I don't own POTO. Keep up the positive feedback! PS, next Chapter will have Christine! :)

Chapter 5: The Truth

By PittsBurghFuzz

After breakfast, Ledoux went back to his bedroom to ponder some more. Arzu stared at Erik while he was taking tiny bites of fruit very slowly. Erik seemed to act like a scared animal. Arzu then got up from her chair and approached Erik. He did not look up at her. It was obvious she was next to him, but he pretended she did not exist. Arzu was really getting tired of Erik's indifference and mood swings lately. She still loved him though. She loved the mystery behind the man, the man behind the monster. The depth of Erik was beyond comprehension. Arzu proceeded to sit on Erik's lap. Erik seemed to have turned to stone. He was rather uncomfortable with the situation. Arzu was caressing the unmasked side of his face. He turned to only see her face only inches from his. They kissed. Erik then walked away abruptly from Arzu.

"I'm sorry, this is unfair to you." Erik told her trembling.

"Why are you apologizing Erik.?" Arzu said with an apologetic tone to her voice.

"It is unfair because, I don't love you, not like that. You deserve so much better than myself."

Arzu got up and walked towards Erik. Very few things made Erik walk back from people. He backed into a wall and Arzu felt the masked side of his face.

"But she does not love you, you are being unfair to yourself."Arzu told Erik. "You are preventing yourself from having any happiness Erik."

"I don't care! What if I fancy being an undead corpse waiting for my release! What if!"

"Erik, you are speaking nonsense. You can't do this to yourself, its unhealthy. Its-"

"Not human?" Erik said trying to finish Arzu's words. "I have lost all faith in humanity a long time ago! I am ashamed to be even be remotely human! A the lowest form of life has more dignity than the most respected person."

"Then why did you love Christine? Wasn't she human?"

Erik pulled Arzu to the wall and slammed her. "She was an angel! She was the purest thing I have even known. Something like Christine could not possibly be human. Her voice, beauty, and innocence are qualities that humans lack."

"Why does she appear to be human? Also, if she was an angel, than where are her wings?"

"She was sent to bring purity to the world. Christine was placed in a human host so she could purify us all! However, I could not be saved. I was the complete opposite of her! I was too selfish, I wanted her all to myself, but she needed the light to prosper! Why must you torture me like this?"

Arzu gave Erik a pitiful look. Her green eyes glowed with tears. She placed her head on Erik's chest. He felt his clothing was getting wet. He gently held her in his arms. Erik played with Arzu's hair while she was pouring her tears.

"Erik, all I am trying to do is make you happy. For I am also devoid of happiness." Arzu choked up. "I am to marry a man I do not even love, who is not nearly as compelling or interesting as you Erik. We have both lost our happiness to society. You and I have been hurt too many times." She took hold of his cold hands and kissed him. "Let us learn to love each other, and maybe, just maybe, we may find happiness in each other."

Erik was panting, and sweating. He did not want to betray Christine. However, Erik knew that Christine would never return. Erik needed a companion, but after he met someone like Christine, he was not sure if he could love again.

"Erik, come to my room." Arzu asked.

"What about Ledoux, and this civil war business?" Erik asked.

"To tell you the truth, it is not as serious as it sounds. I also only called upon you to bring me comfort."

"But, what is it then?"

She put her finger on his lips. "Shh, Ledoux knows, don't worry yourself about it." She kissed him on the cheek. Erik was starting to breath easier than before. They kissed each other. Erik looked down at Arzu and quickly picked her up to take her to Arzu's room. Arzu stood up and started to unbutton Erik's clothing while he was doing the same to her. They kissed with each other as if the world was about to come to an end. They were lying on Arzu's huge bed. For a few minutes, they looked into each others eyes.

"Erik, I don't want this to end, do you?" Arzu asked Erik.

It took Erik some time to answer that question. He replied: "No, I do not. So, what was the real problem?"

"Well, there is this organization called the Night-crawlers, and they take women for slavery and prostitution. They wear executioner's hoods to disguise themselves."

"Oh, alright then. What is Ledoux doing?" Erik asked.

"He is investigating a few miles away from here to find out some facts."

"I see. I will need to help you on this." Erik told her.

"No, we will stay here. Neither me or you is leaving for a long time."

"I have to make sure you are safe." Erik said as his hand moved down Arzu's warm cheek. She took the hand and held onto it. Erik was gazing into the wall.

"Erik, do you want to-" Arzu was interrupted.\

"I will not Arzu. I must only save myself for Christine, for now."

"I understand, but we can still-"

"Yes we can Arzu, yes we can." Erik and Arzu decided to go back to sleep. Erik had a dream.

"Erik!" a voice was calling. "Erik!"

"Who and where are you?" he pleaded. "Show yourself!"

She came from the fog and Erik was in for a shock.

"Christine!" Erik ran up to Christine to embrace her, but she was only mist.

"Erik, you betrayed me, Raoul was killed and I was left with no one!" Christine cried out.

"Christine, I am sorry, I was just so upset. Please forgive me!" Erik sobbed while he was pleading for redemption. Arzu then appeared.

"Erik, you have betrayed me, for you do not wish for me to be the mother of your children." Arzu told him.

"I told you because I love Christine!"

"Zip it Erik, you were kissing her, she made you weak." Christine commented.

"She gave you nothing but pain Erik, come to me!" Arzu requested.

"I can't, both of you deserve so much better than me."

Both Christine and Arzu tried to kill each other, but both were killed.

"Christine! Arzu!." He found a knife and tried to obtain it to commit suicide, but it went farther and farther away from him.

"Halt Erik! I am God! The creator you disbelief. You cannot kill yourself, because you are in hell already!"

Erik woke up panting. Erik placed his hands on his face and cried. He could not control his tears. Arzu did not wake up. He went down to his room and decided to play Don Juan Triumphant. As he started, he looked to a photo of Christine. He placed the picture in his drawer, and punched the wall in depression.