Chapter 2:
The sway of the ocean rocked Erik awake. His arm felt weak as he reached for his head. His eyes had a hard time focusing on what was around him. His brain felt like it was swimming in his head.
"Erik," Madam Giry nearly ordered.
Erik looked over to see her sitting in the chair next to his bed. She wore her long black dress as her hair was in a tight bun that was braided around her head. She had her usual unhappy serious expression. He looked around the small room. He saw simple furniture. He tried to focus on Madam Giry.
"Where am I," he asked.
"On a ship," she answered.
"I am not a fool, why am I on a ship," he asked through his teeth.
"I will get your new boss," she said standing up. "He will be able to tell you better".
Erik looked at her full of questions as she got up and left. He wasn't sure about that boss she was talking about. His eyes locked onto Meg standing peeking around the door at him. She looked nervous playing with something on her wrist before ducking away seeing that Erik noticed her. Madam Giry stopped in the doorway looking in the direction Meg hid in.
"Meg, sit with him," Madam Giry ordered.
"But Mama, he is awake now," she said.
"That doesn't matter. You have been with him the whole time. You have taken care of him from the start. You can sit with him now," she told her daughter.
Slowly Meg stepped in heading for the chair her mother once sat in. Erik looked at the woman. She looked nervous. Erik was not sure why since he was so weak. He would never do anything towards her and at this point if he wanted to he could not. His head was still trying to get use to the boat and what was happening. The small woman sat next to him looking away. Erik never really paid attention to her before as whenever he tried, she would nearly scream before running away. She told rumors of him making him sound more and more of a monster. He gave it no mind as it made it so everyone left him alone, but he still found it to slightly hurt his heart.
"What boss," Erik asked her.
Meg still looked away acting as if she didn't hear anything he said.
"Meg," he softly said.
She jerked her head to look at him. He repeated himself.
"We lost our jobs," she turned.
"What," Erik said.
"The managers did not wish to work with people who worked with a monster," Meg said turning away from him.
"I am sorry Meg," Erik said. "I didn't think that- ".
"Mr. Maxwing is a rich man," Meg said turning to him showing she wished to change subjects.
"And," Erik asked.
"Mother told him of you after the whole thing," she said biting her lip. "He said he wanted to give you a job. He loves your music and says it is what he wants. You are the sound he is looking for".
"How does he know of my music," Erik nearly sneered.
"I don't know," Meg said once again looking nervous.
"Thank you, Meg," he nearly whispered.
"For what," she asked.
"You took care of me," Erik said. "Must have been hard taking care of something like me. You know feeding, moving, giving me cold cloths of my forehead".
"And bathed," Meg stopped. "I mean it wasn't that difficult. You are easy to take care of when you are sleeping".
Erik blushed. He didn't even think of that. He touched his mask on his face.
"Do you see all of me," Erik asked.
"Mother said I had to make sure your face was well taken care of," Meg said. "I must admit I am very use to it now".
"You are the only one," Erik said. "Not even my own mother got use to it".
"Well – ".
"Erik, you are finally up," Mr. Maxwing said.
He was an older gentleman. His white hair was thick and pulled back into a ponytail. His big was big and bushy as his hazel eyes were full of sparkle. His expression and deminer showed he was use to getting things he wanted. Erik wasn't sure how to react to this type of man. He usually wasn't face to face with someone this confident.
"Where are we going," Erik asked.
"America, New York," he smiled.
"Take me back," Erik nearly barked.
"Oh," Mr. Maxwing said coldly as the sparkle in his eyes were gone in less than a second.
Madam Giry looked away towards the floor. Meg's eyes shot at Erik full of tears shocking Erik. The man, who looked full of happiness now looked blank. If Erik was any other man he would have folded right away.
"You agreed," Mr. Maxwing stated.
"I did no such thing," Erik stated right back.
"Well, Madam Giry it looks like you and your daughter shall no longer be needed," he said looking at Madam Giry.
Erik's eyes were full of surprise. He was not expecting that. Madam Giry looked full of anger and the anger was directed at Erik. Meg looked full of sorrow making Erik feel a lump in his throat.
"Erik," Meg nearly begged.
The flash of his nightmare filled his mind.
"So, I work for you or they no longer have jobs," Erik asked.
"Your music or nothing," Mr. Maxwell grinned. "I know that is what I need".
Madam Giry tried to look strong but was easy to see she was upset. Meg wept in her hands. Erik wanted to consul her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but knew she was be frightened if a monster such as him did such a thing. His eyes refocused on the man before him. Mr. Maxwing looked back at him with his ice-cold eyes.
"Fine," Erik said.
"Oh joyous," Mr. Maxwing said allowing the sparkle to return to his eyes. "I was looking forward to working with you three. You are staying in one of my homes until everything works out for you".
"Meg, you are to still take care of him until he is back up on his feet," Madam Giry said.
"Yes, mother," Meg answered looking nervous.
"Just a little over a week and we will be there," Mr. Maxwing stated. "I have paid enough money to get you papers Erik. The other two were far easier to join the American citizenship".
"Thank you," Madam Giry said,
"Well, Erik I would like to talk about-" Mr. Maxwing was cut off.
"I think Erik needs to rest before we tell him what we want," Madam Giry suggested.
"You are right," Mr. Maxwing said. "I guess you and I should go and disuse what I expect from my new workers".
Both him and Madam Giry left discussing their future careers. Meg rubbed her arm as her eyes shifted towards Erik before looking away.
"Thank you, Erik," Meg said.
"I can't believe this," Erik sneered clenching his fists. "I am going to a place I have never known to work for someone I never met".
"It is okay," Meg said getting nervous. "You still have my mother and I".
Flashes of his nightmare echoed in his mind. He ruined their lives. Who knows what they could have been without him. Now they had to move and take him with them for no reason, but to survive. He was selfish he told himself. Meg stood up fixing her skirt. She placed her hands on her hips looking at Erik with a friendly smirk.
"I will get you some food," Meg said. "You have to get your strength as soon as possible".
She left Erik as she ran off. Erik looked at his hands. Of course she wanted him to regain his strength quickly. That was she could get away from him as fast as she could. That was all Erik kept telling himself till she returned.
"It is going to be rough soon. They see a storm coming. You better eat quickly," she said.
She fed him some type of mushed up food. She was worried anything too hard or spicy would not work with his stomach for now. Erik ate it quickly realizing just how hungry he was and thinking that way Meg would be able to leave him alone after. She spoon fed him as he ate. He felt odd doing so, but Meg said it wasn't the best idea to have him feed himself as it might overwork his underused muscles. Erik decided not to argue and allow her to feed him. If he finished his food she wouldn't have to be with him. Instead she returned surprising Erik.
"Meg, you don't have to stay," Erik said.
"Mother said I do and besides the storm is here. It is best if I stay with you," Meg said. "I brought a book".
She opened it up and started to read out loud. As the boat started to rock harsher than before, she would sometimes stop to ask for a word or two. Erik thought she looked cute trying to study the book as she brushed her hair behind her ear. As she read the boat rocked Erik nearly fell out of bed as Meg fell on top of him. He smelled her soft flowery scent feeling her beautiful hair brushed up against him as she could smell his manly scent. She laid there for a moment with her head on his chest before jumping up.
"Sorry, where were we," she asked.
She continued to read but jumped the first few times she heard the thunder overhead. Erik thought she kind of looked cute doing so. She took longer to read than his speed reading would have taken. He enjoyed her reading, her voice, and her expression that she was giving as to go with what she was reading.
After the storm Meg made Erik sit up to the edge of the bed. He moved the sheet to still cover himself. Meg said Mr. Maxwing got him clothes from Erik's lair, but they were to be saved for the last day on the ship as they were his only clothing. Meg said a nurse taught her what exercise Erik needed to do to work his muscles. Erik felt embarrassed as Meg had him exercise especially his legs. He knew he was even skinnier than before. He felt like she was scared to touch him as well.
Erik found he was hungry each time Meg brought him food. He never ate as much before, but he felt different with Meg. He found he liked when she no longer had to feed him, and he was able to eat solid foods. She would bring his food and sit down with hers allowing them to eat together. It did not take long before Erik was able to walk on his own with effort and not for every long before Meg would have to help him, but it was a start. He also started to notice he wasn't as skinny. Madam Giry and Mr. Maxwing seemed to keep their distance making Meg spend most of her time with him. It felt odd having someone around him so much. Nadir was around him but did not visit him very much and when he did it was not for long.
He felt bad as almost each night he would wake up on the ground falling out of bed or wake up screaming. Meg would have to come in and play with his hair telling him it was okay before he would fall back asleep. By the morning she would be gone. Meg was there, but sometimes she would go somewhere else leaving him alone. For some reason that made him feel more alone than he ever did before.
He tried not to get jealous when she told him about a party they were going to have on top deck. She was telling him about the dancing and everyone joining. Erik tried to act like he was okay but found to be worried. If he could have, he would have taken his clothing and gone up to sneak around and make sure she was okay. Later that day she came down in a huff. It was fun to dance, but she didn't like that a few men tried to flirt with her ruining the fun. Madam Giry made sure to give the men an earful. Meg ended up spending the rest of the day with Erik. He was happy for that.
"Get dressed," Meg said. "We are going to dock soon".
Erik's clothing did not fit him very well. He could tell these were once his old clothes. He did like the idea of not being a skeleton, but right now it was working against him feeling the buttons wanting to snap off. Meg tried not to giggle as she walked in.
"You really need to go shopping," she teased.
"I guess I do," Erik sighed. "Hopefully there is a tailor who will not scream at the sight of me".
"You will do just fine," Meg stated. "We will go with you".
"Okay," Erik said. "I just want to get off this ship as fast as I can".
"Me too," Meg said. "Every day feels the same".
As the ship docked Erik felt nervous. Men came checking everything, but as they did so a man slipped Mr. Maxwing something. They both smiled as shook hands. They were Erik's papers claiming he moved to New York when he was a small boy. Erik could not believe this man really was able to pull it off. Both women went through the legal ways finding it easy with Mr. Maxwing behind them with his money and power.
