A/N: Thank you all for the continuous support! I'm glad you all enjoy my story, and I apologise for such the wait on this chapter, but I've been busy with many things. So, here it is... Chapter 17!

Chapter 17

I went and laid her on the bed. She sighed, "That's ridiculous. You know very well who I love, Erik."

I hesitated to answer, as I approached her with bandages to wrap around the wound. I knelt down by the bed to patch up her cut on her foot. Finally, I said, "I assumed that I knew who you loved, Christine, and I thought it was me. But now, I haven't a clue." As I was bandaging her foot, she winced at my touch. She remained quiet, but the look in her eyes said that I had hurt her. I quickly let go and apologised, "I am so sorry, Christine, I shall be more careful."

"Erik, don't go and change the subject," She demanded. I nodded and continued what I was doing. I made sure that I wouldn't hurt her again so I progressed slowly and gently and allowed her to talk. "Erik, I know that I hurt you but I really do love you."

I remained silent and she heaved another sigh, searching for something to say. After a moment of silence, she spoke up again, "I can never apologise to you enough for what has happened."

Again, I said nothing. Even after I finished bandaging Christine's cut, I said nothing. I stood and silently turned away, my back to Christine. "You have taught me so much and I have ruined everything. Please, I am willing to learn again. Please, teach me so that I can make you proud of me again!" I walked towards the door, as though I heard nothing Christine said. She began to sob, "Damn it, say something! Speak to me, Erik!" She began to speak through her crying. "My God, talk to me! Please, I love you..."

She took hold of her shoulders, crossing her arms over her chest. She embraced herself and clutched onto her shoulders tightly. Her legs were dangling over the side of the bed but she brought them up, pulling them close. She was shivering. I glanced beyond my shoulder and saw a Christine so defenseless, so vulnerable... weeping on her bed. I whirled back around and silently stepped over to Christine. She didn't move to face me, but her breasts rose and fell with each uneven breath she took. She was troubled. All of her said so.

I immediately blamed myself for her condition but then I remembered what she had done to me. What she had done was much worse than what I was doing, but I couldn't stand seeing her like this. "I am so sorry, Christine..." I muttered.

"You have nothing to apologise for."

I just shrugged, seating myself next to Christine. I placed my hand over hers, and she cringed. I took my hand back, "Christine, what is the matter with you?"

Christine apologised again and I attempted to touch Christine again and she felt uneasy underneath my fingers. I kept my hand on her cheek, despite her nervousness. I stroked it with my thumb and spoke softly, "I see, I frightened you. Christine, I just lost my temper, that's all."

"You cannot go and suffocate people when you lose you temper!" She shrieked, causing me to yank my hand away. "Erik, you are endangering yourself when you do that. People have not forgotten about the incident five years ago... and if you kill somebody else, they will be on you more so than before." Her voice faded into a low murmur, as she fell into my shoulder. She began to sob, "I wouldn't be able to stand that... what if somebody were to find you? They would take you away from me! Or they would kill you!"

I put my arms around her, embracing her. I pulled her closer to me and allowed her to cry. She nuzzled at my neck and her tears wet my collar and my shoulder. I felt her wet tears at my neck as my collar soaked them up. I peered down at her. Her eyes were half-open as she wept. The whites of her eyes have turned a pinkish red from her crying, while the rest of her face has lost its color. She was pale as a ghost. She was so frightened as she thought about what might happen to me. I took hold of her shoulders and pulled her off, "That is enough, Christine."

Her eyes gave me a questioning gaze and I reassured her. "You have nothing to worry about."

She wasn't convinced and she responded, worriedly, "But what will people say about the broken mirror in my dressing room? And what of Raoul? When Raoul wakes, what shall happen to you?"

"I shall take care of it now. I assume you are extremely exhausted over all that has happened today. I shall be back soon."

Christine sat on her bed, deep in thought. So many things filled her mind... what had happened that night, her slip up, Erik, and even, Raoul de Chagny. She lay her head on the soft velvet pillows of her bed, her brown curls flowing over it. 'I am glad that Erik is not upset... but what am I to do? I lied to him...' She thought to herself. 'I told Erik that I love him. There is no doubt of that, but Raoul...' She smiled and touched her lips with her fingers. She whispered Raoul's name aloud as she remembered their kiss. She giggled to herself.

"What is so funny?" Christine gasped as she turned to face me. I threw my cape to the ground and approached her. As I towered above her, she cringed a bit. "Why did you laugh like that? What are you thinking, Christine?"

She looked off to the side, "Oh," she muttered. "it's nothing..."

"Nonsense." I glared at her and her eyes wandered nervously, but they never met mine, "You will tell me what is wrong."

"There is nothing wrong!" Christine exclaimed. "Erik, I promise you that there is nothing the matter."

I scowled and rampaged around the room, knocking things off shelves and furniture on the ground. "I have had enough of your lying, Christine! I can see it in your eyes. You are not looking at me. You are hiding something! I was hoping you would tell me what it was, but no. You continue to lie to me! Go on! Go back to your lover! I know that is what you want!" I hollered.

Christine pushed herself off her bed and threw herself into me, embracing me with all she had. She had a tight hold around me but I fussed till I freed myself. "Erik, stop it! I love you, I love you!" She shouted. I shoved her onto the ground and she landed with a thud. Landing on her wounded foot, she let out a pained cry. Tears filled her eyes as she spoke, "Erik, what happened to you? You were not like this a few minutes ago."

"'Minutes ago'? I was gone much longer than that, Christine! You were so preoccupied as you thought about the patron... you did not even realise how long I was gone!"

She stared into my eyes. Hers were filled with fear and pain and the look she gave me told me what she saw in my own eyes. Torment, anger, and sadness... I turned away so she couldn't stare into them anymore. She was sobbing softly as I began to walk away. "Erik, where are you going?"

"I am going nowhere."

"Then let me come with you."

"I said I was not going anywhere. And as I said earlier, you will agitate your wound."

She was going to argue but she decided not to. I felt her watching me. I didn't face her when I said, "Don't worry about your Raoul. He is fine."

"Erik, what about--"

Before she could finish speaking, I left her to her own thoughts.

I glanced down at my miserable face, reflected in the water of the underground lake. My own golden eyes stared at me, so full of sorrow. I noticed my reflection became disturbed by the rippling water. The lake was still, but not my reflection. Then I realized that I was crying. I wiped my eyes, just to have them fill with tears again. How sad for me. A grown man, crying like a helpless and lonely child. I felt so abandoned. I knew that no matter what Christine had told me, she still has her mind on the boy. She must love him, despite what she tells me.

And I know that there is a part of her that loves me, as well... but I don't want to share her. Especially with somebody that can have anything he wants... he doesn't dwell in darkness and solitude like I do. He must have something... if Christine loved him so much.

I screamed, yanking away at my hair with my hands, angrily. "Damn it straight to hell!"

"What is the matter, Erik?" It was Christine's voice. I didn't bother to face her.

"I'm fine. Go back to your bedroom." I demanded.

"Erik, stop avoiding me."

"Then you stop avoiding the truth. You love Raoul."

"Erik..." Christine whined and I scowled. She finally gave in and admitted, "Okay, I love you, Erik, but I love Raoul, too."

I looked up at her and her eyes widened at the sight of my devastated face. Her expression softened as she knelt down by me, placing a hand on my cheek. I said, "But if Raoul never came, you would love me. Couldn't we pretend that Raoul isn't around?" I sounded like a child, but I didn't care. There was nothing I cared about but Christine, especially now. This may seem even more juvenile, but I would hate to share her with anybody. Christine laughed. It was a heavenly noise. It made me a crack a sneer, but it wasn't enough to put me out of my bad mood. She replied, "You cannot force yourself to forget a person."

I heaved a long, painful sigh. "Of course you can... maybe if--"

"Erik, please be reasonable. I cannot forget Raoul, not just like that. Don't worry, I will figure all of this out."

I huffed and dismissed Christine with a wave of the hand. Christine heaved a long sigh. She did as I instructed and dragged herself to her bedroom. When she vanished into her room, I sat by the lake, crying silently. I wanted to lose my temper and break things, but I didn't want Christine to come back to check up on me. I didn't want to face her, I just couldn't. Suddenly, I felt ashamed of myself as I stared at my reflection. I shut my eyes, not being able to stand looking at myself, either, and pounded on the ground with my fists. I removed my gloves from my hand and there were blood-stained. Some of the blood had dried and turned brown, but my hands were covered. I shook my glove and a few drops trickled down the leather and splashed on the ground. I grinned at the sight and I slammed my fists into the ground again. It cut through my skin and more blood leaked out.

A chilling grin stretched at my cheeks. I pounded my fists into the ground again and again. Suddenly, I heard Christine call my name. I glanced down at my bloody, cut up hands. Without thinking, I wiped my hands on my white shirt and jumped up off of the ground and went to meet her call. I stepped into the room and she was smiling, until she noticed the red on my shirt and hands. She gasped, "Erik, what have you done to yourself?

I ignored her worrisome cry and walked over to her and knelt. "What have you called me for, Christine?" I grinned, taking her hand in mine. She shuddered and I showed her my saddest face, "What is wrong? Are you afraid of me?"

Christine shook her head. "No..." With that, she took my hand with both of hers and massaged it underneath her soft fingertips. She looked into my eyes and I turned away. I said that I didn't want to face her, and yet, here I was. I couldn't ignore Christine. "Erik, tell me why you did this to yourself."

My eyes filled with tears and I began to sob. My entire body shook and I tried to huddle into a ball. I sat and then took my knees to my chest, embracing them with one arm since Christine had the other. "Because..." I mumbled. "Because... you don't love me..."

Christine's eyes were wet with tears at what I had just said. "Erik, no, I do love you."

I didn't listen. I repeated, "You don't love me... you don't love me... you don't love me..." quietly. I was driving myself insane, but I didn't stop.

"You don't love me... you don't love me... you don't love me... you don't love me..."