Chapter 2 Don't Cry Angel

Colette awoke with a start. Someone had been touching her face. Someone had been caressing her slowly, only to back away and leave. She needed to find him. The last thing she remembered was someone calling to her softly, calling her angel. Colette sat up, bouncy up and down on the deep red couch that she had been placed on. She wondered for a second how she had gotten there, but thought it was best not to. She had to find this angel.

Looking around the room, an eyebrow rose. It was dark and damp, black concrete walls surrounding her and a doorway draped with a blood red curtain. From behind the curtain and haunting familiar melody floated to her ears. It was Music of the Night. Her favorite song.

Colette gasp slightly, that voice. That voice again, the one that was mysterious and calling to her always. She brought herself up and off the couch to her feet and waited. Slowly she glided over to the curtained doorway and peeked inside, brushing the curtain off to the side slightly.

There was Erik, bent and hunched over, as always, over a piano. His fingers stroked over the keys gracefully as he played out the melody. Did she dare enter the room? She did not know. Her legs moved in a hypnotized way over to the piano and behind Erik, even if she wanted to or not. She placed a warm hand on his shoulder and he lashed back with force knocking her to the ground.

She stared up at him, blood dripping from her nose. Tear filled in her eyes and she sobbed. Erik looked to her with slight interest, and then suddenly realizing who she was, raced to her side.

"Damn it! Sorry! I really am." For once she was able to look into his eyes. They were a stunning blue. Then as if seeing him the first time looked over him. He wore a black baggy shirt, with black jeans. A white half-mask, an unusual thing to see on a boy, covered the right side of his face. He smiled at her, holding her up with his one arm and wiping the blood coming from her nose with his other sleeve. Colette could only smile back. He picked her up for the second time and carried her over to the piano bench, where he sat her. He left her side for only a second to retrieve a tissue for her and then returned, sitting back down at her side. He smiled slightly and blushed as he raised his hand and wiped away a tear.

"Now, now. Don't cry angel," he cooed. Colette's eyes widened at angel. She motioned slightly to the piano and asked, "What are you working on?" Erik jumped up at the question and stuffed the papers of notes into his book bag leaning against the piano.

"Nothing. It's nothing. Forget about me. You. Let's talk about you. Are you ok?" he asked, flopping back down beside her on the piano bench. Colette nodded slightly and sighed, "I guess. Erik, what happened?" Erik looked down and shook his head, "That diva, Carlotta was…. Well, she was literally choking you to death. I came back from the far room to find her holding up, pinned against a wall by your neck. I came over, gave her my look of death," he knelt down his head and narrowed his eyes, Colette giggled, "works all the time, and she let you go. You were in pretty bad condition so I carried you. Down here." he said, motioning with his hand around the room. Colette smiled and took the tissue away from her nose. It had stopped bleeding. She tossed into the can beside the piano. Erik stood up and offered her a hand and she took it graciously. Erik looked around cautiously and spoke, "Come we must return, those who fools who run the school will be missing you."