Chapter 8

We went out to the kitchen to get Gustave some orange juice and Erik got me a glass of water.

"Are you okay Christine?" Erik asked.

"Fine. You?"

"Mmm." He said.

"Mother would you like some orange juice?"

"No thank you darling, you drink it."

There was a sudden knock on the door. "I'll get it." Erik said standing up.
"Mother is that tour of Phantasma still going to happen?"

"Ah Erik. I went around to your place but you weren't there." Came the voice of Mme Giry from the door just as I was about to answer Gustave.

"Yes Giry?" Erik asked.

I saw Gustave look up at the name Giry. He wasn't the only one to remember what her daughter had done to him.

"I've come to talk to Christine. On behalf of Meg." She said.

"Mother can I go?" Gustave asked looking scared.

"She's not here darling and besides, you're safe with me."

Gustave didn't say anything and just looked down at the table and I put my hand on his arm.

Mme Giry walked in and nodded hello.

"Morning Mme Giry." I said as polite as possible.

"Good day dear. I'm here to talk to you and Erik seeing as he's here."

"Sit down Giry and get it over with." Erik said.

"Erik." I warned as Mme Giry took her set opposite me ignoring him. Erik moved behind Gustave and I and put his hands on my shoulders.

"You can sit down." I mumbled under my breath to no answer.

"Hello Gustave." Mme Giry said. Gustave looked up and took a while before saying hello.

"What's going on Mme?" I asked.

"It's Meg. I thought I should tell you she'll be well enough to go home in a few days."

"That's good. I'm sure you're very relieved." I said picking up my glass of water. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Oh, Just water thank you."

Erik moved to get some water for Mme Giry while I stayed to talk to her.

"She keeps talking in her sleep. Keeps saying sorry and wakes up crying." Giry said.

I gave her a puzzled look.

"She keeps having dreams about the other night, on the pier."

"Don't we all." I said taking another sip of my drink.

Erik placed a glass of water down in front of her and cam back to stand behind me.

"In her dreams the bullet didn't miss."

My mouth fell open slightly. "You mean I...?"

Giry only nodded. I sat in disbelief.

"You said you were here for her. What is it she wanted?" Erik asked.

"She wanted to apologize to you. All of you. Including you Gustave."

Gustave looked up worried. "Me?"

"She said she was sorry for trying to hurt you Gustave. She never meant to."
"Of course not!" Said Erik. "That's why she was plaining on drowning him."

"Erik!" I said looking at Gustave who went as pale as a sheet when Erik said that.

"Sorry Gustave." Erik said placing a comforting hand on his shoulder and I put my hand over his. Mme Giry stayed silent and stood up.
"I'd best be going." She said. "I have a lot to do to fix things up for Meg. Goodbye everyone."

I stood up and said, "Here, let me show you out."

"No, no. You stay. I'll be right." and she turned around and left.

"Well that was... Different." Said Erik.

"Did you have to be so rude?" I asked him.

"Sorry, But I really couldn't care less if she was out of hospital. I'll never forgive her for trying to kill my family." He said placing a kiss on the top of my head.
"Oh please. Get a room." Gustave said.

"Gustave." I said smiling at him. "Didn't you have something you wanted to ask?"

"I did?" He asked looking at me.

I nodded and jerked my head in Erik's direction which was now by the sink.

"Oh, right. Father?"

Erik spun around so fast I saw him flinch from pain. He must have cracked his neck. After all, Gustave had called him father.

"Yes Gustave?" He asked rubbing his neck.

"Are we stilling going on that visit of the park?"

"Of course. If it's okay with you Christine?"

"Fine. May I come along?"

"Yes!" Said Gustave really loud.

Later that day we went all around Phantasma being shown every little hidden compartment and every little secret. Erik told Gustave how most of the rides worked and I watched as Gustave and Erik went on the roller coaster. I started to get hungry and looked around to find a food stall. I saw one on the left of the roller coaster and went to walk over when I saw a strange man, wearing a big hat, watching me from the shadows of the coaster. I was too scared to move and just watched him. I couldn't see his face but something told me I knew this person. I felt someone touch my shoulder jumped.

"Oh Erik!" I said as I put my hand on my chest and turned around. "You frightened me."
"Sorry. Are you okay?" he asked looking worried.

"I'm fine. Just hungry." Gustave walked up to me and started going on and on about the ride and how he wanted to go again. I looked back over to the coaster and the strange man had gone.