Awakening

"Nadir, this is Gary Daae. I need to speak with you as soon as you get this. My number is.." Gary proceeded to say the police office's phone number slowly and clearly while focusing on the tone of his voice making sure to keep it under control. Then, he ended the call and let out a heavy sigh. Both of his hands reached up to rub his face. She has been gone for two days.. Two days.. She could be anywhere. She must be so scared… He couldn't take it. The thought of his daughter being kidnapped, scared, probably abused.. "Oh, God.." he breathed. Tears escaped his eyes and he buried his face in his hands.


Christine stared at the door blankly for a few seconds. First, I can't get a hold of Nadir, and now this? Her fists clenched tightly at her sides as anger slowly arose. How dare he? I leave the room for five minutes to take a shower, and he goes and turns against everything I've tried to tell him! Damn him! Her foot kicked the door hard.

Taking a shower was a stupid idea. The only reason she had taken one was because it usually had the power to calm her mind and help her think, which was exactly what she needed. But now Erik had gone and ruined everything. She kicked the door one more time, just to emphasize her frustration. I'm just as stupid as he is.. I'm stupid to have thought we were making progress, and he's stupid to have made me lose all faith in him. His insane goal of getting me to fall in love with him has been impossible from the beginning, but it's even more impossible now!

Her mind reflected on everything that had transpired throughout the day, and she couldn't help but wonder.. There had to be reason for him to lock it, right? Erik had to have heard the shower running, which obviously meant she wasn't able to leave the room. It should have reassured him to know that she was preoccupied, yet it didn't.

Christine's thoughts turned to Nadir. Her mind was putting everything together. And I couldn't get a hold of Nadir. If the battery in her walkie-talkie was still working, then that had to mean the battery in his was working, as well. Since he didn't answer, though, then Erik must have gone to see him. Christine gulped while remembering what had occurred earlier in the kitchen. He was jealous.. He thought I actually had feelings for Nadir. It made him really mad. His anger and jealousy were directed towards Nadir… So how will.. or how has he handled it?

Her heartbeat increased as images of Erik hurting Nadir in numerous ways entered her mind. Nadir's an innocent victim in all of this. He doesn't have a way to defend himself. Oh, God.. What have you done, Erik?


Erik's thoughts were taking too many different directions. One side of him wanted to do away with Nadir, who he was currently dragging through the mansion. He wanted him to feel regret for falling in love with Christine. Another side of him -the side that was beginning to feel guilty- was asking, 'What would Christine say?' She would undoubtedly be angry and disappointed. Yet another side of him –he supposed it was the caring side- was reminding him that Nadir was supposed to be his comrade and business partner.

But he couldn't overlook the fact that Nadir had tried to use a weapon against him. The fool had tried to injure him, or perhaps he had been planning to kill him.. Of course, it was a ridiculous way to go about doing it, but that wasn't the point. The point was that he now had good reason to make Nadir pay for his crimes. Oh yes, he will most certainly pay..

They finally reached the basement after having descended three flights of stairs, and Erik dragged Nadir down a dark hallway towards what looked to be a plain white wall with dark brown vertical stripes.

That wasn't all it was, though.

Once he was standing directly in front of the supposed wall, Erik released one of Nadir's arms from his grasp and reached out to press a particular part of the wall with one finger. Behind a layer of wallpaper, there was a button, and he pushed it carefully with a serious expression on his face. Then, suddenly, part of the wall pushed outward towards him.

Erik smirked while watching the hidden door open fully so that he could see inside. It was… like stepping into a horror movie, but worse. While standing in place, his mind remembered just how the door and the room had come into existence back years ago. It wasn't a very grandiose story, but it held great significance.

He, of course, had designed the mansion, and construction workers had built it. It had been a very long process, for perfection took time, but everything ran smoothly. There were no flaws to Erik's creation. Every level of the mansion was spacious and fit for royalty.

The basement was one particular floor that didn't have much use. It was merely a part of Erik's design that he refused to change. There were many vacant storage-type rooms, and the particular room he was currently standing outside of had initially been no different than the rest. But Erik remembered the very moment when that changed.

It was one day towards the end of the entire construction process, and he had become bored with his reclusive life, which was nothing out of the ordinary. He was, as usual, left alone with his thoughts, and he paced the room listlessly. Erik was never bored for long, though. Eventually, the grand idea began to form.

The mansion was perfectly designed and constructed, but most of the rooms' future uses had not been thought of. As it turned out, the basement was the floor that held most of Erik's interest. It was a dark, eerie, windowless place and he had grown very fond of it. He found he could relate to its darkness and gloom, and that was why he began to focus on its advantages.

An immediate decision was made about what he would do with one of the rooms. One room would, without a doubt, have to be a music room. He already had planned to have one on every other floor, so why not the basement, as well? This one would be more private than the others, though. It would be more to his liking.

Naming one room was not enough for Erik, it seemed. It took a good amount of pacing to think of what he wanted next. He wanted a room that held significance and that had a purpose. Not a 'happy' place like the music room... but a room that would represent.. himself, in a way. A room that would represent the very monster that he was and that would display the horrors he had been forced to deal with in his lifetime. To have a room that symbolized the previous life he had led would be both nightmarish and horrifying. Erik liked the idea.

That was where it had all begun. Erik had slaved away night after night, keeping it a secret from the rest of the world. It was not for anyone else, after all. But it could be… It was that thought that had caused him to transform the room into what it was today. My Torture Chamber.

The memory came to an end, and Erik blinked to refocus. I have never used this room against anyone before. He shrugged, totally disregarding the reasons not to. That is all about to change. It excited him to think that someone else would experience what he had created. He wondered what Nadir would think of it. Will it serve its purpose? Of course it will. That, he was sure of.

He looked into the dark room once more with pride in his eyes. It was a creation he was proud to call his own. It was while gazing that the 'caring' side of him began to creep up unexpectedly, and Erik sucked in a breath. His eyes widened. You are being bad. He could nearly see an image of his mother towering over him saying those same words. Oh, how she had hated him. She would always say those words before beating him mercilessly. Erik shook his head, struggling to forget. Her face disappeared. The next image was all a blur, but he recognized the voice of the woman he loved more than life itself. You are about to hurt someone you care about. Why are you doing this, Erik?

His tight grip on Nadir's limp arm loosened somewhat as he focused on her question. "Why am I doing this?" he asked aloud. His eyes closed in shame. "I don't know," he whispered honestly. You should let him go, and you should let me go.

The thought was too abrupt, and Erik's eyes snapped open. He gasped. All Christine wants is to get away from me. She wants nothing more than that. She does not love me.. He gritted his teeth, suddenly becoming incredibly angry at the fact. "Erik will decide what is right!" he declared. "Nadir must be punished for yearning for what is Erik's!" He turned and looked down at Nadir, who was still unconscious. Without another thought, he forcefully grabbed both of his arms and dragged him into his Torture Chamber. He left his body in the middle of the room and stomped out, his arms crossed and his eyes narrowed. "Erik makes the decisions!"

His finger reached out to press another button that was hidden beneath the wall paper. This button would close the door and start the punishment. At the last second, though, with his finger still outstretched, Erik looked into the dark room and whispered his final words to Nadir. "Welcome to hell, old friend."


Christine's fury hadn't dwindled at all as she waited impatiently for Erik to return. If I ever get out of here, I'm never going to lock another door for as long as I live! She knew that probably wasn't quite true, but it didn't matter. I'm pissed off, and I'm going to make that clear to him the moment he-

Her thought was interrupted when she heard a distinct 'click' meaning the door was unlocked. It's about time! Christine crossed her arms and tried to look as livid as possible, which wasn't hard.

Erik opened the door and blinked in surprise when he saw the furious look on her face.

Christine didn't give him time to do much more than that. "How dare you? We specifically agreed that you wouldn't lock my door anymore! You liar!" She was fully prepared to punch him, or kick him, or slap him.. Anything to make him stop looking at her the way that he was.

His eyes travelled across her enraged, freshly showered face with satisfaction and gleaming eyes. For some reason, he always found her anger to be so endearing. The inner strength she possessed was awe-inspiring. "If you do not stop yelling at me, you will damage your beautiful voice," he pointed out calmly. "Now, I see that you have taken a shower. I must say, you look lovely."

She actually growled, which was very unlike her, before yelling even louder than before. "Stop trying to change the subject! Can't you see that I don't care? I don't care about my damn voice right now, and I definitely don't care about my looks!"

Still using a calm, collected tone, he replied, "That's a shame. I do not wish for my compliments to be wasted-"

"Look," Christine interrupted. "Just stop talking! You try to manipulate everything! I can't take it!" Her fingers pulled at her hair in annoyance.

Erik was growing concerned. It looked as though his Christine was driving herself to insanity.. He couldn't let that happen. Before he could speak, however, his sharp eyes noticed that something was out of place. A particular piece of jewelry was missing. "Christine, where is your earring?"

She almost didn't hear him through her rage, but after comprehending the random question, her hands left her hair in order to pull at her ears. The right earring was missing. He's right, it's gone! Complete horror overcame her entire body. "Oh, no," she whispered. A strangled, anxious sort of moan escaped her lips and she got down on all fours to frantically search for it.

He gasped when he saw what was happening and instantly moved to help her. He, too, got on all fours.

"Don't," she said weakly. Even though her mind was on her earring, she still had enough knowledge to know that he was the bad guy. "I'll find it."

"Nonsense," he said using a soothing tone. "We will search together."

Christine didn't protest. She just wanted to find her earring! It was too special…

A thirteen-year-old Christine sat beside a bed with tears rolling down her cheeks.

The person who had served as her mother for her entire life, her Mama V, was dying… The doctors had sent her home to pass away in peace surrounded by her family, as she had wished it.

Mama V's eyes hadn't opened in hours. Christine was afraid she might already be gone. "Mama V?" she whispered while sniffing back her tears.

She stirred and opened her eyes slowly. A weak, tired sigh left her. "Christine," she said softly. "Christine, you're crying," she noticed. "Please don't cry."

Her crying only got worse, though. "B-but y-you're going to l-leave me-" Her voice broke off. "P-please stay… You can get better.. I know you can. Y-you can't leave me!" She buried her face in the bed sheets covering Mama V's body.

"Oh, child.." Mama V slowly reached out a hand to stroke her granddaughter's hair. "You know I can't get better. I have cancer." She heard Christine sob into the covers. "Shh.. It's going to be ok. I'll always watch over you."

She raised her head slightly. "Th-that's not enough.. I-I need you."

Mama V smiled. "Come now, Christine, cheer up. You must stay strong. You must always stay strong." She saw Christine staring at her. It looked as though she was trying to memorize her face so that she'd never forget. "Christine, I want to give you something." She reached for a small box on her bedside table and handed it to her.

Christine stared at the box curiously. "What is it?"

Her grandmother laughed weakly. "Open it and see."

She did as she was told, and her eyes widened at what was inside. "But these-.. These are your earrings."

"Yes, dear one. I want you to have them."

Christine was struggling to control her tears. It was really happening. Her grandmother was dying. The facts were really starting to sink in. "B-but they're your favorite."

"Over the years, I've noticed that they're your favorite, as well. Please keep them, Christine. Always keep them safe and remember me."

Her wide eyes looked into her grandmother's pale face. "Th-thank you, Mama V." She moved forward to hug her.

Mama V smiled and reassured, "I'll always be with you." Then, she asked, "Will you sing to me, Christine? Your voice can let the angels know I am coming."

Christine proceeded to sing a lullaby to her grandmother, and an inward promise was made. 'I'll always wear these earrings. Everyday. And I'll keep them safe, just as you told me to.'

Christine could feel the tears coming. "I have to find it. I have to!"

Erik was just as determined as she was. He would not stop until it was found. His eyes glanced at her once, and he noticed she was trying to suppress tears. He couldn't bear to see her cry… "Why are these earrings so special to you, Christine?" His tone was gentle and soothing, exactly what she needed to hear.

She was crawling across the floor slowly with her face almost touching the hardwood and her hands patting the area. "They were my grandmother's. They were her dying gift to me. Oh God, I can't lose it!"

"Please, don't cry, my angel. I will find it," he vowed.

Christine's brow furrowed slightly at how caring he was being. Not that he wasn't always caring towards her, but it was usually so creep. This time, though… this time, she actually liked it.

Erik realized something while glancing her way again. She'd just taken a shower a short time ago. What if-.. He stood and raced towards her bathroom to begin searching high and low.

Christine noticed but decided to finish looking in the bedroom while he searched the bathroom. Then, she would look in the closet. This was worse than anything.. If she lost the earring, she broke the promise. If she broke the promise, she wouldn't be able to live with herself. It would be unforgiveable.

"Christine," Erik called softly from behind her.

She gasped not having heard him come towards her. She turned and looked up at him with wet eyes. Then, she noticed what he was holding. He'd found it! He'd found the earring and the back to it! Christine gasped again and stood. "Thank God!" Her emotions were overwhelming. Tears fell down her cheeks.

Erik shook his head. "No, Christine, please don't cry. I found it, see? I found it." He held it out to give to her. For some reason, he was incredibly nervous, as if he felt something important was about to happen.

He dropped the earring into her outstretched palm, and she quickly fastened it to her ear. "I-… Thank you." She was still trying to regain normal breathing. He noticed it was missing and he found it.. Christine found she had to repeat herself. "Thank you, Erik. I don't know what I would have done." She shook her head at the thought.

Erik felt like dropping to his knees and crying into her shirt. Her words were that special to him. "Oh, Christine…" he murmured. "You do not have to thank me. I live to help you. I would do anything for you."

She looked into his eyes but then found she had to look away from such longing. Things were just so hard. And she was still so angry with him. But, somehow, she was finding it difficult for that anger to reemerge. "Erik," she said with a sigh. "You know we have to talk."

He quickly felt his heart plummet back to reality… the reality that consisted of his continuous lies. A strange new feeling was beginning to emerge inside him, but he ignored it. "Yes," he whispered.

Christine took a few steps back so that they weren't so close to one another. "I want to know why you lied to me. I thought we were making progress before.." She saw the pained expression on his face. "I'm getting through to you, aren't I?" she asked hopefully. "Please, what are you thinking?"

Erik turned his face away from her perfection. "I am thinking that I cannot improve. Erik will always be Erik."

If he just said it firmly, then maybe she would believe him. But, as it was, he didn't sound sure of himself at all. "Don't think like that. Let's just talk this over. Ok, so you knew I was in the shower, yet you still felt the need to lock my door. Why?" She studied the way he was standing.

"I-I don't know," he replied, shifting slightly. There was definitely weakness in his tone.

Her worries for Nadir were increasing. How am I supposed to get through to him? "There must have been a reason.. What were you afraid of?"

He wanted to make her happy, but he couldn't tell her. He couldn't even look at her. That same strange feeling was beginning to consume him. "I don't know."

It came to her then. I have to force him to see. After chewing on her bottom lip for several seconds, Christine made a decision and hesitantly moved towards him. When she was within arms' length, she slowly reached out and took hold of his hand.

Erik gasped and instantly looked down at their connected hands with wide eyes. He couldn't speak.

"Look at me," Christine softly commanded. He did so, and she could see confusion and shock in his eyes. She smiled so that he could see it. "Please, talk to me," she begged. "I need to know what's going on."

His heart was pounding, and he could feel himself beginning to sweat. The fact that she was holding his hand was stunning. To think that she was touching him voluntarily.. The look of patience in her eyes was causing the strange feeling inside him to build even further. Her voice was so easy to give into. "What do you need to know?" he asked with a shaky voice.

"I need to know what's happening. You have to tell me what you've done." Whatever she was doing, whether it was her hand holding his or the tone of her voice, it was working.

It was her, just her. Everything about Christine was causing Erik to want to tell her all she wished to know. A part of him wanted her to know, it wanted her forgiveness. The other part of him was wishing to say 'no', but the strange feeling that was continuing to build inside him wouldn't allow him to deny her. He moaned and tears welled in his eyes. "I lied to you," he finally admitted.

Christine was worried. Yes, it was all good and well that he was finally telling the truth, but how deep was the lie? What had happened to Nadir? "Go on," she urged, forcing her tone to stay the same as it had been.

Erik's teeth were chattering as the name of the strange feeling began to come into focus. He knew what it was. It was something he should have felt all along… Regret. "I know where Nadir is." Christine didn't speak, but she continued to look into his eyes. "H-he…" The regret was too much to bear. What have I done?- Sobs wracked his entire body, and he covered his face with his hands. "I.."

She was starting to feel sick. Oh God, he killed him.. Oh, no.. "You what? What did you do?" Her tone was no longer soothing and gentle. It was desperate and hoarse.

"I-I'm killing him!" As soon as the words left his mouth, his eyes widened in fear. Nadir.. He'd murdered the only person he had ever considered to be a friend. Panic spread through his body. His eyes turned to the door and then to Christine's pale face.

"You what?" she whispered. "What do you mean, 'killing him'? Erik, is he still alive?" He only stood staring at her with a blank expression. We don't have any time to lose! "Tell me, is he still alive?" She shook his hand to try to snap him out of it.

Erik finally spoke. "I don't know.."

Christine let go of his hand. "Erik, where is he? Where is Nadir?" Now, the were both panicking.

"I-in the basement. He's in the basement!" Suddenly, he shook his head a few times. "We have to go to him!" Erik grabbed her hand, and he quickly led her out of the room.

She was able to keep up with his fast pace easily. Her thoughts were on one thing. Please don't be dead! Please don't be dead!

They descended two flights of stairs. Erik led her to the left once they were on the basement level. Then, they took a right, and he led her straight towards a wall.

Christine watched with her mouth gaping open in disbelief as Erik hurriedly pressed a part of the wall with his finger. She gulped as the wall opened in the form of a door before her very eyes. It was dark inside. She couldn't see a thing. "H-he's in here?"

Erik stood still for a moment before letting go of her hand. "Stay here," he said softly before walking inside. His heart stopped beating as a new sort of fear began to set in. His steps were slow and careful, but they needn't have been. His vision became foggy as realization quickly dawned on him. He couldn't believe it. There is no way..

"Erik, where is he? Is he in here?" Christine was shaking involuntarily.

He turned towards Christine and looked at her, really looked at her. I love you. You mean everything to me. I love you. I love you. "No," he replied in answer to her question. "No Christine, he isn't in here." Erik seemed to be frozen in place as he thought it through. He escaped my Torture Chamber.. But how? That currently didn't matter. If he could escape my Torture Chamber, then he could easily escape this mansion. Erik knew.. He'd known the very moment his eyes couldn't locate him. Nadir has left the mansion in hopes of turning me into the police.

Continuing to look at Christine, Erik found that his previous regret was vanishing completely. Nadir has betrayed me, and Christine… She is obviously overjoyed. In place of the regret he had felt for only that short amount of time, a more powerful and much more dangerous emotion was setting in. A deep, terrible desperation was invading his senses and clouding his mind. He only had one focus now, and he was looking at her. "You are mine," he whispered so that she couldn't hear. "Mine." Christine was his, and he would never let her go. I will do anything, commit any crime, to keep her.