Day 9

I do not own anything

One week came and went, it felt like endless long. Christine didn't have the fever anymore and she could start to work again, she still didn't feel like eating anything. And Erik didn't come to her apartment again after that night. She missed him, she came over and knocked on his door a few times but he didn't come out. Her neighbor's apartment was dark and silent.

Meg still came and visited, made sure that Christine didn't failback into sickness. One night, it was too late, Meg stayed with her, and she had to wake her up at midnight because Christine had some nightmare and she was screaming her head off.

Saturday, when she was working, Christine hears the sound of footsteps walking up, she pushed the chair out and raced to her door.

Erik was home, in his hand was a small suitcase.

" good afternoon, Miss Darling." He said without turning back. His key was in his hand but he hasn't opened the door yet.

" Erik? Are you all right?" Christine found something odd in his voice.

" yeah, I am fine, thank you, I apologies for not being able to visit you last week, I was away."

" It's fine, I am just worried because I haven't seen you all week." Christine said. " why don't you go change and come back, I will make some tea and we could… talk?"

" I am…. Sorry… I didn't feel so well… I think I will just go and laid down a bit…"

" …" Christine stared at his back. " Erik, why don't you turn back and look at me? I want to see you."

Erik frozen… and then he sighed as he slowly turned over to look at her. He was pale and his face was rugged with bearded, eyelids with dark pants and two bloodshot eyes.

" Erik, what's wrong?" Christine asked worriedly. Nothing's wrong, except the fact that my father just had some crazy idea that he didn't want to wake up anymore this Monday."

" oh god, I am so sorry." Christine pulled him with her. " come over, Erik, I will make you some tea... and have you been eating anything since Monday?"

" no, thank you for the offer. I think I will just go home, take a shower and hop on my bed. I didn't get much sleep those past few days."

" I understand, but before you hop on your bed, at least let me made you some omelet." Christine walked over, she wanted to hug him, but then, she thought, it would be a bit too personal and awkward for them, so she stopped a few steps away from him.

" It is fine, I am not hungry." Erik tiredly smiled.

" come, or do I have to knock you down and drag your unconscious body to my apartment? I can do that."

" all right, remind me to never disagree with you on anything. Just give me five minutes, I need to put this away first and then I will come over, I promise." Erik sighed, he would never win against her in anything.

" five minutes or I will come over and pull you to my apartment, I will have a cup of your favorite tea and something for you to eat."

" you don't know what is my favorite tea." Erik teased.

" don't worry, I will have it by the time you come."

" thank you."

" you're welcome."

oOo

Erik throws his suitcase on his bed, he looked at himself in the mirror and decided that he should wash his face first and then shave. He didn't want Christine to see him in that state.

Ten minutes later, he knocked on Christine's door.

" what took you so long? I was about to storm over and see if you have killed yourself or not."

" oh no, why would I do something like that. It's not like I got along with my father that well." Erik chuckled.

" come in, the tea is ready and I have some cookies for you, eat them while I made some omelet." Christine pushed Erik on one of her new chairs.

" I see you have bought a new extra chair and a table."

" well, I want the next time you come over and take care of me when I am sick, you'll have your chair." Christine giggled. " thank you again."

" it's fine. I should be the one who thanks you for the tea."

" you need it." Christine said, " did you eat anything?"

" I think I ate some bread this morning…. Or was it yesterday, I don't know… but I stayed at my mom's house, I think she would make me eat something before I went home." Erik put one cookie in his mouth. " it's good."

" Thanks, this is my seventh experiment."

" you got talent." Erik smiled. " and… do you have anything stronger than tea? I think I need it."

" sure, I have some gin here."

They ate in silence, Erik tried to dig in the omelet just to be polite.

" you know…" he said quietly. " I promised myself that one day when I succeed, I would come back and have a nice and long man-to-man talk with my father… I will explain that… I have my own life and my own choices. I have never judged him or his way of living… so I hope he would do the same to me…"

" even when he didn't let himself said it out loud, I am sure he would be very proud of you."

" you don't know my father, Miss Darling." Erik sighed. " he spent every single day since the day I was born to wish that I was someone else."

" Whatever you think, you are still his son."

" I have been living without him for twenty years, I kept telling myself that I was fine like that… but now that he is gone… I don't know why… it feel so… empty…"

" I understand."

" last night, I came in his study and tried to find a letter… or maybe anything that could be his last words to me… my mother came in and saw I was searching through his things, she thought I was looking for his will… she told me that if I wanted to know what he left for me, I would have to wait until next week to see it because the will was in his lawyer's hands." Erik chuckled sadly. " I told her, I would leave the fighting over those treasure that he has been collecting all his life for my brothers and sisters, I just want to know if he left me a letter or something… something to show that he cared…"

" I am sure he did…"

" no… no, he didn't… my mother… for the first time... she hugged me… she said, he didn't leave anything like that for me…" Erik said. " I couldn't cry when they buried him… but I cried all the way from the cemetery to home. I had to pull over twice because I couldn't see anything…"

" Erik, don't be ashamed, you just buried your own father. I'm sure no matter where he was, he would be very touched."

Erik busted out laughing.

" you haven't met my father, Christ. So naïve."

" Hey, that's rude."

" I know you mean no harm, but really, he wouldn't care even if I walked out there and got in a car accident." Erik shook his head. " but thank you, you are very kind."

" well, no problem."

" you know, Christine, I think he would be more proud of me if I became a violinist instead of an artist. Or at least proud enough to come and see my concert."

" why not? I mean you are a great artist."

" you haven't seen my works yet and you say that?" Erik raised one of his eyebrows.

" I just know." Christine shrugged.

" well, my father didn't care much about art. To him, it might be a good hobby, but not a job to earn living."

" Erik, I have an idea, maybe you should draw his portrait and gave it to your mother."

" oh god no, I am not that cruel." Erik shook his head again. " my mother had to endure with him for more than forty years already, I don't want her to bear with that any longer."

Erik finished his food and then stand up.

"I have been taking advantage of your kindness enough, I will leave now so that you can get some rest, you are still not well after all. Thank you for your food and your gin."

" Well then, go to bed right after you get in your apartment," Christine ordered.

" yes, ma'am."

Erik walked out of her apartment but then he walked back and took the bottle of gin with him, Christine noticed he always walk with his back straight and head held high, but today, his back was hunched and he looked clumsy.

Christine went to sleep right after Erik was gone.

oOo

" come, you have to travel from here." A warm hand took her hand and lead her to walk through a gate. It was night and all the others doors were closed.

They walked together in silence, there were too many things she wanted to ask the woman, but she couldn't open her mouth.

" look at that." she pointed at a distant domain. Christine followed his finger and she saw the city was on fired. " everything was burned…. They are crazy… you must go… we will be safe… they will protect us. Come, my child."

Christine never felt so terrified in her life, both her feet were hurt and swelling but she didn't dare to stop. She didn't have her shoes, but then, how could you find a pair of shoes in a place like this?

They kept walking until an old woman appeared, she motioned for them to return. The woman that was walking with Christine looked unsure, but then, she looked at the small child in her arms, that was when Christine realized that she was holding another child. She brushed his hair gently and then turned back. Their crazy journey continued.

They walked through those houses, or what was left of houses. They walked until Christine saw a church. They walked into the church, passing the cemetery.

Suddenly, Christine hear the sound of gunshots, and the woman who was holding her hands ran, pulling her along, but then slowly, her hands were slipped out of the woman's gasp and then, she ran, didn't look back.

Christine was terrified, she cried and screamed, she called for help, but the rain blocked her voice and the woman has disappeared into the night.

oOo

Christine sat up violently and looked around, she was alone in her apartment. She punched the bedsheet hard, was it too much to ask for one good night's sleep?

She stands up and left to open her window and looked over to Erik's home. There was light in his apartment, which means he was still awake, and somehow, it made her felt safe and comfortable.

She thought about reading something to make her slept better and she would talk to Meg about her sleeping problem. There must have something to help her stop those ridiculous dreams about running and hiding from whatever evil things were chasing after her.

oOo

Christine spent all of her next days to work and slept late than normal, but it didn't save her from those dreams, she kept dreaming about running and it always ended with she was alone on the rainy street. So she decided to visit her best friends.

" Christine, what are you doing here?" Meg asked as she tried to push a cart full of dirty clothes.

" I came to ask my best friend to go and have some lunch with me of course."

" What a nice surprise. Wait a moment, let's me throw this away." Meg pushed it to her co-worker and throw her blouse on a chair in her locket. " I am ready, let's go to the bar near here."

" sure."

They came to the bar near the hospital where Meg worked. As they walked through the bar tried to find an empty table, Meg smiled flirty with the owner.

" did you sleep with him?" Christine asked.

" I treat his injured once. He had a boil on his most private place, and after that, he has become my most loyal servant." Meg giggled.

" I have never thought your work would be this…"

" …disgusting beyond your mind?"

"… I was going to say tough, but your words will work, too." Christine smiled.

" no job is easy, Christine, I dreamed to become a dancer once upon a time, but now, I am a nurse and I like my job. But I never thought you would come to a hospital to find new inspiration for your perfume."

" can't I just want to have a nice and quiet lunch with my best friend?"

" you know, a good nurse not only takes care of her patients' bodies but also their souls."

" I am not your patient."

" you aren't, but you are my best friend, and I will know something must be wrong with you. What happened? did Mr. Reddington do something that pisses you off?"

" no, it is just…."

" what's it?"

" I didn't get much sleep last night."

" all right?"

" and all the others night, too. I couldn't sleep very well…"

" was it because of your nightmare? I stayed with you once a night, you did a lot screaming and turning… I was surprised that your neighbor didn't come over and knock on your door to see if someone was dying."

" well, it is… I am not sure how to put it… it's just really weird, I kept dreaming about places that I have never been there before, and a woman who I felt like she was really close to me, but I didn't remember who she was… and events… like I was there but I couldn't recall… I am scared…"

" don't worry about that, drink some warm milk and do some reading before you go to bed and you will be fine."

"Meg… it's not that simple… have you ever had a nightmare?"

" I do," Meg said simply. " I was scared, too. I kept remembering that night when German armies thrown booms in our city, people die and were hurt, blood was everywhere, houses were burning. I ran and ran around hours and hours tried to find survivors."

" you were brave, Meg."

" I am not brave, I was a coward once, the first attack, I hide in the closet and pissed myself off, a doctor found me there."

" what did he do?"

" he did nothing. He just looked at me, told me to give him the bag of clean clothes, and then went away. I felt really guilty, so I came to apologize to him the following day." Meg giggled. " do you know what did he say? He said that it was nothing to be ashamed of, people need to be affair so that they could learn to get over it and move on, and then they could be brave. He said that he was terrified when it comes to surgery, he was scared that he couldn't save that person, but when he had his surgery uniform and his mask on, he left his fear outside the surgery room. He was a fighter, not only for himself but also for whoever in the surgery room."

" and?"

" I tried to sleep with him the next day, but the old idiot was married and he loved his wife." Meg pouted. " but thank him, I found my courage. Three days later, the city was suffered from another boom rain. Without gloves or mask, I ran and dug into the wreckage with my bare hands, they were bleeding pretty bad but I didn't care. I found ten injured people that day, and seven were saved. Now listen carefully, girl, that day in Brighton changed you. Something has started eating you inside and burning your sleep. So I suggest you do what I did, break out of your closet, and keep moving forward. I ran across London with that fear, but at least it was better than sitting in the dark closet."

" what do you want me to do now?"

" you are dying of loneliness, you have always dreamed of one great true love but there was nothing that could terrify you more than being in love with someone. The thought of being in a relationship and depend on someone made you felt sick and nervous. Do you need me to remind you about Raoul? Even when she was trying to fool you, she did tell you that the man that was arranged to be with you forever my destiny was out there somewhere in a far far away kingdom. So get your suitcase and go, you have some savings, use that. If you can't find the guy, think of it like a trip to relax, I mean France was a very beautiful country."

" But how am I going to get there?"

" that, you will have to ask the tourist offices, I am a nurse, honey, and I have to run now. I won't take your money for the advice but I will let you pay for lunch."

Meg put her jacket on and kissed Christine's cheeks and left. Christine took a moment to dig in what her best friend said, then ran after her.

" you are serious? did you really think about what you said?"

" well? I didn't show off my achievement for anything you know, now get inside, it's too cold, and you was sick not long ago, I have more patients that need my attention so I can't take care of you all the time. I have to go now, goodbye."

Christine stared after Meg's shadow for two seconds and then walked back into the bar, the waiter brought her a beer and their main dish.

oOo

The street was crowded, motor, horse wagons, small truck, cars… tried to pass the crossroads, Christine giggled as the thought of Erik would be delightful to sit here and draw. The bus stopped and Christine looked outside, she saw a small tourist office.

She stared at it wondering. The bus started to move again, and Christine was down the next bus stop and walked back. After two or three steps, she turned back, but then thinking and then turned to walk in the same direction.

Two minutes later, she was standing outside of the tourist office with a signboard read ' Wagons-Lits Cook'. She stopped at a rotary shelf full of tourist flyers. There were a lot of places that she wanted to visit since she was a little girl. The office owner walked to her and smiled.

" you want to travel somewhere, my dear?"

" oh… no… I was just curious…"

" if you want to go on a honeymoon, I suggest Venise, very beautiful in spring. Or Japan, Madrid… they are all very beautiful, all of my tourists came back happy with their choice."

" I am not married…" Christine smiled.

" well, there is nothing wrong with traveling alone, you will need a rest from all this ice and cold. With a young and single woman like you, I think Switzerland would be perfect, so peaceful and quiet."

" do you know anything about… France?"

" oh, the country of love. Good choice." He leaned down and pulled out some flyers. " here, take this. I also have some city guides for you."

" those flyers will be fine."

" all right, I will give you two of those."

" thank you."

He saw her off and invited her to stop at any time convenient. Christine said goodbye and got on a bus to go home.

When she was on the bus, she took the flyer out and start reading it. The place was beautiful, true to its name, the country of love.

When she walked up to her apartment, Christine tried to find her key, but fail, she was terrified, she poured everything out of the bag, her keys fell on the mess.

She took it and opened the door, hurriedly thrown everything back in her bag, and walked into her home.

One hour later, Erik was home, he saw a flyer on his neighbor's doorstep, he picked it up and a rare small smile appeared on his face.

(TBC)