Chapter 5

He stayed busy the next few weeks cleaning up and securing the Opera house well. The physical work was immense and he found solace in it while struggling with his thoughts. He made an office for himself on one of the top floors where he enjoyed the view of Paris. At that height he was not afraid of being seen. He preferred to stay underground at night however, not wanting to attract curiosity with unexplained light. He had truly become the Opera Ghost. He wasn't worried about it being purchased any time soon, Miranda had told him how Andre and Firmin had regained whatever fortune they had lost during wartime with their scrap metal business. They eventually had decided to sell it but apparently the story of the Opera house ghost had frightened away any buyers thus far. They had left Miranda in charge of any uptake or major repairs. Erik had learned much in his previous years about the Opera house and knew how to repair much of the damage that had been inflicted, much by he himself he thought grimly. He could repair this damage he thought, at least. He did purchase a fine stallion and kept him in the old stables. He was not worried about people discovering him as the stables had become somewhat overgrown by the Opera house's fine old rose garden. He did make a separate entrance for them however, as the stables let out onto the main street. He rode several days a week to the park where he set up an easel and pretended to be just one more painter in the park. He did paint. He thought he wanted a portrait of Christine to take with him when he left.

He thought of his relationship to Christine. He still felt very protective of her and did not want to leave her this way. He had met with Miranda again asking about Raoul, telling her what he had seen. She hadn't known about the morphine and was concerned, but it was very widely used at the time, prescribed by every physician and they were only beginning to understand the addictive factor of the drug. It did explain his change in personality though. She agreed with his urging to talk to Christine. He described to her how he had become dependent on it and of his brutal experience leaving it behind. She did not think Raoul had Erik's strength, but she would try to explain it's dark effect on Raoul. Christine was interested. She had wondered about the drug but not had not understood that this was the main reason Raoul was not recovering as he should have. She wept thinking how she had been convinced that his lack of desire for her was due to the drug and not her imagined unattractiveness. She told Miranda though Raoul's pain was too great to give the drug up.

He then wrote a letter to his doctor in Germany asking about alternative methods of pain relief. He remembered the kindness of an old gypsy woman who was feared even by his captor, who would help him with various concoctions, some bringing him real relief. Did the doctor know of any of these old remedies? The doctor wrote back saying the old woman was most likely using an extraction found in willow bark, leaves, and some other plants that was recently developed into a drug used for pain. The drug, known as salicylic acid seemed highly effective but was terribly irritating to the stomach and was believed to have an enfeebling action on the heart if used regularly. As for it replacing morphine which was considered safe, he had no answer. He would need more details of his friends injury before recommending the drug. The doctor said there had been a French chemist that was rumored to have developed a less toxic version of the drug but he had died soon after it was thought he had made the revisions. He did have a son living in Paris.

Erik went to seek this person, who would not have anything to do with any scientists. It had been what had killed his father he said, he had experimented on himself extensively. Erik begged him to release those last important papers to the German scientists. He told to him his story in desperation, hoping to get through to the man and he did, as this story seemed to touch the heart of the few told. This man then sent the papers, wanting nothing more to do with them. Erik, knowing how valuable this research would be, also sent a great deal of money to be invested in the company, known then as Friedrich Bayer & Co. His investment would soon again, make him very rich.

After some time, the doctor wrote that the company had a finished product, not yet in circulation, but guaranteed very safe. They sent him a supply, promising as much as he needed, grateful for his assistance, and financing. He asked Miranda to allow his doctor to correspond with Raoul's personal physician and hoped for the best. Christine knew Miranda had something to do with this, but she would not tell her who it was she owed her thanks, only that a friend had expressed interest in their plight. They had many friends she knew, Raoul kept up many charitable contributions and although Christine was not quite accepted into society there was great sympathy for her. Raoul was buoyed by the new hope he had been given, but came to a difficult decision after much discussion with his doctor. He needed to leave during this period of time and enter a hospital where he would be attended constantly, and by professionals. He did not want Christine to witness his pain. Christine was upset but knew it was for the best and agreed. She went to stay with Miranda for the time he was gone.

She did not press Miranda any further for information but she felt she needed to know who it was that gave them this hope. She couldn't help looking through stacks of correspondence Miranda had uncharacteristically piled in her office. She found and read everything. His letters to Miranda, and the initial note thanking Erik from the scientists that had sent the first shipment of aspirin. She had not passed the note on to him yet. Christine smiled sadly. Her angel was still taking care of her. She stayed busy at the school the next few days, trying not to think or feel. Miranda took her anxiety for worry about Raoul. She asked her to please rest and take some time for herself. Soon they received word that Raoul was past the worst of it, was doing well, but needed more time. She soon found herself walking in the direction of the Opera house, it was without thought almost, it was what she had to do.

It was a long walk. She went to the door which was locked of course, then around to the stable entrance. That was locked and boarded and she almost left, but heard a soft nicker coming from inside just as she turned to leave. She rounded the corner and crept through the thick brush that lined the stables now, and reached a place where she could see there was an improvised gate into the stables. She slipped in quietly. There was a man there brushing and grooming his beautiful horse. He was singing softly. She knew that voice. She watched as he stroked the horse and talked to him. His back was to her. She was frightened and felt like the intruder she was. The horse sensed her presence soon and snorted in alarm, the man turned. It was the man in the park and the Phantom of the Opera. She stood very still as tears ran down her cheeks, he was healed. She very suddenly decided she wanted to "sit down" and sank down the wall weakly.

Erik knew she had been there since she had tried the front entrance. He had also been aware she had been watching him in the stables. His heart raced, but he remained outwardly ignorant, wondering if she would speak. He now ran to where she was in danger of losing immediate consciousness. "Christine its alright," he said with his most soothing voice, kneeling down.. "You're alright. It's me," he said grabbing her as her legs finally gave way. She steeled herself and grasped at consciousness.

"I'm sorry I don't know why I came… I found your letters and thought you might be here." She was gaining control of herself but still felt light headed and very confused. Erik recognized her symptoms of shock and grabbed a blanket from the stall, wrapping it around her.

"I had surgery Christinemiracles of modern science." He spoke slowly and gently to her, hoping it would calm her. He was at a loss as to what to do now. He decided once she regained her composure he needed to take her back to Miranda. It was dusk and getting later, Miranda would be worried. "You shouldn't be here Christine he said trying to corral his own emotions. "I will take you back now before it gets any later." He moved to get up.

"No." Christine was feeling calmer now, though her heart was racing. "Please, I would like to talk to you, I could never really talk to you..." She said looking down. "I knew that it was you who helped us, I wanted to thank you." He sighed, slowly rising to his feet.

"No, you never talked to me Christine, you were too afraid of me. I am only a man, better now, but still very flawed and very human. I am sorry for what I did in the past and I will spend the rest of my life making up for it in every way I know how. You did save me Christine he said more brokenly, in your kiss I found redemption, and I forgave everything in the world which had harmed me."

"Does this mean you don't still care for me?" Christine had steeled herself, but tears began to trickle down her cheeks once more. "I did care for you", she said with similar difficulty. "I knew you were a man really. I was afraid of myself, she said, afraid of what I wanted. My own desire was abhorrent to me, a sin. Raoul was a solution for me, a safe path. Do you understand? I was confused, very young, you were also like a father to me. I do love him, but my love for you is still very strong, even after these long years. I have always thought of you. And…I shouldn't have come, but it was my heart's choice."

Erik knew he should take her back right now but could not force himself to do it. This was what he wanted so badly. "We shall talk, he whispered," and held out his hand to her, once again.