Erik's POV

There I was, singing with Christine during Don Juan, circling her like I usually did…Oh, she was so beautiful, so beautiful and breathtaking. Her hands interlaced with my own, my heart racing against my chest. Never had anyone touched me like this before. Christine was beauty herself, an angel sent directly from heaven…Oh, how I loved her! But horror struck me the moment our song ended and my angel tore away my hood, revealing me to the audience. But I couldn't run…This was my last chance, my last chance to prove to her that I loved her and that she could live happily with me.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me from my solitude. Say you want me with you here, beside you…Anywhere you go let me go to," I slipped my ring off my pinky and placed it over Christine's left ring finger. "Christine, that's all I ask of…"

I never finished, for my angel tore away my mask, my hideous deformity revealed to the audience. Screams occurred…Oh, so many screams….My angel betrayed me! Betrayed my trust and my love! I pulled her off stage, a gunshot ringing out as I headed towards the stairs that would lead down to my lair. I pulled my angel's hand, opening my trap door to allow us to drop down to the depths below. Though, when we reached the door to my lair, I noticed that something was extremely wrong with me. I had been so preoccupied with running that I hadn't even noticed that I was bleeding. With one hand, I leaned against my lair door, and with the other, I pulled away my cloak to reveal my bloody white shirt. I dropped to my knees, clutching my lower left side.

"Angel," Christine rushed to my side, taking notice to the blood that was seeping from my wound. I looked up at her, knowing that at any given second she would run and leave me to die. The bullet must have entered through my back and came out the front, for every inch of my body was screaming now. My angel stood there, not knowing what to do. When the echo of screams from an angry mob occurred, she lifted me up.

"Come on, angel," she opened the door and led me inside my home, laying me out across my couch. It was over for me now, it just had to be…I was stunned, too weak to move, my breathing becoming labored. Sweat was pouring down my face as I lied there with my eyes closed. Christine was going to leave me, surely she was! I had kidnapped her and now, her kidnapper was on death's door. My angel returned, grabbing my shirt and pouring some alcohol over my waist. I hissed and pressed my head into the pillows of my couch as the liquid sizzled over my open wound.

"Erik, we need to hide you…" she gasped. "The mob is coming."

I wasn't sure why, but my Christine lifted me to my feet and stuffed me into a nearby closet, closing the door and warning me to be quiet. I lied there, listening to Raoul's voice yelling at Christine, laid there listening to the mob destroy my home. And when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, I passed out. I knew I was going to die, I knew I wasn't going to make it…Christine would never come back to me. But, she did! I wasn't sure how long I laid there in that closet, but at one point, felt my body being hauled to my feet and placed down into my bed. Everything around me was spinning…I heard voices, voices that belonged to someone else. Even when I opened my eyes, the room was blurry and the figures distorted. Eventually, the voices were drowned out by the rapid beat of my heart pounding against my ears.

"Erik," I heard my name being called, only to open my eyes and find Christine seated at my side. She had a cozy fire roaring in the hearth of my fireplace, the warmth making me drowsy. My head was burning, her hand pressing a compress against it ever so gently. Why was she here?

"You did well, Erik," she smiled. "You hung on…"

My eyes moved down to my side, taking notice to the bandage that stretched across my waist.

"You were lucky…The bullet went through you without damaging any organs."

"Christine," I murmured her name, sighing to the warmth of her hand that was caressing my cheek. This felt like a dream, but it wasn't, for my angel stayed with me until I was well again. Yes, she left from time to time in order to check in with Raoul, for she knew her absence would stir up questions. Though, on the night before she was to be wed to Raoul, everything changed.

"I brought us something to eat," Christine came walking into my room, placing my meal down on the night table. My body had healed, but I was weak.

"I'm getting married tomorrow," she whimpered. "Tonight will be my last night with you."

In my heart, this hurt worse than anything, but I just lied there as still as possible…that was until I felt my angel touch me. Her hands ran seductively up my shirt, her body gently crawling onto my own. I gasped and felt her kiss against my neck…Why! Why was she doing this to me?

"Christine,"

She shushed me and I closed my eyes, feeling her undressing me with gentle hands, my soul awakening to her every touch.

"Christine!"

I jolted awake, sweat pouring down my face, as I tore my shirt open and placed my hand on my side, the exact side where I had been shot. It had been ten whole years, but I still remembered Christine's caring and her pity that landed me in bed with her. Though, I had been a coward and rose to my feet, leaving before she could wake. If only I had known she was going to wake and confess her love for me…Oh, I would have stayed!

"Nightmare?" I heard my angel's voice, turning to spot her standing beside my bed. I lifted my watch to notice that it was three in the morning. I plopped down against my pillows and closed my eyes.

"Yes, mon ange…"

I felt my angel run her fingers through my hair as I lied there with my eyes closed.

"Christine?"

"Yes, Erik?"

"Why did you help me that night?"

"What night?"

"The night I was shot…Why did you help me?"

There was a pause of silence, and then, my angel's voice again.

"Because I love you."

And as my angel brushed her hand against my neck, I fell back asleep…

"Mister Y?"

When I heard my name being called and my body being shook, I opened my eyes, the sunlight already peeking in through the window. My child was kneeling on my bed, his arms shaking me.

"What is it, Gustave?" I asked, rolling over onto my side. Yes, it was daylight, but I was exhausted. The night before, I had a nightmare, one that left me tired. I closed my eyes and snuggled back into my pillow.

"Mister Y, we're supposed to go to Phantasma."

"We will," I yawned. "When I decide to wake."

"Mister Y, it's nearly eight."

"Perhaps, but I'm still tired. Let's just rest here a while more."

My son plopped down beside me and crawled beneath the covers. I closed my eyes once more and relaxed.

"Mister Y, I'm hungry."

"We'll eat on our way to Phantasma."

As I continued to lay there, I felt Gustave tracing his fingers over the scars that were exposed on my arms.

"Gustave, please," I groaned. "Just sleep."

"I want to see where your scars lead to."

His hand was under my shirt now, continuing to trace my lines of scars up my shoulder.

"Gustave, stop," I pleaded, rolling over. "I want to sleep."

"Now I'll never finish the maze."

"There is no maze." I growled. "They lead to my back and then disappear beneath my flesh."

"Could I see for myself?"

"Gustave, please be quiet."

Yes, my child was continuing to talk, but I pretended that he wasn't there. Instead, I just lied still, drifting away to sleep.

"Mister Y, please, could we eat?"

"Later, Gustave…"

Finally, my child silenced and I was able to fall back asleep. I wasn't sure how long I slept, but when I woke, my child was still laying beside me and asleep. I smiled and brushed my fingers through his locks, rising to my feet and heading into the bathroom. When I came back out, my child was still sleeping, curled up beneath my blankets.

"Gustave," I called his name, hoping he would wake. When he didn't, I approached him and shook his shoulder.

"Gustave, wake up."

This time, my child opened his eyes and stretched.

"Come, Gustave, we shall eat on our way to Phantasma."

When I brought food into the situation, my child rose and ran downstairs to dress, leaving me a few moments to prepare myself for the day. After spraying some cologne under my arms, I donned my waistcoat and headed downstairs.

"Mister Y, what are we going to eat today?" Gustave asked as we headed outside.

I shrugged my shoulders, not really wanting to eat another breakfast at the bakery. All these countless mornings of cream filled pastries was going to do horrors for my slender body. Gustave's metabolism was invisible against such foods…Me, on the other hand, had to continue to watch what I ate due to how old I was becoming.

"How about you and I work for a while and then we go grab a pretzel for lunch?"

Gustave grabbed his stomach and groaned. "But I'm hungry now, Mister Y…"

"I know," I sighed."I just hate that we're constantly eating doughnuts from that blasted bakery of mine. I think you and I need to do some grocery shopping…What do you think?"

"Grocery shopping?" he questioned. "For what?"

"For food, Gustave. I think it be healthier for the both of us, don't you think?"

"I rather enjoy the bakery, Mister Y."

"It's all right sometimes." I said. "But not every day. You don't want to grow up to be like Mr. Squelch, now do you?"

"Mr. Squelch is really strong…hey, maybe he ate doughnuts every day."

"I don't think that's what happened, Gustave."

Deciding to head into town to do some shopping before work, I took Gustave by the hand and led him into the grocery store.

"Why are we here, Mister Y?"

This child was filled with so many questions, questions that I didn't feel like answering. Instead, I took a basket and began walking up each isle to find something healthier to make for breakfast. I was placing some fruit and canned goods into my basket, only to look down and notice a jar of chocolate fudge and a bag of candy sitting there.

"Gustave," I picked the items up and handed them back to him. "We're not here for those sorts of items."

"And why not? I love chocolate fudge, and candy is the best!"

"Perhaps, but we're here to get something to make at home, something that is much healthier than doughnuts."

What a horrible shopping experience this was. My child continued to attempt placing unhealthy snacks into my basket, giving off excuses as to why he needed them. Though, I wasn't going to be a pushover when it came to this. I was paying for my fruits and bagels, when Gustave placed a bag of chocolates up on the counter.

"Please, Mister Y?" my son gave me his sad eyes, the same sad eyes Christine used to give me when she was trying to have her way…Oh, the look broke my heart, for it made me miss Christine even more than I did already.

"All right, Gustave." I said, placing the bag of chocolates with my stuff. "But only for after meals."

This satisfied my child, for he didn't complain another moment. After dropping the groceries off, I sliced up some apples and placed them in a container so that he and I had something to snack on during the day. It was going to be another hot one, and I had no plans on stopping due to the weather. There was work that needed to be done and I wouldn't have the humidity stopping me.

Gustave's POV

Yes, doughnuts would have tasted much better than apples, but he had a good point. My mother always tried to get me to eat healthier by trying to pass of fruit as breakfast, so, it didn't make a difference now with what Mister Y was trying to do. Though, Mister Y did agree to purchase me some chocolates for after dinner, so that made eating apples more satisfying, for I had something to look forward to all day.

I took a seat on the nearby wall of the tunnel of love while Mister Y went to work. I opened the container of apples and began to devour a slice while my papa worked. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but whatever is was, it looked important. He dragged out a hose from somewhere and turned it on, spraying the water inside the tunnel to wash out the mud from the storm a few nights ago.

"So, have you thought about school?" Mister Y asked me as he squirted out the swan shaped boats.

I shrugged my shoulders and kept my glance on my apples. I hated school…Back in Paris, I hated it more than anything in the world. I was teased beyond belief by the other children. I was surrounded by a bunch of jocks and boys who were more athletic than I was. I was teased because I loved music, teased because I knew how to speak three different languages, and teased because I didn't know how to play football. School was my worst enemy…

"I'm sure you'll make plenty of new friends…" Mister Y assured. "You will go to the best school in Coney Island, I will see to it that you do."

"Mister Y, do I have to go to school?" I asked. "Couldn't I just stay here with you?"

"A boy your age must learn, Gustave." Mister Y put down his hose and joined me on the wall. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just don't get along well with others."

"And why not? You're my son, aren't you?"

I nodded.

"Then you will be very popular here."

I looked up at Mister Y and shook my head. "You may be popular here, Mister Y, but what about when you were a child? Surely when you lived in Paris you were teased?"

"Indeed I was," he admitted. "But there is a difference there, Gustave. You are a beautiful and a handsome boy, one that will make plenty of friends when it comes to school. There is nothing wrong with loving music and books…I always failed in athletics as well. Coney Island is a much different place to go to school, you'll see…"

He patted me on the back reassuringly, but I still wasn't convinced…

"Don't make me go, Mister Y…Please…"

"You still have a few weeks before classes start, Gustave. I'm sure you'll come to love your school just as much as you love Phantasma."

"But Phantasma is my school. It's all I need to know, Mister Y. Children hate me, they really do…I don't like to be teased."

"No son of mine will be teased, Gustave. You are Gustave Mulheim…"

I raised my brow in confusion. "Mulheim? I thought I was Gustave DeChagney?"

"Not anymore, you're not… You are my son and should carry on my surname."

"If you're surname is Mulheim, then what does Mister Y stand for?"

Mister Y chuckled. "If you put the two words together, it sounds like mystery…Then again, my entire life and well being has been just that. Interesting, don't you think?"

"If you say so, Mister Y." I sighed, looking down at my apples.

"School really bothers you that much?"

I nodded. "It's like hell for me."

"Well, let's not think about it then."

I wasn't sure where Mister Y had gone because I was still staring down at my apples. Though, when I heard the water running again, I felt him spray me with it. The coolness from the water caused me to jump off the small stone wall and land on my feet. I was angry! Oh, so angry…He knew I hated water, and yet he sprayed me!

"Hey!" I squealed. "What was that for?"

"Gustave, I'm sorry…" Mister Y apologized, but that wasn't enough. I marched right over to him and grabbed the hose out of his hands…

"I don't like water!" I cried, tears rushing to my eyes. "You know this…I hate it! I'll never learn how to swim, never!"

"Gustave, don't say that…"

"It's true." I sobbed. "Never…just like I'll never have friends."

And with that, I threw down the hose and ran away from Mister Y. I didn't want to go to school…No, I wanted my mother! I wanted her and nothing more. This life was hell, and it was going to be worse when Mister Y forced me to go to school…

Erik's POV

I couldn't do anything right…I couldn't even make my son happy. I had only squirted him with the hose to tease him, but even that didn't help. Instead, he got upset and ran.

"Let him be, Erik," my angel replied. I turned to find her standing next to me once again.

"I only want to help him." I sighed. "I only want to help him learn how to swim."

"Gustave was born with an ill temper much like your own. In a few minutes go and find him…And when you do, work on calming his fears about school…"

I nodded and headed out to search for my son, knowing anything I said wouldn't be enough to calm his fears, for I wasn't his mother, I wasn't Christine…And sadly, I never would be.

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