Chapter 6

AN: Sorry Updates took so long I have been very busy lately.

It had been six years since Erik had come to live with Gustave and Christine and they were getting ready to celebrate Erik's 15th birthday.

Nadir, not long after finding and freeing his father from prison, decided to stay with his aunt Kiara so he could stay with his new friends.

Kiara, who had been told about Erik's mother, looked at Erik as a loving son and treated him with the utmost respect, even though she had seen his face.

"Christine," Nadir asked as he ran up to the girl, "have you seen Erik? I just wanted to wish him a happy birthday."

Nadir noticed the small blush on Christine's cheeks at the mention of Erik as she pointed up to the tree she was reading under.

Nadir burst out laughing at the sight of a disheveled Erik trying to get his leather mask back from a crow that was bigger than his head!

Nadir noted he was losing the fight and shouted up to him, "Having a fun birthday, Erik?"

Christine just blushed deeper and Erik quietly glared down at him.

Finally bored, the crow dropped the mask into Christine's lap and flew off.

Christine stood and handed the mask back to Erik as he climbed down.

Nadir saw how they were looking at each other and smirked at Erik.

Erik said, annoyed, "Do not tell Gustave about the crow, Nadir!"

"Why not?" Nadir said chuckling. "I also think he would like to hear about how you two are making puppy eyes at each other." Nadir laughed at the sight of their guilty faces and added, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!"

Nadir walked back to the cottage, saying to Erik along the way, "Do you think they will notice if I swipe some frosting off the cake with a spoon?"

Erik laughed and Christine said, irritated, "Nadir, you know I always said Erik would rub off on you one day; he tried to swipe icing last year. Remember?"

Erik and Nadir said at the same time, "No."

Christine sighed and said, "Papa caught him and gave him such a scolding it would make even the bravest man feel ashamed."

Erik nudged Nadir and said, grinning, "Save some frosting for me."

Nadir, Erik, and Christine stepped into the cottage and Nadir ran off to the kitchen discreetly as Christine felt two arms wrap around her waist.

Erik whispered into her hair, "I hope Nadir keeps his mouth shut about us around Gustave or I will most likely be lectured even harder!"

"You?" Christine asked. "Imagine what it would be like for me!"

She turned to face him and kissed his lips lightly as Erik said, "Do you love me, Christine?"

Christine was just about to answer when her father stepped into the room. Gustave had been terribly sick lately, always coughing and wheezing. Despite the fact he assured his family he was fine, he knew he was dying, but suddenly walking into a room where his twelve year old daughter was wrapped in the arms of a boy he considered a son was, to say the least, a big shock!

Not prepared for what he saw, Gustave Da'ae crumpled to the floor.

Much to Erik and Christine's horror, when they ran up to him they noticed a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. When Erik realized what it meant, he yelled for help and Kiara and Nadir ran into the room.

Nadir had a spoon hidden behind his back, but it clattered to the floor at the sight of Gustave.

Erik said suddenly, desperately, "Christine go get Doctor Ricardo; he is the closet doctor to the village!"

Christine nodded and ran out the door as Kiara and Nadir helped Erik carry Gustave to his room.

Christine came back fifteen minutes later with Doctor Ricardo. Doctor Ricardo walked into the room, where Erik sat at a now-conscious Gustave's bedside.

The doctor took one look at Erik and grinned at him with yellow teeth. Nadir once told Erik that Doctor Ricardo had been raised among Gypsies and that his brother owned a travelling freak show. Erik did not like this doctor because when Erik was eleven years old, he caught a fever. Doctor Ricardo came to tend to Erik and at the sight of the boy's face, he offered to take Erik under his wing as a doctor's apprentice. Erik refused, knowing what the doctor really had in mind.

As the doctor finished examining, Gustave he looked grim, but was really trying not to smile as he told the small family the news. "I am so sorry to say to all of you, but Monsieur Da'ae is dying and probably won't live through the night."

Christine started to sob uncontrollably and Erik slowly rocked her in his arms, quietly singing to her. Nadir and his aunt had sat down and Nadir was trying his best not to cry as his aunt rubbed his back.

Nadir let Erik and Christine go into Gustave's room, because he knew Gustave would want to say good-bye to them.

Gustave was lying in bed with the curtains closed and a single candle lighting the room.

Christine sobbed into her father's hand and Erik took off his mask to prevent his tears from drenching it.

"Christine," Gustave whispered hoarsely, "you have been the light of my life since your mother, Melinda, passed but remember: even though you cannot see us, we will be there for you. When I am in heaven, I will send the angel of music to protect you both."

Nadir watched from the doorway and Gustave said to him jokingly, "Stay away from that cake after I am gone, young man!"

Nadir, unable to hold it in, ran from the room crying.

Finally, Gustave turned to Erik and said, touching his unmasked face, "My boy, my wonderful son, never ever let people belittle you because of your face. What you have on the inside is more important than what is on the outside!"

Erik nodded as he felt Gustave's hand start to slip from one of his.

Gustave continued, starting to cough more, "I am sending both you and Christine to live with my widowed sister, Antoinette Giry. She will take you to the Paris Opera House to live and train with her." As he started to fade into the unknown Christine and Erik heard him whisper, "Melinda," and then Gustave stopped breathing.

Erik held Christine for hours until she fell asleep, crying in his arms. Knowing she would want to be alone, he trudged up to his room but as soon as he entered, he was knocked unconscious.

When he awoke, Erik looked around, still groggy.

He looked down and saw he was dressed only in his pants. He immediately covered his face as the realization dawned on him that his mask was gone! He tried to move only to realize he was chained to a cage! Then it hit him like a ton of bricks as to what happened:

He had become a freak!

AN: Hey everyone just wanted to point out that there will be some elements from the movie and maybe the musical.

And I am so sorry this chapter was sad but please R&R.