A Reflection of the Past, Chapter Three
When the two reached the boat and the edge of the underground lake, Natalie stopped in her tracks. How could this all still be here?
"What is it?" The man asked, though he sounded as though he didn't really care.
"No, no, it's nothing." She replied a bit dazedly.
He nodded his head and helped her into the boat.
As she was poled across the lake, all Natalie could think about was how this same path had been taken ages ago by Erik and Christine.
Natalie saw a soft glow in the distance, and her jaw dropped as His world unfolded before her.
Candles illuminated the darkness, radiating eerily off various objects resting on tables. Stacked parchment was everywhere, and she shivered when she caught sight of The organ. His organ.
The boat hit the shore and she stepped out slowly, wandering over to the organ.
It's black-lacquered surface shone and the keys looked as though they had been crafted of bone.
Natalie lifted a hand to run over its smooth surface.
She yanked her hand back as she heard a harsh growl from behind her. She whipped around to face the man, her face a mask of confusion.
"Who are you?" She breathed, looking into his amber, amber eyes.
"I am Erik."
She shook her head softly.
"Who am I?"
They man scoffed and pushed her lightly out of the way to reach his organ bench and take a seat.
"As you told me, Mademoiselle, your are Natalie Renoir."
Natalie nodded faintly, watching the man.
She closed her eyes as he began to play. Beautifully. The notes flowed through his fingers like water in a stream. Was it possible that all this could be true? What had happened to her?
This man sure played the part well. He lived here…He played beautifully…His voice was flawless…Just…There was just one more thing she needed to make herself believe.
Slowly, Natalie snuck up behind him, careful not to catch his attention, which, at the moment was focused completely and totally on his music. She took a deep breath and closed the last foot of space between them.
Quickly, Natalie reached up to his face to grab the porcelain half-mask, wrenching it from the man's face.
Before she could register anything, the man had whipped around fiercely, exposing his ravaged flesh.
Natalie's eyes widened as her eyes raked his face. Sickly, yellow skin was stretched over half of his face. Natalie was half-compelled to remove this mask as well, but she knew this time that it was the real thing.
In a fit of rage, the man snatched his mask from her hand and fitted it back over his deformity.
"Damned girl, get out. Now."