Erik's POV

I would have gone straight to Christine's apartment, but I was covered in slime. Therefore, I hurried home and nursed my wounds before heading over to watch the boy. My chest was covered in bruises, along with my newly black eye…Oh, those boys would pay dearly! After showering, I placed Gustave's new toys into a box and left my home, destined to be gone for nearly the entire night. Not only had I placed Gustave's toys in the box, but I had also packed some rope…

When I made it to Christine's, I entered without knocking and placed the box on the kitchen table. The noise must have startled Gustave, for he came rushing out into the kitchen as soon as I closed the door.

"Mr. Erik, what are you doing here?"

"What? Your mother didn't tell you? I'm going to be stopping by from time to time while your mother is at work to check on you."

The boy's eye lit up with excitement. "Really? I don't have to be alone anymore?"

I shook my head. "No. I offered to come by while she's working."

"Mr. Erik, what happened to your eye?"

"Um…Nothing. Just a little accident is all. But, instead of worrying about my eye, why don't you have a look at this."

I scooped up the box and carried it towards the boy's room with Gustave following me.

"What's in the box?"

"You'll see…" I assured.

Once inside the child's room, I took a seat with him and reached into the box.

"I thought your old Jerry seemed rather boring. You can't really put on a circus if your tiger won't perform. Therefore, I retired the old Jerry and got you a new one."

The moment I pulled the wooden tiger out of the box, the boy's eyes widened. This made everything worth it. He gasped and took the tiger into his tiny hands.

"Is this really for me?"

I nodded. "Yes, I carved them myself, Gustave. Not only a tiger, but a whole circus…"

From there, I took out the bear, cat, lion, camel and elephant I had carved for him. Oh, the boy couldn't get enough of it.

"Look," he gasped. "They even stand on their own…"

"And Meatball comes standing on his unicycle."

"Thank you, Mr. Erik!'

The boy wrapped his arms around me and I couldn't help but find it strange, for I had never been embraced before. Oh, my first hug, and by a complete stranger. No one had ever hugged me on their own free will before. No one ever wanted to do something such as that with me. At the same time it was both wonderful and beautiful.

"All right," I said, pushing him away. "Enjoy your new toys."

"Lucy likes peanuts," Gustave said, showing me his new elephant. "She can juggle them with her trunk."

"Really now?" I teased. "And what does he do?"

I held up the orange cat, causing Gustave to giggle.

"That's Skimbleshanks. He is a tightrope walker…The best there is."

"Have you eaten yet?" I asked.

Gustave shook his head. "No. I usually don't eat until my mama gets home from work. She usually brings leftovers from the pub."

"Have you ever gone to Luna Park?"

Gustave nodded. "Mama and I walked through Luna Park."

"Have you ever eaten there?"

"They have food?"

I chuckled. "Of course they have food, Gustave. It is an amusement park after all… I was thinking that you and I could go have some dinner with one another?"

"Really?"

"Sure. Come along then…"

I led the young boy out of Christine's apartment and towards Luna Park. There weren't many times when I would eat out, but some nights I would be so hungry after work, that I would have to stop for something. Over near the freak show, there was a restaurant that served milkshakes and french-fries. Knowing any child, they loved that sort of food. After sitting Gustave down at a nearby booth, I handed him a menu and gazed down at my own.

"I don't know how to read, Mr. Erik," the child said, gazing up at me.

"Well," I began, pointing to a page in my menu. "They have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry milkshakes. Which one would you like?"

"Chocolate," the boy replied.

"And they have french-fries and burgers. Do you like hamburgers?"

"I never had one."

"Well, you're in for a treat."

When our waitress came by, I placed our orders. I usually didn't like to eat, therefore, I just ordered a vanilla milkshake. It was the easiest thing to take in without having to remove my mask. After last night's episode, I knew I wouldn't be able to comfortably chew for a few weeks. Even now, as I sat there with Gustave, I could feel the stares of people watching me. Oh, why was it so hard for someone like me to come out into public?

"Mr. Erik?"

"Yes, Gustave?"

"Could I ask you something?"

"Anything within reason, boy."

"Why do you wear a mask? Are you a magician?"

I knew this day would come. I was hoping it would have come later than sooner, but there was no escaping it now. The boy asked a question, and therefore, he deserved and answer…An honest one to be exact.

"There are some things on this earth that should not be seen by human eyes, Gustave," I began. "Unfortunately, one of those things is my face. Human horror, is what it is."

"Horror? What do you mean?"

"I was born horribly disfigured. I…I don't have a normal face."

"How so? Your face looks normal to me."

"Perhaps it is because my mask forms my face as it should. But beneath it, I bear the resemblance of a skeleton. I have…I have no nose."

Gustave giggled. "How is that possible?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "God has made me this way. I was not asked to be born…"

"Do you work in Luna Park, Mr. Erik?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do. People pay to look at me, and sometimes, they're not kind to me."

"Could I see your face?"

I shook my head. "No, Gustave. And I am going to warn you not to ask again. My face is something one would see in nightmares. I wouldn't want to scare you."

"I wouldn't be afraid."

"Gustave, I'm warning you. Enough…"

"Yes, Mr. Erik."

I was glad when the waitress arrived with our meal. Gustave's jaw dropped when she placed his chocolate milkshake down in front of him. It was tall and topped off with whipped cream and a cherry.

"There you are, darling," she happily replied, placing down his order of fries and a burger. "Enjoy."

"This looks so good, Mr. Erik."

"And it is."

I took a sip of my vanilla milkshake and watched the child eat. He was so thin, and I knew why…I knew Christine could barely feed the boy. Yes, she had food, but not enough that would fill a growing boy.

"This milkshake is sooo good, Mr. Erik."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Could we play some more later?" he asked. "When we get back home?"

"We'll see, Gustave."

When the boy was finished with his meal, he and I left the restaurant and were headed towards the Luna Park gate. Somewhere in between, I noticed that he was eyeing the arcade.

"You see something?" I asked.

"I always wondered what was in there," he said. "Mama never wanted to go in."

"Well then, I believe we should explore."

"Really?" he gasped.

"Of course…"

The boy ran ahead, but I shouted for him to wait up. The last thing I needed was for him to get lost. Once inside the noisy and busy arcade, Gustave's eyes widened at the pinball lights and skeeball machines.

"Wow, what is this place?"

"It's an arcade," I said, lifting him up and placing him in front of a nearby pinball machine. "People come here to play games."

"What does this one do?"

I chuckled. "You really wish to know?"

He nodded. "I do…"

"It's a pinball machine. The object of the game is to keep the ball rolling around the machine. You use your hands on these two buttons to fling the ball up into the machine."

"That sounds fun…"

"Would you like to try?" I asked. "I have a few spare nickels."

"Really? Oh, thank you, Mr. Erik!"

For the first time in my life, I was happy. But why over this boy? I hated people, so why did I feel some sort of connection with him? Perhaps it was because he reminded me of myself when I was his age; alone and lost. I stood there with him, teaching him how to play the machine. And when my nickels were gone, he and I walked home.

"It's nearly ten," I said, once we entered Christine's home. "You should wash up and crawl into bed."

"Mama doesn't let me bathe on my own, Mr. Erik," the child yawned. "I don't know how to swim."

"Very well then," I said, scooping the boy up and carrying him into the bathroom. "I will wash you up myself, and then, it's time for bed."

I always believed children to be difficult, but Gustave was different. He never whined, nor did he ever cause a problem. Even when I filled up the bathtub, he never once argued about getting washed. No, he simply undressed and hopped into the bath water.

"Mama always puts my clothes in the wash bin."

"I will do that as soon as I get you off to bed."

"I want to play with my animals again, Mr. Erik."

"You will have to do it in the morning, Gustave. Your mother would have my head if she comes home and finds that you're still up. I know you have a bed time, boy."

"Could I at least show you something before bed then?"

I rinsed out his chocolate locks and nodded. "As you wish."

When Gustave was dressed in his nightshirt, he ran into the hall.

"Stay right there until I call for you, Mr. Erik."

"I'll clean up the tub and then I'll be in."

After tossing Gustave's clothes into the wash bin, I turned off the light and approached his closed doorway. Curious, I knocked.

"Gustave, are you ready yet?"

"Just give me a second," he called.

I patiently waited outside the door, until he called for me. Once he did so, I entered the boy's room to find that he had made a tent over his bed out of his blankets.

"Boy, what have you done?"

"Close the door," his head popped out from the opening of his blanket and motioned me towards him. "Come here…"

The room was in darkness, except for a small flashlight that was illuminating the tent.

"You want me to come in there with you?" I questioned.

"Yes, come on…"

I did as he asked and crawled into the tent with him. In his bed tent, he had all of his stuffed animals surrounding him, and in his lap, laid a leather bound book with a pirate ship painted on the front of it.

"This is my adventure tent," he replied. "It's where I have all my adventures before bedtime. Mother always works, so, I have adventure time with my stuffed animals."

"And what sort of adventures are we talking about?"

"Anything…Sometimes I pretend that I'm a pirate alone on his ship, sailing in a storm. Other times, I pretend that I'm in the desert, riding a camel and searching for ancient pyramids."

"So, you're an adventurist?" I teased.

"Yes. The best, Mr. Erik. I want to explore the world and go on adventures. In my book, they write about those adventures…" he paused and opened a page, his smile slowly fading away. "Only, I don't know how to read, so, I have to make up a story by looking at the pictures. Mama always said she would read these to me, but she never has the time."

"Well, let me have a look at this," I took the book out of his hands and smiled. "Oh, this one is about captain Black Beard…the most ruthless pirate to ever sail the seven seas."

"Really?" he gasped. "Black Beard?"

"Yes, looking for his treasure…"

"Oh, please read it to me, Mr. Erik…Please, please, please…"

"One story tonight, Gustave. One story, and then bed…"

Satisfied, I read Gustave a story of pirates while he sat there with his stuffed animals. This boy was so much like me, it was scary. I was just like him when I was his age…Adventures…Who would have thought? And when the story was over, Gustave hugged his book tightly to his chest.

"That was the best story ever…"

"I'd be more than happy to read you more, Gustave, but on another night."

"Ok, Mr. Erik."

"Oh no," I teased. "A high wind has come in…Black Beard's sails are blowing…"

I pulled down the blankets, causing them to cover the both of us.

"Oh, no…" Gustave cried. "Abandon ship, maties!"

I crawled out from the blankets and placed them over Gustave.

"Get some rest, Gustave. Your mother should be home shortly."

"Mr. Erik?"

"Yes?"

"It was the best night ever…"

I smiled. "I'm glad you thought so."

I left Gustave's room and headed out to the kitchen where I had left my rope. Playtime was over and it was now time to get serious. I formed a Punjab Lasso out of the rope before hiding it in my cloak…and just in the nick of time. A few moments later, Christine came walking in dressed in her usual uniform. She seemed tired, and she had a right to be.

"Oh, hi, Erik…" she said, entering through the door.

I placed on my cloak and hat, ready to head home for the night.

"Evening, Christine."

"I take it everything went well?" she questioned.

I nodded. "Yes, there were no problems. Your child is a blessing."

"I highly doubt that." She smiled. "Sometimes I don't know how I deal with him."

"Patience is all it takes, Christine. Either way, I shall be heading home now. I will see you again tomorrow…"

I was about to leave, when Christine gasped and spun me around.

"Erik, what happened to you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Your eye…It's black and blue. Were you in a fight?"

"No," I lied. "I'm well, thank you. An accident at work, is all."

"Erik, please…"

I pulled away from her grasp and angrily growled. "No, Christine! I said I was all right. Enough…"

"All right," she pouted. "I'm sorry…"

"Goodnight, Christine," I growled. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Erik," she pouted. "Have a safe walk home."

And with that, I left. But I wouldn't be going home…No, tonight I would be tracking down the dirty men that humiliated me and caused me pain. No more…After tonight they would humiliate me no more. Death was in their near future.

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