Ignoring what he believed to be his better judgment, Erik continued to sing little Christine to sleep every night. He related to the child's fears he had had them himself as a child. But for him, there was no angel of music that could sing him to sleep. Erik had always felt like no one deserved to know his voice. That was until he heard Christine crying and the girl's agony plunged into his being, reminding him of his cries and how they stayed unanswered. He had promised to stay in the dark; he only wanted to see why she cried. But her plea to her guardian angel, and his knowledge that angels didn't exist and the truth that her wish for comfort will be left unrequited, pushed Erik into doing something he never imagined himself doing.

He told her he was her angel. When she asked him to sing for her he was surprised and delighted at the same time. Without a second thought he sang, and days later he found the urge to go to her too hard to resist. For once, he felt happy, singing to her, watching her sleep so peacefully made him happy. When she asked why he remained invisible and requested to see him Erik told her that angels cannot be seen by humans. The girl accepted this answer and had never mentioned it again. Because of this Erik kept coming back to her room. He was afraid that his days as Christine's make believe angel had come to an end when her father burst into the room one day while he was still in there. But instead of being angry Gustave started a conversation with him.

Unaware of his actions Erik disclosed his life to Gustave. Erik now feared that this act could have left him vulnerable to Gustave. Instead, Gustave showed him kindness and sincere interest. He accepted Erik's remarks, and whatever else he wanted to share. And although Gustave did ask too many questions, Erik was glad that he had someone to talk to. All these years hiding in the opera house had foreshadowed for Erik a future as dark and lonely as his life had always been. But Gustave's friendship allowed Erik to hope that there might be a chance for him to take the risk of coming into the light.

Every Saturday, since after their second conversation, and when the Opera house had become deserted due to the performers' day off, Gustave gave Erik violin lessons in the music room. They met there at mid morning and remained inside until after 3:00. Christine would stay in her room. Whenever she asked about what her father had been doing Gustave would answer that he was teaching the angel how to play the violin.

"My angel, father?"

"Yes dear, your angel." He answered.

"You can see him?" she asked surprised at this.

"No darling, I cannot see him." Gustave was lying. He had won Erik's affection and the boy now removed his mask during their lessons. But Gustave was aware of Erik's sentiment toward Christine's reaction to him. Erik believed that the girl would be afraid of him, and although there was some truth in Erik's claim, Gustave felt that lying to Christine was no better. Still he respected Erik's wish to remain just 'the angel' for Christine. "You know very well that we cannot see angels. I just hear him play and I tell him what to do."

Not really understanding this Christine moved on to another question.

"Do you think, father, that my angel will sing for me tonight?"

"I know he will." Her father answered happily.

Months went by, two years passed without notice. The violin lessons turned into weekly chats between Gustave and Erik. Their conversations stirred from music to life and everything in between. Gustave tried to shape Erik into as much of a nobleman as he knew himself to be. Erik had a natural elegance to him that could not be denied. He moved gracefully and his overpowering presence allowed Gustave to picture him in the highest of the social ranks. He is a born gentleman, Gustave often thought. Erik's genius also amazed Gustave. Not only was he a wonderful singer, he was also a musical genius. He composed and played beautiful scores without having had a single music lesson in his life. Except for the violin lessons, that had been just a mockery by Erik's part since he already knew how to play the violin when Gustave first offered the lessons. Erik also had inherited his grandfather's skill for architecture, and he drew wonderful building that no one would ever be allowed to marvel.

Not to mention Erik's ability for magic and inventions. He built wonderful mechanical instruments that were wasting away under the Opera house. Erik wanted nothing to do with the outside world. He cared not for what was going on outside of the Opera house walls. He feared society's reaction to his face. Gustave tried to build in Erik courage that would be needed as the boy got older. The courage that he hoped, would one day allow Erik to face the light of day and at last offer the world all the wonders that he was capable of.

"Natural courage is a gift." Gustave told Erik. "But when you build, when you find within you, courage that you did not know you had then that my friend, is a miracle."

Erik listened to Gustave and grew to love and admire the man that acted more to him like a father rather than a friend. As a step forward toward his goal of getting Erik to face the world, Gustave convinced the youth to request to the manager of the opera house the best seat in the house so that he should watch the performances.

"After all, this is your theater." Gustave said mischievously.

From that moment on, Erik sat in the darkness of box five and witnessed the spectacle of the opera. Gustave occasionally looked back to the box to make sure Erik was there and that Madame Giry was attending him. After all, no one else should know about Erik's existence.

One sad day in June Gustave informed Erik that he would be leaving the Opera house for a month.

"Why?' Erik asked without emotion. He feared that if he showed his true emotion Gustave might think he was asking him to stay.

"Hell, I will miss you too friend." Gustave said sarcastically.

Erik smiled in defeat; Gustave had come to know him too well.

"Won't Christine be sad that I will not be singing to her at night?"

"I am sure she will be." Gustave said. "But I will be by her side since I will not be working. And we will be back very soon; I just want to take her into daylight for a while."

Erik dropped his head, finally understanding Gustave. He was trying to escape from the dark.

"I have rented a little cottage by the sea. It is quite comfortable. You are welcomed to come with us." Gustave offered.

"No." Erik immediately answered. "I couldn't."

Gustave knew not to insist.

"Very well then, I will see you when we return." Gustave said as he walked away.

Erik remained in place in the music room long after Gustave had been gone. That is, if you return, Erik whispered to himself.