Erik's POV

I wasn't doing well, for my fever rose with every hour, leaving me exhausted and groggy. Not only could I not get comfortable enough to sleep, but my legs were cramping up every chance they could. The cramps came and went in violent contractions that I could only describe as probably being worst than childbirth…I couldn't reach down to stop them, for I was completely immobile. No, the only thing I could do was press my face into my pillow and hope that the cramp ended quickly.

"Erik?"

It was late when I heard Christine's voice. She had gone to bed a while ago but left my lamp burning to give me enough light to read. The girl entered my room and stood at the foot of the bed. I was just getting over another cramp and was currently attempting to catch my breath.

"I heard you in the other room," she began. "I just wanted to check on you."

"My legs," I groaned. "I've been lying here too long… My body is cramping up. On top of that, it hurts to swallow. I...I bit the inside of my mouth when the set fell on me."

"My papa suffered the same fate when he became bedridden," Christine began. "He would get unbearable cramps in his feet and legs. There was one thing that helped though…As for your mouth, I could get you some ice cream or ice cubes to suck on. It would make you feel better."

When I nodded, Christine lifted the blankets up over my bare feet, the warm air relieving some of the pain I was in.

"May I?"

"May you do what?" I questioned.

"Help you? I swear you will feel much better after this…"

"I'm willing to try anything at this point…"

I wasn't sure what Christine was going to do, but after giving her my permission to help, she came to the left side of my bed and began moving the blankets away from my leg. What was she doing? Without thinking, I blew out the flames of the small oil lamp that was placed on my night table, turning the once warmly lit room into darkness.

"Erik, what's wrong?"

"I don't know what you're doing, Christine, but you need to leave me be…"

"Why? Why did you do that just now? What have I done to make you so angry?"

"You would be frightened if you saw my legs…Saw my body… It's repulsive, just as repulsive as my face. I don't have beautiful flesh, Christine, and it's something you shouldn't have to gaze at."

I expected the girl to leave, but instead, she relit the lamp. When the room was illuminated again, she looked down at my bare leg, her eyes widening… But these eyes were not filled with fear, they were filled with pity. Her hand was shaky as she reached out and traced one of the many lumpy scars I had on my leg. The moment her finger made contact with it, she flinched as if I had burnt her.

"I'm sorry…I…I didn't mean to touch you without your permission. Who? Who did this to you?"

"The world, Christine. That's only a fraction of this damaged body I live in. There are parts of me that are much worse than my leg…"

Christine closed her eyes and shook her head before stepping back into reality.

"I'm sorry…If you still want me to help you, I would be more than happy to do so."

When another cramp threatened to take control of my leg, I quickly nodded. From there, Christine moved the blankets completely away from my leg, keeping them covered over my bare waist. From there, she gently lifted up my leg and bent my joint at the knee. It did indeed feel good to be able to move my leg again.

"Exercising your joints will stop the cramps."

When she was finished with my first leg, she started working with my other one.

"Try to rest, Erik… You need plenty of it."

After tucking me back in, the girl headed to the door. "I'll head down to the kitchen for your ice cream."

"I'd rather have some ice."

She smiled. "All right."

"Christine?"

"Yes, Erik?"

"I never thanked you for helping me…Thank you."

"You've never really thanked me for anything before."

"Don't get used to it…"

Christine only giggled and left the room. With my legs feeling a little better, I was able to close my eyes and slip into a dreamless slumber. When Christine returned, the small ice chips she had brought me made the inside of my mouth feel better. After sucking on the chilled liquid, I felt tired and quickly fell asleep. The following morning, I woke, my head pounding with a terrible headache. When I tried to call for Christine, she wasn't anywhere to be found. Perhaps she had gone to rehearsal…

"Christine, are you out there?"

When she didn't answer this time, I knew she was gone. Though, a few moments later, I heard a knock at the door… Knowing that I couldn't get up to answer it, I decided to ignore it… What surprised me was when the door opened. Oh, Christine! She had forgotten to lock the door on her way out!

"Don't you know it's rude to walk into someone's home unannounced?" I snapped.

"Ah, Monsieur Manager…"

It was Carlotta. She stood at the doorway to my home, an evil smile stretching across her face. She had no right to be here…How did she even know where I lived?

"Madame, you're not supposed to be here!" I growled, coughing afterwards. "I don't appreciate unannounced visits. If you need to speak with Nadir, he's probably downstairs…"

"No, I wish to speak with you…"

When Carlotta snapped her fingers, her two guards came walking in and pinned me down to the bed.

"You were the one that planted the money in my dressing room! I know it was you… I've seen the way you look at that little song bird."

"You were trying to kill Christine, weren't you? You're jealous, jealous that she has a better voice than you."

Carlotta struck me in the shoulder, causing me to cry out in pain.

"I would have succeeded too if you didn't jump in the way. I didn't want to kill her…I just wanted to stop her from singing. I know it was you who set me up! My guards saw you do it… When I return, everything better be back to normal, otherwise, I won't think twice about turning you into the authorities! I am the leading lady of this opera house, and that will never change!"

"You can be easily replaced," I sneered.

At that moment, one of the guards placed the blade of a knife against my neck.

"And so can you," Carlotta replied. "Let's not forget our place in the opera house. You won't mention this visit to anyone, otherwise, a prison cell is the only place you will ever see again."

When the guards let me go, Carlotta and her men left me alone. Oh, I had never been so angry in all my life! I was the Phantom and no one tells the Phantom what to do! Oh, when she returned, the Phantom would show her who's boss…I would murder that wench!

Christine's POV

"Everything is going to be all right…" That's all Nadir kept telling me during rehearsals. I was nervous about singing tonight in front of a crowd, but Nadir ensured me that I would do wonderfully. When rehearsals were over, I headed back to Erik's room to check on him, finding that the door was completely unlocked. After entering, I expected to find him asleep in bed, but instead, I found him sitting in the living room.

"Erik, what are you doing out of bed?" I snapped. "The doctor said…"

"I don't care what the bloody doctor said!" he snapped, struggling to stand up from his armchair. The man winced ten times before he was on his feet. "I can't trust you! I can't trust anyone! You left the door unlocked today when you went out!"

He was towering over me now like he always did when he was enraged.

"Erik, enough, you're ill…"

He was coming towards me, stumbling with every step that he took.

"Erik, stop…"

I tried to grab his arm, but he pushed me away and that's when he lost his balance. From there, he fell backwards and tripped over the coffee table that was set up in the center of his living room. I gasped as I witnessed him fall over the table and land on the other side of it.

"Erik!" I hurried to his side and attempted to help him, but he didn't want my help.

"Leave me! Just leave me be!.."

I didn't want to leave him, but I knew things would only get worse if I didn't listen to him. Therefore, I took one last look at him before fleeing the west wing of the opera house.

Erik's POV

I didn't need Christine's help… I could take care of myself. I had done so ever since I was a child. There were illnesses and injuries that should have killed me, but I managed to survive everything. It was going to take something worse than a dislocated shoulder to have me begging for Christine's help. The following morning, I dressed and struggled to get myself out the front door. I was supposed to be in bed, but I refused to lay around like a cripple, not while there was work that needed to be done. It took me a while to get to Nadir's office, but I made it… Once there, I took out the paper work that needed to be completed and began to fill it out. Ten minutes later, Nadir came walking in and stopped when he saw me sitting at his desk.

"Erik, what are you doing?"

"Working," I growled, cringing as I struggled to write with my injured arm. The moment Nadir saw me writing, he ran to my side and forced the sling back over my neck, shoving my arm into it.

"You're not supposed to be up and out of bed, let alone writing with this arm! Do you have a death wish?"

" I refuse to lay around as if I am on my death bed! I feel better," I lied. "And I will do as I please. Christine's rehearsal is today and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I don't need another episode like the other night happening!"

Yes, I could have told him about Carlotta and what she had done, but I kept it to myself. I would deal with that wench later…

"Erik, I would advise you to return to your room before you cause yourself more pain."

"And I would advise you to remember who you are speaking to, Khan…"

Walking was something I clearly wasn't ready to do, for the entire journey to the auditorium was one filled with unbearable pain and agony. I seated myself in the front row, sweat pouring from my face as I sat there watching the ballerinas rehearse. When it was Christine's turn, I looked up at her as she sang her first aria of the show. She wasn't looking at anyone, but when her eyes locked on me, her jaw seemed to drop. I thought she was going to stop singing, but she continued with her song.

"Y…You're not breathing," I snapped, struggling to my feet.

The music came to an abrupt halt, and at that same exact moment, I fell backwards and landed on the floor. Everyone gasped, but no one came to my aid…no one but Nadir.

"Erik…"

"Don't touch me…"

But the Persian didn't listen… He lifted me up on my feet and began to walk me towards the exit. When I was finally back in bed, I sighed in relief, the Persian tucking me in.

"You were really stupid to have done that," he snapped. "What were you thinking?!"

"You're not my father… I don't need you telling me what to do."

"If not me, then who?" he growled. "Someone needs to tell you what to do. I'm going back to rehearsals now and I expect you to stay in bed."

I owed Christine an apology, for I had frightened her once again. It was going to take a few days, but I would rest up and give her the best apology man could give… She deserved happiness and I would bring her just that.


Poor Erik. He needs so much. A few of you have asked if there were happy chapters coming soon, and to answer your questions, yes... I promise that there are a few special chapters coming up. Please review and hold tight, Phans. I promise there will be plenty of happy chapters coming up.