Erik's POV
Tomorrow was the day, the day my angel would be arriving. After receiving her letter, I began counting down, crossing out every day on the small calendar that was hanging above my bed. I was never so happy when I realized that tomorrow was the day that my angel would be arriving. I rose, marking the day off my calendar before dressing for the day. Both of my angel's letters were set up beside her framed picture. Each morning that I woke, I would smile just looking at it. That photo was all I had of her, but tomorrow, everything would change. A few weeks back, I had seen a beautiful diamond ring in the window of a jewelry shop. I saved for two pays, purchasing the beautiful ring just a few days ago. This morning, I had a smile on my face, a smile that would only grow as the time for my angel to arrive got closer. After sticking the small pistol in the back of my trousers, I donned my long, black waist coat, and hurried down the stairs to start my day at work. Mr. Alberetz was so pleased with my work, that he vowed to never let me go, that I would always have a job here as long as I wished.
The three men who constantly picked on me stayed away, only making faces and teasing me behind my back. I wasn't sure if they knew about the pistol I was carrying, but I refused to stop carrying it, for it was my only protection. My black eye had finally faded, leaving a small purple bruise beneath my eye. I was painting, the wall beside Mr. Alberetz's office a blood red color, when Mr. Alberetz passed by with a stack of folders in his hand.
"Mr. Alberetz?" I placed down my paintbrush and entered his office behind him.
"Is there something I can help you with, Erik?"
"Yes," I said. "I know I usually work on Friday mornings, but I need off tomorrow."
"You need off?" he questioned, raising a brow. "And why do you need off? You know I hired you Monday through Friday. That's what you're getting paid for."
"I understand that, Mr. Alberetz, but my wife is arriving tomorrow afternoon. I was hoping to travel to the ports and surprise her."
"Erik, I need that wall repaired and finished by Monday morning. Next Friday is opening night and I want everything to be perfect."
"And it will be." I assured. "I'll work Sunday evening if you wish. I'll work Sunday in exchange for tomorrow."
Mr. Alberetz nodded, taking a seat at his desk.
"Very well, then." He said. "Just make sure that wall is finished by Monday morning. I have other things that need to be done next week before opening night."
"Thank you, sir."
"How were you going to get there?"
"I was thinking about walking, sir. If I leave by six, I should be there by eleven."
"Erik, that's a very long walk. Why not just take the train? It will take less than an hour to get there."
I nodded. "Perhaps that would be better."
"Take my advice, Erik. Ride the train."
I went back to work, painting the wall, when I heard Lana's voice.
"Tomorrow is the big day."
Lana approached me, placing down a cup of tea beside my tools. For some odd reason, this woman always brought me a cup of tea each morning. I wasn't sure why, but it had become a daily ritual. I never knew someone as kind as Miss Phillips.
"Yes, it is." I said. "I will be leaving tomorrow morning to meet her."
"Good luck, Erik. Perhaps some night you will bring her out to dinner so I can meet her."
"Perhaps I will."
The remainder of the day, I worked and then, locked up around six. I hurried back up into my room, eager to bathe and prepare myself for the morning. My small apartment wasn't much of a home at all considering that there wasn't a tub to bath in, or a toilet like back at the opera house. No, my room consisted of a chamber pot and basin to sponge bathe myself. I did have a small sink that I used to drink from, and I was happy to have at least that. For the past few weeks I have tidied up, scrubbed the wooden floors spotless, added blood red curtains to the window for privacy, even stocked the cabinets with food. This would have to do for now…It would have to be our home until I could afford more. But I promised myself that I wouldn't stop working until I had enough money to buy a beautiful home to live in with my angel. She deserved the best, and therefore, she would have it.
After scrubbing my disgusting flesh raw, I plopped down on the side of my bed and pulled out the small, velvet box that held the ring I had purchased for Christine. I opened it, the diamonds glistening in the lamplight.
"Please love me." I whispered, looking at the ring. "Please love me, Christine."
I shut the lid, placing it down beside my angel's picture. I was so nervous and so excited about tomorrow that I blew out the flame in my lamp, and crawled beneath the covers. Tomorrow we would be together again, tomorrow our new life would begin and I would do my best to make it the best life she could ever live.
Christine's POV
When my ship arrived in America, I was frightened. We docked on some sort of small island, separated by the sea. Surely this couldn't be New York? It was so small… The ship ride alone from Paris had been the scariest few weeks of my life. The storm we had sailed right into had me shaken up for nearly a week, and yet, now I was being pushed into crowds like a herd of cattle. With my luggage in hand, I had to wait in an extremely long line for what seemed like hours. Men, women and children surrounded me, all waiting to enter some sort of brick building that was on the other side of the island. Was this New York? Was this where my angel was? It couldn't be…There wasn't enough room to house billions of people. I was cold, and shivering from the chilly air. It was nearly the end of March, and yet, it was still dreadfully cold. Once I was finally inside the brick building, sadly, it wasn't any warmer. I was directed to a desk, where a man was sat. He was holding an open ledger, one with at least a million pages in it.
"Name?" was all he said as I stood there cold and frightened.
"C..Christine." I shuttered.
"Christine what?" he growled, the line behind me becoming longer. "What is your surname?"
Yes, I could have said Daae, but that wasn't my surname any longer. The moment I was forced to marry Erik, I became Christine Mulheim. It was my new surname, and therefore, I knew I should get used to using it.
"Mulheim."
The man wrote my name down in his ledger before I was pulled aside to a new room, a room that had another long line of people. This was such a terrible place. Why was this so hard? Why did I have to be pulled from one room to the next? The room was filled with naked people, men, women and children all stripping themselves of their clothing, all of them being taken to god knows where. I was frightened, I was scared, and all I wanted was to see my angel again.
Erik's POV
I had never taken the train before, but Mr. Alberetz assured me that it would be faster. Therefore, I caught the ten oclock train to the ports, sitting anywhere that was away from everyone. Even as I minded my own business and read the morning newspaper, I couldn't help but feel as though I was being stared at. Of course…I was a fish out of water, for I belonged in Coney Island. That's where all the freaks went as I recalled someone telling me. Yes, I was a freak, but I had found myself a much comfier job, one that didn't have me showing off my face to paying customers. Though, I was extremely curious about the place, wondering what drew so many crowds. Perhaps I would have to venture there one afternoon with Christine to find out. My ride was less than an hour, the train dropping me off at the station that was one block away from the ports.
Even as I limped up the road with my walking stick in hand, I was having trouble, making me glad that I had taken the train. Yes, my leg has healed, but it would never be the same again, not after the blow it had taken. Staying on my feet for more than an hour, was a task all its own. Even when I worked during the day I had trouble standing on my right leg. So, here I was, standing at the ports in my best attire; that being my long waistcoat and black, velvet vest. I hoped that I looked presentable for Christine; I hoped that she found me handsome… That's all I ever wanted to be was her handsome husband, but I knew hoping for her to find me attractive at all was a wish that would never come true. We had been forced to marry one another, that was all. I had not proposed to her, I had not gotten down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. No, we had been forced to join hands, forced to kiss and forced to promise one another to stay faithful until death did we part. And yet, she was still happy. I placed my hand into my pocket as I stood there at the port, grabbing hold of the velvet box with a sweaty had and squeezing it tight. It was still there, this was still real, and hopefully she would stay happy for the rest of our lives… One could only hope.
Christine's POV
I had been fully examined by a doctor. He checked everything from my sight to my breathing. He said I was perfectly healthy and that I was free to go. But go where? After placing on my clothes, I grabbed my luggage and headed out the back door, where a ferry was waiting. There were hundreds of people boarding, but where was it going to be going? I looked ahead, seeing a huge city only right across the sea. Was that New York? It had to be… There were tall buildings, and it seemed to go on for miles. Excited, I squeezed myself onto the ferry, not waiting another moment to arrive and then, start my search for my angel. The pace of the city was fast, this I knew, for as soon as I exited the ferry, people burst past me, women were running, men were hailing cabs… How was I to find Erik? From my cloak pocket, I produced the envelope with Erik's address on it. I glanced up at the nearest street sign, hoping to see the same street that was written on the envelope, but it wasn't. I was on some street named "Spruce…"
When I looked ahead, I noticed that I couldn't see or even attempt to recognize Erik because there were too many people passing by. I was pushing past people, pushing through crowds, crowds that were pushing against me as well. I dropped my bag, causing me to push back in order to lean down and grab it. Everything was scary! Everything was so frightening. Oh, where was my Erik? Where was my husband?
"Christine," I was in tears, standing up straight with my luggage once more. "Christine."
I looked around once again, and then, a hand grabbed hold of me and pulled me aside, away from the crowds at last. When I dared to open my eyes, I looked up and there, standing before me was my angel, my husband, my Erik!
"Christine," he softly called my name, wiping the tears away from my eyes with his thumb. "Christine…"
Erik pressed my body close to his, causing me to sigh, for everything was coming back to me now. I wrapped my arms around his thin body, inhaling the wonderful scene of his cologne and the smell of his musty waistcoat.
"Erik," I softly called his name as I refused to break our embrace. I was safe at last, safe and happy.
"I was so scared." I said, looking up at him. "So frightened. I had to wait in a long line, strip all of my clothes from my body…"
"It's all right, Christine, I had to do the same a few weeks ago. You're with me now, love."
Love…Oh, what a wonderful name it was. I loved when he called me that. And yet, my angel was speaking like a normal man, normal and proper.
"Let us leave this dreadful place, Christine." He said, interlacing his good arm with my own. "I'm sure you're starving."
"I am." I confessed. "I think I could eat an entire horse."
Erik chuckled, sending my heart soaring. It had been so long since I last heard him laugh.
"Well then, Christine, let us hop the train back to my home and we will eat."
"We need to take the train?"
Erik nodded. "I am living in the upper part of the city. Better atmosphere I think."
"Your walking is getting better." I said, noticing his limp as he continued towards the train station.
"I guess you could say that, but the truth of it all is that I have a hard time staying on my feet for long periods of time. Sitting never felt so good."
Erik and I took a seat on a nearby bench at the station to wait for the train to arrive. I nestled my head into his shoulder, closing my eyes from weeks of exhaustion.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "You were nearly on death's door the last time I saw you."
"Better, thank you."
"You're tired?"
"Yes, I haven't slept in a week." I yawned. "The ship was scary, and we ran into a storm that nearly capsized us."
"It's all right, Christine, everything is over now."
When the train arrived, Erik helped me aboard, sitting us down in the dining car to have a drink.
"The ride is about an hour." He said. "In the meantime we'll have some tea. You look chilled to the bone, Christine."
"I am."
Erik, being the gentleman that he was took off his waistcoat and handed it to me.
"Here, put that that one. It is the warmest garment that I own."
It was extremely warm, and I couldn't help but thank my husband ten times over again. He now sat across from me, the puffy sleeves of his white shirt sticking out from the velvet vest he was wearing. He might have worn a mask, but with his outfit, he looked devilishly handsome.
"So," he continued. "Some tea. It will warm you up and hold you over until we arrive at the small café near my home, our home."
Our home… It sounded so wonderful.
"It isn't much." He replied, "But it will do until we can move elsewhere. I've been saving my money each week, saving in hopes of having enough by the end of spring to move us to an apartment on the other end of town…Perhaps a house."
Our cups of steaming tea were placed down in front of us, Erik staring at me as I sipped on the hot liquid. It was as if he couldn't believe I was here, as if it were a dream and nothing more. But I was here, I was here beside him and I would never leave. But as I made eye contact with him, I couldn't help but notice that he had a bruise beneath his left eye. What happened to him?
"Erik, your eye." I gasped.
Erik raised his hand to touch the bruise, turning away from me.
"It's nothing, Christine." He assured. "Just an accident at work is all. A paint can tipped over from the ladder I had it sitting on."
"It looks painful."
"Much less painful then it looks."
Deciding to leave it at that, I stared out the window at the buildings we were passing.
"Do you like living here?" I asked.
"Where I live is nice. Reminds me of an opera house heaven."
"What?" I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Opera house heaven?"
He nodded. "There are theaters all over the block. Each night it lights up in beautiful golden lights. Music can be heard sometimes too… To me, it is heaven."
"How is city life, Erik?"
"Busy. But I assure you that you will like it, Christine."
"If you say so, Erik."
Silence over took us as we enjoyed our tea. I could tell by watching my husband that he still didn't have the use of his left hand. His fingers still seemed cramped and immobile, that being the reason why he constantly used his right hand. He was sitting there, holding his cup with his right hand, while his left lay sprawled out on the table that divided us. I placed down my cup and reached across the table, interlacing my hand with his own. His body tensed, and I could feel his pulse racing from within his wrist. My angel even made eye contact with me, his mismatched eyes seeming to be confused as to why I was holding his hand.
"I missed you, Erik." I finally said. "Life without you just wasn't the same these past few weeks."
It took a few moments, but my angel finally spoke, a nervous, yet small smile tugging at his lips.
"On that, I think we both agree."
Awwww...Happy chapter! Please review!