Okay this is the chapter where I'm sure everyone will hate Christine if you already don't. I won't say why, but you'll dislike what she does. Surprisingly this is only 1st semester. But I won't spoil anything so the story will continue. Don't worry they'll see the movie soon like everyone said they should.
Note: There's sexual abuse/harassment in this chapter. Just to let you guys know.
Chapter 17: Unwanted Attention
The week had gone by rather quickly much to Brittney and Erik's reliefs. All they wanted was to be back at school and cuddling in each others arms. Erik promised Nadir to treat him to noodles and company when they got back for being his bodyguard and he was also very grateful for Mrs. Giry.
He had gone with her on one last shopping trip and was surprised at how calm she was. If she knew anything at all she acted as if nothing was wrong. Even though deep down inside Erik was panicking he remained calm and collected.
"Are you glad the week is over?" Mrs. Giry asked out of the blue as she took some cereal off the shelf and put it in her cart.
"Huh? Oh yeah I am," Erik said leaning on the front of the cart.
"Someone you're anxious to see isn't there?" she asked sweetly.
"What? Well…um…no I…how did you know?"
"Oh calm down dear. I was a teenager once and I've been keeping an eye out now and again during the week and I can clearly see that you have no interest in Christine. You ignore her, you glare at her rather often, and when you're down in the basement I hear you talking to someone on a cell phone. Is there someone else in your life Erik?"
"Wow she's good," Erik thought. "All right Mrs. Giry you caught me in the act. I do love someone else, but don't tell Christine please. She'll hurt Brittney if she finds out."
"I promise I won't tell her. You know I'll always watch out for you Erik. But I can't help, but say I'm surprised. Back in high school Christine was all you thought about. Why the sudden change?"
"All she ever talked about was Raoul and don't forget about the episode in the lunchroom. I still haven't forgiven her for that," Erik snapped as he dug his hands into his pockets.
"I understand. You came to me crying about it. It hurt me inside to see you in such pain. And just between us I know what's going on, because Meg filled me in about it while Christine was away at class the day before you all arrived."
"I figured she would. Christine and Meg aren't really getting along now, because of all this."
"I know what you mean. Meg called me one night about the fight she had with Christine about Nadir and it nearly broke my heart. I had told her Christine had no control over, who Meg could love."
Erik felt better as he remembered the conversation he overheard Meg and Christine have the week before. "I think that conversation helped her."
"I'm sure it did. You know what dear? I was glad you came with me. Meg comes with me once and a while, but we never talk like this. I see you as the son I never had."
Erik felt pleased and pushed the cart the rest of the way for her as he told her about Brittney and all Christine had made them do. Mrs. Giry listened closely and was pleased to hear that he had gone through so much for this girl. He truly loved her.
As they pulled into the driveway Mrs. Giry pressed a twenty dollar bill into Erik's hand. "Mrs. Giry I don't want your money. You keep it," he said trying to offer it back to her.
"Erik you know better then to return a gift. Take your girl out for a night on the town my treat. She may already know how lucky she is, but you need to show her again how much you truly care about her."
Erik sat there and smiled. He was going to make sure Brittney got that special night with him. "Thank you."
xxxxx
That Sunday Phil and Brittney left her house around three in the afternoon. Brittney was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, but she was happy to be going back to school. She missed Erik terribly and hoped soon to be back in his arms.
"So did he keep in touch with you at all?" Phil asked when Brittney had attempted to stay awake for awhile.
"Yeah, he called me every night and one afternoon when Mrs. Giry took Meg and Christine to the mall. Hearing from him was enough for me to know that he was doing okay."
"That's good. And lucky for you there's still plenty of work to do around the theatre before break. I bet you were getting tired of painting."
"A little bit. But it's still something I enjoy. I had people helping me and talking to me while I worked, so I was never alone. It's the fact that I get to be a part of something like that that gives me the most satisfaction when a show goes on."
"That's a good way to put it. Well we got time till we're back at campus, so if you want to put in some music or something you're welcome too."
Brittney took out Fellowship of the Ring from Lord of the Rings and leaned back in her chair. "Oh, Erik I hope I can be with you right away, because I don't know how much longer I can go on without you beside me."
xxxxx
It wasn't until 5:00 o'clock that same afternoon that everyone piled into Erik's car and he drove them back to campus. The closer they got the longing to be with Brittney had grown stronger.
Christine watched Erik in the rear-view mirror and she was becoming rather pissed at the fact that she had been unable to catch Erik alone all week. If he wasn't hanging with Nadir or down in the basement where she wasn't allowed to go, he was hanging around Mrs. Giry. Now the woman was like a second mother to Christine, but that didn't mean she sometimes got on the teens nerves; especially watching out for Erik like she was.
However Erik wasn't aware of Christine fuming in the backseat. Meg noticed and she was starting to become angry for him. She was debating whether to ask for a rest stop when Erik finally pulled over and stopped instead.
"Guess I forgot to fill up on gas. Nadir, want to give me a hand?"
The two guys climbed out of the car and Erik gave Nadir the amount and went into pay right away. The truth was he had noticed Christine growing angry in the backseat and he was starting to panic. After paying for the gas he went into the beverages and took out bottled water. He purchased it and stepped outside. Opening the bottle he dumped the contents onto his head and let out a deep breath.
"Erik, come on. We need to move the car for other customers," Nadir called.
Erik looked up to see that indeed other people wanted the gas pump and he walked over now soaking wet and climbed into the car.
"Erik why on earth are you all wet?" Meg asked.
"I needed to cool off a bit," Erik replied as he pulled out of the gas station and back onto the freeway.
The rest of the trip was silent and Erik liked it. The darkness in the sky seemed to comfort him and soon the Gage towers loomed ahead meaning they were home. Erik pulled into the parking lot and everyone grabbed their things and headed inside.
Phil's car was parked nearby and Erik hid a smile. However Christine caught Erik's gaze and saw the car. She had only seen the car once before, but she recognized it right away and she knew now was the time for her plan to go into action.
Once upstairs she dropped her things off in her room and left it before Meg got out a single word. She went down the hall to Erik's room where the door was open and he was busy putting things away on the desk. She stepped inside and managed to close and lock the door before he even noticed her.
"Christine what the hell are you doing?" Erik asked as he spun around and towered over her.
She didn't answer; instead grabbed him by the collar and pushed her lips to his and devouring him painfully. Erik's eyes went wide as he tried to pull away, but she kept a tight grip on his shirt, which she had moved to the waist and was trying to pull it up over his head.
He slapped at her hands and struggled as she continued to French him. She instead went for something else. She grabbed the buckle of his belt and with some difficulty due to Erik's continued attempts to get away from her she got his belt off and threw it to the floor.
As Erik fought with Christine to keep his pants on her free hand went up to his face and soon the mask joined the belt on the floor. Erik let out a horrified cry, which was muffled by Christine's kiss.
xxxxx
Out in the hallway Brittney passed Meg's room on the way to Erik's and was surprised to see Meg pushing one of Christine's duffel bags under the bed. "Meg, where's Christine?"
"She left. Why were you hoping to go see Erik?"
"Well yeah, but I thought you all came back together."
"We did. But I don't know where she went."
That's when the two of them heard scuffling come from Erik's room. Right away they put two and two together and rushed to the door to discover it was locked. They pounded on it hopelessly. "Oh, Meg we have to do something. Erik could be in trouble."
xxxxx
Erik was in trouble. Christine had roughly pushed him back onto the bed hitting his head against the bar in the process. As he lay there in pain she had ripped up an extra sheet and tied his limbs to the bed. When Erik looked up a few seconds later she had her hand clutching tightly to his groin area as she tried to get his zipper undone and kiss him at the same time. Poor Erik wasn't feeling pleasure at all he was in pain and felt like the helpless victim. Exposed without the protection of the mask and soon his pants it all became clear. She was going to rape him. It would be the perfect punishment. Plus there was no way to escape.
Tears fell down his cheeks as Christine's tongue continued to lick the insides of his mouth keeping him from breathing. As soon as she would pull back he couldn't get a chance to breathe before she came back to pin his lips under hers once more.
He could hear people banging upon the door, but he had no idea what to do. The only thing he was focused on was Christine grabbing the zipper of his pants and yanking as hard as she could. Suddenly he heard the rip of fabric and a hand grabbing for his groin.
Erik let out a stifled cry, which made Christine pull back from his lips and laugh. "Does that excite you Erik? Is that what you always wanted a girl to do to you?"
"No!" Erik shouted as his head arched back due to the waves of pleasure, but inside he felt hopelessly violated. "Christine stop it. This is wrong!"
"Oh, stop your whining. You should be grateful I'm willing to do this," Christine snarled as she felt him grow hard. "Admit you like it and I'll stop."
Tears continued to flow down Erik's cheeks and areas on his body throbbed in pain. If he admitted to enjoying this act of cruelty, who was to say she wouldn't come back and do it again? But if he remained quiet she would continue to put him through this nightmare. When he wouldn't answer Christine punched his jaw hard making fresh blood flow into his mouth.
xxxxx
Outside the door Brittney was panicking. "ERIK! CHRISTINE LET HIM GO!" she screamed as she pounded on the door. "Meg what do we do?"
Meg looked up and down the hall. "Brittney the fire alarm; you'll have to pull it. It's the only way to save Erik's life.
"But I'll get in trouble."
"What's more important; apologizing for pulling the fire alarm to save your boyfriends life or allowing Christine to take advantage of him?" Meg asked as Brittney began to cry.
"You're right. I'll do it. Make sure Christine leaves right away. After something like this my face will probably be the only one Erik will allow seeing him so be ready to head outside."
"Okay, I'll take care of it."
Brittney ran down the hall and locked her door before going down to the fire alarm. She gave Meg a weary glance before with slight hesitation pulled it. The alarm sounded down the hall making people question it as the exited their rooms. Brittney had already moved down the hallway as Erik's door opened.
xxxxx
The alarm sounded in the dorm room and Christine sat up. "Well darn Erik. Look's like our little love fest has to end, but the next time I get you alone I promise to make it more exciting for you. Plus if there is a fire I'm sure you wouldn't mind being left here to be found with an erection. I think that would be rather amusing don't you?"
"Christine you can't be serious. You would really leave me here?"
"Sorry to say so dear, but it's true. Apparently you're still seeing that Brittney girl, so this is your punishment. You had your chance to claim me back Erik Destler, but I see now that you're just like the rest of the freaks on this planet. You're nothing, but a cold hearted monster!"
She climbed off him and left the room leaving the door wide open. No one stopped to look in on him seeing as they were already outside. Erik felt alone and used. He had promised Brittney that he would save any activity like that for when they were married. Christine had taken that away from him.
He shut his eyes awaiting humility when instead he felt someone untie him from the bed. "Erik? Erik please open your eyes," he heard Brittney say sweetly.
Erik shuttered and without opening his eyes tried to sit up and go to her, but his head was in so much pain that he fell back against the pillows. "Brittney…she…she…oh god it was awful," he tried to say through his tears.
"Shhh, it's okay. I'm here. You're safe," Brittney said grabbing the mask off the floor and gently adjusting it upon his face. "You can open your eyes. No one can see you now."
Erik opened his eyes and could only see Brittney kneeling next to the bed crying. She reached up a rag and wiped away the blood that had trickled out from the corner of his mouth. He watched her carefully as she stood and wetted the cloth in the sink. She didn't seem to notice or bring up the fact that he was still erect. She kneeled next to him again and pressed the cold rag to his forehead.
He could hear voices in the hallway and all of a sudden Mitch appeared in the doorway. "What happened in here?"
"Mitch can you call security? Erik was just sexually abused by Christine Daae."
"Sure. Do you know who pulled the alarm though?"
Brittney stood up and Erik grabbed her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. "I did Mitch. I pulled the fire alarm to save Erik's life and dignity."
TBC….
It was hard writing this chapter, but I got it done. Everyone said I needed more conflict and this should be enough for you guys. I didn't want to put Erik through the pain of sexual abuse, but to be honest I had the plan of Brittney pulling the fire alarm in the first place. I just never put down on paper what Christine did to Erik till now and I think it works. Let me know your thoughts on the matter. Would love to hear your feedback.