Erik's POV

The summer season was slowly winding down, and the heat was finally wearing off. Since Christine was living with me, I spent most of my time at my office, doing paper work and finishing up things for the season. Though, late one evening I was working by candle light, when I heard a knock at my door. I stood on my feet, and approached the door, pulling it open to find Mr. Tilyou standing there. Oh, what did he want?

"My office is closed," I growled. "Come back tomorrow."

I was about to close the door in his face, when his foot blocked my path.

"I wouldn't do this…"

"And why not? This is private property now."

"Let me in, Erik…I'll speak with you for a few moments and then I promise to leave."

Agreeing, I took a seat in my chair and went back to work.

"Is there something I can help you with? I am sort of busy these days…You've seen my park, I'm sure…"

"That's what I came to talk to you about."

I placed down my pen and looked up at the man. "Go on…"

"My park's season ends next week."

"And so does everything else."

"Next season, I'm sure your park will be opening?"

"Indeed," I said. "The first of May."

"That would be an unfortunate mistake…"

"And why would that be a mistake, sir?...Ah, let me guess. You're worried that my park will leave your park empty. Imagine that, your park, empty! Oh, your pockets will surely take a hit, I'm sure. No, next season my park will be Coney Island's new family park. Now, I advise you to leave."

"You think you're a big shot now that you're sitting in that chair…On the business end. You're nothing, and I'm warning you to go back to where you came from. Luna Park is the only park on Coney Island and it will stay that way."

"Well, seeing that my park is nearly finished, I don't believe that is possible."

"You have jokes, monsieur…Jokes that you will pay for, this I assure you."

"Goodnight, Mr. Tilyou."

When the man left, I worked for three more hours, only deciding to stop when I could no longer keep my eyes open. After stretching, I rose to my feet and locked up, heading home to sleep. I cut through an alley, headed up towards thirty second street, when I was grabbed from behind. Yes, I was tired, but I fought off the man who was trying to grab me. He was a tall man with a muscular build. The man wrapped his arms around my neck, while his free hand wrapped around my leg. Oh, he was strong…so, so strong. He crushed my leg with his strength, tossing me to the ground as I yelped in agony. I landed on my back, the moonlight lighting up the man's round face enough for me to see every detail. He was bald, bald with black tattoos all over his face. From my back pocket, I weakly reaching into it, pulling out the small pistol I had purchased weeks ago in order to protect me from the creeps that lurked around Coney Island in the dark of the night. Walking home alone was dangerous, but not with a pistol in hand. I pointed the gun at the man and pulled back the safety, causing the man to pause.

"Please, monsieur," his deep voice begged. "Don't shoot me."

"Give me a reason," I weakly gasped. "I'll kill you."

After firing a stray bullet up into the air, I plopped back against the pavement and closed my eyes. My leg was throbbing in agony, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get up on my own. I wasn't sure if the man was still hanging around, but next thing I knew, I felt myself being lifted into his arms. I was too weak to care, but what I didn't understand was why this man was now helping me. How was it that a man could be so strong? A few moments later, I was laid down on my doorstep. Oh, what was he doing now? The man knocked on my door and then ran, leaving me laying there with what was most likely a broken leg.

When I heard the door being pulled open, I heard Christine gasp and kneel at my side.

"Erik…Oh, what happened to you?"

I groaned and rested my head against her lap.

"Mama, what's wrong?"

"Gustave, go and wake up Dr. Jacobs…Do you remember where he lives?"

"Yes, mama!"

Gustave slipped on his shoes and hurried out the door as Christine helped me inside and up the stairs to my room. My leg was in dire agony, and when Christine laid me down upon my bed, I felt ten times better.

"Your leg, ange…"

I wasn't sure what happened next, for I blacked out from the agony. When I woke, everything was dark and my leg was tightly wrapped. But even though it was wrapped, I was still extremely uncomfortable.

"Mr. Erik…"

I groaned and turned my head, spotting Gustave lying beside me.

"Gustave, what are you doing here?"

"The doctor fixed up your leg. He said your knee was dislocated. He splinted your leg and says you need to stay off your feet for a few weeks."

"What time is it?"

"It's breakfast time…"

"Go and get your mother for me, would you?"

Gustave nodded and hurried downstairs. A few moments later, Christine came up the stairs carrying a basin of water.

"How do you feel?"

"Horrible," I groaned, attempting to sit up. Christine rushed to my side and placed a pillow behind my back.

"The doctor said your knee was dislocated. He placed a splint on your leg and said that you need to lay still for the next few weeks."

"The world is cruel, Christine…"

"Erik, did someone try to rob you?"

"No, it was intentional. Mr. Tilyou threatened me a few hours ago in my office. I know he must have hired that man to hurt me…But, even though he hurt me, he apologized and begged me not to shoot him. Sounds a bit strange, wouldn't you think?"

"Just a tad bit, yes…"

Christine wrung out a wet cloth, and placed it against my forehead. "Rest, Erik…The pain has risen your body temperature."

"Are you making breakfast?" I asked.

"Yes, would you like something to eat?"

I nodded. "Yes, thank you."

When Christine left, Gustave came walking back in wearing his night attire. He crawled into bed with me and touched my bandaged leg.

"Did someone do this to you, Mr. Erik?"

"Yes," I groaned. "He was a really strong man…The strongest I had ever seen."

"Mr. Squelch," the boy murmured.

"Mr. Who?" I questioned. "What are you talking about?"

"I've been out in Luna Park with mama these past few days. We never go into the freak show, but they're always announcing to come out and see Luna Park's new attraction…He's a large, bald man. They call him "Mr. Squelch, the world's strongest man."

That was him! That had to be him…That was why I didn't recognize him, for Mr. Tilyou must have just recently hired him to replace me. The world's strongest man?

"Mr. Erik, did Mr. Squelch hurt you?"

"I think it was him," I groaned. "Your description fits perfectly to what I saw…But, what I don't get is why he would break my leg and then help me?"

"Maybe he was given an ultimatum…"

I chuckled. "You don't even know what that means, boy…You've been hanging around me too much."

I ruffled his dark locks and smiled. But what could I say? The boy was right. What if Mr. Tilyou ordered him to rough me up? What if this Mr. Squelch didn't want to do it, but did so to keep his job? Mr. Tilyou was wonderful at threatening his employees to get them to do as he wished. But perhaps after Mr. Squelch hurt me, he regretted what he had done and tried to make things better. Oh, the world was a cruel place.

"I don't think Mr. Squelch meant to hurt you, Mr. Erik…"

"Well then," I ran my fingers through his strands of hair. "What should be done about this?"

Gustave shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you can make the world right, Mr. Erik… Maybe you can save him from Mr. Tilyou…"

"Maybe I shall pay him a visit when I'm feeling better. To thank him for breaking my leg, of course."

"I wish I were as strong as him, Mr. Erik…"

"Oh, really?"

Gustave nodded. "If I was as strong as Mr. Squelch, I'd lift up anything in the world. Maybe I could even lift up an entire pirate ship."

I laughed. "You are certainly a character, Gustave."

"Oh, Gustave," Christine came walking in and lifted the boy into her arms. "Let's leave Mr. Erik alone for a while. He isn't feeling well and needs his rest."

"But, mama…"

"No buts, young man. Now, go down into the kitchen like I told you to do and set the table. Breakfast is nearly ready."

And when the child was gone, I removed my mask and closed my eyes. Sleeping with a fractured leg was harder than I first thought it to be. Even though my leg was splinted, I could still feel the bones mending and moving from beneath my flesh. I tried everything to make myself more comfortable…I placed pillows beneath it, rubbed it…Oh, but nothing ever seemed to work. Here it was, two days later and late at night, and yet, I was still having trouble sleeping. A terrible storm blew in, one that was filled with terrible and torrential rain. While everyone else was asleep, I was laying awake, staring at my ceiling because my leg was bothering me. After snuggling beneath my warm blankets, I closed my eyes once again, only to hear someone coming up the stairs. I expected whoever it was to come barging in, but instead, I heard a knock.

"Erik, are you asleep?"

I sighed and pressed my eyes closed. "No, I'm talking in my sleep."

"May I come in?"

"No, I'm indisposed…" I exhaustedly teased.

Christine giggled and came walking in with a few pillows in hand. I wasn't sure what she was up to, but when she placed them beneath my leg, I sighed in relief.

"I thought these would work better for you."

"Thank you, Christine," I sighed. "Much better."

"You look tired," Christine said, taking a seat at my side. "I know you haven't slept in days."

"How can you expect me to sleep when I'm in constant pain? I swear, when I can get out of this bed, I'm going to go pay this man a visit and give him a piece of my mind."

"He did help you, Erik… He could have left you to die."

"Die? No, more like crawl home on all fours. Even so, I'd rather be dead than to be laying here in agony."

"My father sprained his ankle one summer when I was a child. He was feeling just as you are now."

Christine sat herself at the end of my bed and lifted my aching foot into her lap. I slightly groaned in discomfort, but it all changed once she began massaging my aches away.

"Did this help your father?"

Christine nodded. "He slept well after I rubbed his foot for him."

"Christine, I was thinking…"

"What have you been thinking?" she asked with a smile tugging at her lips.

"If my park is to open come spring, you're going to need to start practicing."

"You still wish to have me as your star?"

"I haven't changed my mind…It's most likely been long since you last sang, and I believe you and I should start again."

"Like old times?"

"Like old times," I assured. "We shall have all winter."

"Erik," her smile faded. "Do you think you and I could be with one another again soon? I know you told me we couldn't, but in my heart, I can't help but feel as though you've been pushing me away because of something that someone said to you."

"No one said anything, Christine…I only speak to you." I lied.

"Well, could we go out to dinner one night then? Could we have a normal dinner with one another?"

"Are you asking me out on a date, Christine? You do know that men are the ones that are supposed to ask the woman out."

"I know, but in my heart, I know that you will never ask me."

"And just why do you want to go out with me, Christine? I'm worthless, I'm hideous…I don't deserve anyone or anything, which is why I will not take you up on your offer to go out to dinner, Christine, now, don't make me angry."

"Erik, whatever you believe, it's not true. You're special…I don't care about your face. Maybe I did years ago, but over the years, I've learned to look with my heart. That's what really matters in life."

"Once again, Christine, the answer is no."

"And why? What have I done for you to hate me? What have I done to make you feel so cold? You're not the same angel I grew up admiring…"

"Imagine, Christine," I growled. "Doing everything in ones power to get someone to love you, when each and every day you fail. Though, you pick yourself up each and every time and hope that the next day and strategy would work. And when it never does, your heart hardens and you accept life alone. Well, Christine, I have come to accept life alone, and therefore I shall live it alone. I know you don't want to hear this, but even though I have allowed you to live here, and even though, I have helped you, I hate you…"

"Erik," Christine looked down at her feet, her eyes filling with tears. "If I could go back in time and change everything, I would. Please don't hate me…I promise that if you give me a chance, I could make it up to you. I will make up every heart ache you have ever felt."

"Nothing you can do could ever fill that hole and scar in my heart, Christine. It's late…You should go back to bed."

Christine rose to her feet and approached the door. "I won't give up, Erik. I won't stop trying with you."

"You can try all you wish, Christine, but I will never love you again."

"Ever since I made love to you, I've loved you. Every time I see you, my heart skips a beat…"

"Well, then you know how I felt every time I looked at you. And now, you feel like I did when the other person doesn't love you back…Hurts, doesn't it, Christine?"

"You're being cruel, Erik…Deep down, I know there is still love within your heart for me, even if it is of the smallest amount."

"And just how do you know that?"

"Because if you didn't love me a little, you wouldn't have helped me this much."

With that, Christine bid me goodnight and left me alone. Though, in my heart I knew that I could never come to love this woman, for the pain would be far worse than losing her again.

DUN DUN DUN...Anyway, please review. There are alot of you reading this story, but not dropping some opinions my way. It does help when writing these chapters. Anyway, thank you for those of you who have been reviewing! Keeps me going over here. Hope you all enjoyed my chapter. Thanks again!