I awoke early the next morning, long before the dawn had time to greet me with its rays of light. The sun would soon become my greatest enemy. I wanted to be sure that as I left the city, I would still be seen as nothing but a mere figure in the shadows.
Sitting up from the bed I laid my head down in my hands, overwhelmed by the thought of whatever I was going to do next. I had always been used to being in control of everything and everyone, but now, I was not even in control of myself.
I slowly stood up, my entire body aching with stiffness from my restless night. Noticing a washbasin that stood in the corner of the room, I made my way towards it hoping to rinse away my anxiety. I dipped my hands into the cool refreshing water, splashing it up onto my mask-less face, feeling the always-present unevenness of my disfigurement.
Water dripped everywhere as I grabbed for the soft white towel by the basin. As I dried my face, I looked into the mirror that hung in front of me and saw my reflection; the reflection which had caused me to be where I was; the reflection which had prevented me from having a normal life like everyone else.
Anger welling up inside me, I slammed my fist against the accursed mirror with utter disgust, the pain from the impact surging through my hand. How I loathed my face that God had granted upon me. How I always wished to be free from its chains and the misery it continually brought me.
Everyone else only saw the monster that resided on the surface of my skin. No one knew my soul…except for Christine. She was the only one who ever looks beyond and into the depths of my spirit.
I gazed outside through the window, and noticed the first bits of pink and orange scattered about the dark gray sky: dawn was rapidly approaching. I quickly gathered some of the items, which Madame Giry had kindly given to me for my journey, and quietly made my way downstairs.
When I reached the front door, the door leading to a new chapter in my life, I hesitantly opened it. A rush of cool morning air welcomed me, softly calling me out. It is always easy to speak of never looking back, but I couldn't help but slowly turn my head and giving a slight glance back at the final connection to my past.
I made it out of the city long before the sun's light covered all of the ground. With each step I took, I was taken a step closer to freedom. Finding myself in the tranquility of the countryside was something that contented me. I was not used to being in such wide-open spaces of land, as most of my life I had lived in the dark cellars of the opera house. For the first time in a long time I felt at peace. I almost didn't know what to do with the serene feelings that were coming over me, as peace was not something I was accustomed to.
As I finally lost myself in the calmness of the country, I heard a gentle voice in the wind whisper to me, "Come… Come join me and receive all you desire…" The voice sounded friendly and inviting.
Before I had time to react to the voice's beckoning call, a sudden fierce wind blew up from nowhere. So forceful was the storm's rage, that it knocked me off my feet and I hit the unyielding ground. As I lay on the cold, hard earth, thousands of leaves twirled viciously around me, momentarily blinding my otherwise excellent vision. I thought the storm would never cease, but just as abruptly has it had come, it stopped.
I stayed lying on the ground for several moments, until deciding it was safe, picked myself up off the ground and shook the dirt from my clothes. When I finally looked up, I saw what appeared to be a great stonewall. The wall was covered in ivy and other such plants, which almost completely hid it from view. Had it not been for the fierce wind which had blown away some of the vegetation, I would never have been able to see it.
As I moved closer to the wall so that I could inspect it, I again heard the whisper of a voice, "Come…" I could not fathom what, or where the voice was or what it intended with me. Yet, the voice sounded so warm and welcoming, that I decided there was no harm in doing its bidding, and so walked towards it.
When I found the area where the voice had instructed me to go, I found an immense gilded iron gate. The gate was about the same height as myself, its iron bars intricately ornamented, looking like something one would find in an old baroque cathedral.
Above the gate rested a beautiful arch made entirely out of ivory, a strange language artistically carved into the face. Although I contained a vast knowledge of world languages and symbols, I was not able to formulate what the message written in the stone declared. However, before I had time to even think about the possible meaning or warning it held, I heard the voice call to me again.
"Open the gate and join me in my fields of plenty. Where it never rains, and there is only sunlight..."
Before I even felt my hand touch the cold, iron latch, I had already started to open the great gate. The gate opened so effortlessly despite its massive size, and did not even utter a single sound.
When the gate finally opened, I found myself gazing over the most astonishing field ever conceivable. The field looked as though it had been taken from heaven itself; a Garden of Eden. Lush rolling hills encircled a grassy meadow, which contained wild flowers with an array of colors brighter than any I had ever seen before. On one side of the field flowed a lazy river, whose deep azure blue water gently streamed on its winding track. One truly did not know beauty until they set their eyes on this place of wonder and awe. The very breeze seemed to sing to my senses, caressing my ears with their enchanting melody. It truly was a mystical place where fairy tales are born and legends created.
I then I heard once more with soft refrain…
"Welcome to the Realm of Dreams, Erik. I am pleased that you find my fields as breathtakingly beautiful as I do."
Sounding closer still…it was the voice.
A/N: I just wanted to thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I hoped you enjoyed chapter 2!
