In the months that followed the incident, Erik's emotions ranged from deep depression to fiery rage then lastly to a large dose of self hatred. Looking back on what he did, he realized that he really didn't give Christine much of a choice. He forced her in every decision she made in regards to him. No wonder why she chose that boy over me. I really am a monster. Even though she chose me that night it was because I didn't give her any other option. She only chose me because she didn't want her precious Vicomte to die. How would I never know her true feelings? Our whole relationship was a lie. She put her full trust in me and I shattered it.
Erik spent almost all of his time now consumed by his music. It was the only way to pour out his feelings without being overcome by them. The haunting melodies he produced were so sorrowful anyone who set foot in the opera house swore it was haunted by the ghost of the phantom of the opera. He knew if he stopped playing he would drown in his thoughts and memories and seek another more permanent release from this torture. Music was a way he could escape from his thoughts. Why he continued to keep living he did not truly know. He reasoned that rather than giving him the escape death would bring he would force himself to live with what he did to punish himself. So I can truly feel like the monster I am.
His concentration broke and his fingers faltered on the keys. Something above wasn't in order. His fingers paused as he listened for sounds of disturbances. He heard some faint shuffling and moving of furniture. He frowned at being interrupted from his music. He hoped it would only be a minor disturbance, because every moment he spent away from his music, the more his memories came back to haunt him. It's probably just some street urchin looking for shelter tonight. The noises above seemed to have stopped for the moment. Erik sighed and decided to finish up his current composition before heading up to deal with whoever was intruding in his opera house. His fingers once more floated about the keys producing unearthly music. Maybe they will have some supplies I can confiscate from them. I could really use…
"EEERRRIIIKKKK!"
Erik was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of his name being torn from the lips of his angel. It came from up above in the opera house. Erik jumped up from his seat, knocking the bench over behind him. His heart was pounding as his mind raced with all the possibilities of what could be happening. Without further hesitation, Erik grabbed his cape and lasso and ran for the surface.