Chapter 5: We Meet Once More...

By: PittsBurghFuzz

Later that night, all of Erik's residents were sleeping, except for two. Erik was in his damp and dark study room, playing some music. Christine was in her room, listening to the music. It woke her up.

"Where am I?" she said to herself.

Christine dismounted from her large bed, and walked out of her room. Christine saw a beautiful golden staircase. She started to imagine several people dancing along the staircase, all gay and drunk, along with her and Raoul dancing across the floor. Then, she remembered the spectral red figure that descended the grand staircase. Christine continued to follow the familiar music, which led her to a peculiar looking door. It looked more like a heavy door in a prison or asylum, rather than the door in a grand home. Christine was actually able to open the door. It was cold and wet, with dripping water in certain corners. Christine followed the long hallway until she was able to hear the music perfectly. She saw a man at the organ, playing his music, which made Christine's soul beg for more. The man stopped.

"Bravo!" Christine yelled while clapping.

The man turned around quickly and he and Christine gasped. Erik and Christine could not believe they saw each other.

"What are you doing here?" he roared. "I thought I told you to get away from me!"

"Erik, please, I need some work." Christine told him.

Erik laughed hard. "Well, I thought the vicomte had good money? Wasn't he a member of a very prominent family, Christine?"

"He was disowned."

"Ha! Disowned? Really? After twenty some-odd years, the poor family finally disowned the boy? About time that family did something right!"

"Erik please." Christine's face became saddened.

"Oh, and let me guess, it was because of you, wasn't it? You know where your husband is now, don't you?"

"Stop it Erik!" Christine begged.

"Yeah, they must have been ashamed to have their little boy go off with a girl from the theater, and they would much rather have their boy marry a-"

"At least my mother didn't shun me at birth!" Christine yelled.

Erik's face became enraged. Erik roared loudly and shouted many shameful profanities at her, causing Christine to shrivel away, and cry. Erik then realized what he had done. Erik came to Christine's side, trying to comfort her.

"Why are you being so hateful Erik? Why are you so bitter?" Christine cried.

"Christine, I apoligize. I'm just a little tired right now, that's all."

"But all of those things you said. You were right, they would have rather had Raoul marry a-"

"Shh! Don't say that. I was getting ahead of myself. But seriously, how did you two get into this position?"

"Oh Erik, it was as you said. They were willing to pay me money to have me go away, but Raoul wouldn't have that, so they disowned him, left him with nothing. So he had to take a factory job, and I, well..." Christine trailed off.

"Well what?"

Christine cried into Erik's jacket. "I ended up as a..."

"No, you didn't!"

Christine nodded. "I had to Erik, it was the only way I could make money!"

"But why didn't you apply to one of the theaters here? The west end has so much to offer, and a girl of your talents could surely-"

"No Erik. I tried, but they all closed their doors at me. I knew you were here, but I didn't want to upset Raoul. Oh Erik its terrible. How he comes home drunk every night, how he beats me."

"Oh Christine!" Erik held Christine in his arms, as she closed her arms around him.

"I should go Erik. I'm the last person you want to see right now."

"No Christine, stay here, please. I mean, You may stay here as long as you like."

"Oh Erik, I hope I'm not causing you any trouble."

"None at all Christine. Just please get to bed. Its 4:00 AM right now, and you need all the rest you can get."

Christine got up, and walked towards the exit of the dark room.