Chapter 4

Christine decided that she'd make it difficult for Erik in the easiest way - she'd be furious at him. Locking the door to her room, she sat with a puff on the edge of the bed, bound to stay there no matter what he said...unless it was that she could go free. She wondered of Raoul; the terror in his eyes when he found out she was missing. The frantic action he took, yelling orders to search the burnt opera house, just to find that there was no way to go in at all. His face, stricken in grief when he too, realized the same cold fact - that Christine was trapped - no way to reach her, and no way for her to escape.

Erik knocked on her door a few hours later. "The least you can do is open the door to eat my food. This is the third tray that has gone wasted. If you wish to die, do not starve yourself to death. Not only is it extremely painful, but all my good food is going to waste. I always have a punjab lasso around in case I need it. That works a lot faster and with less pain."

Christine cursed the joking tone he kept in his voice as he said those words. How could he be enjoying himself when she was so miserable?

Instead of answering, she kicked out her foot, which made impact with something metal that fell. It made a clattering noise as it rolled on the hard floor. When it stopped, she heard Erik sigh and walk away. She waited until she could hear the sweet sound of the organ before she crept to the door and silently opened it. One by one she took the trays to her bed, then shut and locked the door again. She ate eagerly, allowing herself to do so now that she had made her point to Erik. He now knew beyond a doubt that she was furious at him for doing what he has, and that she was going to be difficult until she was freed again.

Once finished with her food, she replaced the trays and dishes back outside her door. By this time, she figured it must be late, so she left the door open a crack so she could fall asleep to the welcoming organ's music.

OoooooooooooooooooO

Erik's head shot up from his music. Did he hear a scream? Finally convincing himself that it was nothing, he started to play his organ again, when he heard a louder scream.

"Erik! Erik!"

Rushing to Christine's room, following her screams of terror, he flung open the door and lit the candles in the small room. When the room was lit, he saw Christine standing at the head of her bed, her arms wrapped around her body tight.

"What made you scream?" He asked, bewildered.

"A rat! There's a rat in here!" She shrieked. Erik shook his head - he had forgotten Christine could be so squeamish about such things that he wouldn't even give a second thought to.

"There hasn't been rats in your room for a long time. Are you sure?" He asked, now calm again.

"Of course I am! I saw a long shadowy thing creep through my door when I was falling asleep!"

"Where is it?"

Christine pointed to the corner. Erik put down his candle and headed to the indicated place.

"You're not going to...touch it, are you?" She asked as he searched.

"Unless you want it as a bed partner tonight, I suppose I must." Erik said in an impatient voice that made her not say another word. Finally, she saw him swoop down and catch something.

"What? This is...this is no rat!" Erik exclaimed, then laughed.

"What is it then?"

"It's only Ayesha!"

"What's an Ayesha?"

Erik held up the Siamese cat for her to see. "My cat. I've had her for years - surely you must have seen her before."

Christine shook her head. "Never."

"Well, you probably just mistook her for a rat like this time. She's just looking for the rats you hate. Must be hungry."

"She eats rats?" Christine exclaimed.

"Why do you think she's so happy here? Besides, it keeps my lair free of such nuisance." With that, Erik bent down and let Ayesha go. At first, she just stood there. Then something caught her eye and she ran like lightning out of the room.

"May I be of any more service to you, madame?" Erik asked, walking to the door.

Christine shook her head no, so he blew out the candles and shut the door, leaving her to te dark.

OooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOooO