Phantomlover05- I know. . He's a genius, but stupid when it comes to Aria..

veritasa- lol. I'm with you, girl. KILL CHRISTINE! lol. She's an airhead.

Chapter 13 - Forgiveness

I watched Aria sing from the Box 5 column, thinking longingly of "if"s and "what would have been"s. I shook my head sadly, consumed with those terrible voices in my head. I backed away, steadying my feeble body against a wall. I looked at the silver knife in my other hand, knowing what I had to do.

It will be better for everyone, Erik. She will thank you for getting out of her way.

I nodded, making my way slowly back to Aria's little room. Tears flowing down my face, I laid a red rose on Aria's music stand. Sitting my carcass on the bed that had held me in the last week and a half, I continued to stare at the wicked ridge of the blade. I watched in fasination as the tip sunk slowly into the first layer of my skin, but not deep enough to draw blood. Someone gasped. I looked up at Madame Giry's back running from the room.

Unconcerned, I continued to press the knife farther into my wretched skin. A shining, crimson river of blood crept uncertainly from my vein and trickled down my arm.

It will be better for everyone.

A scream shattered my lonely darkness. "Erik, don't!"

I looked up, my eyes glazed. Aria...

She seemed to float thru the mirror and rushed to me. The knife was removed from me, and I cried out in pain. "No..." I murmured, reaching for it. "It's better for everyone..."

"Erik. Erik, stop!"

A pair of small hands grabbed my face and jerked it closer to another face. I met a pair of green eyes sick with worry.

"It's better for you...Then I can't hurt anyone else..." I said to her, nodding wisely.

"Erik, you're hurting me! You're scaring me!"

"I'm sorry. It will only hurt for a minute..." My eyes come back into focus and I watch in horror as Aria began to cry.

"Erik, please!"

I let my eyes meet hers hesitantly. "I don't deserve to live, Aria." I admitted, but the look I got back didn't agree. A hand picked up my own and pressed it into Aria's lovely skin.

"But I want you here, Erik." she whispered, resting next to me and holding me. Before I know what happened, those evil voices disappeared and I was a blubbering monster in Aria's arms. "I'm sorry!" I repeated over and over. "I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please..."

Aria rested her head against mine. "I've already forgiven you, Erik. Hush..."

I groaned softly as her fingers caressed my face. I'd not felt them for nearly 2 days...I felt like I was dying...but a blissful death. I went limp in her arms, but she continued to hold me. "Shhh, Erik. It will be alright, hush, my friend..."

Aria gently rested me back on the bed and reached for some bandages. I struggled to sit up, but I felt so weak...so weak...I hadn't fully recovered from my illness yet.

I felt Aria's arms around me, helping me and settling my back against the pillows.

"I told you not to move until I said," Aria muttered, trying very hard to disguise her distress.

I could only stare into her lovely face, my tongue frozen with some rare emotion.

I shivered as she wrapped the once-deadly slice in my wrist.

"Why were you trying to do this, Erik?" she asked, and she sounded as if I had cut her wrist and not my own. I felt ashamed; It was my fault.

"I..." Should I tell her about the voices, or would she think me insane?

"Sometimes..." I gulped. "Sometimes...the-darker side? yes- makes me do things...Oh Aria...I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of those words I said. You must believe me!" I pleaded, grasping her hand and raising it to my face.

Aria sighed, and her shoulders seemed to sag further to the ground.

"Oh please, Aria, please! Don't be so sad!" I could feel tears pressing at the edges of my eyes.

Aria seemed to crumple and her shoulders began to shake. My feeble body burst into action, and shot from bed. I surrounded her with my arms and drew in her warmth.

"Don't cry, my dear, don't cry!"

Those tears that never failed me fell into Aria's hair. I sat back on the bed and cupped her in my lap. I rested my head against hers and sobbed with her. "Oh, Aria!" I moaned. I slipped my hand up to her face, stroking the beautiful skin there. Oh, but it was so soft, so perfect...I...oh...

I wiped away her tears, pressing her against my chest.

I'm not sure how long we sat there, together, but I could not cry with Aria so wonderfully close to me. I held her as she poured her tears, pressing my lips into her hair. I murmured soft words into her ears.

Finally, Aria sat up straight, bashfully wiping her wet face. "I...I'm sorry, Erik...I should not have lost control like that..."

I swallowed with a varying amount of difficulty and turned her face to mine. "You can give me your tears whenever you need to, Aria," I whispered softly.

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she was still beautiful. She gave me a most tener smile. "Same to you. Thank you, Erik."

Mesmorized by her voice, I just looked at her, feeling my hands begin to pull her closer, staring at her red lips...

The door opened. Aria and I both jumped to a standing position. Madame Giry flushed nervously. "My apologies. I wanted to make sure you'd stopped him, Aria. I'll be going." she scurried backwards.

I was suddenly grateful for Aria. She was never afraid of me...I'd taken that for granted.

Aria sighed. "I've got to get back to rehearsals. They'll be angry with me."

I nodded. "Aria, forgive me..."

"I have."

A vague memory entered my mind, and I grabbed her wrist. "Aria, why do you dance? In that little room?"

Aria stiffened, a humiliated blush creeping up her neck. She sighed.

"Please tell me."

"When I came to the Opera House, I had nothing; no money, no clothes, nothing. The...the managers told me they could give me what I needed- if I did something for them. They didn't tell me what and I didn't ask. I was only supposed to...do that...until my debt was paid. I know it's paid now, but..." Aria monotoned, refusing to look at me.

I stood up- albeit shaking- and raised her head. "I'll take care of this."

"You really don't-"

I silenced her with a finger to her lips. The finger twitched; I wanted to stroke her lips, feel them...but I didn't. Instead, I brought my mouth to her forehead and let it rest there for a moment. Then I told her to go on to rehearsals. When she left I slumped onto my cozy bed, exhausted from the emotional fireworks I'd had. I snuggled into the blankets, wishing Aria was there too.

Two weeks later, Andre and Firmin read a letter eagerly. He and his team would be here in 2 days, and he was bringing 50 extra men. Two days and the Opera Ghost would be dead! Firmin tossed the letter into the air with a victorious whoop. A maid found it there, and the gossiping girl reported her findings to her friend, Madame Giry.