The Outside World

Christine sat down at the large table and watched Erik from her seat. The masked man gave her a strange look before Antoinette brought in their meal. Christine gave him a small smile. She had caught him giving her the same look since they had walked in the gardens a few days earlier. Antoinette said something to him and he frowned before replying. She shook her head and rolled her eyes as she put Christine's plate in front of her. Christine gave a small laugh and thanked her.

Christine ate her meal slowly, watching Erik as she did so. He never seemed to eat in front of her. He would always have a meal in front of him and all the proper utensils, he just never seemed to eat more than a bite or two.

"Aren't you hungry?" she asked and was rewarded with a quizzical look, "you aren't eating…aren't you hungry?"

"I have already eaten today."

"Oh…so it isn't because of the…erm."

"The mask?" Erik finished.

Christine bit her lip and nodded, "Yes."

"That is part of it," he admitted.

The silence that followed was nearly unbearable. Christine picked at her food, making sure to eat some of it. She worried that she had insulted him somehow, or made him uneasy.

"Do you like it here?" Erik asked, breaking the silence.

"Pardon?"

"Do you like it here," Erik repeated, "in the castle?"

"Oh, yes of I course I do," Christine said hurriedly, "its lovely here…"

"But?" Erik asked, continuing her sentence for her.

"Its nothing really," Christine murmured, "I just, miss my father…"

Erik frowned slightly, "Would you like to see him again?"

Christine's head snapped up and she looked him in the eyes, "Do you mean that? Do you really mean that I could see him again?"

Erik nodded his head slowly, "I would take you to visit him."

"When?" she asked eagerly.

"Tonight, if you would like."

The smile that graced her face seemed to brighten the room as she stood up quickly, "I will just get ready then."


Christine changed and found her cloak quickly. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she felt a bit light headed. She had missed her father so much, and had worried about him even more. What would he do by himself? He could be sick and alone in the small cottage with no one to look after him. When she got downstairs Erik was waiting in his long black cloak.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes, very much so."

Erik nodded and pushed open the large front doors before leading Christine to the carriage that waited at the castle gates. His large black stallion was hitched to the brougham and a driver was waiting for them to leave.

"Good evening Mademoiselle," the driver, who was now recognizable as Nadir said, "Sire."

He hopped out of the driver's seat and opened the door, offering Christine a hand to help her get in. She took it and thanked him before he moved aside to allow Erik in. Then Nadir closed the door with a sharp click and climbed back into the driver's seat. With a small jerk the carriage started forward.

The carriage moved quickly as the horse moved at a swift trot. The howl's of the wolves filled the air and, with a flick of the reins, the horse moved into a swift canter to get through the treacherous woods.

"Do not fear, Christine," Erik said, "Spartan is swift and will not be stopped by the wolves."

"Oh…" Christine said, realizing that she had been wringing her hands, "that's good to know…do you think they will follow us?"

Erik shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps."

Christine was somewhat disturbed by Erik's calm manner regarding the wolves. The animals had almost torn him to pieces and he still didn't seemed the least bit bothered by their calls.

"How long will I be able to visit?" Christine asked.

"An hour or so," Erik replied, "which leads me to ask where you live?"

"You don't know?"

"I would hardly be aware of the whereabouts of your old home," Erik replied irritably, "though I do know where the village is. May I assume that is where you father's house is located?"

"Its, umm, its just outside of the town. In the small cottage by the woods."

Erik nodded and tapped on the window at the front of the carriage. Nadir turned in the seat and slid back the small pane of glass.

"Yes, Master?" he asked.

"Mademoiselle's house it located just outside of the village. A small cottage by the forest. Make sure that is where we stop."

Nadir gave a small nod and closed the window again. Christine gave a small shiver and pulled her cloak tighter. She was suddenly glad that they were inside the enclosed carriage and not sitting in the cold.


As the carriage began to slow, and finally jerk to a stop Christine's heart tripped. She looked out the window and could see her small cottage. Windows glowing and smoke puffing out of the chimney. A small smile flickered across her lips. At least her father was alright.

"You will have an hour, Christine," Erik said, "and then we will return to the castle. DO you understand?"

"Of course," Christine replied, too happy to fret over the short amount of time he had given her.

Erik nodded and Nadir opened the door. Once again offering her a hand to help her get out of the carriage. Once again she thanked him before hurrying towards the small cottage.

She entered without knocking and called out, "Papa? Papa its Christine, I'm home!"

"Christine?" Gustave asked, stepping out of the study and looking at her, "Christine, is that really you?"

"Yes, I've come to visit you," she replied happily.

"Oh, Christine," he sighed, embracing his daughter tightly, "I though I'd lost you."

Christine felt tears well in her eyes, "I missed you so much, Papa."

"But how did you escape?" he asked, "how did you get away from that monster?"

"He…he let me come and visit you," Christine replied, "and he isn't a monster…if you get to know him you see that."

"How could you say that?" Gustave asked, "have you seen him, Christine? Have seen his face?"

Christine nodded, "Yes…and I know its terrible, but you cannot judge him on that. He can be very kind. He did let me see you."

Gustave sighed and hugged his daughter again, "I suppose so, Christine."


The hour passed too quickly for Christine and when the small clock on the mantle chimed she glanced out the window to see if the carriage was still there. Of course it was, black and looming in the darkness.

"What is it?" Gustave asked.

"I have to go now," Christine replied, "I only had an hour…and now its over. I have to go, Papa."

"But Christine," Gustave moaned, "why?"

"Good bye," she replied, kissing him on the cheek and giving him another hug, "maybe I'll be allowed to visit again."

"Christine!" Gustave cried, "please."

Christine shook her head and pushed open the front door. The cold air slapped her face and brought tears to her already damp eyes. She wiped them away irritably and headed to carriage. As she walked she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see a young man with blonde hair walking down the small dirt road towards her. She immediately recognized the man's features. It was Raoul, and at that moment he looked up and recognition dawned on his face.

"Christine?" he asked, more mouthingher namesaying it. Then again, "Christine? Oh, Christine, you're home!"

"Raoul I-" she stopped when she heard her name from inside the carriage, soft and commanding. She turned to see Erik's gloved hand being held out to help her in.

"Christine, oh we were so worried…Christine?" Raoul frowned and started jog forward.

Christine shook her head and moved toward the carriage again. She took Erik's offered and was half pulled in by him. Once inside the door closed quickly and Erik tapped on the glass with more force than necessary With a jerk that nearly threw her backwards the carriage leapt forward.

"Who was that?" Erik asked, darkness tingeing his voice.

"Who?" Christine asked.

"The boy," Erik replied coldly.

"He's an old friend," Christine replied, "that was Raoul, we've been friends since we were very young."

"Just friends?" Erik asked.

Christine nodded her head, confused by his strange mood, "Yes, Erik. Just friends."

He stared at her for a moment, yellow eyes boring into her. Then he gave a small sigh and sat back, leaning his head against the back of the seat as if exhausted, "Very well then…if that is all."

Christine sighed and relaxed in her own seat. Where Erik's hand had clamped around her wrist hurt and she knew that, come morning, it would be bruised.


A/N: Yay another chapter up and my oral essay is more or less finished! In case you are wondering that is why it took so long to update, I was working on massive english summative on Gothic literature and why it is appealing (I am using Gaston Leroux's POTO as one of my references!). But now that I am finished writing it I have finished this chapter and posted it. So please review, and I hope you enjoyed my toils.