" That was always there? " Erika spoke in a gasp of wonder. Her voice was hoarse and a dry sob came from her throat a second later.

She stood up slowly, carrying Christine with her.

The smaller woman opened her eyes lazily. Erika moved so slow and graceful, like the current of a river, that she barely felt when Erika lifted her. She had been so calm, that she had almost lost consciousness for a moment.

'' It's a pretty view, right? '' Christine asked crossing her arms, taking place on Erika's side and letting her head fall on her teacher's clavicle. Her eyes closed again, navigating between the lines of unconsciousness.

The line between day and night grew thinner by second. The yellow and orange painted light was bright and comforting, making Erika feel a warm emptiness in her stomach.

She had her unmasked face raised high, and was looking at the sky as if it was the first time she had realized it was there.

'' It's too bright, I have a headache and I can't see anything. '' She complained, raising one arm to cover her eyes and using the other to wrap around Christine's waist.

The sky was cloudy and starting to fade, but after years running away from the light, it still hurt to see it.

" We can go to another part of the cemetery if you want. " Christine spoke, tilting her head to hide part of her face in Erika's neck.

She had Erika's mask hidden underneath her cloak. Christine needed to see her face, and not to get used to, not to seek comfort, just because it was her.

'' No! '' Erika exclaimed out loud, taking her hand off her eyes abruptly, not ready to give this up yet.

'' No, it's okay, it's ... I don't know, can you really just lift your head and see ... this? '' She said, marveling, passing a hand through the air and then clenching her fist as if she wanted to take the sky by surprise to put it in her pocket and take it with her.

'' I need to get you out more often. '' Christine tried to joke but it was so solemn that it sounded like a promise. ''Are you talking about the sky? Yeah well, it's the sky, it's always there, angel. '' She shrugged, a tender smile on her lips.

'' Is...is unbelievable! It's like living in St. Peter's Cathedral! '' She laughed with almost childish joy, holding Christine from behind.

Christine didn't know what she was talking about, but she smiled anyway '' I'm glad it makes you happy. ''

Erika held the soprano tightly, trying to feel some of her warmth. She was cold, the icy air felt more like a slap than a caress on her wet face covered in tears.

Still, her mind was too over-stimulated to pay attention to that. All these captivating, beautiful, graceful things that she had buried and put aside. She had forgotten how big the world could be. It was too much. It was overwhelming. Everything was too bright, too colorful. Terrifying and forgotten.

A long time ago, she had thought it was worth living just to set foot on this world, she was beginning to remember why.

Christine sighed in satisfaction, and lifted her head to look at her maestra. A ray of sunlight shot through her gaze. The dark brown Christine was used to, turned into a pool of golden amber that took her breath away. Christine knew that she would never see eyes more beautiful than those that Erika possessed.

Christine tugged on Erika's white cape playfully to get her attention.

Erika looked down from the sky to smile at the little blonde in her arms. She took Christine's hand to make her turn around and face each other. The unmasked woman placed a hand on the back of the soprano's head, gently reached out to kiss her forehead. Her lips were cold, sensitive; wet and covered in tears. It was more a caress than a kiss. Her lips barely touching Christine's hot skin, and the coldness and tenderness made the soprano shiver.

Christine's hands went up to place them on Erika's collarbone. She could feel how bony Erika was even under all those layers of clothes. A familiar tension filled the air while Christine wondered what it would feel like to touch her bare skin.

Trying to get rid of that urge, she brings her fingers to the back of the brunette's neck. An overwhelming feeling washed over Erika as she felt Christine's fingertips go down her throat.

Christine fought with the idea of kissing her. She could do that, right? Erika wanted it too? Indecision formed a knot in her stomach. It would be so easy to attract her to kiss her on the lips.

But before she could make a decision, Erika released her and walked away. Being in that position, the light hurt her eyes, enough of the sky for now. She blinked repeatedly, her vision was dim and cloudy.

'' All good? '' Christine asked, masking the disappointment in her voice.

'' All good. '' Erika nodded giving a long sigh in order to stop the hiccup that wanted to get out in its place.

She was being honest. Christine was here, and won't leave, and that was enough for her to regain her composure. The knot of fear in her throat had dissolved.

'' Shall we go? '' Erika walked a few steps, but she reached out her hand so Christine could take it.

Which she did without hesitation — Her hands were much colder than usual. — before questioning anything. '' Where? ''

'' Home, the next train leaves in an hour. '' She explained, holding hands with Christine. '' We will have to stop and take another train in Mantes, we will arrive in Paris in the early hours with luck. ''

'' Are we leaving so soon? '' Christine asked, frowning.

The journey here had felt like it took forever, and she felt like she has been just what a sight last in the cemetery.

'' Unless you want to stay overnight in the city? '' Erika asked at the same time as she was shameless begged her with her eyes to say no. she wasn't ready for a night out of Paris.

Although she didn't have the money to even consider the possibility, Christine took a few seconds to think.

She hated the idea of staying at Perros, she hadn't spent a night here since she left. In her eyes, this was a ghost town. After Madame valerios passed away, Perros had become a cemetery and nothing else for her.

The bitter taste of regret rose in her throat. She had acted so badly when she left. She had been so cynical, believing herself justified by her mourning. Much of her current personality came from how bad she had felt and the conclusion of how much that was not worth it.

'' No, I want to go home. '' Christine clung to her teacher's hand, intertwining their fingers. '' How long have I been here? Two hours? Mark this as my worst financial decision of the year! '' She complained embarrassed.

" Just in time for New Year's Eve. " Erika joked, making Christine laugh. "Shall I write it in red or black ink?"

'' In blue if you can. '' Christine smiled shaking her head.

The joy did not last long. The melancholy of the air made her sick.

'' Are you okay? '' The sincerity in Erika's voice made Christine want to cry.

She dropped her arms to the sides, shaking her head, her lips pressed together in a thin line holding back a sob.

'' What am I doing? I am an adult woman, and here I am, following absurd and senseless rituals as if death were a monster that I can protect myself with a blanket. My family is dead, because I can't accept it and get on with my life? ''

Christine asked her. Although she was rhetorical and not waiting for an answer, the question seemed to touch a nerve in Erika. Her eyes took that rare vulnerability that always made the moment become intimate.

'' ... People just die; and we spend the rest of our lives looking for whatever they give us in someone else. '' Erika spoke absently, opening and closing a hand on her chest.

The statement gave Christine chills, and she frowned in disagreement. That didn't sound right.

''You make it sound horrible. '' Christine complained, her lips pursed in an unintentional pout, truly upset by her words.

''Because it can be. '' She spoke as if she were talking about a past curse that had been easily corrected. The ones caused by a poisoned peach and broken by a kiss, Christine didn't think it was that easy.

Christine thought about asking, but decided it was useless, she knew that Erika was talking about her mother.

She was silent to hear what else she had to say but Erika said nothing.

'' And? What else? '' She circled her wrist, motioning for her to continue.

Erika was thoughtful, her lips parted, her hand took place under her chin, nodding her hair away from her face.

'' Only that sometimes we found it; and it's not a replacement, nor is it something better or worse, just different. '' She shrugged, surprised as she didn't think she could untangle decades of unspoken grief and thought that never stopped.

When she said it like that ... Christine could see some feasibility, but her thoughts were entangled in a dark room after being abandoned for years. This was the first time that she had discussed this with anyone.

'' I can't understand it. '' Christine whispered, frowning.

'' When my mother died, I took it... well? at least for be so young, until I saw my face. After that my whole perspective changed, my own image tormented me. I was a child and suddenly I realized that the monster under the bed had been my own reflection all the time. '' Her expression darkened and her eyes reddened.

Erika's expression remained hard. She raised her right hand in a gracefully calculated move to hide her right cheek. Because of the way she positioned her fingernails on her skin, Christine feared that she would hurt herself.

'' I realized that my mother was gone and would never return. Despair consumed me when I realized that I had taken for granted the love she gave me. who else would love me as much as she did regardless of my face? Nobody, nobody would do it because my mother was ill and her eyes saw a beautiful and perfect face that was never there. But my goal remained the same, to be loved by myself. ''

She lowered her hand from her face as new tears welled up in her eyes, but she smiled through them. Her expression turned bittersweet and softened.

''And I do! '' Christine exclaimed, almost running to where she was. '' I do. '' She said pressing a hand on Erika's smooth cheek

'' And that's my point! '' Erika giggled, placing her hand over Christine's, closing her eyes to sink into her touch. '' You do, I found someone who sees my face and smiles, I have experienced all the happiness that life can offer. ''

'' Oh my love, that's not true. '' Christine smiled at her gently, shaking her head. '' There's more, much more. '' She took Erika's shoulders, having to look up to see her face. Her blue eyes shining with excitement about everything she wanted to do with her.

'' Then show me, teach me, guide me.'' Erika pleaded in a whisper, pulling Christine up by the elbows.

She had such an intense gaze that Christine couldn't stop staring.

" I will. " She whispered a promise.

Christine gathered their foreheads, Erika felt her heart pound and her breathing accelerate.

" Erika? " The soprano spoke shakily feeling the warm breath of the older woman fall on her lips.

" Umh? " She replied. She was breathing through her mouth for fear that breathing through the hole she was cursed to call nose would disgust Christine.

But she smiled '' You are extraordinary, creepy at times but I wouldn't want it any other way. '' She spoke from the bottom of her heart.

'' Thank you? ''

The smile slid down the soprano's cheeks in such a natural way that she didn't feel it.

Christine laughed. A feeling of calm filled her as she looked at Erika's face in the sun. What was life like before her? She was what Christine have always wanted, what she has lost. Not worse or better, just different. Erika did not replace everything she had lost, but she was enough.

Yes, she was beginning to understand.

Erika raised her hand and unsure of what to do, left it froze in midair. Christine took over and raised her hand, to make the tips of their fingers brush. The touch was delicate, soft; making her feel warm inside. She laced their fingers to knuckle height, the gesture felt intimate, private even to their very eyes. None dared to speak, let alone breathe.

Their hands closed in a firm and gentle touch, Erika wanting to possess her, Christine wanting to free her.

'' Christine? '' Erika whispered bowing. Her voice trembled and her heart pounded furiously in her throat.

'' Umh? '' Christine whispered, her eyes alternating between her maestra's lips and eyes.

'' Can I kiss you? '' Erika whispered tenderly.

Those words unleashed a fire in Christine's chest, making her legs tremble and filling her heart with impatience and affection.

'' Please. '' She nodded pleadingly, raising her trembling fingers to separate Erika's lips with her fingertips.

Erika gasped and her breath hitched. She released a warm sigh that imparted against Christine's lips. Both looking into each other's eyes.

"Kiss me. " Christine sighed, closing her eyes. She barely heard herself speak about her heartbeat.

The sound of the church bell startled Erika and made her straighten her posture, leaving her lips well out of reach of Christine.

The blonde froze in place when she realized that Erika had denied her what she wanted so much.

'' Is the church bell.'' Erika spoke, stepping back. A fairly standard practice between them, as it was tiring for Christine to have to lift her head every time they spoke. And well, until recently, Erika had preferred her distance.

But this time it felt like a slap. What did the church bell matter? ! Being so close, that felt so cruel.

'' That's right. '' Christine spoke very still, still processing what ALMOST happened.

" It means we're late." Erika explained, her gaze running away from Christine. Of course, she wanted to kiss her, how much she wanted to kiss her. But she did not know how to get the moment back.

'' Already? '' Christine said surprised at how quickly time passed with her, taking Erika's hand again, resigned '' Let's go then. ''

" Are you not going back to your father's grave? " Erika asked, cocking her head in the direction of Gustave Daaé's grave.

Christine fell silent, looking at their clasped hands.

She didn't like the idea of leaving without saying goodbye to her family, but she had never taken anyone to her father's grave. The idea sounded so intimate. It felt wrong to do it as a last minute plan. One day she would return with her for that sole purpose, and it would be a memorable and happy moment. With all the time in the world available.

'' You have to come back. '' Erika spoke, sounding quite confident but casual.

'' Not really, I want to go home. '' She said and inside she regretted it.

'' No, seriously, you have to go back, you forgot your bag, Christine. ''

'' Oh! '' Christine exclaimed out loud, understanding Erika's insistence. Foolishly raising her arms and looking at her feet to make sure she didn't have her bag nearby. ''I think I'll go for it.''

Her voice was tight, and she made no indication that she was going to move. Erika raised an eyebrow. She could read people's emotions well, not knowing how to react to them was something different. She could understand that Christine wanted to go alone.

'' Go, I'll stay here. '' Erika smiled at her, but Christine had learned to read her eyes and could see that she was somewhat confused on how to feel.

'' It's not that I don't want you to come with me but-''

'' You don't want me to come with you. '' Erika nodded ''It's fine, I'll wait for you here. ''

She was not thrilled at the idea of letting her out of her sight after the scare that her sudden departure had brought her, but it does not bother her either.

But seeing how Christine took such importance on the fact, should she feel bad about it? It was just a grave. It had been Christine's father once, but down there was only a dead body and what is dead ceases to exist and what ceases to exist ceases to matter. She could see some possibility of comfort in it, but she wasn't sure. Erika was not used to visiting the cemetery, in fact, she had never visited one back in Paris.

Christine shook her head '' Erika, I loved my father, and I knew he would want me to be happy, and I was, eventually, but never so much until I found you. '' Christine said taking her by the elbows, with enough love in her eyes to make Erika nervous.

'' I think I found you. '' Erika said sweetly, a playful smile, and in a show of her growing confidence, put her hand on Christine's cheek.

Christine laughed '' That is more accurate. '' She curled up against Erika's icy hand.

'' But now we are not at our best now, I want things to get done differently.''

'' Not at our best, ah? That's true. " Erika said, pulling her hand away from Christine to run her fingers under her eyes. She rubbed the gray residue between her fingers with disgust, not again.

Christine smiled at her. '' You are pretty, fae. '' She said running the back of her hand across her sunken, rough cheekbone, barely touching her, afraid of hurting her.

Erika rolled her eyes without discretion. Then made a gesture that Christine would have described as wrinkling her nose if her dearest had enough nose to do that.

The deep hollow in her face was... uncanny, but Christine had stopped noticing until she mentioned it. So she thought she would get used to it soon.

'' That one is new, I like it. '' Erika said about the new pet name, too shy to look at her.

'' Maybe... '' Christine spoke with a nervous and shy smile.

'' Maybe...What? '' Erika asked squeezing Christine's hand in an attempt to give her courage.

'' Would you come back with me next year? The coast is beautiful in the spring, I would like to take you there. '' Christine said nervous with her cheeks flushed, a shy sweet smile on her lips, looking at her feet.

There was a silence that lasted what it took Erika to speak through the knot in her throat.

''... Seriously? Aren't you lying? '' Erika asked, her powerful voice growing small.

Erika was aware of her reality. Not only from her shattered face but from her corpse-like appearance and her many, very varied strange customs. Christine would be capable? Of be seen with her without caring what others think of her ghastly being or of the unusual nature of their relationship. It was too much to ask, a dream and nothing more.

''No, why I would be lying? '' Christine said, taking Erika's icy hand and rubbing circles with her thumb. The hand trembled under her fingers.

Erika almost wanted to get mad when she heard that question. How could she ask why? Just looking at her was enough, but the sincerity in her voice was so convincing that for the first time, Erika believed her.

Christine smiled at her until something behind the taller woman caught her eye. She released her teacher's hand to run toward it. Erika couldn't see what she found so interesting about a broken flower pot until Christine turned and proudly held out a few small purple flowers.

'' For you. '' She said with a playful and affectionate smile.

'' For me? '' Erika asked, her eyes filled with disbelief.

Only Christine would have thought of giving flowers to the phantom of the opera. A warm feeling of youthful shyness and bubbling excitement blossomed in Erika. No one had ever given her flowers before.

'' Yes. '' nodding smiling insisting that Erika take the flowers.

Which she did with shaking hands. They were three purple flowers, small and dying, but Erika had to force herself not to cry. It was this kind of thing that she never expected to experience; everything seemed like a dream, an illusion. It was not the flower itself that made her cry, but what it represented. She loved Christine and Christine loved her back. To truly love and be truly loved, that was the definition of miracle.

Christine did not know how to interpret Erika's troubled expression and watery eyes, and her smile fell.

'' Why are you crying? Are you okay, angel? ''

'' Yes, I-I'm fine, don't worry'' She said wiping away the tears before they turned into streaks of black lines on her face. '' Christine... thank you.'' Her face lit up little by little, a sincere and bright smile grew on her face.

'' I'm glad you like it! '' Christine knew it had been a small and childish gesture but seeing her reaction made her happy, dazzled by Erika's smile.

What made Erika's joy so special was not only how rare she was, but how contagious she was.

Erika laughed with joy, having twirled the stem of the flowers between her fingers as she watched them. Christine couldn't believe how much such a tiny detail could make her so happy. It was lovely to see how much she was moved by a flower. Something that Christine did not expect, but Persephone don't stop being the goddess of spring for being the queen of the underworld.

'' Violets. '' She laughed under her breath, like enjoying a personal joke. '' How curious. Thank you, Christine, I love it. ''

'' Why curious?'' Christine questioned, tapping a lock of hair behind her ear.

Erika's smile tilted. '' I'll explain it to you when we got home. '' Just with seeing her Christine, her smile widened. She began to feel that she could never take the smile off her 'face'

Christine imitated her, her smiles were never truer than when she smiled at Erika.

'' Alright, go, I'll wait for you here. ''

Christine nodded, but before that, she held Erika's hand by the wrist and brought it to her lips to leave a kiss between her palm and her wrist.

'' I'll be back soon! '' She said, very pleased with herself before fleeing the place before Erika could say anything. '' and stay there! '' She added halfway.

Erika was unable to say anything, feeling vulnerable and fragile, was it nerves or a migraine on the way? Who could know.

She laughed, raising her face, letting cold air numb her cheeks and the sunlight caressing them. Was this what freedom felt like? She promised herself that she would fight for it.

There was no meeting sweeter than what she felt at that moment when she found herself grateful to be alive.

'' Do you feel good, angel? '' Christine asked, lowering her hands from her head and then covering the new hairstyle she had done with the hood of her cloak.

She had arranged her hair by making a single braid, intertwining the navy blue ribbon that she always wore on the wrist under the sleeve or in her pocket between the braid. - Erika had lent it to her during one of their lessons months ago and Christine had neither the will nor the strength to return it. - and twisting it onto itself to make a bun in the center of her head.

Erika had looked at her in the strangest way when Christine reminded her that she couldn't wear her hair down in public. She had wrapped her face again with that black scarf she was wearing, hiding her hair in it.

Without her hair and face in sight, and thanks to her clothing, height and broad shoulders she could pass as a man without problems. An eccentric one perhaps, but that's better than be seen a crazy woman.

'' A bit sick? '' Erika spoke doubtful, trying to tighten the grip on the handle of the case of her violin in her left hand. Her hands were so stiff that she felt she couldn't move them even if she wanted to. All her limbs felt heavy.

It was a migraine, of course. If she didn't feel bad now she was sure she would later. She hoped the pain part could wait a few more hours, or preferably, never come. For now, her vision was somewhat obscured and clouded by white lights. She was beginning to feel tender, like made of water. It was a normal feeling for her, the term of minor inconvenience was too big for it, or at least it would if she were in the opera. In the perspective of being in a station with ... people, not so much.

"We will arrive soon at the station." Christine said as a way to comfort both of them. Her voice was soft, understanding, as she already knew that Erika's health could be fragile.

Erika seemed to mumble something, but the scarf over her mouth shut her words.

'' Give it to me. I can from here. '' Christine said reaching out to ask for her cloak.

The cloak, being Erika's property, was too long for her. So Erika had been holding the excess material all the way, which was wet and muddy just like Christine's black skirt. Luckily for her, her positive character began to return and her socks and stocking were still dry. Wet socks in a cold day are enough to make anyone cry.

Erika reached out to give it to her. Their hands brushed.

Christine had an urge to pull her hand away. Erika's hand was freezing, as made of ice and stiff and heavy as a wax figure. Erika's skin was cold by nature, and very often she complained about how cold she was. She had not said anything about it and that was strange and worrying.

" Are you cold, Maestra? "

Yes? quite a lot, or not, she wasn't sure. She was in that strange line where her skin was too numb to recognize the feeling of tiny needles in each pore on her skin as cold. Her resistance to pain made it easy to ignore.

'' I'll be fine, I forget my gloves at home. '' She nodded, her voice covered by the scarf over her mouth.

" Give me the violin, I'll take it from here. '' Christine asked, wrapping the extra fabric of her cloak on her forearm and pushing her bag over her shoulder to get it out of the way. " The last thing I want is for you to get hurt, dearest. "

Erika smiled at her even knowing that Christine couldn't see is. She carefully handed her the violin, Christine took it with a melancholic smile.

'' Thank you, Christine. '' Erika said wrapping her arms around her torso under her cape, burying her hands in the purple coat she was wearing underneath.

Christine had the urge to ignore and bury the bittersweet feeling that carrying a violin in the city of her adolescent brought her, but instead decided to savor it. The memory of some parts of her childhood that were not obscured by their apparent Inescapable poverty concealed much of the anguish she had been carrying for weeks. It didn't taste as bitter as she thought it would.

'' We're almost there anyway. '' Christine smiled as they crossed the last bend in the trail. '' Look. '' She pointed at the new visible building.

Erika's feet anchored to the ground.

The station was about 10 meters away. It was not a very large, rectangular-shaped building with a triangular roof. The red bricks had darkened over the years and were now covered in a coat of green paint that did a poor job of bumping up the years of wear and tear.

For Erika, it was like seeing a nightmare from a distant past. It made her feel heavy, cornered. Freedom was gone. She had been a fool to think that she could escape the opera for a long time.

The feeling died soon. Rationality made her capable of speaking, returning her calm countenance.

" This is ridiculous." Erika confessed, uncovering her mouth. For how cold she was, Christine was relieved that she didn't have blue lips.

'' What do you mean? '' Christine asked.

Erika knew how little sense her fears had. Her mind was able to untangle them, make them useless.

'' It's a station! '' She exclaimed exasperated. '' I've done it many, many times before, I used to live on a train when I was your age, I can't even count the nights I slept in a wagon. ''

'' Seriously? '' Christine's eyes widened in curiosity.

She knew that Erika had been out of the country for years and being in many different places. It was such an intangible idea talking about someone as Erika.

" It was a different time. " She shrugged, putting an arm around her torso. ''A different life.'' she sighed.

'' And what change? '' Christine said, pulling away Erika's white cape to touch her arm, holding onto the dark purple fabric of her coat.

'' I did... many things, some wonderful, others torture me. I've made more mistakes than a thousand men together could in their lives, Christine. When I had to return to Paris, I also felt that I had lived more than a thousand men together could. I was tired and alone. It was as lonely as being the only person in the world in the quietest room, eventually, you either die or lose your mind. I create my own choice, I chose the opera. ''

Christine did not know what to say. Every detail of Erika's life was strange. She knew that Erika was much older than her, that she had lived much longer than her, and not always in the right way. The idea made her feel protective and small at the same time.

'' How long has it been since you came back? '' Her voice was small, weak, a sharp, caring edge.

'' Five, maybe six years. '' Erika said it as if it wasn't much. Her perspective of time was different, and it was better that way. She didn't want to look deeper into that.

'' And you've been there ever since. '' Christine didn't even try to make it sound like a question.

''Where else? It was the safest place I knew. It is my theater and I promised to take care of it and treasure it as the task of my life. When I felt alone, I went to my box and saw that life continued whether I was there or not. That's what nightmares are made for some, but it was comforting to me. As long as the opera remains open, I would never be alone again.''

'' You've never told me that. '' Christine whispered, reaching out to put it between Erika's shoulder and chest.

"Christine" Erika called her in a whisper "You make me want to live again, not just be an observer. My desire to belong came back, and I don't know if that's a good thing. '' Her dark eyes looked at the soul of the soprano, showing hers.

Christine turned soft, raising her hand to stroke Erika's cheek. She put a lock of dark hair behind her right ear, brushing her hair with her hand to smooth it.

'' You are alive, there was a moment where I thought that would not happen. Everything has been so crazy the last few weeks, and if that says anything, it says that things change. You have a chance. '' She raised her hand to cover Erika's mouth, shutting her up before she could respond. ''and no, before you start, it's not the last.''

Erika smiled behind her hand. Christine pulled her hand away, running her fingertips down her teacher's jaw line.

''How can you do that? Believe that I have any right to redemption; it's insane, are you aware of that? How can I assure you that it will be worth it? '' There was something so soft that it could only be heard when she spoke to Christine.

''' I know what love looks like, fighting for it will always be worth it. '' Sometimes, it was not enough, but She was willing to take the risk

Christine had grown unconditionally loved. Erika on the other hand, did not know love without complications, without clauses. There was always a condition in between.

'' But?..?''

Christine shook her head '' Nothing.'' She said puzzling at the strange question.

Erika looked at her with her only visible eyebrow raised, as if she didn't believe her, almost defiant

'' Yes, there are things that we have to talk about and things that you have to promise me that you will never, NEVER do again, but don't look at me like I'm dumb. ''

Erika laughed under her breath. It sounded reasonable, she could work with it.

'' Oh but you are. '' Erika joked with a mischievous look in her eyes

''Excuse me? '' Christine said playfully widened her eyes, trying to look offended, but losing against her laughter.

'' You're letting yourself be courted by the opera ghost, there must be something terribly wrong with you, you should see a specialist.''

''That was a joke? Are you making jokes again, fae? You will be fine then. Come on, silly girl, we are going to miss the train '' The blonde said poking Erika in the ribs to make her move.

'' Christine! '' She inevitably laughed, more from the nerves of being touched than from any tickling sensation.

Christine smiled and took her by the waist, resting her temple on Erika's shoulder.

'' Do not be afraid, we are in the middle of the week in low season and at the most inconvenient time to travel. There won't be many people, I promise. '' She spoke, holding her as they walked.

Erika looked ahead and after a dark and intense look, sighed

'' I'm going to do it. '' She slipped her hand out of her cloak looking for Christine's. '' Please don't stop holding me.''

Their fingers intertwined tightly.

'' I will not. ''

sooo, crazy times? It has been a while, stay safe everyone
in other things, one of Erika's dialogues comes from the original Leroux's book, the "I have experienced all the happiness that life can offer. " idk, I always wanted to use that phrase in a happier context
by the way, is this a good time to say that Erika is chronically ill? like, 50 thousand and something words later, yes, that's not great, I'm so sorry.
Anyways, I hope you like it. Be careful and have a nice day 💙 see you soon ... hopefully