Her face was horribly scarred. Long, red scars crisscrossed maliciously all over her face, mingling with red scars from burns. Beneath the scars, her skin was a soft gold, gleaming between the cruel lines. It looked as if she had had a bad break on her upper cheek bone. It was quite bruised and swollen. The girl's crooked smile lit up her whole face, pinching the scars on her cheeks tightly.
"I-I know. You're p-probably going to l-leave now."
Erik shook his head slowly, still starring at her face.
"N-no. I'm not going to leave."
He cleared his throat loudly.
"Alright, let me hear you sing."
Sophia nodded, took a breath, and started.
"You have brought me
To that moment
Where words run dry.
To that moment
Where speech disappears
Into silence
Silence.
I have come here
Hardly knowing
The reason why.
In my mind
I've already
Imagined
Our bodies entwining.
Defenseless and silent.
Now I am here with you no second thoughts,
I've decided
Decided."
Her voice became deeper and richer. Erik listened, his heart breaking when he thought of the last time he'd heard this song.
"Past the point of no return
No going back now!
Our passion play
Has now at last
Begun.
Past all thought
Of right or wrong
One final question
How long should
We two wait
Before we're one?
When will the blood
Begin to race?
The sleeping bud
Burst into bloom?
When will the flames
At last
Consume
Us?
We've past the point
Of no
Re-turn."
Erik was silent. Than, he struck her across the face, blinded by unimaginable anger. That song was made for Christine, and Christine only!
She took the hit with nothing more than a whimper.
"T-this is why I-I don't trust p-people," she whispered. "You t-trust them, t-they hurt y-you."
She, in turn, struck him across the face; knocking his mask off. She gasped quietly at the sight of his face.
"O-oh my."
Erik didn't bother to cover his deformity. He just glared at Sophia. She lowered her eyes.
"I-I'm sorry, Monsieur. P-please, will you still h-help me?"
Erik narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure he would be able to put up with this girl. But, than again, at least he wouldn't have to wear his mask around her.
"Mademoiselle, I will help you. On one condition."
Sophia blinked.
"Y-yes?"
Erik smiled.
"You must call me Erik."