AN: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. Been busy over here; trying to catch up with all the missing school work I have and I have recently found out that I am allergic to Gluten. For those who don't know, Gluten is anything made with wheat, soy, malt, and barley. Sucks, right? At least I can eat things made with rice flour, so I still get cookies and cake But they have to be made with rice flour instead of wheat flour. Oh well, enough of my babbling and on with the story!
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA! I ONLY OWN ERIKA. (Though I wish I owned Erik)
Breakfast went by painfully slow – not to mention awkward. Gustav ate as quickly and quietly as he could while watching Erik out of the corner of his eye. Christine sat on Gustav's right, feeling the tension in the air. She decided to get up and leave. This left Erik, Erika and Gustav in awkward silence.
Soon, breakfast was over and Gustav was loading his suitcases into the car.
"Erika, you know where all the important numbers are," Gustav said. "And the gun." Gustav glared at Erik. Erik visibly squirmed under Gustav's heavy glare.
"Don't worry dad," Erika sighed with a smile. "We'll be fine."
"Don't worry – I'll keep them safe," Erik promised as he placed his hands on Erika's shoulders. Erika visibly stiffened as her father's glare became more menacing. Erik noticed as well and quickly removed his hands.
"You better," Gustav muttered. Still watching Erik, Gustav walked over to the driver's side of the car and got in. He started the car and backed out of the driveway and into the street.
"Well I think dad just loves Erik," Christine said sarcastically. Erika groaned and walked back inside the house. Christine and Erik followed.
"Okay, so who is this guy?" Christine asked after the door had slammed shut.
"He's come to offer us a job in-"
"CUT THE CRAP ERIKA!" Christine yelled. She drew in a breath and continued quietly. "I know he's not really a director for the International Philharmonic Choir. I mean, would a director dress in clothes from the 19th century? Would he come wearing a mask? Would he come and try to take care of us if he barely knew you?"
"Fine. Christine, meet Erik. He's my-"
"Cousin!" Erik blurted, cutting Erika off. She glared.
"Christine, he's my-"
"Cousin! Erika just wishes we could be more than distant relatives and refuses to believe that we are in fact related," Erik said, turning his charm on. He couldn't trust anyone except Erika with his secret! What was she doing? She would ruin him and more innocent people would have to be killed! What in the world was Erika doing.
"STOP TRYING TO SHUT ME UP ERIK!" Erika yelled, shoving him into the closed door. "Christine-"
"ERIKA!"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK I WILL BE HEARD!" Erika bellowed, the sheer power of her voice blowing Erik away. She shoved him into the door once again. How could a voice like THAT be inside such a small body? Ah, but wasn't that what he thought about Christine before…and with that thought, all the memories of the Opera house came flooding back to him. Could a voice better than Christine's be locked inside of Erika?
"Erik is the real Phantom of the Opera. He has no idea why he is here, but he is and he deserves at least a place to stay. Thank you for understanding," Erika said, pulling Erik up off the ground.
"No problem. You know where the gun is – just in case," Christine said vaguely, walking away. One person down, one to go – Gustav.
AN: Sorry that this chapter was so short guys. But I'm currently working on a bonus chapter as a belated Valentines Day chapter. It will be up in a few minutes. Anyways, thanks for reading and continue to review because they make me happy.