Erik's POV

"Erik…"

I was lying in bed one morning, when I heard my name being called. I didn't stir, nor did I open my eyes, even when I felt someone shaking me awake. Only then did I groan and roll over to find Christine standing before me in her robe. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and sat up.

"What is it?"

"There's a man downstairs. He wants to talk to you."

I stretched my body and reached out for my robe, slipping the garment over my shoulders.

"Just tell him that he'll have to come to my office tomorrow."

Christine nodded and walked away. A few moments later, I laid back down and stretched out, closing my eyes to fall back asleep. Though, I was awoken again when I heard Christine scream. Quickly, I hurried down the stairs to find Mr. Tilyou grabbing a hold of Christine. Oh, I was so angry… I grabbed his arms and pried him away from my angel.

"Get out!"

Mr. Tilyou grabbed a hold of me and tried to force my arm away from his own, but I was stronger than he was…always have been. Even when I worked for the man, he always had others do his dirty work, for he was no fighter. He might have tried to be one, but in the end, the man was weaker than a ballet rat.

"I came here to speak with you!" he growled.

I wasn't sure what he wanted to speak with me about, but I released the monster and opened my office door.

"Well then," I snapped. "Let's get on with it."

The moment Mr. Tilyou entered my office, Christine came rushing to my aid. She grabbed a hold of my arm, but I simply spun her way and looked the girl in the eyes.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Christine pressed her teary eyes closed and shook her head.

"And the boy?"

"No…" she choked. "We're all right."

"Well then," I began. "All is well."

"Erik, don't…" Christine cried, gripping my arm with all her might. "Don't go in there with that man."

"I'll be all right, Christine," I assured. "It's ok. I shall be done speaking to this man in a few minutes, and then, I'll escort him to the sidewalks myself."

With Christine's trust, I headed inside and closed the door behind me, my long, black robe flowing gracefully at my thighs. I passed the man and took a seat in my throne shaped chair, folding my hands across the desk.

"You have a lot of nerve coming here," I warned. "Especially after everything you put me through. And then, not only do you come to my home, but you touch a member of this household as if they're one of your employees."

"Look," Mr. Tilyou crossed his lanky legs over one another and folded his hands across his lap. "I don't have time to sit here and explain myself. I especially don't have to explain my actions to the likes of you. You may think that opening this park of yours will lower you to the same level as any other human being, but the truth of it all is that you're lower than low…Even the dirt on my feet is higher than the likes of you."

This made my blood boil, but I refused to let his cruel words get to me. Soon, I would be opening a park, one that would run him into debt.

"Your words might have hurt me months ago, but they don't any longer…We both know what's coming, monsieur. You and I both know that come the first of May, your park will be nothing more than a tumbleweed in a dry desert. Useless…"

"Really? Because I would love to know how it is that you have everyone of my employees fleeing to your side of the tracks? Every last one of them believes that you're going to place them in your park and that the sun will always be shining down on them on the hottest of summer days and everything is going to be a bowl of cherries and lollypops…"

"I don't have to tell you anything," I growled. "What I do in my on time is my business. Perhaps you should have treated them with a little more kindness."

Mr. Tilyou looked up at me and scooted his chair closer to my desk.

"You know, Erik, you and I are going to have a quick and meaningful conversation right now. You may believe that this is your own way of defeating me, but we both know that I have more power on this boardwalk than any living soul. Mr. Dublair is a good friend of mine, a very good friend…In fact, he's practically family. But, be as it may, I'm going to warn you. Hire one single freak from my park, and that pretty little woman of yours will have trouble coming her way."

My heart stopped beating from within my chest. Christine…No, I wouldn't let anyone harm her.

"I know you fancy her," Mr. Tilyou continued. "You fancy her, and yet, you can't have her. Why is that? Perhaps it is because you're a monster…But even monsters love what they can't have. I know you have feelings for her, and I know you wouldn't want any harm coming her way. One little call from me, and I can have her gang raped by my men…They would love a piece of her."

I instantly shot up from my desk and grabbed the man by his shirt.

"And how about that little bastard of hers?" he breathlessly continued. "There are men out there who love little boys like him…"

Oh, I had enough of this! I dragged the man out of my office and pried open my front door, tossing him to the sidewalks. The bastard got to his feet and dusted off his shirt, turning one last time to glance my way.

"Do the right thing, monster…One call, that's all it takes."

After slamming the door closed, I turned to spot Christine standing there. Her eyes were still full of tears, for I knew this had frightened her. But I did not say a word…No, instead I headed up to my room and slammed the door closed. In my heart, I knew that I had feelings for Christine, feelings that I hadn't felt in a long time. I never wanted anything bad to happen to her or Gustave, and I knew that by going along with my plans would have them both harmed. I plopped down at my desk and ran my fingers through my hair. Oh, what was I going to do? I sat like that all day, contemplating on whether to go through with my plan of hiring all of his workers. For hours I stared at the stack of applications, knowing that the slightest move forward would have me cornered and my loved ones harmed.

"Erik?"

I was pulled out of my deep thought, when I heard Christine's voice. After lifting my head, I noticed that it was night now, night and pitch black outside. I rose on weary legs and stretched my aching back, approaching the door to let Christine in. After pulling open the door, I spotted Christine standing there in her night attire. Was it really that late?

"Christine, what's wrong?"

"I…I just wanted to talk was all. I…I couldn't sleep much."

I stepped aside and let the woman in, rushing over to my night table to light a few candles. Once our shadows were casted amongst the wall, I took a seat beside her on my mattress.

"Were you busy?" she asked. "I…I hope I wasn't interrupting you?"

"No," I firmly stated. "I wasn't busy."

"Looking over applications?"

"Um…Something like that."

"Erik…" She lifted her head and looked at me. "Would…That is…um…"

"Spit it out, woman," I exhaustedly snapped. "You don't have to beat around the bush with me."

"Would it be all right if I stayed in here with you tonight? Every time I go to sleep, I picture that man grabbing me. It frightens me…"

Christine wrapped her arms around herself and hugged her body. Oh, I would kill that man for coming to my house and harming this woman. To satisfy her, I nodded and stood up, walking to my desk and taking a seat. Those horrible applications were still there staring me in the face. If only I knew what to do about everything. But I knew the answer to that, and it would be a painful one.

"When are you going to call back your new employees?"

I sighed and spun around to face Christine.

"Christine, it's over for me…"

"What are you talking about, Erik? Your park is just beginning. Well, to be exact, it hasn't even started yet. You still have a few more weeks until opening day."

"There won't be an opening day for me, Christine. I…I think tomorrow I'm going to go see Mr. Dublair and hand over everything, including the money that I owe him."

"But why? Why would you do such a thing? You're almost there, Erik, so close to getting what you want in life. Why are you going to give it up now?"

"Getting what I want? You have no idea what I want, Christine. Do you actually believe that I would want a park of my own? It was stupid in the first place. No, the only reason I wanted a park was to get back at Mr. Tilyou…Run him out of business for everything he has ever put me through. I'll never be a respected man, Christine… It was foolish for me to think otherwise."

"And why stop now when you're so close?"

"Because it's childish, that's why…I'm giving away my park to Mr. Dublair and he can decide its fate. Me, I'm moving as far away from here as possible…Spain, perhaps…"

Once more, I rose to my feet and headed towards the door, never turning back, even when Christine called for me.

"Erik, please…stop…"

But instead of stopping, I hurried downstairs and into the kitchen. I was glad that the woman didn't follow me, for I wasn't in the mood to argue, though, to my surprise, I found Gustave sitting at the kitchen table with his head down. He was just sitting there in darkness with his hands covering his ears. Oh, what was wrong with him? I didn't even acknowledge his existence…No, instead, I headed towards the stove and started a kettle of water for some tea. Only when I heard sniffling did I turn around to face him.

"Gustave?"

"You're leaving…" He sobbed. "I heard you and mama yelling upstairs."

Great… If there was one thing I didn't want, it was for the child to have overheard what I said.

"Gustave, enough," I said, approaching the table. "Don't cry."

"But how can I not?" he cried, wiping his teary eyes. "You're leaving. Please don't leave, Mr. Erik…Oh, please don't leave."

The boy jumped into my arms and embraced my body close to his own, his hands prying into my night attire.

"I…I love you, Mr. Erik. Please don't go away, please…"

He loved me? Oh, this melted my heart. A boy loved me. A child loved me. No one ever said those exact words to me before. Love? That was such a strong word, one that meant more to me than anything in the world.

"I don't want you to leave, Mr. Erik. I'll follow you to Egypt if I must, but I can't live without you."

"Let's not jump to conclusions here, boy," I said, prying him away from my shirt and setting him back down at the table. "We should try to talk this out like real men do."

When the boy nodded, I sat down beside him and looked down at my hands.

"Mr. Erik, why did you say those things to mama? You built Phantasma, and yet, you told her that you're going to go to Mr. Dubie and give it to him."

I chuckled at his words…So innocent.

"It's Mr. Dublair, boy…And I don't know why I said those things. I guess sometimes I become frustrated."

"Does it have anything to do with the man who came here this morning? He was real mean, Mr. Erik… He tried to hurt mama."

"I know," I said. "But you do know that I would never let anyone harm you or your mother, right?"

Gustave nodded. "I know, Mr. Erik. I feel safe when I'm with you…I don't like being alone with mama…It's scary."

I sighed. "Well, you're not alone as long as you're here with me in the house."

"Does this mean that you're not going to leave?"

I shook my head. "No, Gustave, I'm not going to leave."

The child must have known something was wrong, for he pulled me by the hand to his room. I wasn't sure why he was taking me here, but I didn't argue… No, instead I followed him in, noticing that he had made a fort out of blankets over his bed. And just like the time I had once babysat him, he pulled me beneath the fort and placed on his home made pirate hat.

"Pirate Island," he said. "This is the only place where secrets can be said. I know you have secrets on your mind, Mr. Erik…Please tell me why you're so upset."

"Gustave, there are some things better left unsaid. But, since we are on Pirate Island, I'll tell you. You see, I have to make a really big decision, one that could put yours and your mother's life in danger."

"What do you mean?"

"Mr. Tilyou is angry that I'm going to hire his employees. He came here today and told me that if I hire a single person from his park, he's going to see to it that you and your mother are put through hell. I don't want to see any of you hurt…It would kill me inside. That's why I said those things, Gustave…That's why I told your mother that I was going to sell the park and move away."

Gustave crawled into my lap and snuggled his head into my chest.

"I feel safe around you, Mr. Erik…And I don't think you should sell your park."

"No?"

The child yawned. "No, Mr. Erik… What you're doing for the freaks of Coney Island is a good thing. To give up on them now would to be giving up on their futures. Without you, they would have no place else to turn to for a good job and safety."

The child had a point…But before I could say another word, he closed his eyes. I protectively wrapped my arms around his body…From now on I would have to keep him and his mother under my wing, always there and always watching. Everyone would be safe in my park, every freak, and every employee…This was my promise.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Please review~