MW: Walks out writing in her notebook* Hey everyone! Just to warn you, I'm a bit of fanasty writer so you might see elemental of that in this story. How ever I promise It will not be the forefront of this story. Erik and his journey will be. I'm glad everyone like Dammit (Dammit walks out and sits next to her.) Don't worry the kids will make a reappearance as will the dreaded Professor Deaglasse. Enjoy and on with the show, *smirks* Dammit! *Dammit barks*
Second Chances
Chapter 3- Stranger than you dreamt it.
Slowly Erik made his way across the small bedroom. He decided that today would be the day he would see outside Father Nevyn's little home. Gradually, he was getting stronger. He knew it would take time to recover from the beating that he received and usually Erik was a patient man. However his patience seemed to have left him as he tried to walk across the room. Erik never liked being cooped up. Even with the T.V to occupy him, he was bored. He doubted the Father would have anything he would need to relieve this feeling of boredom.
Dammit was sitting on the bed watching him. Erik could feel the dog's brown eyes watching him like a hawk. The first few times Erik fell, the dog took to barking like hell until Erik got up on his own. Erik supposed he was trying to alert anyone near the house that he was in danger. Fortunately, no one responded to the dog. Erik smiled at that. He didn't want to be alienated just yet by his face.
Yet, he wanted go out and walk around this new place he came to. He was mask less and he wanted to explore this strange world. Over the past few days his curiosity was piqued by what he saw on T.V. He remembered as he watched the local new and they said the date. Erik nearly fell down in shock as the announcer said, September 29, 2003. He stared at the screen in complete and utter shock. Somehow he had traveled over a hundred years into the future. No wonder there was all these interesting gadgets around him. Over a hundred years have passed him by. Is this his second chance, a new start?
What?! You wanted to stay there and die?, the voice giggled in his head.
Well, it made sense when the voice put it that way. Erik resigned himself over to the thought that he was now in a strange new world. He had yet to confess anything of his own past to the Father. However Erik learned quite a bit about his host. Through his questions about the new technology around, Erik learned quite bit about Father Bradaigh Nevyn or Father B as the students called him.
Father Nevyn was born in a small Irish village outside Cork. The youngest of seven brothers, he was always in to religion and came to America to be ordained a priest. He soon was swept up in a war America fought in a small country called Korea. It was there that he lost his sight. He was only 25 years old. Father B returned to America and continued his priestly duties despite objections about his handicap. Eventually he settled at Niagara University and stayed to guide the students to a better path.
Erik could sense that Father B missed his sight. There was a tinge of regret in Father B's voice when ever he talked about Niagara University. The Father has never seen his recent home or the Students whose lives he touched. Despite all the trouble, Erik's face may have caused him, Erik was always grateful for his sight at least he knew what beauty was. Father B only had his memory of what was beauty, although he had heard beauty several times.
Of course Father B wasn't a moping figure, in fact he was the furthest from that. He had a sense of humor that could rival any thing he had ever seen at the Opera house. After all, he named his faithful dog Dammit. How many priests did that and still command the respect that Father B did? Erik touched the handle of the door and smiled as he opened it. He turned to see Dammit looked him impressed.
"Come on, Dammit." Erik called as he stepped into the hallway.
The dog barked and jumped from the bed. Erik watched as Dammit peek his head out the door. Erik leaned against the wall for a quick rest when Father B appeared in the hallway. Dammit barked at the priest causing him to stop. Erik smiled at the teamwork between man and dog.
"I take it you are up and walking around?" Father B smiled.
"Yes I am, Father." Erik answered, "Slowly I'm getting around."
"Excellent. Soon you'll be well enough to take a walk with me. The kids have been asking about you."
Erik frowned at the mention of the students. He was upset that none of them had visited him. Probably they couldn't stand his face. A defeated sigh escaped his lips. Even the future wasn't a safe place for him. How long until the stares began and the whispers of monster? Father B looked at him with great concern.
"Is something wrong, my friend? You seem depressed." Father B asked worriedly.
"Father, please be honest with me. You may not see it but I'm deformed with my face. People use to faint at the sight of it where I'm from. I came here to start again." Erik confessed, "I have committed crimes to horrible to repeat to someone holy like you in order to hide away from the world."
"We all have stains on our souls. I have seen children and women suffer for war. Nothing you could do can compare to that." Father B assured him.
Erik looked at the father, "I have slaughtered innocents for no reason other than an order. What could be worse?"
"Someday, I will tell you about a war that nearly destroyed the world. But for now you were telling me about you face."
Erik nodded numbly, "Yes. I noticed that those that save me haven't been here to check on me. Please tell the truth. Did my face scare them away?"
Father B froze for a moment before he started to laugh very loudly at the question. Erik watched the old man in surprise. He regained his composure after a moment. Erik wasn't sure what to feel towards the priest at that moment. Anger should have been in the fore front but it was missing. Erik couldn't be angry, in fact he was hopeful. Maybe he was over reacting.
"Erik, my friend, I can quite assure you that your face isn't the reason they are scarce this week." Father B tried to reassure him, "In fact this is our midterm week. Most of the little scamps are studying for their exams. Possibly for the first time all year. You will see tomorrow when we go for a walk. Now will you join me in the kitchen for some lunch? Professor H.G. Khan should be stopping by to talk, a nice young man although a little odd. "
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Erik smiled as he watched Professor Khan tell Father B about some ideas he had for the next Open Mike Night. Erik was shocked to see the daroga here in this time. However as soon as the young man opened his mouth, Erik knew that this man wasn't Nadir Khan. Possibly a descendant, but not the daroga himself. He was tall yet thin young man with very intelligent blue eyes hidden behind a pair of thin glasses. His black hair was hastily combed. He reeked of a science occupation. Erik listened to the stutter in the young man's voice. It was more endearing rather than annoying. As Erik observed him, Erik realized he could probably fix the problem with a few lessons. A grin spread across his face as he watched Father B nod in agreement to everything the young professor was saying. Erik smiled at H.G when he looked at the new house guest for the first.
Erik tried not to flinch as H.G peer at his face in shock. H.G looked away embarrassed by his action but looked at Erik again with a questioning look in his eyes. Then Erik did flinch. He was use to people staring at him; he hated the questions that followed. It was almost as bad as the pitying, stunned silence he received from Christine. Erik braced himself as H.G opened his mouth.
"I…I…don't mean to b…b…be ru…u...de, but how…di...id…you receive that...ho…or...rible injury?" H.G. asked nervously.
"Horrible? It's all the rage in my home country. Women are just swooning at my feet." Erik snapped back.
H.G just looked away in shame. Erik felt guilty at his remark. He looked up at Father B who looked at Erik in shock at his statement. Erik shifted in his seat. He had no reason to lash at the young man. It wasn't his fault that he was curious. Erik cleared his throat as he prepared to do something he rarely ever done before.
"Professor Wellbene, I'm sorry for my words. I didn't mean to be harsh towards you. It's just this face has caused me much grief in my life." Erik spoke softly.
H.G looked at Erik and smiled, showing no hard feelings, "It is fine, Erik. I… I... shouldn't ha…ave pr…ie...ed like that."
Erik smiled back at the young man, "I was born with it. Not even my own mother could stand to look at me."
Father B gruffed from his place at the stove, "Her loss. Anyone who judges another based on their looks leads a very lonely life."
H.G nodded, "I…I…a…gree. Not Everyone is so cl…os...ed minded."
Erik shook his head, "The world has yet to show me anything different."
H.G placed his shaking hand on Erik's shoulder and grin him, "Give this place a chance."
Erik was surprised to hear the clear statement out of the Professor's mouth. Erik recognized the friendliness in the young professor's eyes. Was this what the girl was telling him about? The chance to make a friend who didn't care about what Erik could do for him. Erik wasn't sure how to handle this. For so long he was so wary of people. However this was a new chance a new start. As he looked at the young man, Erik could see that H.G wasn't the kind to take the first step. Maybe it was the fear of rejection because of his speech pattern or was there something more to it. Hesitantly, Erik placed his hand on top of the one that H.G had placed on his shoulder.
H.G smiled widely at Erik, before returning to his seat. Father B served their lunch with a small smile forming around the edge of his mouth. Erik found himself wondering if Father B could sense more things than he let on. H.G said his thanks to the elderly man. Father B nodded and sat down to eat. Erik glanced at H.G who lifted his glass and toasted to Erik. Erik repeated the small gesture and smiled at the tiny trace of a grimace on H.G's face as he ate. Oh well, Erik shrugged, you can't have everything. He glanced to see H.G trying not to grin at his plate as he pushed his thin glasses up his nose. It was then that Erik realized he made his first friend.
