Myshawolf hands readers a doctor's note: See?! I have a legit excuse for not updating. Here is Chapter 2. I own the kids, Dammit, and Father B. Yes Dammit will be a running gag. (Hey, I'm never fully serious.) Well, Enjoy and On with the show…..
Second Chance
Chapter 2- Strange, New world!
Erik could hear the voices around him talking about him. There was concern, repulsion, and to his surprise compassionate in each voice. They argued, over what to do with him. Distantly he felt something pierce his skin. It was several small pricks that only served to annoy him. The language of their voice was so different from the French he spoke for so long. Gradually he recognized it as a dialect of English. It didn't sound as uppity as the British dialect. It was more grounded and flat. Gradually he fell back in the darkness and the nothing ness that dwelled there.
When Erik hovered above consciousness again, there weren't any voices to greet him. He wondered if they had abandoned him because of his face. In the great distance, he heard a calm voice talking. Erik frowned as he recognized the prayer, it was the Our Father. The voice that spoke wasn't like the others. It had an Irish lilt to it. Erik only heard such a sound only one other time in his life when he helped build the Opera House. The Irishman helped him build his small house by the lake. Erik was always grateful to that man who showed no fear of Erik's face. Would this Irishman be as understanding?
Open your eyes and see, the female voice urged.
Did that voice ever go away? Erik was tired of fighting against the inevitable. Sooner or later he had to wake up and face the screams of horror. He really wished the girl just let him die. However, he accepted her offer in hopes of finding a home. He felt a gentle hand touch his forehead. As he surfaced from his sleep, the pain grew sharper in his sides. He let out a low moan of pain as his mind reconnected with his body. A soft voice tried to calm him with promises that he was safe.
"No one is gonna hurt you. Please don't die on me. The others already think I'm bad luck as it is." The voice pleaded softly.
Erik found that funny and really wanted to laugh. Instead he opened his eyes, only shut them again in the shine of a bright light. Where was he? Eventually, he slowly reopened them. His eyes adjusted to the changing light. He noticed the ceiling was a stark white with a strange glowing fixture in the middle of it. Again the thought occurred to him of where the hell he was. He struggled to sit up when a pair of hand forced him down. Erik turned to see a young brunette with long curly brown hair. Her face was worried as she gazed at him with tender green eyes. She looked so much like his lost Christine that Erik let her push him back down.
"Please don't do that again." She informed him, "You need to rest up your strength."
Erik made a non committal sound which forced a smile on the girl's face. She stood up and Erik noticed that she was wearing blue pants. How odd a lady wearing pants. She seemed use to them like she wore them her whole life. She picked up a towel and dripped into a bowl of water. She moved swiftly as she turned back around and placed it on his forehead. He puzzled over that point for such a long time, he nearly missed her words.
"My name is Ang and I'll be your nurse for the next two seconds." she joked, "I promised Father B that I would let him know when you were awake. Please excuse me."
Before Erik could question her, she was out the door of the small room. He settled back on to the bed and let his gaze wander around the simple room. There was a simple desk sitting in the corner. It was stocked with pens and the like. There was a small overstuffed chair sitting by his bed. Erik's eyes focused on a small crucifix hanging on the wall. Obviously he was in a cleric's house. Erik sighed wondering how long until he was handed over to the police for his crimes.
Soon the door swung open as an elderly man walked into the room. His grey hair was neatly combed and he was dressed in black with a white collar around his neck. His smile was friendly as he walked into the room. A border collie stayed close to the Father's side as he walked to the chair by the bed. Erik frowned as the man's eyes never seemed to focus on him. Erik puzzled over this as the man sat in the chair. The dog placed its head in the man's lap while its brown eyes never left Erik. Erik shifted as the dog watched every move he made just as Ayesha did. After a few moments, the man spoke in a deep Irish brogue.
"So, little Angie tells me you are awake, young man?" the man spoke as he petted the dog.
"Where am I?" Erik asked, trying to figure out why the man asked him that.
"Ah. The big question. You are currently at Niagara University."
"I've never heard of such a place in France or England."
The old man began to laugh loudly. A joyful smile spread across his old face as he turned to Erik, "Then you are indeed a long way from home."
"Why? Where am I?"
"Niagara University is in Niagara Falls, New York, America. Very far from your home. Is that where your home is?"
"Yes. France was my home. Not anymore." Erik replied disheartening. America, how did he get to America so quickly. Was there some magic at work?
"The past often haunts us no matter where we go. How are you feeling?"
"A lot of pain."
"That is to be expected. You took, as the kids told me, quite a beating."
"Kids?"
"The ones who found you. Mira was worried about any internal injuries. However, you are awake now so there must not be any. They are a good group of students when they want to be."
Erik struggled to sit up. He didn't like to be lying down while someone was looming next to him. As he moved, his right side screamed in pain. Erik hissed out when he finally got into a sitting position. When he turned back to the man, his host was holding out some pills to him. Erik regarded them strangely but accepted them gingerly. The man sat back in the chair and waited for Erik to take them. Hesitantly Erik did so.
"The pain should disappear in a few minutes if what Mira read to me was true." The man informed him.
"Merci."
Angie peeked her head back in to the room. She frowned to see Erik sitting up but shrugged it off. Mira can lecture him later. She looked at Father Nevyn and the dog with a smile on her face. The dog looked at the girl and barked. The Father turned towards the bark. Ang smiled brightly at the priest.
"Father B, do you need anything else?" Angie asked.
"Nothing just yet, my child. I'm fine." Father B smiled at her.
"Okay, Mira should be by later if Dr. Kaleritz doesn't hold her again." Angie nodded, "May I tell the others?"
"Of course. Tell them I'll be in my office at my usual time if they have any questions."
"Of course, Father. Good day."
"Good day, Angie." Father nodded to her as she left. He sighed and turned to Erik, "Such a sweet girl."
"You are a priest?"
"Aye I am. However Confessional doesn't start until you can walk to the chapel." he joked to Erik.
Erik smiled for the first time, "I guess I should grateful that I am here."
"Of course. The only place to find edible food on this campus. That's why the students come here. I have a kitchen." Father B smiled as he stood up, "Now you need to rest up. Wounds don't heal on their own."
"Thank you, Father."
"No problem, my son. If you need anything, just yell either myself or Dammit will come."
"Dammit?"
The collie barked at the sound of his name and trotted up to Erik. Erik smiled despite himself as the dog placed his front legs on the bed. Father B smiled as Dammit barked again at Erik playfully. Erik gave him a quick scratch. Dammit jumped down and joined his owner.
"Dammit is my dog. He is a good boy, most of the time. Now rest. Tomorrow we will talk more."
"Yes, Father."
Erik watched the Father leave. Again he wondered what he had gotten himself in to. Father B seemed nice enough, although Erik wondered if he could see all that well. His eyes never seemed to focus on anything. Erik leaned back and closed his eyes. He missed his home by the lake. Yet, so far no one seemed to notice or comment on his face. Absently he reached up to see if he was still wearing his mask only to touch his own twisted skin. What was going on?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that day, Erik had his first brush with technology. Needless to say it was a less than stellar experience for him. He was sitting in bed when Father B walked back in. Erik noticed that it was dark out. Father B handed him a plate of food. Erik's stomach growled as the spicy smell of pasta sauce reached his nose. Erik blushed as Father B laughed. Dammit laid himself by Erik's bed. The two men ate in peace until Father picked up a small black box and aimed at a bigger box sitting across the room.
Erik nearly jumped as the sound of voices came out the box. Soon a picture appeared on the box and it was moving! Erik stared at the box in shock, as the people inside began to talk and move about. Father B just smiled as he continued to eat. Erik wasn't sure what to say as he watched two police officers in suits try to hunt down a criminal.
"What is it?" Erik stammered.
Father B thought for a moment, "Law and Order. It is an American cop show and I believe this is a rerun."
"No. No. I mean the box it is on?"
"Oh that." Father grinned widely at his guest, "Don't tell me you have never seen a television set?"
Erik shook his head, "Never. What is it?"
"Well," Father B paused, thinking of how to explain it, then he continued, "The best way to think of it as a book with lots of pictures that move. There are several channels that each one tells a different story at different times of the day and week. Although you can never find a good story on anymore. Does that help?"
"America seems to be very advanced." Erik commented after he thought about it.
"No more or less than any other country." Father B smiled.
Erik didn't comment as he watched the story play out on the box. He wondered how many more marvels he would see in his time. In his mind he decided to figure out how this television worked before he left this place. He smiled at the jokes the older of the two cops made as he caught the criminal. Erik looked over at Father B who was thoroughly enjoying the show. Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea to come here as it seemed.
"Father?" Erik whispered.
"Yes my son."
"My name is Erik Noir."
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Erik. Welcome to my home."
