After rereading this chapter, I was really unhappy with it, so I went back and edited it. Disclaimer: I do not Own POTO, ect.
Christine sat up in bed and blinked, just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. No, she wasn't . She was actually there. Why me? Why did I have to get dragged into all of this ridiculous phantom business?
She got up off the bed and went to the door. Before she turned the handle, she hesitated. Do I really want to see him? Maybe he'll leave me alone if I don't look for him. But she needed answers. She needed to know how she had woken up here in the first place. Besides, he'll come looking for me soon anyway. It's just a matter of time.
With an inner sigh, Christine left the bedroom. Looking at the room again sent a flood of memories to the surface. The music lessons, the first time I was down here, that eerie doll, Don Juan Triumphant, his face, Raoul saving me… The memories were clearer now, standing in Erik's house.
As she looked around the room, Christine realized it was missing something; Erik, the opera ghost himself. Where is he?
As if to answer her question, organ music drifted from Erik's room. It was sad and sweet, with a soft melody of longing and hope and love, but jarred occasionally by sour notes of rejection and betrayal resounded in the piece. Christine closed her eyes for a moment and let the sound wash over her. As she listened, Christine remembered, just for a moment, the reason that she'd truly believed Erik was the Angel of Music. All of the emotions conveyed in the song were so, so tangible. Christine could feel, through the music, everything that Erik felt. Then, as abruptly as the understanding came, it went.
Unexpectedly, the music ended. Why did he stop? It was so beautiful. Christine used the brief silence to call out to him tentatively. "Erik? Are you there?"
"Christine! I an here," was the reply. His voice! I had forgotten how magnificent it is!
Christine walked into the music room timidly. Truth be told, she was a bit frightened of what he would do to her. After all, she had broken his heart. Shattered it. One does not get over something like that quickly.
"Erik?" she asked warily. "How did I get here?"
Christine didn't know how he was feeling, due to his mask, so she listened carefully to his reply. "I saw you sleeping on the streets! What did you expect me to do? I'd never dream of leaving you there."
He seemed to be calm. Thank god he isn't angry! "I see…"
"Now, I believe that you owe me an explanation. Why were you sleeping outside? I thought the Vicomte was taking care of you. Weren't you going to be married?" A hard edge entered his voice on the words Vicomte and married.
Why did he have to mention Raoul? Christine's tears started anew at the mention of her ex-fiancé and their broken engagement. "I… don't want to talk about it," she managed to choke out and turn away from Erik.
"Something upsets you. Will you sit next to me?" He made a space for her on the other end of the piano bench.
Hesitantly, Christine sat on the bench next to Erik. The cold, the smell, I had forgotten. How does he get like that anyway?
"Christine?" he asked again, anxiety and concern coloring his voice She realized that her tears were frightening him. Nowhere near as much as he frightens me.
"It was… Raoul," she said, sniffing and drying her eyes. "We… had to break off… our engagement."
"Why?" Erik's voice lifted and Christine felt him sit up a little straighter. Is he glad? The monster! He's happy I broke off an engagement. So much for letting me go…
"His family." Mentally, Christine replayed everything that happened with Raoul since they went their separate ways. The teary good-bye, the wandering, and waking up in Erik's lair. Why me? she mentally repeated.
"I am sorry to see you so sad," Erik said simply.
Christine's tears had ended, for the moment. She wiped her eyes again and just nodded. Erik wordlessly offered her a handkerchief that had been lying on the organ.
Christine blew her nose, trying to clean herself up. In truth, her tears had made her feel embarrassed. The show of emotion made her blush. It disconcerted her to wear her heart on her sleeve like that. To make matters worse, Erik was gawking at her.
"What are you staring at?" she asked miserably.
"It hurts me to see you like that. I want to help, but I do not know how." Erik replied. Looking into his yellow eyes, Christine had the sense that he was thinking of something else. She decided not to press the matter. If he wanted me to know, he would have said it straight out.
"Oh," was her brilliant reply.
"Come," Erik said, "We will sing. Then maybe you will feel better."
A pained look took hold of Christine's features. He expects me to stay, doesn't he? I should have expected that. Erik wouldn't bring me here just to let me go the next morning. How long does he think I'll stay here?
Under his mask, Erik's face held almost the same expression. In other circumstances, their similar looks would have been almost comical. "Christine does not want to sing with Erik. She wants to go. Erik is a fool; he should have known better," The dejected tone in the angelic voice was so heart-breaking, it hurt to listen to.
A part of Christine's heart softened for a moment when she heard Erik's voice Although he is a monster, there is no reason to hurt him so. I guess I could stay here a while.
"I'll sing with you Erik," Christine said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Christine is a good girl." Erik said joyfully, to himself. He continued to her, "I will find something to sing."
As Erik dug through the piles of sheet music scattered in and around his organ, Christine waited patiently. He's so happy. I'm glad I stayed.
When Christine sang with Erik, she was transported to another place. She forgot about Raoul, finding a place to stay, and her fear of Erik, losing herself in the music. It has been so long since I have sung! How I've missed it!
After what seemed like mere minutes to Christine, Erik finally said that they were finished. "You mustn't strain your voice. When the opera house is finished, you will be the star again."
A thought occurred to Christine. "Erik, what time is it?"
"I believe that it is around two in the afternoon," he glanced at the clock behind him,"are you hungry?"
Christine thought about it for a second. She realized she was hungry. How had I not noticed it before? "Yes I am."
Erik cooked a meal for Christine. It wasn't much, just some chicken. Christine ate in an awkward silence. Why does he keep staring at me? Christine squirmed in her seat and ate as quickly as she could, trying to avoid Erik's disturbing gaze.
After the meal, Erik retreated into his music room, and Christine could hear him composing. For some time, she drifted around the house on the lake and reflected on the events of the past two days. She tried to think of the most tactful way to tell Erik she wanted to go. It's only a matter of time before he explodes or murders again. I don't want to be here for that. How many of the workers had died in "accidents" during construction? Their deaths were jokingly blamed on the Opera Ghost. If they only knew.
As she mulled over all that happened, Christine wondered how she could tell Erik she needed to leave. If I say something that offends him, he might hurt me. He already knows that I don't want to be here. He knows that I'm afraid of him. Was does he honestly expect me to do?
Christine contemplated where she'd go if Erik let her leave. I guess I'd have to sleep on the street again. I really need somewhere of my own. An errant thought wormed its way into Christine's mind. What if I just stay here? She instantly dismissed it. Erik frightened her with his volatile ways. There was no way she could stay where she was. Living with a madman was simply not an option.
After another lap around the lake, Christine decided what she would do.
There might not be a lot of updates for this story for a while, but when they come, they will be frequent.