Erik's Dream

Erik finally returned to his lair with a heavy heart. He set his cloak down on a chair and walked towards his organ. He stopped before he reached the seat. He still held the rose close to him and he looked at it once more. His eyes filled with tears but he held them back.

He slowly sat down on the bench of the organ and continued to stare lovingly at the rose. He then gently placed it on top of the organ, upon some stray music sheets. Erik slowly took off his black leather gloves and begins to play. The sound of his organ comforts him and he lets the music fill his heart, his mind, and his fragile soul. He belonged only to the music. Soon enough he begins to play a song that brings back so many memories to him…a song that he believed he would never, ever sing again…

Nighttime sharpens. Heightens each sensation.

Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination…

Silently the senses abandon their defenses.

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor.

Grasp it, sense it tremulous and tender.

Turn your face away from the garish light of day!

Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light…

And listen to the music of the night…

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!

Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!

Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar!

And you'll live as you've never lived before…

Softly, deftly music shall caress you…

Hear it, feel it secretly possess you.

Open up your mind let your fantasies unwind…

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight…

The darkness of the music of the night!

Let your mind start a journey to a strange new world!

Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!

Let your soul take you where you long to be!

Only then can you belong to me!

Floating, falling sweet intoxication!

Touch me trust me! Savor each sensation….

Let the dream begin…let your darker side give in…

To the power of the music that I write…

The power of the music of the night!

You alone can make my song take flight….

Help me make the music of the night…

Once the song had reached the end…Erik sighed. He looked at the rose sitting on his organ. He sighed again.

"I must move on," he thought, "But I cannot…" he shook his head sadly. Absentmindedly he rose from the organ, took the rose, and walked to his room. He took off his black jacket and gold vest, and then ever so gently he removed his white mask. He stared at it for a moment then lay on his bed. He brought the rose to his heart and tried to fall asleep, but to no avail. He could not stop thinking about her.

"Oh Christine…" he thought, "I must move on…but there will be no one like you." He sighed. "But I must…"

His thoughts then turned to the remains of his beautiful Opera House. For ten minutes he contemplated…then it came to him.

"I will rebuild the Opera!" he cried. "It will be perfect! It will be better than the last…"

After making plans for the construction…Erik's thoughts finally turned to sleep…with his last thought he drifted into slumber…

Erik suddenly woke in a room filled with velvet lined chairs. He sat up, quite confused. He raised his hand to his cheek. He was surprised to not feel the mask on his face. He turned to a small mirror on the wall beside him. He gasped…before him he saw his horrible, monstrous, corpse-like face staring back. He suppressed a cry of rage and surprise.

"Where am I?" he thought in utter amazement and suppressed rage. He stood up and began to walk through the endless rows of red velvet chairs.

"This…resembles the house before the chandelier incident. B-But…h-how?" he could hardly believe what he was seeing; his anger had subsided. He continued walk, taking in the sight…even his box ̶ Box Five ̶ was there.

"This is beautiful…" he thought. He stopped suddenly in surprise. What he saw stunned him…

Before him ̶ a few rows away ̶ there was a girl. She was on her knees crying. For a few moments he could only see her outline; so he moved closer. When he saw her his heart stopped. She had dark brown, wavy hair that fell across her elegant shoulders. She had a smooth, tan complexion, and she had beautiful, dark brown, sparkling eyes. She was wearing a cream colored nightgown that outlined her slim figure well.

"She's beautiful…" he thought, "Just like an angel…" His heart began to work once again, hammering in his chest as his throat went dry. He started to walk towards her ̶ then he stopped.

"No!" he thought bringing himself to look at a chair, "I will not do this…I…she…no! I will just cause her pain, and she will cause me pain as well…" He slowly turned his eyes to her once again.

"But I must comfort her…the poor girl seems so sad," he said to himself. He contemplated the reason for her tears. Then a different thought struck him.

"She is just…like me…"

At this revelation he started to stare at her in surprise. After a few moments he finally emerged from his daze. Then he began to sing in the sweetest voice ever heard.

Wandering child…so lost….so helpless. Yearning for my guidance…

He saw her lift her head and begin to look around. He hid behind a curtain so that she would not see him. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see a girl, at about ten years of age, dressed in a blue lace dress. Shocked, he was about to jump back but the girl took hold of his arm.

"Silence, Monsieur!" said the girl putting a finger to her lips, "Si'l vous plait," she hastily added.

Erik just nodded, surprised that she spoke his native language. "She looks like the girl I had seen…"

The girl then took him by the hand ̶ his cold, long skeletal fingers closing around hers ̶ and led him towards a door.

"Comment t'appelles tu?" asked Erik, amazed that the girl did not care about his touch nor his face, "What's your name?" The girl turned and looked at him kindly.

"Je m'appelle Jeanette de Lon Craie, Monsieur," she replied, "My name is Jeanette de Lon Craie." She smiled and Erik returned it gladly.

"Where are you taking me?" he demanded.

"You will see…" was all she said. They kept walking until the scenery changed once more ̶ they were in Box Five.

"M-My box…" whispered Erik. Jeanette smiled.

"Yes, Monsieur Fantôme. I have brought you here for a very important reason,

Monsieur." Erik looked at her in shock. How did she know his title?

"What is it?" he asked looking confused.

"Before I answer, Monsieur, may I introduce my parents?" she asked, "Christine and Daniel de Lon Craie."

They stepped forward from the shadows. When Erik heard the name "Christine" he flinched; Jeanette laid a kind hand on his arm and gave him a smile to calm him. He was comforted and relief filled him when he saw that 'Christine' was not…his Angel. He gave both of them a bow.

"Enchante, Monsieur Erik," said Christine and Daniel.

"H-How did you know my name?" asked Erik surprised. He did not recall ever mentioning it.

"We know many things, Monsieur." replied Jeanette, "We know all about you." Erik looked at her in surprise.

"B-But how?" he stammered.

"Do not worry about that, Monsieur." replied Christine smiling at his surprise.

"Monsieur, we know that you are lonely and longing for one to love…and for them to love you in return." said Daniel slowly.

Erik could only nod. "How do they know this much about me?" he thought anxiously, "I wonder if they know about Christine…"

"Oui, Monsieur Fantôme," said Jeanette, "We do know about Madame De Chagny…and the pain she has caused you."

Madame de Chagny….Erik flinched and stared at the floor as tears filled his eyes…of course! Christine and Raoul would be married by now. Jeanette laid her hand on his arm.

"Don't cry, Monsieur." she said in a soothing voice. Erik smiled sadly…no one had ever been this kind to him before.

"We also know that you feel alone in the world, Monsieur," said Christine gently as she placed a hand on his other arm.

"We know of one just as lonely as you." said Daniel.

At that moment Christine, Daniel, and Jeanette turned to look at the girl in the house below. Erik followed their eyes not understanding. The girl in the house was now singing and crying out for the one who sang to her…Erik… He opened his mouth to reply, but when he heard her voice his heart stopped.

"Her voice…I've never heard a voice like that in my entire life," he thought with awe and adulation, "It's perfect…like an angel's…"

Finally overcoming his emotion he asked, "Who is this person? Will I meet them?" he asked anxiously. Christine, Jeanette, and Daniel turned to face him.

"Not at the present, Monsieur," replied Jeanette anxiously.

"But you may or may never meet…" whispered Christine icily. Erik stared at her.

"WHY?" he demanded; it was evident that his temper was rising. "Why should I be

denied one who understands me?" he thought angrily. Daniel turned to him with a burning look.

"Because you still love Madame de Chagny." he said harshly.

Erik was taken aback…what would loving Christine Daae have to do with this? He glared angrily at Daniel, then at a velvet covered seat.

"You must let her go, Erik," continued Daniel in a much gentler tone, "If you do not…meeting the one you are truly destined for will be impossible."

"What?" Erik's whisper was barely audible. His anger had departed as quickly as it had come.

He could not believe it. Did this mean…that there was one who would love him in this world?

He lifted his eyes to Daniel, Christine, and Jeanette once more.

"Is that girl in the house area-" he hesitated. What if he was proven wrong? Then what would he do? He took a deep breath and began again.

"I-Is that girl in the house area…the one I am truly de-" he could not bring himself to say the rest. So Jeanette finished for him.

"The one you are truly destined for?" she asked her eyes filled with understanding. Erik nodded.

"Well, Monsieur Fantôme," she continued, "That is for only for you to decide…"

"After all," continued Christine, "None of us can choose who we will love…"

"Or where it will occur," finished Daniel. He gave Erik a gentle smile.

At that moment the scenery changed to reveal Erik's lair. He looked around in surprise. Everything was the same, but also quite different. As he continued to survey the area something caught his eye. He was at his organ playing a song he did not recognize. A girl in a beautiful red corset dress emerged from the guest room.

"She looks familiar.." he thought, "And she's very beautiful." She closed the door silently and slowly approached the organ. Erik could now see her features more clearly.

"I-It's t-the girl f-from e-earlier…" he stuttered. His eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, Monsieur," replied Christine calmly. Erik turned sharply and stared at her in surprise. He had forgotten that the de Lon Craie family was with him.

Erik then returned his attention to the girl. She was now right behind the Erik playing the organ. She gently placed her hands on his shoulders and the beautiful music stopped. He saw as Erik relaxed, and leaned lovingly to her feather-like touch. He saw both of them smile as he reached for her hand.

As he looked on, Erik seemed to have entered a daze. She was being so kind to him...she even seemed as though she loved him. At that moment he wanted to meet her more than ever. As Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder, Erik finally came to his senses.

"I'm sorry, Monsieur," said Daniel, "But it is time for the three of us to leave."

"No! You cannot leave me yet," exclaimed Erik in alarm, "You must tell me who that girl is!" He had a pleading look in his grayish-blue eyes.

"No, Monsieur," intervened Jeanette kindly, "That is for you to soon discover…"

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Monsieur Erik," said Christine with a gentle look in her eyes. She then leaned forward and planted a feather light kiss on his cheek, and Jeanette did the same. Erik gave them both a look of utter shock and happiness. No woman had ever kissed him of her own accord before…except Christine. Seeing the look in his eyes the two ladies just smiled. Then Daniel shook his hand warmly.

"I hope you will soon discover the one you are truly destined for, Erik." he said. After a moment Erik finally looked upon his three new-found friends at last. He took a deep breath and gave a small teary smile.

"Thank you so much for all that you have done," he replied sadly, "This may be the first step…" he trailed off. His three companions smiled.

Then Christine, Jeanette, and Daniel de Lon Craie disappeared in a flash of white light…

As the white light subsided Erik awoke with a start. As his eyes began to focus the tinkling of the music box by his bed reminded him of where he was. He sat up and the rose fell on his lap. He sighed…soon everything would change…

He picked up his green silk robe a chair, put on his mask, and walked towards the organ. His fingers caressed the keyboard lovingly and he began to play…