Christine's POV
My poor husband was in pain, I just knew it. When I returned from work that evening, I found him already in bed. Deciding not to disturb him, I slept downstairs on the sofa. When my angel was ill, he usually thrashed around in his sleep. I would have thought he would have stayed asleep, but the following morning, I awoke to the sound of the piano being played in Erik's music room. It was nearly nine and I decided to make him breakfast instead of sleeping in. Erik ate on a strict schedule and if I didn't have his food ready by that certain time, he refused to eat. It was nine thirty by the time I had his breakfast ready. I placed his toast and tea on a small tray and carried it up the stairs. He didn't notice me entering his music room, for he continued to play on and on. I smiled, for I was glad to see him playing again.
With the music loudly playing, I placed the tray down on a side table and approached him from behind, placing my hands upon his shoulders. I was only trying to comfort him, but instead of comforting him, the music came to an abrupt halt and he jumped up from his bench, turning to grab my neck. What was going on with him?
"Erik! Erik…"
He slammed me up against the nearest wall, and quickly released me when he realized that it was me. What had gotten into him? He slunk back to his bench and buried his face into his hands.
"What have I done?" he cried. "Oh…What have I done?"
I rubbed my sore neck and approached him. Was it that everything that had happened to him in the past was now affecting him?
"Erik? Erik, what has gotten into you? I was only trying to bring you breakfast."
"Just leave it," he cried. "Leave it and go… I need to be alone."
When I gently caressed his wrist, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"You shouldn't sneak up on me like you did," he cried. "There's no telling what might happen."
"Erik, what happened the other day was cruel, but it's all right. When you're here, it's just Gustave and I. There isn't anyone else here…No one will hurt you here, Ange…"
He nodded and I leaned in to press my lips against his own.
"Why do you love me, Christine?"
"I love you because you're the only one I've ever had to love. You are my moon, sun and stars, Ange. Now, eat your breakfast before ten rolls around. I've put a lot of thought into it and would hate to see it go to waste."
Erik took a sip of his tea and looked up to thank me.
"Christine, thank you…"
"How are you feeling?"
"Not well… I think I'm going to rest here for a while."
"I have work, Erik… Watch Gustave and I'll be back later."
I hated having to leave Erik alone, especially when he wasn't feeling well, but I had work to do. I always thought that I would be doing something other than waiting on tables, but I guess I was wrong…
Erik's POV
My Christine deserved better…she deserved the world, and sadly, waiting on tables was all she did. It hurt me to see her leaving for work each day and night wearing her apron. Oh, I was such a monster…
I rose from my piano an hour later and found Gustave playing on the floor with his toys. He wasn't wearing his mask, and I thought that he was taking all this rather well for a child his age.
"Mama went to work, Dada…"
"I know," I said, taking a seat in my arm chair. "It's just the two of us today."
"It's so nice out," he began. "It sure does look fun out there."
"Well, do you want to go out?" I questioned. "We could go to the beach for a little bit? I would have to stop by Mr. Squelch's office before we go, but that shouldn't take long."
When my child nodded, he collected his toys and ran to his room. When he came back, I secured his mask into place and lifted the child up onto my shoulders.
"Dada?"
"Yes, Gustave?"
"Why do you wear your mask inside the house?"
"Because I've always done so…It's just a natural reaction I guess."
"But you said I didn't have to wear my mask…"
"How bout we get some ice cream later?" I asked, switching the awkward subject. "We just can't tell your mother about it, or she'll get angry at me."
"All right…"
When we arrived near Mr. Squelch's office, I placed Gustave down on a nearby bench that faced the tents of animals.
"I'll be five minutes, Gustave. Can you stay here while I go inside?"
"Yes," he said, swaying his feet back and forth.
"Promise me that you won't leave this bench…"
"I pwomise…"
I patted my son on the head and went inside the small building.
"Ah, Erik, how are you feeling?"
"Better, thank you," I growled, folding my hands behind my back. "I've come to tell you that I've decided to watch over my son while my wife is at work. If you still want me to be your maitence man, so be it, but I will have my boy with me."
"In the pits of attractions is no place for a child," Mr. Squelch began. "He could get hurt."
"Not if he's with me, Mr. Squelch. My child comes first… There will be days when Christine will be able to stay at home with him, but for the days that she can't, he will be with me. Like it, or lump it…"
Mr. Squelch sighed and shooed me out of his office.
"I will not be responsible for a toddler, Erik. He's your responsibility."
"Good, I'm glad we had this conversation then…"
Feeling happy, I left the office, but the moment I did so, the bench was empty and my son was gone…
Gustave's POV
I wasn't sure how long five minutes was, but I sat on that bench for as long as I could take it. I tried looking at the clouds and playing a game with myself, but that was turning out to be useless. I know I promised my dad that I was going to stay put, but I couldn't help it… It was something that was in me…Something that made me want to explore. The moment I spotted a large elephant dressed in colorful beads and feathers entering one of the tents, I jumped off the bench and went running straight towards it. I loved animals… I loved everyone of them! I knew I promised my dad, but this was something I just couldn't pass up.
I slipped beneath the side of the tent to spot hundreds of animals of all shapes and sizes being placed on display. People were crowding the tents, walking past each one. There were lions, tigers, bears, and even monkeys!
"Hey, kid!"
When I heard an angry voice, I spun around and found the ring leader coming towards me with his whip in hand.
"You didn't pay! Get out of here!"
I ran from the tent and towards a crowd of people as the man continued to chase me. I ran and ran right up until I found myself inside a strange tent. It smelled horrible and it was dark, much darker than any tent I had ever been in before. Feeling relieved that I was able to lose the angry man, I turned around and spotted cages….I wasn't sure what were in these cages, but I passed each one and soon found that there were monsters locked inside! A hand reached out and tried to grab me, causing me to scream. I ran towards the opening of the tent and never looked back…But where was I now? I was lost… I didn't know which way to go and I couldn't stop myself from wanting to cry. Why? Why had I run off?
"Dada?" I called out his name as people passed me. I was being pushed and shoved in the crowds of people while I frantically called out for my father.
"Dada!"
I had tears streaming down my masked cheeks now. I was scared, more scared than I had ever been before. I was too small to see anything due to the people who were crowding me. I pushed past them and made my way to an empty bench. I crawled on top of it and stood on my tippy toes hoping to find anything that I knew.
"Dada…Dada!"
After climbing back off the bench, I was pushed once again by more people. Eventually, I lost my balance and fell on my knees. I was bleeding now, bleeding and sobbing, for what else could I do? I was lost and I couldn't find my papa…
"Are you all right?"
When I heard a soft voice speaking to me, I looked up to find a tall woman in feathers standing there. I didn't answer her at first, for I didn't like strangers. After what had taken place a few days ago, I didn't want to trust anyone ever again.
"Awww…Look at you. Your knees are scraped. Are you all right?"
When I didn't answer the woman again, she took it upon herself to lift me to my feet.
"Where's your mother and father?"
"I…I don't know…"
"Well, what do they look like?"
"I…I was with my dada…" I cried. "He…He had a meeting to go to with his boss. I…I..I pwomised him I wasn't going to leave, but I did."
"Well, what does your father look like?"
"He's tall and wears a white mask over his face…sort of like my mask."
The woman smiled. "Oh, I think I know your father. He's the maitanece man, isn't he? I see him sometimes working on the rides."
"Yes…Yes…"
"Well then, we should go find him."
The strange lady interlaced her hand with my own and began to walk me around the park.
"I think I seen him today," she began. "He was just near the cotton candy stand a little while ago."
And then, that's when I heard my papa's voice.
"Gustave!"
My father was clearly out of breath the moment he approached us.
"Gustave, I was looking all over for you! You scared me half to death!"
My father looked up at the strange woman and thanked her.
"Miss Fleck, I don't know how to thank you for finding him."
"It was no trouble at all…I didn't know you were married. Actually, I don't know your name at all."
"It's Erik…" he said. "I've seen your posters around the park on my outings. Thank you for taking the time to see that my son found me."
"You're welcome… I'm running late for my show, so I must run."
When Miss Fleck was gone, my papa grabbed me by the hand and began to drag me in the direction of our home. I knew he was angry at me, and this frightened me, for nothing was worse than seeing my papa angry, for he had a terrible temper.
"I…I thought we were going to the beach?"
"Not anymore, we're not…" he snapped. "You're going straight home, boy, and I swear, once we're there, I'm going to teach you a lesson you shall never forget!"
This wouldn't be the first time I would receive a beating from my father for not listening to him. In the past, he had taught me more than one lesson, lessons that would leave my bottom sore for hours. Knowing that it would most likely happen again, I punched him in his injured side, causing him to let me go. From there, I went running towards the café my mother worked at. I wasn't sure how badly I had hurt my papa, for I didn't look behind me…No, I continued to look ahead and pray that I found my mother before he found me.
Sorry about the late update everyone. I've been really sick...Stomach virus. I think some of this Karma from harming Erik in my story is coming back to haunt me. Anyway, bad Gustave, bad! Please review!
