OK, well, here's another bridge. I was really wanting to get this part in before heading into the ending. I would say about another 3 chapters until it's over :(:(:( Yeah. I am actually thinking of making a sequel. Perhaps... I don't know, but you'll have to tell me what you think once it's over. You won't be disappointed on the ending, though. Sigh... 3 chapters... And then I'll have to come up with another bright story idea. Well, I hope you enjoy!!

Review!

ThePhantomsFlutist

Eternal Music

Chapter 26:
Words

Silence is a very rich and powerful notion. Silence is such a wonderful thing that is breaking Erik into small pieces like he deserves. It is also breaking me like I deserve. So, we are all getting our equal share on punishment for now. Every attempt Erik would make to talk to me, a hateful glance would come from me to his direction. He better not speak one more word to me. He is just disgusting me now. At first, he was desperate enough to pull the three words from my lips, now he's just assuming no matter how many hateful actions and words I show toward him. My words were meant to break him, not make him more powerful over me. Now they mean nothing. His ego and with his mind set on me succumbing, take over the whole idea.

Our relationship has advanced just as he hoped. Not in the ways, but I got to know Erik more by studying him. From the wordless quiet, I studied Erik's motion about in the room. I could almost read his mind sometimes. He seems so sure about himself. He's experienced the world over, and that man knows what he's doing. Just like the drug he had gave me, mixed it himself. The only thing he doesn't know of is love. I can go on and on about that, but my last sentence summarizes the entire world for him.

Erik makes sure he still takes care of me. I've been pretty weak ever since my escape attempt, so sometimes I can't hold my knees up to walk, and he'd carry me.

The morning after the event, he told me he wanted to show me something. I didn't go willingly, he carried me out to the back yard of the mansion. It was there that you can witness a clear view of the sun without any of the trees in the way. Just a vast field, filled with nothing except grass. He placed me in his lap, and put his head on my shoulder. Again, I was so tired and so weak I couldn't fight back. Words were the only thing. I bet he was planning this. Making me weak enough so he could do whatever. It's not going to be bad, it's just like the "can I hug you" situation. He just wants so show me love so I could show it back. He doesn't want to force the words out, but just... relax them out? Does that sound right? Not really.

"Isn't it beautiful, Christine?" He whispered into my ear.

"Yes," I reply. My head was leaning back onto his shoulder unconsciously. The golden sun was rising now, just above the horizon. The colors it was painting were magnificent. I don't think I've ever seen the sunset like this before. It was quiet again, as we were both staring blankly into the horizon.

"I love you," He said, playing with my hair. I could feel his ice cold breath on my neck.

"I know," I answered.

"Will you love me?" I don't answer. We've been through this too many times, Erik. I'm sorry. But I will say no. Love isn't something you can immediately grasp, it takes time and care like watching a seed grow into an elegant flower. Erik's arms wrapped around my stomach, making me lean further into his chest. The sound of his heartbeat was so tuned to my own. As if we were connected somehow. My eyes were now shut, not knowing what else to do, as I was looking up to the grayish blue sky.

Erik's hand grabbed my hand, and slowly, it worked it's way up to his mask. It felt soft, just like the time he did it when he proposed. It was almost as if silk made up the material.

"Will you like me for who I am, Christine?" Another question. That was sort of new. He was asking if I would like him with the mask off. No, it only makes him worse. Well, that time it was really just shock and surprise. Not the best of moments, and it was before he was sure that I was his.

"I don't know," I reply. I felt Erik's lips brush onto my forehead. So tenderly, so very softly, and lovingly. It actually felt really good. I didn't run, I didn't leave... first of all I couldn't. I would've squirmed though if I didn't enjoy it which I did. "Take off your mask, Erik." I say, seeing how far this new ground will go.

"No," He swiftly replied, pushing my hand away from him. Figures. I knew he wasn't about to do that. He strives so much for that mask to actually be his face. It's obvious, and it's so far away from it. Underneath lies the true monster who only builds and builds underneath that piece of material. It's unleashed once it's off by something other then his own hands. I was asking for him to take it off, to show me again. I don't think I can run now.

"Please," I pressed.

"No." Once again.

"Do it," I urged more and more, "If you truly loved me, you won't be afraid to show me your face."

Erik heaved a big sigh. His head was leaning onto his fist, thinking. He sighed again after a short pause. As I felt his arms go up, I pulled away from him, and turned around to see. Slowly, carefully, measuring each inch at a time, Erik was taking off the mask. Shoot. So it was going to go this deep. His fingers unraveled the strings, until they were undone. Now, he is lifting it off... And I see the death's face for a second (somewhat third) time. The nose still wasn't there, and it was just as I remembered it. I remained frozen, keeping my breathing steady as did he. I looked at him, so very tender right now, so very breakable. Whatever action that was next could decide what was going to happen. Time stood still, and it was as if the sun stopped rising. The coldness of the grass seemed to bite through to my knees.

"May I..." He started, the words drifting away just like the mask, and time seemed to resume, "May I... kiss you?" He questioned fully, pausing between each word.

I don't know what I did to signal him, but he kissed me anyway once more, with his twisted, thin lips, onto my forehead. I remained still, I wanted to remain frozen. My hands were freezing, I noticed, and they were shaking but not because of the cold. Erik leaned me back onto his chest and I could hear his rapid heart beating like a butterfly finding strength to fly. He smiled so nicely, I could feel it. His arms grabbed the mask once more, out of habit, and tried to put the mask back on. My arm came up, stopping him.

"No," I whispered. I figured I could still test him. See how far he goes until it's permanently broken. His hands placed the mask back down onto the grass. The sun was almost just above the trees now, shining fully, and so beautifully. So words can be that much. Actions can be something else. Love... it's just dancing around in my mind. I refuse to let it in. It's simply at my fingertips and I could use it whenever I want. That could also break him when it's time. I have enough time in the world. It's like some weapon against him. It's like one of those flowers that you see little girls dancing around with, picking off the petals one by one. "I love him, I love him not, I love him, I love him not," they would repeat skipping about. And eventually the last petal remaining would be whether she will love him or not. Of course, it's just a game of chance. Which is exactly what was happening. Okay, maybe it's he loves me, he loves me not, thing. But I already know he does unconditionally.

I didn't turn to look at Erik's face one more time. He kept playing with my hair, combing it with his fingers. His breathing never decreased in speed, it just went faster, and I could feel it on my neck.

No, escape was still what I was hoping for. I don't want to be stuck here with him all my life. I can't stay here, I have friends, I have a life to get back to. Raoul's not there, but I can't stay. The past shadows me like a scar or a wound stuck with me, haunting me, and remaining there in the flesh. Everything wasn't going to be like this. It can't.

After that whole event after me remaining quiet. I found the strength to walk myself back into the mansion. I was going to ignore Erik as much as I can, and hopefully it will work enough for him to break. The mask wasn't going to do it, like I was hoping. What was I going to do now? He needs to let me go. I don't want to...

That night, once Erik said goodnight, and "left" me, I crawled out of the bed and came back over to my spot on the window and fell asleep. No, I'm not going to fall for it again. I dreamt once more. It wasn't a nightmare, it was very pleasent... to start out with.

I was taking a walk in the garden with Raoul at my side, arms twined together, and we just got married. I had his ring on my finger, although it was the same one as Erik gave me. Oh well. We were laughing and very happy. Suddenly, Raoul brought up this darker subject on how Erik died of his love for me. This dream took place such a long time ago though. I was wearing a dress that looked as if it came straight out of the 1800's. It was beautiful, but strange. Raoul was wearing something old-fashioned as well. But after that discussion, I looked up from my feet, and up to meet Raoul's eyes, and instead of his handsome face, it was Erik's masked one. I screamed, and that's when I woke up again.

When my eyes shot open, Erik was at my side, worried.

"What's wrong? Are you OK?" He questioned, holding my shoulder. I nudged it off, as if it was going to eat me alive, and scooted down the seat until I was further away from the man that had just been in a nightmare.

"Go away from me!" I yelled, throwing a pillow at him.

"Christine, Christine, what's the matter?" He asked, shaking my shoulder, "Was it a dream?" He asked hurriedly. I nodded, and hid my face into my hands. What was I doing? Raoul's gone, Christine. Get over it. He's not coming back from the dead. I'm not going to kill myself over it either. Tears started flowing painfully, stinging my cheeks as if it was forbidden. Erik wrapped his arm around me, and tried to soothe me.

"Sh... It's okay now, Christine, it's okay," He assured me. I rest my head onto his shoulder, sobbing.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, hardly audible.

"It's okay," He said, patting my head tenderly. I felt as if I belonged there, finally. Inside of his arms. Him comforting me. He was the only one there at the time, but, really if the room was filled with all other people, and then there was him, I would've chose him. Now if Raoul were there... Enough! Stop thinking of him, Christine. Just stop it. It will only make my life more miserable when sitting here right before me is a chance to take my life out of the dark hole of which I was standing in. Whether I take it or not is one thing though.

Words can be words, and they then are no more, I have learned. Actions make and break, and once they are broken... there's no fix. Killing is one thing, crying is another, kissing is different, and... loving unconditionally is just out there. Love? Maybe. Am I sane? No, of course not. Am I stuck? Definitely.