back to the opera house was another story, for every step I took was agonizing. My groin was so sore from the kick, that I could barely move.

"Erik, what in heaven's name is this?" Nadir growled upon knocking on his door. I couldn't take her back to my own, for I couldn't face her. No, I simply burst into Nadir's room and placed her on the couch in front of the fire.

"We had a fight," I shivered. "She ran and I chased her. She fell into the creek and I dove in to save her. Keep Christine warm…"

"But what about you?"

Nadir tried to touch my arm, but I pulled away.

"I'm fine. Goodnight…"

All throughout the night, my body froze. I slept in front of the fire with a blanket wrapped around me, watching each hour tick by slowly. By morning, I didn't want to move, for I was still tender between my legs. Deciding to suffer through it, I dressed and headed down to the auditorium.

"Erik…"

When I heard Madame Giry's voice, I spun around to find her approaching me.

"Erik, Christine did not come home last night. I thought she would have shown up this morning, but she never did."

"Christine stayed with Nadir last night. She was feeling under the weather."

Madame Giry was about to say something, when Nadir intervened.

"And she still is…Madame, I can assure you that Christine will be returned to you as soon as she's feeling better. Until then, I need to speak with Erik alone."

When Madame Giry was gone, Nadir pulled me aside like a child to have a word with me.

"Christine woke this morning, but I advised her to stay in bed. I checked her over and she seems to be all right… She's tired, but other than that, I believe your heroic actions spared her from getting hypothermia."

I sighed, for I was afraid that she was going to die.

"You on the other hand," Nadir said, placing his hand against my chilled forehead. "You shouldn't even be here. You're sore and you have the chills on top of it. Why Erik? Why can't you stop fighting with that girl? I made you swear to me that you wouldn't hurt her."

"She wanted to see my face… I refused and then, she started arguing about it, so I showed it to her. She reacted like I expected she would and everything went wrong."

"Go to your room, Erik… Rest up."

"You will not tell me what to do. I want to be here, so I shall do as I please. There is a rehearsal today and I'm not about to miss it."

With that, I stormed away from Nadir and headed up to the stage area to watch the performers practice their dancing. Of course, the music came to a complete halt when Carlotta entered the auditorium. She stood center stage and waved her hand for the music to begin playing her aria. The moment she opened her mouth, I marched out on stage…She was horrible, and I would not stand for it.

"Cut the music!" I growled. "Just cut it…"

"Monsieur Manager…" she snapped. "What is the meaning of zis!"

"You sound like a dying whale, Madame…" I began. "I will not stand for anything other than perfection."

"And what about your face? Is it not the definition of perfection? I did add to its beauty last night, did I not?"

"If you ever disrespect me in that way ever again, Madame, I will personally fire you!"

"As if you have that right."

"Stand up straight!" I growled. "Stand up straight and sing. When you don't stand up straight, your voice cannot be at its fullest. Not that it's ever at its fullest to begin with…"

"How dare you!"

"Why don't you take five!" I snapped. "Get off my stage and take five!"

Carlotta did not argue… No, she stepped off stage, allowing the dancers to get back to their dancing. Tonight was another show, one that I would most likely be attending alone. After a long few hours of rehearsal, I headed back to my room to prepare for the night's show. After bathing, I took a seat in front of the fire to work on some of my music. It was snowing again, for I could hear the world turning silent. I didn't mind the cold, but couldn't wait for spring to return. When I heard a knock at my door, I cringed in an attempt to stand… Curse Christine for what she had done to me. I limped to the door and pulled it open, only to find Christine standing there in one of Nadir's wool robes. When I tried to shut the door, she stuck her foot in the way to stop me.

"I…I heard what you did for me. When I woke, Nadir told me that when I slipped, you jumped in to save me. If you wouldn't have done that, I probably wouldn't be here right now. I…I guess what I'm trying to say is, sorry…and thank you."

"I'm sorry for getting upset with you, Christine… I…I have a terrible temper at times, one that I'm not proud of. I just want people to like me, and accept me for who I am. And when you look at me and close your eyes, it hurts…It hurts more than anyone could ever imagine. I'm glad you're safe now, but I really should go."

When I tried closing the door again, Christine intervened.

"Erik, don't… Please, wait."

And then, I said something that would haunt me for the rest of my days.

"I don't think we should see each other anymore. You should leave music and return to life. Perhaps music isn't cut out for you…"

"Why are you saying this? If it's because of what I did last night, I'm sorry… I shouldn't have made you mad. I love music and I don't want to abandon it. Forgive me… I'll do anything…"

Perhaps this wouldn't haunt me after all… Anything? She was willing to do anything for me?

"No one has ever begged me for forgiveness before," I began. "Usually, I am the one begging for forgiveness. It isn't much, Christine, but in time, I could find forgiveness if you do one small favor for me."

"What? Anything…"

"Number one, never ask to see my face again…"

"I promise…"

"And number two, I want you to show me things normal human beings experience on an everyday basis. I've never been hugged, I've never laughed, I've never…I've never done anything you humans do."

"What do you mean? What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to tell me jokes to make me laugh… I want you to give me a hug at least once a week. It's not much, but living normal would be extraordinary. Please…Please, agree to do this and I will forgive you. I just want a little happiness, Christine…"

"I'll do it…"

"I have something to do, but if you come by around nine, I will give you a music lesson, and in return, you will give me something."

"Something?"

"Yes, a handshake, a hug, something normal…Something that any human being would want. I…I just want to be normal. I've never felt normal my entire life. I've been denied everything... All I ask is for a little compassion."

Christine nodded, and at that moment, I knew that we not only had a deal, but I would finally be able to live like a normal human being. Perhaps it would only be around Christine, but she was all I would ever want or need.

Please review! and my other story Thieving Hearts was just updated.