Chapter 11: Heartfelt

It was only the next night that Erik saw Nadir again,

"She wishes to speak with you, alone" he told him with a sorrowful expression,

"She's at the beach next to the docks" he told him and Erik sighed before nodding thankfully.

Hope sat upon the sands of the beach, next to the warmth of the campfire,

"Are you just going to stand there?" she called over her shoulder with a sad expression and Erik came and sat beside her,

"Your senses have grown stronger" Erik praised awkwardly,

"You wanted to see me" she said, changing the subject,

"I wanted to apologise... I should not have tried to mislead you" he said gently and there was an agonising moment of silence as Hope looking into the flickering flames,

"Do you remember that time you developed a deadly fever after we left Persia?" Hope asked causing Erik to look confused but he nodded,

"Yes... I told you to go on to Paris without me but you refused" he murmured causing another moment of silence,

"I don't regret not leaving you" she said, looking at him,

"You are a curse on my life, Erik" she murmured causing him to look down sadly put looked up when Hope placed her hand over his and he saw her smile softly,

"But it's definitely a wonderful curse that I dare not change" she said gently and Erik looked confused,

"How could..." he tried,

"I senses your sorrow last night and I realised after you learnt my reasons for taking away Christine's singing voice... I knew that you forgave me and because of that... I can now forgive you" she said softly and Erik smiled as a tear fell down his cheek,

"I have missed you" he whispered as Hope held his hand within her own, giving his a gentle squeeze,

"I have missed you, too" she replied before resting her head on his shoulder as they both looked back at the campfire but Erik looked concerned when Hope winced suddenly,

"Ah!" she cried out, putting a hand to her head,

"Hope!... Hope what's wrong? I thought you had learnt to control your visions so that they didn't hurt you any more" he said as he held her,

"I... I did...Ah!" she winced before suddenly falling limp in Erik's arms,

"Hope?... Hope?" he said concerned as he looked upon his unconscious friend's face.

Erik paced outside the room in which he had placed Hope, where she was being tended to by Madame Giry,

"Don't worry, Erik. She'll be ok" Nadir comforted.

Madame Giry's frown became a look of relief when Hope began to stir,

"Hope?... Hope, what did you see?" she asked,

"Christine... She is on her way here" she murmured with heavy eyes of exhaustion,

"I am going to have stern words with Erik" the former ballet mistress growled but Hope shook her head,

"No... Gangle sent for her... He thought Erik would thank him for it even though... He told him not too" she murmured,

"He... He doesn't know" she continued,

"Don't worry, I'll tell him" Madame Giry assured,

"No... You don't understand... He doesn't know" she said, trying to sit up,

"Know what?" Madame Giry pressed,

"Christine... She travels here with her husband and her son... Her son... Her son is Erik's child" she whispered before passing out again.

Now why am I bringing in Gustave?... The answer to that is simple. He was absolutely adorable in Love Never Dies and I love the relationship he has with Erik.

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996