Chapter Four: Erik's POV:

I woke up to the screeching of some tortured animal. To my surprise, it was really my guardian angel yelling at this extremely buff man. Some of her crystal tears fell on my cheek. When Christine looked down to see that I was awake, she quickly pretended that nothing was wrong.

"Erik, this is my boyfriend Raoul. Raoul, this is Erik," she tried to sound delighted but I didn't need a written explanation to see what was going on. I could feel myself growing dizzy with rage as I came to my conclusion. This…monster was abusing this poor sweet goddess that held me close for protection. Do not fret my dear lady; I shall get you away from this horrible creature.

After taking a glance at Raoul again, and his muscles that burst through his shirt, I had a feeling that an offensive tactic wasn't going to work. So instead, I decided to do what I did best. I would lurk in the shadows and get him with my noose that I wore as a belt. Wait a minute, how did I get outside, and what is Christine yelling to me?

Oh dear, I seem to have forgotten how weak I am. Ouch, stupid trash cans, I keep running into them.

Narrator's POV:

After a few more encounters with trash cans, Erik's tired body collapsed against the brick wall of a run down alley. Huddled up in a tight ball, he began crying and wishing he hadn't left Christine with Raoul.

"He could be hurting her, or yelling at her…or rapping her," the disfigured man's mind raced with images of the man laughing maniacally as he slapped Christine. "Even worse, I have no idea where she lives. I didn't pay attention to where I was running."

Erik glanced over to see a murky puddle quiver. He peered into it to meet the reflection of a white mask with mud stains on it. The man slowly peeled the disguise off and washed it in the puddle, only to catch a look at his true face.

The skin on the right side of his face was lumpy and soft, like cottage cheese. Puss-filled bumps, some growing to enormous size, popped up all around his lower lip, which was swollen and resembled a giant magenta slug. Festering wounds all across his face oozed some sort of slim that was a mix between a mucus and blood color. And his eye, which scared all who saw it, bulged out of its crusty socket and was bloodshot with a humongous pupil.

When he saw his repulsive looks, Erik attacked the small pool of water with his hands. His veins boiled with anger as reality hit him.

"Why should I bother in helping that angel," he though. "She'd probably rather be with an abusive hunk then a vile looking weakling like me. No, she would rather have him, no doubt about it." He swiftly returned his mask to his face and leaned his head against the wall. All the rage within him brought his smoldering fever back, preventing his body from staying conscious. Erik's head grew heavy and fell onto his chest as a nightmare commenced…

Erik's POV:

A confusion of color swirled around me as I fell down a never ending pit. While I fell, Raoul's leering mug watched over me like a hawk would, and I was the rabbit. He began to guffaw over and over again. His laughing echoed in my skull, making it hard to think properly. All of a sudden I landed into a grubby cage and chains wrapped around me like a snake. It was the same cage I was in from my other dream, but the surrounding was different. Raoul was there, holding a leash that was attached to a collar around Christine's neck. And Christine, oh my god, she wore a terrible outfit that resembled a monkey suit. Her furry dung-colored costume fit tightly around her curvy body. Even worse, my angel had a set of cymbals she had to play on command.

Raoul just laughed and tugged on the leash, choking my princess. I tried with all my might to get out of the cage, but no matter what the bars wouldn't budge. Christine stared at me with her beautiful glossy eyes.

"Erik, please save me," tears fell down her gaunt cheeks as she cried out to me. "Why won't you help me Erik? I need you Erik." Didn't she see that I was trapped in a cage? I desperately tried to get free; I ever started biting the metal bars. I looked up when I heard Christine scream.

That terrible beast of a man was hitting Christine and yelling at her. It was my nightmare coming true. At this point I was running up against the cage and slamming my head and shoulders repeatedly. I concentrated all of my energy to one of the bars and hit it with everything I had. Finally it broke and I was free, but I was too late. Christine lay on the ground…motionless.

When I got to her side and picked her up, my dearest goddess flickered her eyes open for a few seconds.

"Why…didn't you s-s-save m…" her body went limp and she died in my arms. I really tried to save her from Raoul, didn't I? I turned around to see that there was no cage, it was just a mirage. The trap was just my resistance to do anything, and because of it my love was gone forever…

Finally I awoke from my terrible nightmare, and I was so glad it was just that. But that dream was no coincidence, it was a sign. If I just let Raoul hurt her like that she'd die for sure, and I am going to do everything I can to prevent that. That monster is going to pay for what he's done, and I don't mean some little prank. Raoul my dear boy, your life belongs to me now…