Disclaimer: Still don't own Phantom. Awww…

Chapter Eleven

XXX

"This way, Erik!"

He did not want to be doing this. Erik found himself questioning what kind of insanity had been running through his mind when he'd told Christine he wanted to go out today.

Perhaps the insanity of how adorable she was sitting by the window, looking out at the perfect weather while you sat in the darkness of the library like some sort of hiding beast? He thought sardonically to himself as he allowed himself to be pulled down a busy city street toward a small café Christine had mentioned that she enjoyed.

But still, Erik could think of nothing but the people staring at him, and at his mask as he stumbled down the sidewalk behind her.

"Oh honestly, Erik. You're perfectly safe…" Christine insisted, turning to look at Erik and taking both of his hands in her own.

He nodded, unable to speak as he followed after her. The rest of the walk to the café was silent as Erik tried to keep up with Christine's quick pace.

Stepping inside, Christine sat down at a small table by a huge picture window and lifted her menu.

"Pick out what you'd like, Erik." She said kindly, and he fumbled on the table for a moment, before lifting the heavy paper up and beginning to read the different things curiously. A waiter came with water and Christine asked him to bring a pot of tea.

"Something to calm my companion's nerves." She had told the waiter, who nodded kindly, not seeing Erik's masked face behind the menu. Christine looked out the window at the bright spring day, watching shoppers passing back and forth, carriages gliding down the street and the few stray animals frolicking around looking for scraps.

The waiter brought the tea and Christine ordered a few pastries for herself. Erik lowered the menu and asked for some soup, eyes lowered to examine the hardwood table as the waiter stared at his mask for a moment, then nodded wordlessly and left.

Sighing, Christine poured two cups of tea and handed one to Erik, sipping her own and taking his hand over the table.

"It's all right, no one is going to hurt you here." She murmured, and Erik nodded slightly, eyes still trained on the patterns of wood grain, trying to calm his racing heart and breathe normally.

Suddenly they both jumped as shadows fell over the table from the window to their side. Looking up, Christine watched as several kids pressed against the glass, pounding and laughing.

"That man is wearing a mask!" came one muffled voice, and they all started shouting to him.

"Monsieur, monsieur, what is the mask for?"

"What are you hiding, monsieur?"

Erik's head lowered further, his breathing coming in tiny gasps. The jeering children reminded him of his years in the circus, the people groping through the bars of his cage, shouting to him…

"Monsieur Gargoyle! Over here, look at me, let me see you!"

A half-eaten apple was thrown at him and a few more people laughed.

"Are you hungry, monsieur Gargoyle?"

"Careful son, don't get too close, he could bite you." Came a man's voice.

He curled in a ball, hiding his face in his arms and the crowd grew angry, their shouts drawing Javert, who came in with his bullwhip and began to savagely beat Erik with the pommel as well as the tails.

"Show your face, you beast! Let them see what they paid for! Show your face!"

"Show us your face, monsieur! Show it to us!"

Erik could feel the scars along his back and shoulders burning in memory of the pain, and he let out a choked sound, covering his ears with his hands and giving a low, sorrowful moan.

Christine jumped up, putting an arm around Erik's shoulders and helping him stand. Putting some money on the table, she helped Erik into his cloak and guided him to the front door, flagging down a hansom and doing her best to fend off the swarms of curious children, their hands reaching to grab for his mask.

A carriage finally stopped and Christine helped Erik in, then ordered the driver home, and quickly.

And the whole ride home, all Erik could do was sob.