Chapter 3

"How is your arm feeling today, Christine?" Christine was on the roof of the Opera House to listen to me play my violin again. I asked her how the scratch that I was responsible for, is feeling through the kindest smile I could possibly show. "I am fine. My arm is, as well." She said underneath her breath. I could not see her eyes beneath the brown curls that covered her face. I pushed them out of the way and lifted her chin so that her eyes would look directly into mine. "You do not seem fine," I pointed out, "You are quieter than you usually are."

"How would you know how I usually am if you had only known me a few days?"

"Well then, I suppose you are not quieter than usually, but I still think there is something wrong."

"It seems to me that Meg does not like you very much." She admitted.

"Meg? I know not a Meg."

"She doesn't like you because you hurt me and she's my only friend here at the Opera House, so..."

I reached down and pulled my violin out of its case and began to play"She is not your only friend here. I shall be your friend if you desire it."

"You will?"
"Of course."

"Well, friends should know each other's names... you know mine, now what is yours"

Sighing, I answered, "My name is Erik..."

She smiled at me and I stopped playing for a moment to stare at that teethy grin she was giving me. "You stopped! You promised that you would play the violin for me every day at midnight, did you not?" She exclaimed

I recalled the other night. I had let my temper take over and I had pushed Christine over and she got a scratch on her arm. When I realised what I had done, I helped Christine up, apologising. I expected for her to run back inside, crying, but instead she surprised me by saying, "It's okay. I just wanted to hear you play your violin... and when you sang with the song you were playing, I thought maybe you were the Angel of Music father had promised."

"Surely you cannot see me as an angel" I said, stroking the wound on Christine's shoulder. "There is not an angel who would do something such as I did a few moments ago."

Christine sniffled"So I am not going to hear you play music anymore?"

I could not say 'no' to her. Her voice sounded helpless and disappointed. "...Well, I may not be the Angel of Music, but... I promise... I shall play for you or sing for you every midnight."

Her face lit up and I was happy that I had made her smile. At the same time, I frowned, remembering my temper. It could get quite violent at times... but I felt responsible for Christine from the moment I saw her. That's why I kicked that knife out of her hand and that's why I made that promise...

"Yes, I suppose I did make that promise. But now, Christine, it is only fair for you to do something for me in return." She frowned but I continued"You do not have to pay a price or anything. Please, promise me you keep our meetings here on the roof a secret. You shall not speak my name to anybody besides yourself and I."

"Why?"
"Please... do it for me. For Erik..." I began to play the violin for her again and she nodded, her eyes on the grounds as she went over to me and embraced me. She spoke, softly, "I promise, Erik... I will never break this promise..." When those words left her lips, I felt my chest pound. Nobody has ever spoken to me with such kindness or gentleness in their voice. "Christine..." I said, putting my violin down. She looked up at me and I grabbed her shoulders, dropping the violin, and bent over. My body slipped out of her embrace. But now, my lips were on hers and I felt her wide eyes, staring at me in shock. I pulled away and quickly collected my violin. Looking at the Christine who was still startled, I searched for something to say, but choked. I simply apologised"I am so sorry, Christine" I looked at her one last time and I hurried away.

Christine was petrified, she could not move her legs. They felt like they were one-thousand pounds each, so she collapsed on her knees, her hand over her mouth. She did not know what was the matter with her but she felt she had to tell somebody about what had just happened, so she picked herself up and she ran, despite how heavy she thought her legs were. Her hands never left her face as she ran to Meg's bed. She kept one hand over her mouth and the other was tapping Meg. She spoke through her fingers, "Meg! Please, get up" Meg growled, rubbing her eyes and she looked at Christine with tired eyes. Pestered, she angrily mumbled"What is it"

Christine dropped her hands off her mouth and grabbed Meg's and sobbed"Oh, Meg! Oh, Meg"

Meg was now wide-awake. "Why are you crying?" Meg spoke as loudly as she could in a room with sleeping ballerinas. "He... he..."

"He? Who?"

'I promise, Erik... I will never break this promise..." Christine remembered what she had told Erik earlier and she knew that she did not want to betray his trust, so she just went silent. Meg continued to question her and finally, Christine said, hanging her head "I cannot tell you."
Meg was clearly angered by this. "Then why did you wake me, with tears in your eyes?"

"I am sorry... I am just so confused."

"Tell me why."

"Come off it, Meg, I cannot tell you."

"Christine, you promised you would not be hurt by him again!"

Christine let out a gasp and Meg continued, "You said you would not let Monsieur O.G. hurt you again. If he is the reason for your tears, then he hurt you!"

"No, Meg! He kissed me!"

Christine quickly her mouth, 'I promised him I would not tell anybody of our meetings on the roof.' Meg looked at Christine, surprised, "He... kissed you?"