Erik's POV

I ran outside as quickly as I could, calling the child's name. I didn't understand why he had left, but one thing was for sure, he wasn't home.

"Christine, we should split up," I said. "We should split up and look for him. We could cover more ground that way."

Christine nodded and went in the opposite direction. Why would the boy leave? Why would he disappear? I was worried, so completely worried about him. He wasn't even my child, and yet, I was so worried about him.

"Gustave!" I called out his name, heading towards my park. I wished there was still snow on the ground, for at least then I could see his foot prints. But no, there was no snow on the ground, and no signs of him anywhere.

"Gustave, please answer me…Please! Where are you?!"

For nearly an hour, I searched for him, but came up short. I searched everywhere for him, only coming across Christine and no one else. When I did, I grabbed a hold of her and pulled her to me.

"Christine, did you find him?"

"No," she cried. "No, I don't know where he is. Oh, Erik, please, please help me find him."

She was sobbing into my shirt now, so hard that I could feel her tears through the fabric.

"All right, Christine. Come along, I'll check in my park."

My hands shook as I opened the gate and pulled Christine inside with me. My park was dark and dead, for it was winter. Though, I pressed on, checking around every corner and hoping that I would find him. I was about to give up and notify the authorities, when I turned a corner and spotted Gustave lying asleep on a bench. Christine sighed in relief and ran towards him, checking his pulse and shaking his small body. I was never so relieved when he stirred in his sleep and began rubbing his eyes. He was dressed in one of my robes, making it obvious that he had placed it on in order to keep himself warm on his outing. But why? Why had he left the house? I had told him to stay, and he had left.

"Gustave," Christine gasped. "What were you thinking? Oh, look at you…"

She carried Gustave home while I followed behind, my anger never ceasing. Once home, Christine carried Gustave to his room while I went upstairs. Punishing the boy was not my area, for he wasn't my son. Yes, I could have scolded him, but it wasn't my place, for I wasn't his father. After undressing, I threw on my robe and took a seat at my desk. A few moments later, Christine knocked and I spun around to see her standing in my doorway, her eyes red and stained in tears. In her hands, she was carrying the robe that we had found Gustave in. I stood and took the garment from her hands, hanging it back in my wardrobe where it belonged.

"Gustave didn't take anything else from your closet, did he?"

"No," I said. "Well, nothing that I have noticed yet."

After shutting my wardrobe, I spun back around. "Did he say why he ventured out of the house, Christine?"

"He said he got scared from a nightmare and went to find us."

"I told him not to leave the house. I made him promise me that he wouldn't leave. If he stayed here, I promised that I would take him to my interviews tomorrow. I don't see that happening now…He broke his promise to me, which is why I'm going to break my promise to him. Fair is fair, Christine."

"I'm a horrible mother," she began, taking a seat on the side of my bed.

I sighed and took a seat beside her, rubbing her back to sooth her pain. I knew she was upset over what had happened. Any mother would feel the same.

"Christine, you're not a bad mother," I said. "Things happen. Children make horrible mistakes, mistakes that you have no control over."

Christine nodded and rested her head against my shoulder. I knew she felt safe around me, and I was glad to comfort her.

"Hey," I said, gently prying her away. "It's getting late. Let me walk you to your room, ange…"

When Christine didn't budge, I lifted her body from off my bed and carried her down the stairs in my arms, just like I used to do when she was a child. Even as I carried her down the hall, her head rested against my shoulder. It felt wonderful…oh, so wonderful. And when we were in her bedroom, I placed her into bed and removed her shoes. Afterwards, I placed a blanket over her and kissed her cheek.

"Get some rest, Christine. Everything will be all right in the morning."

"I should check on Gustave to make sure that he's still here."

"I'll check," I assured. "I'll check on him, Christine."

"Thank you, Erik…"

I nodded and left her room, walking down the hall to Gustave's room, peeking inside to find him sleeping soundly beneath the blankets. For a while, I stood there watching him, worried that he would leave at any given second. After a few moments of watching him, I shut his door and headed upstairs to my room. Tomorrow was going to be a long and stressful day, one that I needed my rest for. After crawling into bed, I closed my eyes and soon fell into a dreamless slumber.

The following morning, I woke early and dressed, coming down the stairs to enter the kitchen. Christine was there cooking breakfast and I took seat to read the morning paper.

"Morning, Erik," Christine said, placing a cup of tea down in front of me.

"Good morning, Christine. Thank you… Just some toast this morning, I'm running a little late. I have my first interview in an hour."

Just then, the sound of feet running down the hall occurred, followed by Gustave hurrying into the kitchen adjusting his shirt.

"Am I late?!"

Christine slightly turned around, but went back to cooking the moment she saw Gustave. I placed down my newspaper and stood to my feet.

"I'm going to take a raincheck on the toast, Christine," I said, adjusting my jacket. "I'm going to get going."

"Are we going, Mr. Erik?"

The child tugged at my jacket, but I pushed him away, heading towards the door.

"Well, Gustave, seeing that you broke your promise to me yesterday, I don't believe that you will be going."

"But, Mr. Erik, I got scared… Please, bring me with you, please…"

"No, Gustave," I said. "You promised me. Do you know how frightened you made your mother last night? Oh, you frightened us both, and by breaking your promise you won't be accompanying me to the interviews today."

Tears rushed to Gustave's eyes, but I wasn't listening to him now. Crying would do the child no good, for I wasn't a fool for that. No, it never worked with me when I was a child, and it wouldn't work on me now when it came to Gustave.

"I shall be back later…"

And as the child began to sob, I closed the door. I tried not to think about upsetting him, but I knew that I had. When I arrived at my office, I took a seat and prepared myself for my first interview. Soon, Mr. Squelch arrived and I greeted the man.

"Mister E, do you need any assistance today?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Thank you, Mr. Squelch, but I think I shall be all right today."

"Sir, what's wrong with your voice? Do you have a sore throat?"

Oh, this would be the first, but not the last time today that I would hear this. The moment I lifted my head, Mr. Squelch turned away.

"Just send in my first interview," I growled.

When the man walked away, I pulled out my applications, only to hear a hobbling sound sliding across my floor. Curious, I lifted my head, spotting a man draped in a long cloak entering. But that wasn't all, the man also had a sack of some sort over his head and his hands were covered in the same thing. His body was oddly shaped, making it hard for him to walk. When he took a seat, I looked down at my applications.

"Um…What is your name?" I asked.

"J…John Merrick…"

The man stuttered, making it hard for me to understand him at first. Curious, I began to flip through my applications, not actually remembering that name. But why didn't it sound familiar? Over and over again I flipped through my applications, never actually finding one with his name on it.

"Did I actually call you back for an interview?"

"S...Sorry, sir, but my friend said that you would be able to help me with a job."

A few moments later, the man produced a small application. I took it from him and looked it over.

"All right," I said. "I'll give you an interview."

"I…I just got here a few days ago…Came from…London."

"And what did you do in London?" I asked.

"S…Side Show work, sir."

"And just why would you be comfortable working in my park?"

"It's…It's a hard world out there, sir. People are cruel…very, very cruel…"

Before I could say another word, the man pulled off his hood, and what I saw nearly churned my stomach. Oh, the man was deformed, terribly deformed. His head was misshapen, and he had large tumors, very large tumors protruding from his skull. I knew that he had a very hard life. But wearing a sack on his head? Oh, why would he wear such a thing?"

"Mr. Merrick, how old are you, exactly?"

"T…Twenty three, sir."

The man's breathing was labored, making it obvious that he had trouble breathing due to how heavy his head probably was.

"And what happened to you?"

"I…I…Have large limbs, sir. My…my body began to take on a shape of its own when I was only five. I've been in side shows ever since, sir."

The man removed the sacks from his hands, allowing me to see that his fingers were large and fused together. Strange, for I had never seen anything like it.

"And why would you want to work in my park?" I asked. "Allowing people to gaze upon your deformity? If the world is so cruel, then why would you want to place yourself in my park? People will still gaze upon you here."

"I…I am smart, sir. I can read and write multiple languages. I…I just want something else in life, something more than sitting on a podium and showing off my body."

"Body?"

"My chest is caved in, sir. And my back is hunched."

"I'll see what I can do, Mr. Merrick."

The man placed his sacks back over his hands and face, and rose to his feet.

"I thank you for your time, Mister E. I look forward to working in your park come spring."

"And I look forward to working with you. I shall have Mr. Squelch notify you with the details."

When the man left, Mr. Squelch walked in, and oh, I had a bone to pick with him.

"I'm sorry, sir," Mr. Squelch replied. "I was going to tell you about my friend, but I didn't have the chance."

"I wish you would have told me sooner...don't surprise me with things like that."

"Once again, I'm sorry, sir…"

"Just send in my next interview."

When Mr. Squelch left, a woman entered. She was a tall, thin woman dressed in feathers. She held out her hand and I accepted.

"Nice to meet you Miss…"

"Fleck," she replied. "Miss Fleck."

"Well, Miss Fleck, what do you do?"

"I dance… Well, I'm really a trapeze artist. Best there is."

"And what exactly did you do in Luna Park?"

"Mr. Tilyou had me dancing around in hardly any clothing. I didn't like it, sir… I want more."

"Well, I will be looking for a trapeze artist or two, and I think I actually remember you from Luna Park. But, be assured that you will have a spot in my park. My goal is to take away every one of Mr. Tilyou's employees. As you probably know, I, myself was treated horribly over there."

"I…I know, sir. Mr. Tilyou treated us all horribly."

"Well, you'll all be safe now, and I would never treat anyone like that. No, Phantasma will be a safe haven from any harm."

After interviewing Miss Fleck, I wound up interviewing fifty more freaks. Some were midgets and others were women who were joined at the hip. Some I had remembered from Luna Park, and others were freaks I had never seen before. All shapes, sizes and colors, but everyone was accepted into my park. After finishing with my interviews, I filled out some forms by candle light and was about to leave, when I heard my door opening.

"Oh, I'm finished for the evening," I said, staring down at my work.

"One more couldn't hurt, could it?"

When I heard that familiar voice, I looked up to find Meg entering, dressed in a short, pink skirt. Yes, I could have kicked her out, but she seemed hesitant and frightened. Most likely from that last visit to her house I had made.

"Miss Giry, you weren't called back for an interview."

She nodded. "I…I know, sir. But a truce? Please, I could really use the money. But, if you need me to run the cash register in the fudge shop, I will not argue."

Intrigued by her honesty, I motioned her to take a seat and searched for her application.

"Well, unfortunately, that position was filled today."

Meg's face turned to one filled with disappointment. I had to be sure that she was being truthful, and not attempting to trick me. Perhaps my visit had finally knocked some sense into her. And yes, I could have been cruel, but I didn't have the heart to do so, not while she was being so honest.

"You know, Meg," I began. "I still haven't filled the position for Christine's opening act. If…If you wanted, I could give you a try out next week. I'll be auditioning a few roles to land as opening act, and if you want, I will put you in that opening line up."

Meg's eyes widened. "Really?!"

"Yes, Meg. Just plan an act of some sort and have it ready by next Monday."

And with that, Meg left with a smile on her face. A few moments later, I rose to my feet and headed home, finding Gustave sitting on the stairs waiting for me.

"Evening, Gustave."

"Hi, Mr. Erik…"

I sighed and took a seat beside him.

"Your punishment is over, Gustave. Next week I'm having auditions for my acts…If you want, you could join me?"

And when Gustave nodded, I knew that he had forgiven me for today….Not only that, but from that punishment, I knew he had learned something.

Awww...I love my Gustave. He's so understanding and adorable...Oh, and on a side note, I know that John Merrick didn't live long, nor did he go to Coney Island, but I wanted to add him into my story. I find him an interesting character...Not that he will be in the story as a main character, but I wanted to add him in. Happy Thanksgiving everyone, enjoy your turkey! Everyone got a happy ending in this chapter...Stay tuned.