Disclaimer: Again, I do not own the song Learn to be Lonely. The same goes for the song "No One Would Listen". Another song feature on here is something I found on a lyrics site but I've never seen this song in any version of the story. But I thought, why not? The song is called "I Can Hear You" and I found it on a site called MetroLyrics.
Preview: Shorter chapter, what happened after Madeleine's visit. Will the wedding still continue? Angst and drama. The usual.
Your Heart Is On Its Own
"Leave me alone!" Erik screamed at Christine.
"Erik, stop this."
"Go now!" He yelled. He was crying in the chapel and Christine was trying to get closer to him. But something has changed again in Erik. It had nothing to do with drugs, but now it had to do with his mother… that sick twisted excuse of a mother.
"Erik." She cried out to him.
"Just go." He said softly. She felt her heart break. This couldn't be it. Would he call off the wedding? It can't be.
She walked out of the chapel but heard someone coming. Christine hid in the shadows to see who it was. When she noticed it was Madeleine she wanted to jump out and beat the woman. But Christine held back to see what she would do.
Madeleine walked into the chapel and saw Erik who was hiding in the corner.
"Leave me alone." Erik cried.
"You are alone, Erik." She said. "Remember what I taught you?"
"I must learn to be lonely…" Erik replied like a mindless puppet.
"Exactly."
"Child of the wilderness…
Born into emptiness.
Learn to be lonely
Learn to find your way in darkness."
The woman sang like an angel, but Christine saw her as a soulless devil.
Christine listened on while her heart broke. She held back her sobs so no one would hear.
"Who will be there for you?
Comfort and care for you?
Learn to be lonely
Learn to be your one companion."
'How could she tell a child such things?' Christine thought.
"Ever dreamed, out in the world
There are arms to hold you?
You've always known
Your heart was on its own."
'No…Erik. Don't believe it!' Christine thought. She prayed she could telepathically send the message to him. By some miracle he did look up and shook his head 'no' to what his mother was saying.
"Yes Erik, it is true." His mother replied to him. "You poor little demon child. I tried to shelter you, but you're just not meant for human contact."
She continued to sing…
"So laugh in your loneliness
Child of the wilderness
Learn to be lonely
Learn how to love
Life that is lived alone."
Erik began to cry some more, he was believing it again.
"Learn to be lonely
Life can be lived
Life can be loved…
…Alone."
"You're alone Erik. Destined to live alone, you were born alone…and you will always be alone." Madeleine said.
Christine couldn't take it anymore.
"You need to leave right now." Christine spoke up. She had tears in her eyes, but you didn't have to see her face to know she was crying. It was in her voice.
Madeleine looked at the broken man kneeling on the floor and then walked out.
"Unfortunate man of sadness, I've seen the life you have known, I have already told you…that you are not alone." Christine sang and went to kiss him like before but he moved out of the way and shook his head.
"No. You're wrong." He said.
"Erik, don't be like this. You are NOT alone!"
"I am alone."
Erik ran away from her and out of the chapel. She chased after him but he was too fast and she was too exhausted. While in one of the hallways she looked out the window and saw Erik heading for the church across the street.
She ran down the hall to the main exits. There she ran into Madeleine again.
Christine paused to take a breath and then spoke, "Leave…and never return."
"It's amazing that he's found someone who can love him." Madeleine stated.
"I always wondered why he is like the way he is. But now there's no doubt why he's so vulnerable and sensitive."
"Take care of him…I was never able to."
"Unlike you, I will love him and take care of him." Christine said angrily.
"Good." Madeleine started. "I wish I could have loved him."
"You could have. But it's too late so just leave now, and don't come back."
Madeleine had a look of understanding on her face. She grabbed something from her coat pocket.
"Here…" She said and pulled out a blanket. "I started it before Erik was born, and even though I was horrified of him I still continued to work on it after he was born. I kept it when I was done…it's something I made for him. And maybe he wants it."
Erik's mother handed it to her. Christine studied it. The color of it was a soft baby blue and it had writing sown onto it. The writing was in a darker color blue, and it said "I love you."
Christine looked up with tears in her eyes. "Do you feel bad about how you treated Erik?"
"Yes." Madeleine replied. "But I'm afraid of him."
"He's your son. Why are you afraid?"
"I don't know." She said.
Christine sighed and gave the blanket back, "Maybe you should give it to him."
"No. You give it to him. Just make sure that he gets it and he knows who it is from."
Christine nodded, "Ok."
The older woman walked out the doors and into her carriage. Christine headed over to the church across the street.
When she walked in she saw candles thrown down all over the place, the altar was destroyed and it looked like the crucifix in the center was thrown across the room. Glasses were broken, the flowers were ripped, and so were some bibles.
He was kneeling in front of the altar, not knowing anyone came in. His body was shaking like before, not because of sickness or drug overdoses, but from crying so much.
"No one would
listen.
No one but her…
Heard as the outcast hears.
Shamed into solitude
Shunned by the multitude
I
learned to listen
In my dark, my heart heard music.
I
longed to teach the world
Rise up and reach the world
No one
would listen
I alone could hear the music
Then at last, a
voice in the gloom
Seemed to cry…
'I hear you; I
hear your fears,
Your torment and your tears.'
She saw
my loneliness
Shared in my emptiness
No one would listen
No
one but her
Heard as the outcast hears…
No one would
listen
No one but her
Heard as the outcast hears..."
Christine walked down the isle and sat by him. He looked up at her in embarrassment and disbelief.
"Child of the
Wilderness,
Dying in loneliness.
I can hear you,
I can feel your
every fear.
I never dreamed
out in this opera,
There was someone
who loved me.
I've always known,
My heart wasn't
alone.
I've felt your
emptiness,
And all your
loneliness.
My Fallen Angel,
I can feel your kiss still
linger here.
My Fallen Angel…
You still remain,
A lover in my
heart…"
Christine softly ended the song and stared into his sad eyes. She handed him the blanket his mother made.
"Your mother made this when you were a baby." She whispered.
Erik sat there staring at it, tracing over the letters that said 'I love you'. He sobbed after a minute and collapsed on Christine's shoulder. She held him against her.
She rested her head down on his slick black hair while he cried. She rocked him back and forth once again.
"You are not alone, Erik." Christine whispered.
After ten minutes of the two of them crying together Christine spoke up, "We still have a marriage to plan if you're still up to it."
"Of course I am." He said. "Tell me I'm not dreaming."
"What do you mean?"
"I was so afraid I would never find love, I was so afraid you wouldn't love me." Erik said.
"You're not dreaming, Erik. I love you with all my heart and all my soul." She said. "I always have, I was too afraid before but recently I realized I was fooling myself. I couldn't continue masquerading…and neither should you."
She went to pull off his mask but he stopped her. "Don't ruin this, please." He said.
"It won't ruin anything." Christine replied.
"It will for me."
"Fine, but you have to learn not to hide from me." Christine informed him.
"Ok…when I'm ready, I will."
Erik wiped away tears on his face and calmed down.
Christine smiled at him and then looked around. "Erik…"
"Yes?"
"You know this was the church we were supposed to get married in."
"Yeah."
"Why did you ruin it?"
Erik looked around and laughed. "I wasn't really thinking."
Christine gave a little laugh and said it was alright. "We'll fix this."
Erik moved in closer to her and kissed her passionately. His feelings for her were growing intense but Christine stopped him and laughed.
"We're in a church Erik."
"So?"
She continued laughing and got him up. "Maybe we should get out of here before someone sees us."
"Is someone in there?" A priest yelled. Erik grabbed Christine and rushed her out the door. The excitement and surprise of it made her scream and laugh.
"Shhh."
"Sorry." Christine replied. They ran out the door and over to the Opera house laughing like two kids who got away with something bad. They ran into Andre and Firmin. The look on their faces when they saw the Opera Ghost made Erik laugh harder. Christine gave a surprised look but Erik pulled her farther into the building.
"Uhhh….did I just see what I think I saw?" Firmin asked.
"If you mean the Opera Ghost and Mademoiselle Daae? I think so." Andre replied.
They both turned around to look in the direction of the two who ran by but saw nothing.
"Ok, well that was interesting." Firmin said.
"Well Monsieur Phantom seems to really be back for good." Andre rolled his eyes. "Just perfect."
"As long as he doesn't bother anyone then I don't care."
Andre remembered then masked gentleman named Erik who seemed to be dating Mademoiselle Daae. His eyes shot open when he thought about the possible connection.
"Oh dear God!" He exclaimed.
"What is it Andre?"
"I think Erik…is the Opera Ghost!"
"Oh my God!" Firmin shouted then paused. "Wait…who is Erik?"
"Erik De Chagny. He's Raoul's half brother. But he seemed to be dating Mademoiselle Daae and his voice sounded slightly familiar. Now I remember the Opera Ghost's voice…and I think they're one in the same!"
"I heard Mademoiselle Daae was engaged again but I haven't heard to whom she is to be wed." Firmin stated.
"I think it's the Ghost."
"Well obviously he isn't a ghost."
"I know that." Andre said sounding annoyed. "Of course, but what else do we call him?"
"Erik apparently."
"Yeah…but what if I'm wrong?"
"Well…then the ghost has a new name anyway." Firmin said.
Andre rolled his eyes again and walked away from his business partner. Firmin laughed at him and decided to go for a walk.
He was stopped short by a rather drunk gypsy fellow. "Are you one of the managers of this fine Opera House?"
"Yes I am." Firmin replied.
Firmin noticed the man's clothes were made of rags and he smelt as though he hasn't showered in weeks. He remembered seeing this foul man before but he couldn't quite remember where or when he saw him.
"How can I help you?" Firmin asked after a brief silent moment.
"You have something that belongs to me." The gypsy said with a sadistic smile.
"We're back." Christine announced and walked into the room.
Everyone was sitting there waiting for their return. Madame Giry ran up to Erik and hugged him. Erik sighed and hugged her too.
Nadir spoke up and revealed something to Erik. "Here, you may want this."
Erik heard the object playing a soft tune,
"Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade…
Masquerade…
Hide your face so the world will never find you."
He smiled at the little monkey and cried. Nadir handed it to him.
"I found it in your lair. It seemed to have been knocked over and hidden under the bed. I think that someone from the mob knocked it over months ago and the poor little fellow hasn't been found till now." The Persian said.
Erik continued to stare at it in awe. Christine comforted him as he cried some more. The sight of the monkey made her cry too, she remembered the last time she saw it. He was sitting there…so vulnerable and defeated. His voice and his eyes were soul piercing. She'll never forget the sadness she saw in his eyes. It made her want to die of a broken heart.
After a moment she decided to lighten the mood, "Well, we have a wedding to plan."
"When will it be?" Meg asked.
"Wow…we haven't even picked a date yet." Christine laughed.
"How about August 1st?" Madame Giry suggested.
"Sure." Erik said.
He smiled at the fact he was getting married. He never would have thought this would happen. Everything seemed to be going well. What could possibly go wrong?
