Author's Note: Yes yes, I know that in the novel it says he took the name Erik, but humor me. -Kat
I am Erik
by Kathryn Angelle
I am born.
"Quickly, madam, a name; I think it is born dead."
"Dead?"
"It does not cry. A name, madam, quickly!"
"Erik..."
Erik. I am born. I have a name. I am Erik.
The midwife wipes away the birth blood, looks at me truly for the first time. She screams.
I am Erik.
A woman, my mother, asks what is wrong, struggles up in the bed. I am snatched away from the midwife. My mother looks into my face. She does not scream. But she is afraid. She is paralyzed, or she would drop me. I can feel it.
I am Erik. I have a name.
The midwife is a strong woman. She takes me from the woman in the bed - not my mother, can not be my mother - and pulls the blanket over my face.
"Perhaps it will suffocate..."
"A monster! It can not be! No..." She sobs. "Take it away, take...it..."
I am carried away, out of the room. The midwife takes me down stairs, out of the house. It is very cold. She walks quickly through the streets. Where is she taking me? I am Erik. I have a name....I am someone.
I am no one.
I am not sure how I have survived this long. But I am Erik. I survive.
They chain me in a corner of the wagon. I have been here for some time...I don't know how long. The people come and walk past, gawking, staring, pointing. At me. At the monster. The monster isn't me. I am Erik.
One of the men laughs and throws something at me. I hear a growl. There is something in the cage with me. An animal that growls. I am Erik. I have a name. I am not an animal.
I survive...I am Erik. I have become the monster. But I survive.
The wagon is gone, the wagon is past, past, so much is past. I do not remember what has past. I know now. I found a place, a dark place, where there is no one else. A good place. I can hear the music from here. I love the music. I am Erik.
It has been long in this place. I am learning to do things. I can do tricks with the things I learn. I can walk through mirrors, walls, I can disappear. I show off. I hear whispers of a ghost. Me. I am Erik.
I listen to the music.
I have a name. I am Erik.
But I will become the Phantom.
I am Erik
by Kathryn Angelle
I am born.
"Quickly, madam, a name; I think it is born dead."
"Dead?"
"It does not cry. A name, madam, quickly!"
"Erik..."
Erik. I am born. I have a name. I am Erik.
The midwife wipes away the birth blood, looks at me truly for the first time. She screams.
I am Erik.
A woman, my mother, asks what is wrong, struggles up in the bed. I am snatched away from the midwife. My mother looks into my face. She does not scream. But she is afraid. She is paralyzed, or she would drop me. I can feel it.
I am Erik. I have a name.
The midwife is a strong woman. She takes me from the woman in the bed - not my mother, can not be my mother - and pulls the blanket over my face.
"Perhaps it will suffocate..."
"A monster! It can not be! No..." She sobs. "Take it away, take...it..."
I am carried away, out of the room. The midwife takes me down stairs, out of the house. It is very cold. She walks quickly through the streets. Where is she taking me? I am Erik. I have a name....I am someone.
I am no one.
I am not sure how I have survived this long. But I am Erik. I survive.
They chain me in a corner of the wagon. I have been here for some time...I don't know how long. The people come and walk past, gawking, staring, pointing. At me. At the monster. The monster isn't me. I am Erik.
One of the men laughs and throws something at me. I hear a growl. There is something in the cage with me. An animal that growls. I am Erik. I have a name. I am not an animal.
I survive...I am Erik. I have become the monster. But I survive.
The wagon is gone, the wagon is past, past, so much is past. I do not remember what has past. I know now. I found a place, a dark place, where there is no one else. A good place. I can hear the music from here. I love the music. I am Erik.
It has been long in this place. I am learning to do things. I can do tricks with the things I learn. I can walk through mirrors, walls, I can disappear. I show off. I hear whispers of a ghost. Me. I am Erik.
I listen to the music.
I have a name. I am Erik.
But I will become the Phantom.