Erik's POV

I wandered the streets until three a.m. I was searching, searching for the men who had humiliated me. I searched every pub, every alleyway, everywhere that I could possibly think of. I was about to give up on searching, when I noticed a few shadows coming down the alleyway. I hid and waited, waited to see who would be passing by. I removed the noose from my jacket, gripping it with all my might. I would be ready if these men were the monsters who embarrassed me. Oh, they would surely pay. And oh, it was my lucky night, for the three men came walking by, the exact three men that had humiliated me. It was obvious that they had been drinking, for in their hands, they each held a bottle of some sort. They were also staggering from side to side, making it quite obvious…I waited until they passed my hiding place, and that's when I struck. I ran out from my hiding spot and placed the lasso around the first thug, the exact thug that had took a picture of me. His struggle against my weapon caused the other two to turn around and spot me. Only when the man stopped breathing did I release him. Oh, death, sweet, sweet death…A man's blood was on my hands, a monster's blood.

As soon as the other two noticed what I had done, they broke their bottles and came towards me. I dodged their weapons, coming forward and placing the lasso around the other thug, the thug who had helped the leader beat me. Though, just as I was pulling the lasso tight, the leader slashed my chest with the broken bottle. Yes, it hurt, but I was not about to give up. Once more, I waited until the man was no longer breathing before I released him. It was now down to the final man…the leader, the one who had caused the humiliation. Oh, I would make him suffer.

"Feeling strong today?" he growled.

The man pulled out his knife and held the blade towards me. I was playing with fire now. I had to watch myself, for if I was stabbed again, I would be in trouble. I avoided the man's blade as he swung it towards me with all his might. This would be a problem, for I knew he wasn't going to be giving up easily. At last, I managed to place my lasso around his neck, only to have my hand slashed in his attempt to get away. Oh, the blade slicing my flesh hurt more than anything in the world, but I held in the pain and pulled tightly on the lasso as I bled all over the weapon. Even then, the man didn't give up. He fought and kicked as I cut off his air supply. He rammed me into the nearest wall, the back of my head banging against the brick building. Oh, my head was throbbing now, but I held on…I held on until the man finally went limp in my grasp…Only then, did I drop him and run away.

I ran, ran all the way until I got home. The top of my hand was gushing blood, but I didn't care, I had defeated my enemy. I ran my hand under the rusty water of my sink and wrapped it tightly in a long piece of my shirt. When the bleeding had stopped, I unbuttoned my shirt and went to healing my other wounds. Oh, the man had got me good, for I had to sit there on my bed and feel around for shards of glass, picking the pieces out of my flesh one by one. I was exhausted. Oh, so exhausted. When I finally showered and cleaned myself up, it was already four in the morning. Over the ocean, I could see the sun coming up, but I didn't care, for I would now sleep. After crawling into bed, I reached over on my night table for some pain medicine and closed my eyes. I had work today and only had two hours before I needed to be at my post. My sleep time seemed to have come and gone in an instant, for as soon as I closed my eyes, it was already time to wake up. I had to pull myself out of bed and struggle to get my clothes on. Once I was dressed, I dragged myself to work and to my podium. Sitting there for the crowds of people was harder than I first thought it to be, for I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was never happier to get on break than I was today. I planned on taking an hour nap, but found that it was extremely hard to fall asleep in the heat. Instead, I drank some water and returned to my post, still exhausted from the late night of work.

Today was Christine's night off, therefore, I didn't have to go to her apartment after work. Instead, I planned on doing nothing but returning home to sleep. Once five O clock rolled around, I left my post for the evening and stumbled home. Even as I entered through my front door, I could still hear the children happily screaming from Coney Island. I didn't care, for all I wanted to do was sleep. Though, as soon as I entered my home, I knew something was wrong. I could hear someone rummaging around upstairs and I could smell something cooking. Oh no…No, no, no, no, no…I rushed up the stairs and threw open my door, spotting Christine bustling around my kitchen and Gustave playing on the floor with the animals I had made him. As soon as I entered, he looked over at me and smiled.

"Hi, Mr. Erik."

No! I didn't want these people here…We had an agreement! We had an arrangement. Christine wasn't supposed to be doing this. And why was she here? And to make things worse, she was cooking! In my kitchen! Oh, no…This certainly wouldn't do. I was about to open up my mouth and shout at Christine, but I didn't want to frighten the child. Therefore, I entered the kitchen and stood behind Christine as she worked the stove. I had no idea what the woman was making, but she needed to leave. I was exhausted and I wanted to sleep.

"Good evening, Erik," Christine replied. "How was work today?"

"Christine," I sarcastically began with a smile across my face. "How did you get in here?"

"Oh, you had a key under the doormat. I went grocery shopping and decided to make you dinner."

"And what for? What did I tell you, Christine?"

"Erik, it's harmless, really. If anything, this is a kindness. Gustave showed me what you made him. They're beautiful."

"Christine, I don't want things to be this way. I told you time and time again about the way things are supposed to be between us."

"I know, Erik, but this seemed harmless, really. I'm going to make us some dinner. Does that sound good?"

"No, Christine, it does not sound good. I'm exhausted and want to sleep. Is that so much to ask? I had a tiring day at work and I want to sleep."

"What happened to your hand?"

I saw Christine staring down at my bandaged hand, causing me to hide it behind my back.

"Nothing," I growled. "Just an accident at work…"

"And your face," her hand was now caressing my cheek, causing me to back away.

"Don't touch me," I cried. "Christine, please. I beg you to leave me. I don't want company tonight…I'm exhausted. This is my home…"

I was about to raise a hand to the woman, when Gustave came walking towards me with his animals in hand.

"Mr. Erik, come play with me…"

Oh, how could I say no to his innocent face? But why? Why had I become so attached to the boy? I never cared for anyone like I cared for him. Yes, at one point, I did love Christine, but ever since the tragedy, I couldn't hold the same feelings for her that I once had. No, but Gustave had won my affection within a matter of minutes. He was so innocent and so pure…He was exactly how I was when I was his age.

"Christine, if I allow you to stay for dinner, you must promise that you will leave right after. And this isn't to become a nightly ritual. I enjoy my privacy and it is to stay that way."

When Christine nodded, I followed Gustave into the next room and sat down beside him on the floor.

"I've been playing with them all day," he said, placing them around the floor.

"Yes, I can see that."

"Mr. Erik, can you play circus with me?"

"Not really, Gustave. I can't sit on the floor very long."

"Why not?" he asked, looking up at me.

"Oh, I'm old, is all… Though, I have a better idea. Why don't we give your circus animals a break and I'll show you something much cooler."

"Really?" he gasped. "What?"

I lifted the boy off of the floor and led him over to where my piano was set. I took a seat with him on the bench and lifted back the cover.

"Wow, look at all the white things…"

"They're called keys," I chuckled. "Piano keys."

"What is a piano, Mr. Erik?"

"This is a piano, Gustave," I said, pressing down on one of the keys. It's what is used to make music."

"Music? Mama sings to me sometimes, is that music?"

I shook my head. "In a way it us, but this is where music comes from."

I reached over for the piles of scores and tore one out, placing it in front of the piano. It was a song I had written long ago, but it was still beautiful. Oh, how the child's eyes widened as I sat there playing for him. He seemed so happy, and I was glad. From the kitchen, I saw Christine smiling as she worked at making dinner…I hadn't seen that smile in a very long time.

"How did you do that?" he gasped.

"Many years of practice," I said. "It's not something that just happens."

"Did you start playing when you were my age?"

I chuckled. "Most likely before that. In my home, there was a piano and that's mostly how I passed my time. When I aced it, all I wanted to do was write music."

Gustave pressed his finger on a key, causing a loud noise to echo throughout my room.

"You seemed interested."

"Very interested," he replied. "I want to learn."

"Oh, do you now? You wish to learn the piano?"

He nodded. "More than anything in the world."

"Well then, I shall have to teach you. But not tonight. I'm too tired to do so. Perhaps another night then…"

"Yes, yes, please! I want to learn more than anything in the world."

"Really now? More than anything?"

"Yes, Mr. Erik…"

I was about to say something, when Christine interrupted the two of us.

"It's dinner time, you two…"

The child jumped into my arms and I carried him to the kitchen where Christine had soup set out. It was amazing that she had actually prepared something this tasteful in my sorry excuse for a kitchen. Though, I didn't complain and sat down to eat it.

"So, Mr. Erik is going to teach you how to play the piano?"

Gustave nodded. "Yes, he says that he would."

"Well, he's the best teacher in the entire world. He was mine at one time too."

"Really, mama?"

"Of course. How do you think I came to know how to sing? I didn't become Paris' opera star over night."

Christine winked at me, but I didn't respond. I wasn't sure if she was flirting with me or not, but if she was, I didn't want to acknowledge it…When dinner was over, Gustave fell asleep on the living room floor. I knew the boy had trouble sleeping, for Christine was always out. Hopefully now that I was hanging around, the child would come to sleep more comfortably. While he slept, I offered to help Christine with the dishes. She washed and I dried and our conversation was silent.

"So, Erik," Christine began as she and I stood there. Oh, why was she trying to start a conversation with me? All I wanted to do was clean up from dinner and go to sleep. "What happened to your eye? It's black…Obviously someone punched you in the face…"

"No one punched me in the face, Christine," I lied. "I had an accident. Mind your own business."

"Why do you have to be so cold with me, Erik? I'm only trying to be friendly with you."

"I don't want to be friendly with you, Christine…If I did, I would have started talking to you. I didn't want this. I told you before…"

"Erik," Christine handed me a bowl and sighed. "I know that we haven't been friendly in the past, but I really am trying to change that. If there is anything I want to do, it is rekindle our friendship."

"And I refuse to be friendly….I want us to keep our relationship the way it is… that being no relationship at all."

"Erik…"

"Christine…"

"I thought you would have changed, Erik. I thought you would have changed for the better. I thought things could have been different between us."

"No, Christine, I'm done rolling out the red carpet for the likes of you. If you want to continue acting like this it's going to do nothing but hurt you. I will not be coming out of this... I will continue to treat you like this, like it or not."

"Erik, I know I hurt you in the past, but believe me when I say that I'm a changed woman. I've changed, Erik, really…Gustave loves you and in my heart, I know that I can love you too…"

Oh, this was making me angry. I refused to sit there and listen to this vile woman.

"Enough!" I snapped, slamming the bowl down on the counter. "Enough, Christine! You can learn to love me? I don't want to be learned…I never wanted to have you learn. Which is why I refuse to continue this relationship. You need to leave, Christine. I want you to leave and never come around to this apartment again. I will come and look after Gustave when you are working, but besides that, I don't wish to see you."

"But…"

I scooped Gustave up into my arms and handed his sleeping form over to Christine.

"Goodnight, Christine."

Christine did not say another word. She simply bid me goodnight and left. And when she did, I finally crawled into bed and closed my eyes. I quickly fell asleep and oh, sleep never felt so good...

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