Chapter 6 The Devils Child.

"You will curse the day you did not do-- all that the Phantom asked of you!" This was aimed at the heavens which he perceived to be working quite against him at that point. He had no religious affiliation although he had until now, respected the beliefs of those close to him. He simply abandoned these beliefs now with the same disdain he treated the superstition of the gypsies he had traveled with that dark year he had been kidnapped by an opportunist in atravelling circus.

His father was a rich man who had consulted with many doctors about his deformity. There were doctors in Germany who could help him, but they had wanted to wait until he grew older. Physically this was better for the surgeries and there were considerations such as various ways to deal with pain.

He had been kept largely in seclusion, mostly due to his mothers shame. But he was well taken care of, taught in all manners of gentility. His mother had been high strung, red hairedwoman of Scottichdescent.She had committed suicide after years of self inflicted pain due to her child's poor face. She blamed herself for his deformity. Finally one day, realizing how badly he had suffered from her persistent abuse and neglect, she in horror-- took her life. His father loved him but also could only look at him as a huge burden, one that had killed his young, delicate wife.

Finally, they were to start the surgeries in Berlin. On the way to the hospital, Erik, intrigued by the busy world he was rarely exposed to, was taking in every detail as the carriage rolled by. He saw colorful signs advertising the circus and longed to see it. Awhile after they checked in he started to become very frightened of the imminent surgeries and thought of the circus. He had heard stories of children running off to the circus. He tried to talk to his fatherabout his fears but Sir William Barlow would not listen. This child who had caused him so much pain would endure these surgeries, for his wife's memory and to become a part of society and to take his place in it. He would become a suitable heir. Erik grew more frightened and took the first opportunity he had to run. The gypsies were kind and hid him but soon he fell into the hands of a dangerous man who sometimes traveled with them, when he had some unfortunate oddity to exploit. They feared him, but being the opportunists they were, did not stop him. His shows drew many curious onlookers.His father searched far and wide, but the man who kidnapped him kept him hidden and it was only when they were far from Germany, did he display his prize. His father gave up eventually and went back home to England, wracked with a guilt that never ceased

After his escape he trusted no one, except Antoinette who did her best with him. But he did not speak her language, and he could not trust even her fully as she reminded him so much of his mother who had abused him, emotionally and physically. The man who had taken him had crushed his spirit at the start with a story that he had demanded ransom from his father, his father rejecting his demands saying that someone who embraced the devils children instead of redemptive surgery was ungrateful and that he wanted nothing more to do with him. As he grew older Erik doubted that story but also didn't entirely reject it's possibility. It kept him from seeking him out. His father had always been cold, the only time he took for him was to take him to the doctors in hopes of being able to change his face. Erik also knew he blamed him for his wifes death. Deep down he blamed himself also. He had loved his mother despite of her abuse. He didn't like to think of this, burying his former life, and his time as a monster on display deep within. He retreated deep into the safety of the darkness.