Chapter Two: Meeting Kristine
Erik had been in the future for less than an hour and he was fascinated and somewhat repulsed by it. The air was so foggy and musty. The people were rude but not violently rude, at least some weren't, but he missed his old home, his organ, everything he had left behind, but most of all Christine.
"Let me go!" A shout was heard from an alleyway that Erik was passing by. "Damn it! I shanged my mind! Stop!"
Erik stopped and looking into the alleyway. A young girl about 17 or 18 was struggling to get free from a man the looked about Erik's age, 22. The girl reminded him alot of Christine and he knew that even if he wanted to he couldn't ignore what was happening. Walking into the alley he placed his hand on the man's sholder and turned him aorund harshly glaring at him. "What are you doing to this girl?" He asked with a growl in his voice and a glare in his eyes.
The girl moved and hid behind Erik quickly realizing he was helping her. The man infront of him glared and then looked at the girl behind him. "Kristine you better watch out because I'll tell your dad what's happened here and he wont be to happy about this." The man said as Erik's eyes widened at the name. He pushed pasted Erik and glared at Kristine, then disapeared from sight.
Erik was still in a state of shock as the coincidence that just happened until he heard the Sobs comming from behind him. Kristine was sitting on the ground curled up with her knees to her chest. Tears streaming down her cheeks. He walked over and kneeled infront of her. Taking off his cloak and drapping it around her sholders, he looked at her with kind eyes. "It's alright my dear, he's gone." Erik said and Kristine looked up. "Now tell me what is going on, and whats your name."
Kristine took in a shuddered breath then nodded. "That man was an old co-worker of my father. My dad lost his job recently and decided last night that he'd put me to work on the street as a whore. He said it was the only way to survive. I asked him why he couldn't get a job of his own but he said he didn't want to work anymore. He told me I should get used to the hardship of the world." Kristine said through sobs as Erik gathered her in his arms. "I just want to go home." She pleaded in a shaking voice.
Erik stood up and looked at the girl in his arms. "I'll take you home, how far to your house?" He said looking down at her beautiful brown eyes. If it wasn't for the time difference he would have sworn that it was Christine sitting in her arms.
She smiled some. "I live about 3 blocks from here. It'll be easier if we took a cab." She said and he nodded, even though he wasn't sure if she ment a carriage or one of those hideous things that had almost ran him over.
Setting her down but letting her wear the cloak they walked to the side of the street. A taxi was now zooming towards them and Kristine walked somewhat out into the road holding up her hand. The person within the car slowed down and stoppednext to Erik and Kristine. Kristine opened the door and looked at Erik. "You going to get in?" She said shyly and he nodded proceding to get into the car. A smile lit Kristine's face as she climbed in beside him.
"Where to doll." The cab driver said in a husky and raspy voice.
Erik became somewhat bristled as he wasn't used to the term used towards women and it also seemed somewhat rude, but Kristine didn't pay heed to it so he didnt' comment. "345 Anderson Lane." She said and the cab moved out into traffic making Erik tighten his grip on the door handle.
Kristine sat abck looking at Erik and noticed his strange outfit for the first time and how tense he was in the car. "Your not from around here are you?" She said and he looked down at her.
"I supposed not." He replied after thinking for a minute.
She looked at him. Her hands twisting within her skirt. "Where are you from?" She asked.
Eri kthrought for a moment. He didnt' want to lie, but he didn't want to seem like a completely lunatic. "Paris." He finally said after a long pause.
Kristine's eyes began to twinkle and she smiled. "Wow, my ancestors are from Paris!" She said sighing happily. "I wish I could live there."
Erik's eye's seemed to grow wider and he looked at her anctiously. "Do you know their names?" He asked and Kristine thought for a moment.
"Well I dont remember their names except for one." She said. "My great great great grandmother."
Erik's heart raced. Even if she did answer his beloved's name it was probably a coincidence. "What was her name?"
Kristine smiled at him and looked out the window. "It was Christine." She said and Erik drew in a deep breath, which Kristien didn't notice or just ignored. "I was named after her, but my name is spelled different. Mine is K-R-I-S-T-I-N-E and her's was."
"C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E..." Erik finished sounding somewhat dazed.
"Yeah." Kristine said smiling. The cab was now stopping.
Erik and Kristine got out of the car and The cab driver rolled down the window. "That'll be 7.50 kids." The man said and Erik pulled out a change bag and counted out 750 francs thinking that what the man said.
Handing it to him he smiled and the man looked at it wide eyed. He figured his passanger he had driven was pretty stupid if he was giving him all that gold but just tipped his hat and smiled before driving off.
Kristine's eyes were wide as Erik gazed down upon her. "You must be rich..." She said amazed, sounding alot like how Erik had when spelling out Christine's name.
Erik nodded some and smiled. "Shouldn't we be getting you inside." He said as more of a statment than a question.
Kristine nodded and the disapeared within the home to the sound of glass breaking and a shout being heard. "Damn it girl!" A male voice rang out and Kristine was automatically latching onto Erik's arm uncontiously.
Erik tensed and let a low growl grow within his throat but didn't let Kristine hear it. Looking down upon the cowaring girl he saw her look up at him. "You should probably leave now." She said in a shakey voice. "My father doesn't like people much."
Erik shook his head as footsteps were heard from a dark hallway. "No, I will not let you stay here without protection." He whispered comfortingly so only she could hear. "This father of yours seems to be quite an unlikable person already."
