Disclaimer: You know what I'm going to say by now, so I won't bother.

A/N: Forgive this being so short. I figured I'd just cut right to the chase. I didn't think you all wanted me to drag this all out. So, here it is.

Chapter 16: The Future Revealed

The floors were so dirty from all the snow and dirt that had been tramped into the house during the winter that I knew they must be cleaned. It was my first stop on the spring cleaning list I had made. Louise was upstairs doing some dusting and I thought I was quite alone. Erik was off somewhere doing who knows what. I started scrubbing the floors.

It was a nice sort of job, one that afforded me plenty of time to think. My mind wandered to thoughts of home and the future. I wished I had a decent mop or vacuum cleaner. A DVD player and some movies might have been nice as well (that was not the last time I had a thought like that). One thought led to another and I was soon replaying "The Phantom of the Opera" movie inside my head. I'd watched it enough times to have it completely memorized. A hand was suddenly placed on my shoulder. I bolted up right and screamed. The bucket of water at my side was overturned. Water splashed onto the walls and ran down the hall.

"Shh." Erik said, laughing. "I'm not going to hurt you. My, you are jumpy, aren't you?" A smile toyed gently at his lips. I didn't see anything which was funny about this. My bucket of water was spilt and my heart must have been racing twenty miles a second. I lashed out without thinking.

"My word, you haven't changed a bit have you? Walking around like a ghost scaring people half out of their minds. Once a phantom, always a phantom, I guess." It took a good ten seconds and him starring at me in horror, face a deadly pale white, before I realized what I had said. I'd just blown my cover. Shoot. I wanted to scream in frustration now. When would I learn to control my infernal tongue?

Erik just stood there, looking at me. He didn't know quite what to make of my revelation. I knew what would come next: a demand for the truth. And it did. He strode over to me and pretty much slammed me against the wall. If I hadn't been scared before, I sure as heck was now. He leaned over and shouted at me.

"How did you know? I want the full truth out of you. Now!" His eyes were again ablaze with furry and fright. I think he was more afraid than angry. Afraid of me telling his secret. Afraid I'd turn him in to the police. Afraid I would never trust or respect him again. He just held me pinned against the wall, not shaking me or anything. Just holding me there. Pity welled up inside my heart. No man should ever have to feel like that. So, I told him everything.

As the story unfolded out of my mouth, his grip relaxed and his face became full of wonder. Half way through the story, I started crying. Realization of never seeing my family and loved ones again hit home hard. He insisted that I stop the story and then gently half walked; half carried me over to the parlor. Once seated down, I composed myself and finished.

I told him about my past and how I had lived in the future. I told him also about him being a legend in my world; the story of the movie soon came out of me. He was fascinated by it all. I informed him about everything I thought was important. Over the course of the next forty some years, however, I told him many of the smaller details of my life, like childhood events and inventions and that such. Now, though, it was just the basics. I did have to tell him about the movie and that entailed explaining television and the like. He understood that rather well, being the genius that he was. I ended by recounting my weird sickness and waking up in Paris. He just sat there and didn't say anything.

"Well," I whispered, blowing my nose with a handkerchief. "Do you believe me? Or are you going to send me to some asylum and tell them to take care of me?" I must admit, I was nervous. Who knew what he would do with me? I was under the impression that since he was a genius, he'd be able to understand. But, as the silence deepened, I wasn't so sure.

"Please, say something." I finally had to beg. "I can't stand the silence." He looked on me with sad eyes. Shaking his head, he stood up and began pacing.

"Believe you?" He mumbled. "Of course I believe you. Your story is too far fetched for it to be made up. And it is also the only logical way to explain you knowing…" He stopped and turned. "So, you've known about the opera house fiasco this whole time haven't you?" I nodded.

"I knew about it, but I didn't realize it was you who had rescued me until the night I snuck upstairs to watch you play. I saw the mask and realized who you were. You're not going to send me away, are you?"

"No, Elizabeth. Where could I send you? It's apparent that you have no true home now except for this one. I wouldn't send you away for anything. I would be rather lonely." He smiled kindly. "But, it's all just rather shocking. I assume this is also part of the reason why you didn't fear the mask." Again, I nodded.

"In the future, there is more of a tolerance for people with deformities. They're not all viewed as monsters. I've also seen some of what you look like thanks to the movie. And Erik, it's not as bad as you think. I've seen worse."

"You may have seen worse faces, my dear, but I doubt you have seen a blacker heart." He sighed and turned to stare out the window. "You are tired, child. Go and rest. You have given me much to think about." I stood and went to the door. I stopped, though. He just seemed so sad; I couldn't bear to leave him.

"Erik." He turned. "I don't fear you. No matter what you may say, you're heart is not as black as it looks. And I…" I stopped, knowing what I wanted to say wasn't right.

"You what, Elizabeth?" The room was full of electric charge. All it would take was for me to say three simple words to cause it to spark and ignite. But, I didn't. The time just wasn't right. At the moment, I didn't think there could have ever been a right time.

"And I want you to know that I've enjoyed the past two years with you. I wouldn't trade them for the world." I left him then to his thoughts. I went to my room and fell asleep despite it being early afternoon.