Chapter 14 Return to Reality

After several more montages of Erik growing up, she felt like there was no emotion left inside her. He was constantly persecuted for his looks and was forced into hiding from the world. Alone in this darkness, she could see his temperament growing darker, more dangerous, and more sinister. The atmosphere in the current dark room made the hairs on her neck stand on end. The room appeared to be in basement and was lit by a few candles which did not shed nearly enough light to chase away the shadows.

Both she and a late-teenager Erik startled when a loud bang and shout came from the heavy wooden door. She watched as he grabbed an object and made his way to the door. He cautiously opened to find a bulky teenage boy leering at him.

"So this is where the neighborhood freak lives," he sneered. Christine was sure that he had been sent by his buddies to prove his machismo.

"I'll be back...freak," he said and began to turn to leave. Almost too quick to even see, Erik's hand shot out a short length of rope which formed a noose around the boy's neck. She cried out as she saw Erik pull it tighter until the boy began to fall to the ground.

Shit shit SHIT! Erik screamed in his mind. He had shown her too much. Much too much!

"Christine, listen to me. When I count to three, you will wake up. One...two...three..."

Christine's eyes flew open in fear as she found herself face to face with Erik. She opened her mouth to scream and struggled to get away when she felt a hand firmly smother her cry and a forearm pressed against her collarbone. She was trapped against the back of the couch.

"Relax, calm down," Erik ordered with a soothing yet firm voice. She felt herself immediately relax in obedience and soon found herself free yet again. Erik repositioned himself to give more distance between them. Christine only stared in midair and trembled.

"You...he...they...YOU..." she stammered, not making any sense.

Erik stood up and started pacing around the room. This was a mistake. He had made a terrible mistake. Christine should never have been witness to the horrors of his life. She was far too fragile and delicate. Such visions could leave her permanently traumatized. He had hurt his precious Christine and for that he could never forgive himself. He had hurt her, frightened her, and now emotionally scarred her. The only thing left was to kill her. He shuddered as the thought passed through his mind.

Why in the HELL did I just think of that! I would never lay a hand on Christine, let alone kill her, he thought in horror.

But you already did, his mind taunted back. Look at her, Erik, just look at what you've done to the poor girl. He glanced in her direction and quickly looked away.

She's sitting there in terror and shock and it's all you're fault. It's always your fault. She hates you now because you couldn't control that damned temper of yours. You're a monster. You're a wretched monster that people can't even stand to be near. To think that you thought she would be different; that somehow she wouldn't see the monster that you really are. You are a fool. You are a pitiful fool...

"No!" Erik shouted and covered his ears. "NO! Shut up! SHUT UP!"

"Relax, calm down," Erik's voice penetrated her panic and she felt her mind go numb. She stared at the wall as scenes flashed before her eyes. What she had just witnessed was unfathomable and she found herself still in a state of shock as her brain tried to process the million and one thoughts running through it.

"You...he...they...YOU..." she stammered, knowing that she was not making any sense. Poor Erik! He had been born such a beautiful little boy, sweet and artistic. She could tell that all he had ever wanted was approval; approval that he had never gotten from his drug-addict mother and drunken abusive father. Tears welled up in her blue eyes as the horror of the day in the basement replayed in her mind. She could still see it, smell it, hear it. Shaking, she focused her gaze upon Erik, who had gotten up and was pacing around the room, mumbling to himself. Poor Erik! He had quickly lost the only person to ever show him kindness. No one could blame him for his dark moods after the childhood he had endured.

Christine yearned to comfort this man, even though he had frightened her terribly. Her heart went out to him. She got up and took a hesitant step toward him. Somehow, she had to make see that everything would be alright.

"Erik..." she spoke, barely louder than a whisper.

"No!" She was startled by Erik's sudden outburst. "NO! Shut up! SHUT UP!" He covered his ears.

Taken aback and slightly offended, Christine took a step back and was about to leave the room when Erik wearily dropped to his knees, burying his face in his arms and trembling.

"I'm a monster, I'm a monster," he began wailing and rocking on the floor, still trembling. Christine had never seen anything like it and tears streamed down her cheeks. How can a man be so strong and intimidating one minute be reduced to a severely injured childlike state the next? Maternal instinct kicked in and within moments, Christine was at his side, cradling him in her arms.

"Shh, shh," she whispered and began to rock the trembling man soothingly. "It's alright. You're alright. Easy now."

He grabbed her arm and clung tight as if she were his anchor to keep him from plunging into some unknown darkness. She could feel her flesh bruising, but the pain was far away. Right now, she was focused on the task of trying to calm the poor man. His weight becoming too heavy for her to hold up, she sat cross-legged on the floor next to him and gently laid his head in her lap. She absentmindedly ran her fingers through his hair and rubbed his back.

This is all you're fault, you know, her mind said. If you hadn't gone and removed his mask you two would have enjoyed a wonderful night instead of this. He would have showed you in due time but no, you had to satisfy your curiosity. And to think that you thought you might be falling for him.

I was, she desperately replied back.

Nice way of showing it, it taunted. You go and betray his trust. You know he doesn't trust people easily. Why? Because of people like you.

NO! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

"I'm so sorry, Erik. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry," she whispered, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry, Christine. It's all my fault, " Erik whispered. Christine focused on him again, startled. He blamed himself! She looked to see if he was really talking to her, but the glazed-over look in his eyes told her that he was lost in a similar mist that had consumed her consciousness only moments ago. His body wracked with painful sobs and he mumbled inaudibly. She had to make him stop crying. She knew from experience that crying this hard for this long could be detrimental. At a loss for any other solution, she took a deep breath and began to sing.

That your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy
has come to make you new;
the child that you delivered
will soon deliver you?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know that your baby boy
has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you kiss the face of God!
Oh Mary did you know?

Oh Mary did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear
the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
the praises of the Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
will one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy
is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping child you're holding
is the great I Am!

Mary did you know?

Erik stilled as Christine's sweet voice filled the air. His breathing returned to normal and the sobbing stopped. He felt as if he had been at the edge of a dark abyss and if he had fallen, his sanity would have been lost forever. It was then that he first felt her presence next to him and her arms gently cradling his shaking form. His muscles screamed in protest, but he could not relax. He felt her lower into a sitting position and gently pull him down into a fetal position on the floor. It was like a dream and he knew it could not be reality. Why would this poor girl who he had hurt so badly be comforting a monster? Suddenly, the most wonderful music filled the room and a wave of calm washed over him. It sounded like an angel from Heaven came down to him; momentarily, Erik thought he might have passed away. No, that can't be right. If he was dead, it would be Hell that awaited him, not Heaven. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed upon the girl, no...the woman who was comforting him. She was rocking him and lost in her singing so she was not aware that he had come back to her. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he sighed and allowed himself to get lost in her voice. She was and angel, his Angel of Music. She was the one his grandmother had told him about. His heart spoke to him and he listened.

All too soon, the song ended and the last notes faded into silence. Christine broke out of her daze and looked down to Erik who was gently smiling up at her. She smiled back and closed her eyes as he reached up and tenderly tucked one of her chocolate curls behind her ear. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she had forgiven him. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, but he was granted it.

Slowly, he pulled himself into a sitting position and faced Christine. No words needed to be spoken as he gave a look that said "Thank you" and she gave him her silent "You're welcome."

Clearing his throat, Erik asked hoarsely, "Is that the song you are using for the audition?"

Christine blushed and nodded in reply.

"Splendid, it's quite beautiful. You need to practice." He stood up and offered Christine his hand. She looked up indignantly, but smiled when she noticed the teasing twinkle in his eyes. Of course she needed to practice. She always needed to practice, and Erik needed to teach her. Her audition for the college's annual Christmas Showcase was the next morning, which meant that this was her last day in Erik's vocal "boot camp". Even after the events of the last several hours, Christine was surprised to find herself feeling a pang of sadness knowing that she would be leaving and had to go back to the realities of life.

Erik excused himself to wash up and encouraged Christine to change into a fresh set of clothes as well.

"Christine! You're back!" Meg squealed when Christine walked down the hall to her blonde friend's door. She leapt from her chair, the textbook in her lap falling to the floor, and rushed over to embrace her returning friend.

"I am," Christine replied. After a light day of vocal work and fine tuning, Erik had led Christine down the stairs into the basement and through a labyrinth of underground passageways until they finally emerged in a hidden corner backstage of the Crawford College concert hall. He had decided against taking her straight into her room through the mirror.

"We were worried since you didn't even tell us you were leaving," Meg said. She pulled back and looked Christine in the face. Christine checked to make sure her hair fell precisely over her face to help hide the bruise on her cheek. She wanted to avert any inquiry over her injury's origins. "Why didn't you leave a note or call us or leave a message?"

Christine averted her friend's look and lowered her eyes. She had known all along that the questioning was going to happen. She hated lying to her friends but she knew it was necessary. She had sworn to her Angel that she would not tell anyone the truth about where she had been for the past week. On the way back to her room, she had practiced her answers so she wouldn't contradict herself.

"It was a last minute thing and I didn't have a chance to call," she replied.

"Ah! Little Lotte has returned to us!" said a male voice from behind Christine as he encircled his arms around her petite waist and gently kissed her cheek.

"Hi, Raoul," she turned her head and smiled.

"Where have you been? I tried calling your cell several times, but you had it off. We were worried."

"And by 'several times' he really means about two hundred and fifty times per day," Meg interjected.

She laughed a little to cover the empty spot in her stomach. She really hated lying to Raoul.

"So I noticed when I got back. My battery died and I had forgotten my charger in my haste to leave. Grandma Emmy was really bad. It was touch and go for a while there, but I think she's going to be alright."

Raoul squeezed her in support and Meg gave a sympathetic nod. She lowered her head and looked at Christine out of the corner of her eye. Christine was hiding something. She had a gut instinct that told her that something was not right. Raoul seemed to be buying her story, but things did not add up. Christine had somehow found time to inform all of her professors that she was going to be missing class, yet she claimed she was too busy to quickly tell her two "best friends" that she was leaving for a week to visit a foster grandmother from a family that didn't even care enough to help Christine move in to college. Meg found it all too hard to believe. She would get to the bottom of this.

"So, what was wrong with your Grandma Emmy?" she inquired, smirking at the brief panicked expression on the brunette's face. She probably would not have noticed it if she had not been looking for it.

"Um, well...you know how old people get. What isn't wrong with them?" Christine chuckled to buy herself some time to think. Why did she suddenly feel like she was being examined?

"True," Meg chuckled along with the other two before pressing on. "But something specific had to be wrong to make you leave so fast."

"Meg, she just got back. What's with all the questions?" Raoul spoke up from behind Christine. He could tell that she was tensing up and could feel her heartbeat speed up as Meg questioned her. Why is Meg questioning her as if she's on trial? he thought. He never could totally understand Megan Giry.

"She, ah, had a bad stroke," Christine replied finally. "She had slipped into a coma and the doctors weren't sure if she was going to ever wake up."

"And did she?"

"Thankfully, yes." Christine sighed and then yawned. It had been a long tiring day, and without getting a decent night's sleep the evening before, Christine was exhausted.

"Alright, you," Raoul said, gently guiding her toward the door. "You look exhausted. Time for bed, I think."

She nodded in response and said good night to Meg before returning to her own room. She was very thankful that Raoul had been too caught up in her return to notice her unusual hair style. Without even bothering to change into pajamas, she pulled back the covers and flopped into bed. It would not do to be tired during auditions.

In the moments before sleep overtook her, she thought she could faintly hear a sweet male voice quietly singing a lullaby. Before she could figure out if it was real or just in her mind, she drifted off into the black oblivion.