Ghastly Familiar

By BeckyLynnetteCohen

Disclaimer: I own Anna Maria, Samantha, Jean Claude, Sydney, and Savannah. That is it.

A/N: There is a little scene in here where Erik is talking to himself. This is Erik talking to the voice in his head. 'This is the voice in Erik's head.'

Chapter 6: Rape and Protection

At around 7:30, Anna Maria began to prepare for her date with Ryan. She chose a blue flowered sundress with her usual silver necklace but her normally up in a ponytail blonde hair was down around her shoulders. Looking in the mirror, Anna Maria spun around.

"You look nice."

"GAH! Erik, you scared the crap out of me."

"It's what I do. At least I didn't come through your mirror…"

Anna Maria laughed. "Wow, you DO have a sense of humor."

"I guess."

"How were the books?"

"Good… Except for the Phantom of Manhattan. That was really off." Said Erik, putting the books down on a side table.

"Yeah." Said Anna Maria, pulling her hair up.

"Mademoiselle Noveux, I recommend keeping your hair down this evening for your 'date' with Monsieur Cartwright."

"Why do you say that, Monsieur Erik?"

"You look prettier with it down."

Anna Maria's eyes widened a bit.

"Don't look anything into it. I'm still gonna kill you after tonight." Said Erik.

"I was about to say…"

"You look very nice for your date tonight, Mademoiselle."

"Erik, call me Anna."

"Anna, you look very nice."

"Thank you, Erik."

"I'm sure you'll have a great time tonight."

"You sound like my father."

Erik laughed. Not an evil laugh like before but a genuine laugh. Anna Maria smiled slightly. 'Maybe he really is real…' A knock at the door interrupted Anna Maria's thoughts.

"Anna Maria!! RYAN'S HERE!" came Sydney's voice.

"Coming!" said Anna, grabbing her purse and waving good bye to Erik.

Erik sighed and watched her leave.

'Erik, you want to kill her for invading your place not get her in bed with you…'

Shut up.

'You know it's true.'

I said shut up.

'Erik, you're falling in love again.'

I am not!

'Yes you are. You acted the same way with Christine.'

No I did not! Just shut the hell up and let me 'live' like I want to 'live'.

'Erik, come on man! See reason. She's obviously willing to be your friend for now, why don't you just accept that. You're already dead so it doesn't matter anyway.'

Anna Maria doesn't believe that. She's beginning to think I'm real.

'Erik, honest question for you. Do you want to hurt her?'

What?! No! All the times I've tried to kill her I've stopped.

'Do you know why?'

Because I… I saw Christine.

'Exactly. Everytime you love someone you see Daae. So obviously you saw Daae when you attempted to kill Anna Maria and now you're denying you're in love!'

Sorry voice, but you've been watching WAAAAAAAAY too many chick flicks.

Deciding that he needed to attempt to kill someone and deciding that he would keep his 'promise' to Anna Maria and not touch her parents, Erik waited until Anna Maria got home and Sydney and Savannah were out at a nightclub.

2 hours later…

Erik had picked up a random book off of Anna Maria's bookshelf and began reading it. The book happened to be 'Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of the Phantom of the Opera" by Collette Gale. He was so immersed in the book that he barely heard the front door slam. Blinking himself out of lala land he replaced the book calmly and waited for Anna Maria to walk through the door.

Anna Maria came into the room like a tornado. Throwing her purse on the bed, she sat on the edge of the bed and cried.

"Anna? What--?"

"Just go away Erik. I really don't feel like talking right now ok? Or being killed for that matter…"

"What happ…"

"He raped me ok? The dumbass who I THOUGHT was my best fucking friend raped the crap out of me ok?!"

"Calm down Anna…"

"Don't fucking tell me to calm down!"

"Don't raise your voice at me! It's not my fault that Ryan decided that he was going to rape you! Don't take your anger out on someone who is uncharacteristically trying to help you rather than kill you! I can change my mood in an instant missy!"

Anna Maria shut up. Erik took a deep breath.

"I-I'm sorry, Erik. I just… Peh, you wouldn't understand."

"Go ahead, Anna. Tell me."

"Ryan… was the only friend I had. I'm normally one of those quiet types that don't say two words to anyone. The only reason my dad brought me here was to get me out of the states to see if I would be able to make any friends."

"You're saying I wouldn't understand… Anna, you're talking to the man who went 25 years without having a single friend because of a deformity."

"Oh yeah…"

Erik smiled slightly. "I guess we're both in the same boat then."

"Yeah, but you didn't just get raped."

"True. I'll make you a deal though."

"I thought you didn't make deals."

"I don't, but for you, I'll make an exception; if that jackass comes in this house, I'll make him wish that he hadn't."

"You'd do that?"

"For you, of course. On one condition."

"What's that?"

Erik got an evil smirk on his face. "Everyday that you're here, starting right now, you have to sing one song for me."