Christine's POV
The Phantom was indeed dead. By the following morning, there were newspapers spreading the news about the Phantom and his mysterious death. Pictures of his burning coffin and pictures of me caressing his body filled the front page. Being away from Erik was the hardest thing, but it was keeping him safe and that's all that mattered. Mr. Gumpertz stayed out of our lives and went his own way to try and build his own park as Phantasma soared to greatness. Erik and I only met at night for a short time, looking as if we were courting for the first time. By the end of Phantasma's first season, Erik had so much money that he was able to move us out of the clock tower and into a secluded home on the other end of Coney Island. No matter how many seasons Mr. Gumpertz attempted to stay open, he struggled greatly against Phantasma and wound up going bankrupt and was forced to close after only two struggling seasons.
As the coast slowly cleared, Erik began spending more time with me, eventually staying with me overnight and then moving back in. It felt wonderful to have him laying beside me, and my life seemed entirely complete.
"Mother…"
I heard my name being called early one morning, only to roll over and see Gustave standing at my bedside in his night clothes, his stuffed bear clutched in his hands. My son was five, and absolutely beautiful. As each day passed, I began seeing more and more of Erik in him. Though, lately, he's been having terrible nightmares that would leave him rushing to our bedroom for comfort.
"Gustave?" I sat up, running my hand through my curls. "What is it, pumpkin?"
"I…I had a nightscare again."
I looked over beside me to see that Erik's spot was empty. It usually always was. I sighed, and let him crawl in beside me.
"They can't hurt you, Gustave." I promised, running my fingers through his blonde locks. "They are dreams and nothing more."
"But they seem so real, mother."
"Just rest, Gustave. It's still extremely early."
I waited a while until my son was asleep again, before I got out of bed to go find Erik. After checking the time and seeing that it was nearly three in the morning, I instantly knew where Erik was. The door to his office was closed, and after opening it, I found what I had been searching for. There at his desk, was Erik slumped over his work, fast asleep. I worried for Erik every moment of everyday, mostly because his attacks were happening more frequently now than ever. Just last season, my husband had an attack that left him bedridden for nearly the entire season. But I had enough knowledge about what needed to be done on a daily basis in Phantasma, that I was able to keep things going for him.
"Erik?" I stood behind him, softly calling his name, and placing my finger against his neck to feel his pulse. I sighed in relief when I realized that he was just sleeping.
"Erik…" I massaged his shoulders, until he groaned and awoke from his slumber.
"W-What time is it?" he groggily asked.
"Three in the morning."
Erik ran his fingers through his small strands of hair and sighed.
"I need to get ready for work."
"You should sleep, Erik. Gustave and I worry for you."
But Erik didn't listen, only gathered to his feet and kissed me lightly.
"It's Phantasma's opening day, love, and I'd be damned to miss it."
"I know what today is."
"Right, and tonight, is your opening show. Bring Gustave and yourself to my dormitory this afternoon and we'll have lunch together."
And with that, Erik was gone. Seeing that I couldn't sleep, I found myself making breakfast, and once it was ready, my son came wandering out into our kitchen. He took a seat in his usual spot, and sipped on his glass of apple juice.
"Mother, where's papa?"
"He won't be joining us this morning, pumpkin." I said, placing some pancakes down in front of him. "He's working."
Gustave placed his head down on the table.
"He never eats with us."
"That's not true." I said, sitting down across from him. "He was home all last season."
"And he was sick, so he had to eat in his room."
"He invited us to have lunch with him today."
Gustave's spirits instantly lifted.
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Yes, now eat your breakfast before it gets cold."
"Can we go to Phantasma today, mother? Maybe I'll be tall enough to ride the coaster this season."
My son loved Phantasma with his whole heart and wanted to explore everything, but sadly, he was still a small boy, and Erik forbid him to ride the attractions that he wasn't tall enough to ride on.
"We'll see, Gustave." I told him. "First we have to finish some business for your father."
Gustave groaned.
"What sort of business?"
"Your father has asked me to drop off some forms to uncle Nadir's first aid station, and then I have to pop in and see uncle Raoul for a few moments."
"Yes, mother."
While I cleaned up from breakfast, Gustave dressed and sat himself down at the piano in the main room. Erik had been slowly teaching him how to play, but those lessons came few and far between due to how busy he always was.
"Come on, Gustave, it's time to go."
After hitting a few more keys, my son joined me at my side and we headed outside.
"Can't we just go see papa now?" he asked me. "I promise I'll be good and not touch anything."
"Gustave, your father probably won't be at his dormitory until noon. It's Phantasma's opening day."
"Yes, and it's hot."
I giggled, and decided to pop in to see Raoul before heading over to see Nadir. Once inside the small jewelry shop, I told Gustave not to touch anything, and greeted Raoul's mother who was standing behind the counter.
"Good morning." I said, placing some forms on the countertop.
"Good morning to you too." she said. "I see you've brought the child along with you today."
But before I could answer, Raoul came out from the back room, and scooped Gustave up into his arms.
"There he is!"
Gustave giggled, and Raoul placed him down on the counter top, something that angered his mother.
"It's been seven months since I last seen you, Gustave. You've grown so much."
"Uncle Raoul, did you bring me a present from Paris?" my son excitedly asked.
"Gustave, don't be rude." I scolded.
Raoul patted my son on the head, and smiled.
"It's quite all right, Christine, no harm done."
And then, from out of no where, Raoul produced a small package and placed it into his lap.
"There you are."
"You're going to spoil him, Raoul."
But Raoul wasn't listening, he was standing there watching my son's small hands reach into the box.
"What is it?" Raoul teased.
"A train!" my son exclaimed upon pulling the red and black tin train out of the box.
"A train? Do you want to see something neat?"
Raoul took it from my son's hands, and wound it up before placing it on the ground. Once he released it, the small train moved around, making small whistling noises as it did so.
"Wow! Thanks, uncle Raoul."
The boy hugged him, before jumping to the floor to continue playing with his new toy.
"Not on my floor, Gustave!" Raoul's mother growled. "You'll scratch the wood."
"Raoul, you know how Erik feels about you giving him gifts." I said.
"It's only but once a year, Christine. I don't see him on Christmas, so call it a late present if you truly must. Tell your husband to lighten up. How is he these days? Better than last season I hope."
I nodded.
"So far, so good." I looked behind me to see Raoul's mother starting to get furious as Gustave continued playing. "I should go before I anger your mother even more."
"I'll stop by some night. Perhaps the four of us could go to Feltman's for dinner."
"That sounds wonderful, Raoul, I'll let Erik know."
After leaving, Gustave held up his train to me in excitement.
"Mother, did you see what uncle Raoul brought me."
"Yes, pumpkin, I see it."
"Could we go see papa now? Please, mother….I want to show him my new train."
I glanced towards the Phantasma clock tower, and noticed that it was nearly eleven.
"Please, and go to Nadir's after…."
We were close to Erik's office, and so I decided that it wouldn't hurt to pop in.
"All right, Gustave, but you mustn't touch anything. You know how your father hates it when you touch his things."
I approached the large building Erik's dormitory was on top of, and opened the door with a spare key Erik had given me. My son ran up the stairs, as I followed behind him. When we were finally up the last step, we were met with blue glowing lights that illuminated each wall, golden statues that stood in each corner, and a chandelier that hung down from the ceiling. I looked around each corner, finding Erik's couch and desk empty. It was apparent that he wasn't here.
"Gustave, I don't think your father is here yet."
But my son wasn't listening. He was already headed towards Erik's glass piano that was placed on the other side. My son threw back the drape that was covered on it, and began hitting random keys. I immediately hurried to his side, and threw the drape back over it.
"What did I tell you about touching things, Gustave?"
My son looked up at me, his mismatched eyes filled with sorrow and disappointment.
"I-I'm sorry, mother."
I lifted him off the glass bench, and we both stood in front of the window that faced the mobbed Phantasma.
"One day, Gustave, this will all be yours. Until your father shows you how to work things, you need to keep your hands off of them or else they won't be here for you when you grow up."
"But when will that be, mother?" my son whined. "He promised to teach me music, and he has yet to do that."
"When the time is right, Gustave, he will."
It was then that I heard footsteps, and turned to see Erik coming up the stairs with a basket in hand. He was sweating terribly, and his breathing was labored. I rushed to his side, and took the basket from his hand.
"Erik, are you all right?"
"Yes…" he stammered. "I-I wasn't expecting you so early."
To get him off of his feet, I helped him to his couch, and sat him down.
"You're dressed too heavily for the weather, darling."
I assisted him in unbuttoning his shirt a bit, to allow him to breathe easier.
"Papa, look what uncle Raoul gave me!"
My son hopped into Erik's lap, showing him the tin train.
"Oh, that was nice of him." Erik said, patting the boy's back.
"Papa, when are you going to show me how to play the piano?"
"Soon, Gustave. You're still so small. We have your whole life to do that."
As Gustave played on the floor with his train, I pulled Erik's mask off, and placed it aside.
"Feeling better, darling?"
He nodded, and reached into his basket.
"I brought us lunch. Nathan's hotdogs."
I giggled.
"How did I not guess this?"
After pulling a wrapped hotdog from the basket, I called Gustave over and he took it from my hands.
"How is Phantasma holding up?"
"Wonderful as always. Opening day is always a success for me."
"Would you like anything in particular for dinner tonight?"
"I don't know if I'll be there for dinner, love. I'll try to be home as soon as I can, but don't wait up for me. It could be a late night for all of us."
It always was. After finishing my lunch, Erik took the forms I had for Nadir out of my hand, and told me that he'd deliver them.
"Papa, could you take mother and I around Phantasma?"
Erik lifted the boy into his arms, and ruffed his blonde hair around.
"I would love to, but I can't. I will, however meet you and mother tonight at the opera house. You and I will sit in our private box together and watch her sing. All right?"
My son kissed Erik on his distorted cheek, something that Erik enjoyed greatly, and then hopped down to join me.
"I'll see you tonight at six, love." Erik promised, kissing me lovingly on the lips. "You'll sing wonderfully, like always."
"I'll see you later on, darling."
For the remainder of the afternoon, Gustave and I walked down to the beach and spent time building sandcastles and putting our feet in the water.
"Papa needs to do this with us next time." Gustave said as we headed towards the opera house.
"Yes, he does. I'll talk to him about it, pumpkin. I'm sure once Phantasma gets going he'll be able to spend more time with us."
Before going to my dressing room to get ready, I personally walked Gustave to Erik's private box. When I pulled back the curtain, Erik was no where to be found. Usually, he was here a little early, but tonight, he wasn't. Though, I knew Phantasma was probably keeping him busy, so I didn't worry, and sat Gustave down in one of the chairs.
"Pumpkin, your father is running late, but I can't stay here and wait for him to arrive."
"I won't move." he promised me. "I'll stay put, I promise."
I kissed him on the forehead, and smiled.
"I'll see you and papa after my performance."
It worried me to leave my son there alone, but I knew Erik would show up eventually. Meg was already performing, leaving me only ten minutes time to get dressed and ready to go. I frantically fixed my hair and put on my makeup as I heard the applause of the crowds from out on the stage. It was my turn now. I hurried towards the stage, as Meg was coming off it, patting me on the back and smiling.
"Warmed them up for you, Christine." she teased.
I only smiled, and stood there as Dr. Gangle introduced me like he had done hundreds of times before during the past few seasons. The crowd roared and cheered as I came out on stage to sing the new aria Erik had written for me. I searched our private box, hoping to find Erik sitting there with Gustave, but it was too dark, and I couldn't see a thing.
"When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together lives within my heart
And when he was sad, I was there to dry his tears
And when he was happy so was I
When he loved me…
Through the summer and the fall
We had each other that was all
Just he and I together like it was meant to be.
And when he was lonely, I was there to comfort him
And I knew that he loved me.
So the years went by, I stayed the same
But he began to drift away, I was left alone
Though I waited for the day when he'd say "I will always love you."
Lonely and forgotten, never thought he'd look my way
When he smiled at me and held me, just like he'd used to do.
When he loved me, when he loved me.
When somebody loved me, everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together lives within my heart
When he loved me…."
By the end of the song, everyone was cheering for me. Erik's song was beautiful, just like him, and I would tell this to him right after he met with me. I happily exited the stage, and headed to my dressing room to change so I could meet him faster. Once my regular clothes were back on, and I was ready to leave, I opened the door, only to find Gustave standing there with a look of pure horror on his face, and his eyes filled with tears.
"Gustave, what's wrong?"
The boy was trembling, and I scooped him up into my arms to calm him.
"I was-was so scared, mother. I couldn't find you anywhere. All those people-"
"Gustave, it's all right. Where's your father?"
"H-he never showed up. I got scared and came searching for you. Oh, mother, please don't be angry with me. I know I promised not to leave my seat, but I was so scared."
My heart sank within my chest as I heard the words I had been dreading. He never showed up? Erik never missed a performance ever.
"Christine, what's wrong?"
Meg had been passing by, but stopped when she saw how upset Gustave was.
"Meg, could you please watch Gustave for a while?" I begged. "Erik never showed up to tonight's performance."
"Oh, no…."
"I…I need to find him."
I already had tears in my eyes, but Meg tried to calm me down.
"Christine, I'm sure he just fell behind in his work."
I nodded, knowing secretly that Erik would never ever miss a performance even if Phantasma was burning down to the ground.
"I'll entertain Gustave for a while." Meg assured. "Go find Erik."
I was off with lightning speed, pushing past photographers who were trying to pull me aside to interview me, and crowds of people who wanted my autograph. Usually, I would give them anything they pleased, but tonight, I couldn't be bothered. I needed to find Erik.
"Sorry-Please-I'm busy."
I apologized as I passed them all, running to everyone who usually saw Erik.
"Have you seen Mister E?" I would frantically question.
But they would all answer "no."
I checked every stand, every attraction, pushing past people and crowds.
"Christine!"
I heard my name being called, only to turn and see Nadir headed towards me. I only hoped to God that he knew about Erik's whereabouts.
"Nadir, have you seen Erik? He wasn't at my performance."
Nadir caught his breath, as he hurried to my side.
"I was actually coming to ask you the very same question. He told me a few days ago that he was going to deliver order forms to me so I could order more medical supplies. He never showed up today to give them to me."
My heart burst within my chest. If he never delivered the forms to Nadir, that meant that he never left his dormitory.
"Nadir, please, come with me…."
Nadir followed me as I unlocked his dormitory door and ran up each stair, never stopping to catch my breath. How badly I wanted to come up those very stairs and find Erik hunched over his work, just unaware of the time, apologizing for everything, but I knew I wouldn't find him like that. I prepared myself for the worst, and came up the last stair to find everything how I had left it this afternoon with Gustave. Our picnic basket was still placed on the floor, and our wrappers still laying beside it. Even Erik's mask was laying on the couch from when I had removed it from his face. But Erik was not there….
"Erik?" I called his name, hoping he would answer, but he didn't. He had to be here. He wouldn't have gone out without his mask.
Suddenly, I heard a small gurgling whimper, only to turn and face my worst nightmare. Over at the glass piano, was Erik's body laying on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. I nearly screamed out loud as I rushed towards him. The piano keys were cracked, and covered in a splatter of blood, making it obvious that sometime after Gustave and I had left, he had an attack and fell, only to hit his head on the piano.
I had left Erik nearly five hours ago. Had he really been laying here helpless for that long? I didn't hesitate a single moment, and tore off my jacket to press it against the open wound in his head. I feared for that more than his heart due to where the wound was located. His open skull was surrounded with his arteries and veins, and at the moment it was obvious that something burst by how much blood was covering the floor.
"Erik….Erik, I'm here…."
I pressed my jacket against his skull, his mismatched eyes looking as if they were in another world.
Nadir opened Erik's shirt, and placed his stethoscope over his chest.
"He's barely alive." Nadir stated. "Help me get him to the couch."
I supported Erik's head, as Nadir and I lifted him to his feet. After placing him down on the couch, Nadir ran down the stairs of the dormitory, coming back a few moments later carrying a bag full of his supplies. All I could do was stand there in horror and watch Nadir work on Erik's lifeless body. Why? Why did I leave him today? Why didn't I stay? I should have seen the signs when he nearly collapsed after coming up the stairs.
"The glass sliced into a vein." I heard Nadir say.
"Will he be all right?" I gasped.
"Just be glad it wasn't an artery, he would have been dead by the time we found him."
When Nadir stepped away from Erik's body, I gazed down at him to see that his head was bandaged, and his breathing was labored.
"Christine, I can't promise you anything. I've done the best that I could, but it's up to Allah now. If he survives, he can't be left alone anymore. If we hadn't found him, he would have died within another hour or so. His heart is extremely weak, and every moment he is laying somewhere without help is a moment too long."
"He needs to be home, in bed."
"Not until he wakes. I'll have my cart brought over in a few hours and we'll move him home."
When I was left alone with Erik, I sobbed. Oh, how I sobbed. My poor angel, I couldn't lose him now. God had let him stay with me these past five years, and I prayed to him that he wouldn't end it now. Gustave needed his father, and I needed my angel…..I just knew that no matter what, I was never leaving his side again.
Another chapter down in the books! Please review, and keep checking back for more chapters and my new story called "Too Dark to see a thing." I'll be posting the first chapter of that soon.