Chapter 2

Though I had regretted it, I decided to look around while Erik was gone. I figured he would not be back for at least a few hours. His lair was actually quite interesting with all his art, music, and instruments. Looking around I came across little gadgets and tons of music sheets. As I walked behind his giant organ, I came across a bookcase. It never crossed my mind that Erik was a book reader. I bent down to read the small print on the side of the books. Science, Philosophy, and ancient myths all were most popular among them. I stood back up and glanced around the entire area, looked across the vast lake, and figured reading might kill some of my time and would keep me out of mischief. The last thing I wanted to do was break something of his and upset him. I sat down in Erik's throne-like chair, and opened the book entitled Ancient Legends and Myths: Vol. 1

The book looked old but its condition was very good. It had gold-edged pages and small print. The book itself seemed wider than the rest. I flipped through the pages, and stopped at the myth portion. Reading I found myself becoming very interested. There were myths of ancient Greece, parts of the world, and of the mind and spirit. I eventually came to a topic called Seeing the future through a flame. It simply read:

At the stoke of midnight, light a candle next to a stone wall. Make sure all is silent around you and lightly but quickly run your hand across the flame. Stare into the flame until you start to hear the sound of a faint harp playing, and then look up at the wall. Through shadows you will see your fate.

I closed the book and returned it to its spot on the shelf. Reading the small passage made me realize how desperately I wanted to know my fate living down here with the phantom of the opera. The truth was for the first time my future seemed so unclear. But no, believing a silly myth about fire wasn't going to help me. Besides, it wouldn't work…would it? Would I actually see shadows besides my own?

I decided to let go of the thought for a while and sat at Erik's grand piano. I played with the keys for a while until I picked up a melody and sang a cheerful song. I had missed singing, and it felt good doing so after so long. Pretty soon I was mixing songs together and entertaining myself singing them faster and faster. I couldn't tell you how long I just sat there and sang while playing, but it felt natural and refreshing.

All of a sudden I felt someone touch my shoulder and I swiftly turned around, extremely startled. Erik had returned, and looking a little guilty for startling me he reached out for my hand. I took it, and he led me to the boat. I looked down into it and saw a good portion of my clothes and belongings. I felt a pleased smile spreading across my face, and reached down to touch my things that I had missed.

"How were you able to get these back, Erik?" I asked.

"They were hidden away, and so I retrieved them," he responded.

I looked up at him, a little confused but then just let it go and started taking my things out of the boat.

He gave me a chest to put my clothes in, so I placed it next to the boat bed hoping to make the spot seem more like a bedroom for me. I walked to the boat bed and slowly tried to sit in it, but ended up stumbling backwards into it. I looked up to find Erik standing there looking at me with a pleased look across his face.

"You like that bed, don't you?"

I hated that bed. How Erik could even put it into the same category as a bed had me lost.

"Yes," I lied.

As the day went by, I started to realize how much I missed Raoul. I had not thought about him for a while; being around Erik made me shun the idea of ever bringing him up. I wondered if he was still thinking of me, because I was thinking madly of him. The more I thought about him, the more my heart started to ache. I looked down at the ring on my finger, which at one time held the meaning of marrying Raoul. Sometimes the thought crossed my mind that if I saw Raoul just one more time I would be able to find closure. But that wouldn't work, because I would end up just falling in love with him all over again.

I felt a tear lace down my cheek, and I closed my eyes trying to block out the rest. I was sitting alone, not really knowing where Erik was or what he was doing.

"Christine," I heard a voice in my head say. It was Raoul's, and I felt more tears rolling down my cheeks. I took in a breath and tried clearing my mind of him.

"Christine.."

"Raoul," I called softly.

Suddenly I was out of my trance and realized Erik was standing right above me. It was his voice, not Raoul's. I saw anger welling up in his expression, and I shrunk back nervously.

"So, it is really Raoul you still seek my dear?" He tensed up, and so did his voice.

I could feel his temper rising, and I began to tremble again.

"Erik," I said trying to explain myself.

"Silence!" He roared.

I looked down and saw his fists clenched, and I dared not look back up into his eyes.

"So, what is your plan Christine? Make me believe you love me and then go off with your Raoul and make a fool of me?"

I stood up out of the chair and started backing away from him, but he took angry dominating steps back toward me.

"Erik, please understand that I was very close to-"

"What is your purpose here then if you belong to Raoul?" He yelled, breathing heavily.

For some reason he hit a very insecure spot and my emotions started to control me.

"I belong to NO ONE!" I cried out as my back finally hit a wall.

Erik shot his arm up as if he was preparing to strike me, and I brought my arms up to my face and let out a cry. He knocked over one of the tall metal candle holders next to me and it came crashing down in front of me. I fell to me knees, as they were now weak from fear. He turned away from me and continued shouting. With tears streaming down my face I sprawled up to my feet and ran away from him.

"YES! RUN AWAY CHRISTINE! RUN AWAY FROM THE ANGEL OF DEATH! HE IS A MONSTER! A HIDEOUS MONSTER WHOM ALL FEAR!" His enraged mighty voice bellowed.

I continued to run until I saw the boat and jumped in it, desperately rowing away while trying to catch my breath. It wasn't long before Erik turned around and saw me rowing away. He must have thought I was just going to run and hide somewhere in his lair, because when he saw me he ran back toward me stumbling over the candle holder he had knocked over.

"Don't go!" he called back at me.

But I was already across the lake, not looking behind. I was upset, angry, and scared. At that point I never wanted to return or see Erik again. I was going to flee, flee from Erik, from the entire opera house, from everyone.

It seemed the only place I wanted to go was the cemetery. I wanted to visit my father's grave again, and feel his spirit comfort me. I successfully snuck out of the opera house, not letting a soul see me. Once I was outside I found a man with a carriage and paid him to take me to where I wanted to go, and he did.

I was still teary eyed as I walked through the tall black gate, hurt by how Erik once again frightened me. As I walked up near his grave I closed my eyes and started thinking of my father. Such a gentle man he was, and he loved me very much. I opened my eyes and suddenly remembered a song he used to sing me.

And in my sorrowful but beautiful voice, I started to sing. My voice echoed though the cemetery as I sang the song my father used to sing for me, long ago.

This young girl, look at her smile

I hope she finds her way

This young girl, with so many wonders

And a voice that carries you away

When she sings, she sings her story

Never wanting to be sad

Trying her best, trying her hardest

To make good of things that seem bad

I was slowly feeling my passion grow as my voice lifted and soared through the sky and as I loudly sang the chorus and felt tears down my face.

Oh this young girl, I hope you'll always love her!

Fill her heart with joy and laughter

May no one ever harm her

And may she sing her ever after

Here in a world full of fate

This young girl, may she always find her way!

My voice held on to the last note until I was out of breath.

I walked over to an old bench and sat down. I used the back of my palms to wipe away my remaining tears.

Christine…

I looked around, seeing no one. Why were these voices in my head taunting me? Had Erik followed me? I took a breath and stood up. At that point there were a couple of things I could have done, a few places I could have gone. God only knew which way was right. I knew one thing for sure, if I was to return to Erik I had to put Raoul behind me forever and vise versa. Either way would be hard for me. After my decision was made, I started walking out of the cemetery.

"Goodbye…" I whispered.