Erik's POV

We traveled for days, never stopping until I found it safe enough to do so. Knowing that it would be better if we laid low for a while, I had us stop in a small village, the same small village where I was born. It was small enough to where no one knew anything that was happening outside of the village, making it the perfect place to rest our weary bones. After being bandaged up, Christine barely made a move for three days. When I attempted to feed her, she didn't open her mouth, nor did she even open her eyes. I was becoming worried, so worried that she was going to die. I was running out of options to save her life, and Dr. Gangle told me that she was in God's hands. God and I had never gotten along in the past, for he never answered my desperate pleas for help, but I needed to do something. After changing Christine's bandages, I threw on my cloak and headed into the all too familiar village. I could have walked around with my eyes closed, for that's how familiar it was to me. There were never too many times when I would be allowed out, but I knew there was one place I could go. The village's church was a place where everyone in town could go to pray. I always begged my mother to take me to services, but she always refused, telling me that God would not like something as hideous as me entering one of his beautiful buildings.

This went on for years, right up until the night I ran away. I never knew what became of the woman, for I never heard from her again. The old church was a little run down and the once beautiful stained glass windows were a bit dirty, but this was still God's house. It was located back in the woods, away from the homes and market place. The night was dark, but the church was lit and welcoming, the colors of the stained glass windows shining brightly as if guiding me towards it. I walked through the unlocked door and noticed that the place was empty. I walked down the short isle and approached the alter, staring up at the wooden cross that was hanging on the center of the wall. My mother told me time and time again that if I ever entered the house of God the floor would break open and I would fall straight into the fiery pits of hell. I had been standing here for a total of three minutes, and yet, nothing had happened.

"I…I know we haven't spoken to one another much," I began. "And you've never answered my prayers before, but I need you to listen to me now."

Before my feet there was a small podium that was padded with red cushions. Everything was new to me, including this very church. I had seen it from my bedroom window thousands of times, but never once had I ever stepped inside of it. I wasn't sure how to pray in a church, but by the looks of the cushions, I was guessing that I was supposed to kneel before the cross. I was about to do just that, when I heard a man's voice call out from behind me.

"Can I help you with something?"

I froze in place, shocked to hear someone else. I slowly turned and found a tall man standing near the door. He was tall, thin and dressed in a black shirt and trousers with the white collar that priests usually wore, around his neck a small metal cross was dangling by a string of prayer beads. He was old, and yet, so familiar…

"I…I was just praying."

"Then pray away, my son…"

The moment the man said those words, his eyes widened and he slowly began approaching me. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but when he was standing right beside me, his eyes went to my mask.

"If you're here to gawk at me, I'm sorry to tell you that I don't exhibit myself to people any longer."

"And I can tell that the years have made you forget about this village and me as well…"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't remember me? Do you remember your lessons that I gave you in your mother's study, Erik?"

The moment he said my name, my heart skipped a beat, for standing before me was the same priest that he delivered and home schooled me.

"I…I remember, but I would rather forget it. I…I came to pray."

"And is there a reason why you have come to pray?"

"I'm not praying for myself, Father, I came to pray for a friend. She is on her deathbed and it is way before her time."

"God is always listening, Erik."

"If that is true, Father, then how is it that he has never answered my prayers before? I have begged him for years to help me through each horrific event that life has thrown at me, and yet, never once has he ever pulled through."

"God helps those who first help themselves, Erik."

"And I have helped myself. I have been put through so much in my life, and yet, I always rose from the ashes to better myself, without God's help!"

"And did you ever think that perhaps God was helping you the entire time? That maybe he was God pushing you to rise from the ashes?"

I shook my head. "I don't think so, Father. Anyway, I'm here to pray for a friend… She is in bad shape and needs help."

"And does she believe in God?"

"Yes," I said. "More than anyone. She is very religious and always prayed to your Lord."

"Then I think we should pray for her together."

The man knelt down before the cross and motioned me to do the same. When I was beside him, we bowed our heads.

"Repeat after me, Erik… Oh heavenly father, we come to ask you to watch over your child…"

"Christine," I said. "Christine Daae."

"Christine Daae… She is in need of your help. Give her the strength to rise again and help her through tonight and every other night until it is her time to meet you face to face. Oh Father, who art in heaven, hallow be thy name. By kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive those who trespass against us. Amen."

When our prayer was over, the priest stood while I still knelt there with my hands folded. Never had I ever prayed so hard in all my life.

"Your mother is buried in the cemetery, Erik… I thought you would have returned sooner to bury her, but when you never showed up I buried her myself."

"I haven't talked to my mother in over thirty years."

"She died of loneliness, Erik. At least that's what I think she died of… She's been gone five years now. If you wanted to, you could have the house. It's been empty since her passing."

Knowing that I could never return to that house, I stood to my feet and headed towards the door.

"I would rather see that house burn to the ground than return to it again. Too many horrible memories reside there, Father. I thank you for praying for my friend, but I have to leave now…"

"Erik, wait… Why do you feel as if you have to leave right this minute?"

I had so much hatred for this man, so much that I turned to face him again with the same anger I once had as a child.

"And why didn't you do me a favor and put me out of my misery? You told my mother to let me live, for I was an innocent child. I was a monster and I shouldn't have been allowed to live."

"You were a baby…"

"An ugly one…One that was a monster. Monsters don't deserve to live, and yet, you forced me to continue breathing. I have lived through hell, complete hell! My mother never loved me! I ran away and was forced into slavery by gypsies! Then, after escaping their clutches, I was forced to make love to a corpse in Persia! You should live through every horrible thing I had to live through… Perhaps then you would have changed your mind when my mother wanted to smother me…"

The priest didn't have a word to say to me, for he was standing there completely speechless.

"I've never even been able to court a woman because they fear me… I had to start a traveling freak show in order to have an income. Do you think I enjoy this?"

Still, the priest was silent. That's when I took it upon myself to leave the church and head back to my caravan. I was surprised when I noticed Nadir coming out of my caravan. I tossed another log on the fire and took a seat in one of my chairs, my eyes never leaving his as he slowly approached me.

"I just came to check on Christine," he said. "Where were you?"

"I went to pray."

The man smirked at the very word, causing my anger to grow. "And what, Persian is so funny?"

"The thought of you praying to Allah… You never prayed in the past."

"And how do you know?"

Nadir took a seat beside me. "Well, have you?"

"Yes, all the time. Though, God never answered me before. I first prayed to him when my mother beat me so badly that I thought I was going to die. I prayed again when I came down with consumption… And then again when I was being raped night after night by the gypsies. I prayed one final time when I was forced to make love to that corpse in Persia…And never, Khan…Never were my prayers ever answered."

"So why did you go and pray tonight?"

"Because for once, my prayers weren't about me, Nadir… They were about Christine… I prayed for her survival."

"Well, I don't believe in your God, but tonight, I will pray to Allah."

Nadir patted me on the back and headed towards his caravan. I was just heading inside, when the boy appeared. I rolled my eyes and opened the door to my home.

"It's late," I growled. "Go home…"

"Is…Is Christine all right?"

"As Dr. Gangle said, she's in God's hands…"

The boy pulled a small coin out of his pocket and held it up to me.

"Can you put this by her bed? It's for good luck… It helped me out when I needed luck and I think Christine needs it more than me."

Knowing that Christine needed all the luck she could get, I nodded and carried the coin inside with me. After placing it on the night table I took a seat at her bedside and watched her. She was still asleep, her flesh pale and chilled to the touch.

"I prayed for you tonight, Christine," I said. "I prayed for you tonight, and I hope that God was listening to me. If he took you away I don't think I could ever go on believing in him again."

Ever since Christine's injury, I had refused to sleep in the spare bed. No, she needed to be watched over, and I made sure that I did just that. There were times during the day when I would fall asleep over my work, but other than a few catnaps, I had yet to sleep a full night. How could I close my eyes and sleep comfortably, when this girl was on death's door? No, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep again until I knew she was well. Tonight, however, I found it extremely hard to keep my eyes open and soon found myself drifting off to sleep in my chair.

Hey everyone sorry about the long update time. Been very busy, but I have great news. I decided to begin writing a Phantom story that will be getting published. Does this sound like something you would all be interested in?