Forget Me Not: Chapter 3

Authors Note: Thank you for all the great reviews! I felt great when I read them :) Le happiness. Oh by the way, Emily, mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha right back at cha. Oh, and by the way, Erik fans, I really didn't enjoy having to right that. I adore Erik. He lives in my closet….I think I've said to much. -ahem-On with the story! I don't own POTO. Unless……

Warning: Raoul bashing in this chapter!

Christine ran to her dressing room.

"ERIK! ERIK!" she shrieked, banging and smashing her fists on the mirror. It finally broke, glass shards scattering the floor. She winced in pain, she tried to ignore the burn that seared up her arm, the blood dripping from her fingers. She ran down the hallway, ignoring every protest, every thought of Raoul in her mind.

"Erik!"

She got on the gondola, feeling it rock dangerously under her weight.

"Please, angel, hear me!"

She was across the lake. How she got across so fast, she didn't know. She had but one thought in her mind.

Remember me!

Running in a blind panic, she didn't dare stop to relieve the burning sensation in her chest.

It's then that she saw him.

On the mirror. Head cocked to one side. Eyes open wide. His own Punjab around his neck.

Dead.

Christine screamed. She ran to his body. Pulled it down. She lay him down, cradling his head in her lap. She couldn't cease her screaming, she couldn't calm her unbearable fit of hysterics.

"No, angel, no! Don't leave me, Erik! No!"

With shaking hands, she removed his weapon. Planting a kiss on his broken neck, she cried into his chest. Her head hurt. Her heart stopped beating, if only for a moment. Her angel. Her Erik. Dead.

Dead.

"No…Goddamn it, no!" she screamed out, her voice echoing against the cavern walls. And, as if by magic, she heard Erik's voice.

"Why do you cry so, Christine? Did you hope to commit adultery with the beast? Or did you hope to come here so that your guilt would be relieved?"

Christine stared at the dead man before her, not able to mask her terror.

"Did you hope that Erik would forgive you so that you could truly make your life perfect? Or did you come for a much more personal reason? Did you love me, Christine? Did you love me?"

"Erik,"

"Did you love me?"

Christine was awoken rudely by Meg's rough shake. She felt a wave of relief wash over her, then cried out in misery. Even if it had been only a dream, it was the worst experience of her life.

"Christine, you were screaming in the night…have you a dream?" Meg's childlike eyes were sad, her hand on Christine's arm.

"Oh Meg…he was dead…Erik…" and she began to weep in spite of herself. Her eyes then widened, remembering. Erik had spoken to her…though he had been dead! And she began to sob harder, dismayed by her own stupidity. Meg hugged her, and Christine did nothing to fight it.

Madame Giry entered the room, a tray in her hand. She'd brought her a cup of tea and some bread. And under the plate, a letter.

"It's from Raoul," Madame Giry said simply with a disgusted look on her face.

"How does he know I'm here?"

"It was addressed to me," Madame Giry said, her eyes gleaming with sympathy. She then gave a snort. "It seems he doesn't trust you."

Christine smoothed the letter on her lap and began to read.

Madame Giry,

Fond greetings. As you may know, my business has called me away for a leave. I will be gone an astonishing three years. This will be a long time for Christine to be alone. I do not doubt that she will come to you in pursuit of friendly company, but my concerns revolve around our dear Phantom.

Christine wishes to see him. But, as I'm sure you can understand, I would prefer if she did not see this man for obvious reasons. If she decides to disobey me and goes to him, I would not be in the least bit surprised if she came to you first. So please, my good lady, if you could help me, it would be so appreciated. If you could do what you can to discourage Christine from meeting this monster, my worries could subside and I could continue dreaming of my return to her. Please, my dear Madame, if you could grant me this one request, you could save me a world of concern.

Deepest gratitude,

The Victome de Chagny

Christine read the letter once more, unsure of what she was reading. Disobey me…? She was not his pet…she lowered the letter from her face. Meg took it from her and read it, little gasps escaping her as she scanned it with curious eyes.

"Madame Giry…"she asked, hopefully. "You are not actually going to 'discourage me' from seeing Erik, are you?"

"Christine, I would be giving that man too much respect if I 'obeyed' him. I will escort you to see Erik today. But first I suggest you change, my dear. Not that Erik would object."

Christine gasped. She was wearing only her undergarments. Meg giggled at her expression.

"Your dress was all wet from the rain and your tears…you cried a lot last night…" Meg's expression suddenly changed from goofy to solemn. Christine blushed.

"If all goes well today, I won't ever have to cry again."

"Erik!" Madame Giry called out. It had been but three hours since she had woken up, but the anticipation to see Erik made it feel like a lifetime. Her dream had frightened Christine to her very core, she needed to see Erik alive to be truly at peace.

Of course, there were other reasons for longing to see him, too.

"Madeline?" Erik voice called out from the shadows. Madame Giry held out her hand, signaling for Christine and Meg to stay back. They sat hidden behind a large rock in front of the gondola.

"Erik, I have not seen you for the past few days. How have you been?"

"I have been as well as I always am, which is not very," Christine peered from behind the rock . Erik didn't look well. The unmasked side of his face was almost as pale as his mask, and his gloved hand was pressed to his stomach. Meg pulled her back lest she be seen.

"Madeline, something troubles me." His voice was shaky and he had dark circles under his eyes, as if he'd been up all night, sick

"Only two days ago, a woman came to me. She claimed to know me, but…" he paused, coughing. "..but I know I did not know her. But Madeline…I can't get this woman off my mind! She was so very beautiful, and she claimed to be a friend of mine…" Christine flushed. Meg grinned at her and raised an eyebrow. The two of them stifled a giggle. Erik did not notice, but Madame Giry shot a cold look at the rock. Seeing this, they quieted down. Madame Giry placed a hand on Erik's shoulder. She was about to speak, but Erik went on.
"I've played out all the situations in my mind, Madeline. She can't have confused me with someone, who wears a mask? She can't have known me, or I would have remembered! I can't have forgotten, I couldn't have forgotten such a beautiful face! And her voice…even her speaking voice was rich, melodic! It was no doubt she was a singer, I could tell just from her speaking voice! And the strangest thing, Madeline? I knew her! I knew her face, her name, Christine Daae! I will not forget her name, Christine Daae!" he at once pulled out his sketch. Madame Giry took it, amazed at it's fine detail. Erik was a spectacular artist.

"Oh, Madeline! If I ever see that woman again, I shall go completely mad! As beautiful as the woman was, Madeline, if I see her again I will go insane! All I have done in the past few days is think of this woman! She haunts me!"

Christine swallowed hard. He really doesn't remember her…she'd held out a tiny hope that perhaps he was only speaking of pain, but all her hopes were ruined. He didn't remember, didn't love her….

Meg held her hand. What would happen if they were found? Christine shuddered at the thought. She had never felt more pain then when the Punjab around her neck was tightened, each time constricting her breath more….

"Oh, I have been up sick, out of love for her!"

Love!

"Love, Erik?" Madame Giry asked. "Love out of beauty and voice?"

"She claimed to be my friend…"

"But you do not remember her?"

"Her angel of music…."

"Erik," Madame Giry said. She paused, trying to word her next sentence. "How…how far back do you remember?"

"I remember my lonely childhood just as well as I can recall my lonely adulthood days!"
"Can you tell me what happened to you five years ago?"

"Nothing! Nothing but lonely nights and lonely days!"

Madame Giry sat down beside him. He breathed in deeply, holding his stomach.

"Does the name 'Opera Ghost' mean anything to you?"

Erik's eyes widened, but he shook his head no.

"Madeline, I remember nothing of the sort," he coughed violently. "I need to get sleep! I have not slept for days, and for the first time in years I am tired! I need to sleep!" and with that, he ran to his bedroom, shutting the door. She heard muffled dry heaves and sobs from behind the oak door. Madame Giry scurried to the rock, ushering Meg and Christine to the gondola. They were almost in the boat when they heard the door behind them opened. Christine stared at Erik, the fear in her eyes apparent.

"It is she!" Erik cried out, pointing at her. "It is she! And Madeline, you brought her to my lair knowing my struggles! How dare you! It is she, Christine Daae!"

He began to make his way to them, but was interrupted rudely by a coughing fit.

"Go, Christine. We will return when he has calmed. Go on, get on the boat." Madame Giry said, trying to guide her. Christine stood still, staring at Erik. He still watched them with a careful eye, though was doubled over, heaving. Christine willed herself to get onto the gondola, but was glued to the spot.

"Come, Christine!" Meg pushed her. Christine began to move towards Erik.

"What are you doing?" Madame Giry hissed. She didn't stop. Erik's eyes followed her. They widened as she placed a hand on his back.

"You need your sleep," she said simply, leading him to his bedroom. He went without a fuss. "I will watch over you until you are well."

Hope you enjoyed it! More coming soon.