Dear Readers: It has been a while since I have written a chapter. I didn't know how to start this chapter at first, so I have been thinking about how to go about writing it, and I've also had a busy week at school… Thank you for reading this fan fiction and I hope you continue to like the story. Feel free to critique and leave reviews.
Erik led Christine to his lair; it was illuminated by several candles and looked dark and mysterious. It was across the lake, so Erik had to take Christine to it in a boat. He wondered if Christine would think of him as a freak, but tried not to show her how nervous he really was; after all, he did want Christine to like him as a person. Erik was extremely tired of being alone in this dark place, and he thought he found something in Christine. Was it because she was so young, or was it because she was so naïve?
"I didn't know there is a lake under the opera house," Christine said in awe.
"Yes, my Dear," Erik replied, "there is indeed a lake under the opera house; it is also the place I have been living for a long time now."
"I didn't know anybody lived under here," Christine said, "It is so dreary and dark under here… Why do you live down here and not in a regular house?"
"Dear child," Erik said, "trust me, I wish I could live in a normal house, but people are afraid of me because I am a freak of nature. That is why I hide my face behind this mask. I used to be in a traveling fair; they had locked me inside of a cage! Christine, can you imagine living in a cage for years and being mistreated all that time? It does something to you, makes you a monster when you decide you have had enough. They beat me until one day, I managed to escape, but I had nearly beaten the man to death who had beaten me all those years." Erik had a sad look on his face. "There was nowhere to go, because I was a freak of nature and people didn't think I was a human; they thought of me as an animal. Your Madam Giry was the one who had saved me by hiding me in this place." Erik waved his arms around to show Christine this was the place he had lived since that day. "I will forever be thankful for Madam Giry's help that day; I probably would have been killed if it wasn't for her. I have lived in this dark and dreary place ever since and have been working on music ever since."
Christine had a look of compassion on her face. "I am sorry you had to be put through all of that, and I don't see you as an animal or monster… You are a man, Erik, who deserves a better live than living under an opera house."
"Christine," said Erik, "I would if I could, but I can't take this mask off; I look weird in it, but I look hideous without it. People would ask me why I wore a mask all the time, and if I ever decide to remove the mask, they would be horrified and most likely call me a monster or freak. I want to be normal for once." Erik walked and sat down on a sofa he had in his lair and looked at his lap. "I hope you don't think of me as a monster or freak Christine."
Christine crossed and sat down next to Erik. "Why would I think of you as a monster or freak," she said lifting his head so he would look at her. "You are just a man who is lonely and needs a friend in this world, and I will be here for you."
Erik smiled at Christine, "I am pleased to hear that you do not fear me as others have feared me in the past. You and Madame Giry are the only two people I have met that think of me as a man. Thank you Christine for not getting frightened and running away." Erik was a bit relieved that not every person he met thought of him as a monster or freak. He did not know what he would have done if Christine was one of the people who considered him a freak of nature or a monster.
"You are welcome Erik," Christine said softly. Christine could not believe what this man had been through in the past. She was a little curious as to what he looked like without his mask on, but she did not want to upset him today, so she did not try to remove it or ask him to remove it for her.
That's all for this chapter of Christine Falling in Love with Erik. Sometime I will get to the point where Christine falls in love with Erik. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and thank you for reading!