Author's's Note: Yay, chapter 2! Thanks to all who have read this, and to all who review. Erik, though not deformed, is no saint. If you didn't notice last chapter, I'm sure you will now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Even the computer I'm writing/uploading from...
"Erik."
His eyes sharpened. Goddamn it, why is it her? He'd recognized her as soon as she had come to him. She went to the same school, studying music in the hopes of becoming an artist. He'd heard her nervously sing once in accompaniment with the music professor, and he'd felt something past her lack of practice. Since then, he'd watched her on the university's grounds with near obsession. Of course he'd know her name. Erik knew everything about her. He saw Christine's eyes grow wide as he dragged her with him.
"Where-"
"If you resist, I'll be forced to do something terrible." Erik felt her shudder, but she stopped wriggling. She instead walked to keep up at his side, trying to be normal, but her face betrayed her worry. Christine's eyes darted quickly to his face, then away.
"What are you going to do with me?"
"...I don't know." At this point, Erik felt some honesty couldn't make the situation worse. He'd wanted to speak to her since he'd heard her sing, he'd wanted to be close to her. Well, here I am, holding hands with her, he thought bitterly.
They ascended the stairs to his apartment, and she remained still as he unlocked and opened the door. They entered and he quickly locked it, then turned to her. Isn't this a cozy situation? I just saved her life and sequestered her in the same night.
Christine noticed how nice the inside was compared to the outside of the building. Outside, it looked decayed, but inside everything was lovely. There was a fireplace in the den, a little furniture and a piano. His home. Erik walked towards her, and she winced as he reached out to her.
"Don't hurt me," she whimpered. Erik brought his hand back, and he knew then what he had to do.
"You're going to be staying here for a long time, Christine." He pulled out a key to show it to her. "This is the only key that opens the door, from the inside or out." He put it back in his pocket and looked at her as she began to realize what was to happen.
"You-you can't!" She cried out. She tried to think quickly. "My family- they'll come looking for me. They must be worried-"
"You're an orphan, Christine," Erik said firmly. "Don't think you can lie to me. No one will come looking for you here."
"I'll scream! I'll wake up the whole building." She was trying a brave front, but Erik wasn't worried.
"You know, funny thing about why I chose this building-" He knocked at a nearby wall, "-soundproof. Excellent for a musician." The topic of music seemed to bring her into a new panic.
"My music! I have to go to school. People will begin to wonder if I go missing."
"Not if you drop out for a time." Erik took off his trench coat and smiled. "Tomorrow morning, a letter will be dropped off at the registrar's office, from a Miss Christine Daae, regarding her enrollment. Turns out, she wants to take some time off to see the world. School has left her rather burned out."
Christine watched him with horror. My God, who is this man? She slumped to the floor, trembling. After the death of her parents and graduation, she'd moved to the city to pursue her dream of singing. Now, she had been rescued from a possible rape, only to become a madman's captive. The tears welled up, but she refused to cry in front of him. Her head still bowed, she angrily whispered.
"Why are you doing this?"
Erik took her by the arm and wrenched her up. He walked her to the extra room and settled her in a chair. "Because you know what I'm capable of." Because you're afraid of me now. "There's a bath connected. I'll...give you some of my old clothes to wear. You're soaking wet." He turned and closed the door. "Now you cannot ever be free," Erik whispered to the door.
Christine wept into her hands after Erik left her alone. Today had been so normal- music classes all day, and she'd gone shopping in the city tonight. She was late to catch her bus, and tried to cut across the alley when she'd been attacked. Her lost shopping bags and missed bus no longer worried her now. With her trembling right hand she grasped at the silver band on her left ring finger. "Father, what do I do?" She called out to the windowless room. "What am I supposed to do?" She thought of Erik, her rescuer and captor. She shuddered as she remembered how easily he had tried to choke the life out of that man, and the vicelike grip he'd had on her hand. "I can't stay...he'll kill me."
An hour later, Erik had made some tea and sandwiched for his 'guest' and found some clothes and supplies for her. Carrying the tray in one hand and a bag in the other, he kicked the door open gently with a foot. He saw Christine look up with red-rimmed eyes. She quickly wiped the tears and looked away.
"Don't you knock?" She spat. He set the bag down and put the tray on the night stand.
"Last time I checked, this was my home." He noticed she wouldn't look at him. She hates you, a dark voice cried out in his mind. She's a threat if she lives. IF. He knew it, but shook the thought from his head. He poured her tea, slipping something into it. "I've made you something to eat, and there's clothing and quilts in the bag. Use them." He walked away.
"I won't tell anyone," she whispered. He would have known she was looking at him now, if he'd turned. "I swear, I won't ever tell anyone, but please let me go."
"I don't believe you. You lied about having family, Christine. How could I expect you to keep quiet about a monster who found you in the rain?" He walked out, but remained in the hall, arms crossed over his chest.
Christine wanted to shriek, beat her fists on the door, but she couldn't. She put her head in her hand and looked at the meal and bag of clothes. She shivered, this time from the cold she hadn't felt before in her terror. She opened the bag and pulled out the quilt, tossing it on the bed. She then pulled out a long t-shirt and looked at it, blushing. I don't think so. I'd rather freeze. She looked at the steaming teacup. If she had any reservations, they disappeared as she drank in the warmth. It was the first comfort she'd had all night. Cup in her hands, she looked around the room. It was comfortable, but she didn't notice that now. Instead, her tears spilled out of loneliness. Her trembling lips parted, and she sang. It was shaky at first, but soon she poured herself into it.
Smile,
Though your heart is aching,
Smile
Even though it's breaking
You must smile
Through the fear and sorrow
Smile,
And maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
For you...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide any trace of sadness
Although a tear
Maybe ever so near
You must smile
You must keep on trying
Smile, what the use
Of crying?
You'll see that life is still worthwhile...
Christine had drifted into sleep as she sang. Erik had heard her singing, and felt the need to open the door as it grew quiet. He saw her in the chair, asleep, and took her in his arms. The drug worked quicker than I expected. He noted, with some irritation, that she was still in her wet clothes. Now I'm getting wet. He set her on the bed and looked at the shirt, then back at the sleeping girl. Of course, give her the sedative before she changes.
He felt annoyed, but another part of him was darkly thrilled. She's the girl you've been watching, Erik, it told him. What would be the harm? She'd never know if you-. Erik cursed under his breath as he sat her up and reached behind her to unzip the dress. I'd know, damn you. His darker urges were normally more dormant, but tonight the object of his obsession was lying helpless in his home. He would've been surprised if his darker side hadn't reared its ugly head.
He'd dressed her with his head turned away, trying to be courteous. He laid her down and slipped the quilt over her. "You'll see that life is still worthwhile," he sang softly, "if you just smile."
