Gustave's POV
"Come in," I whispered, taking Melody by the hand and secretly leading her into my home. I had to be quiet, for it was extremely late. If my papa saw me brining her here, there would be no telling what he would say or do. If there was one thing Mister Y hated, it was company at night. Well, this wasn't exactly his company, but he would take it to heart, just like he took everything else. Melody didn't have anywhere to go, and with her carrying my child, I couldn't have just left her on the streets.
"You'll stay in my room tonight," I continued in a low voice. "Then, in the morning, we'll tell my papa."
"I don't want to tell him," she cried. "I've never met your father, but I've heard stories about his ill temper. He'll murder you, Gustave…Around here, men who bear children out of wedlock are frowned upon. What do you think that will do to his good name?"
I turned to Melody and clasped her shoulders within my grasp. "I don't care what it will do to his good name, Melody. I love you for you and everything happens for a reason. We were meant to have this child, and I won't have it any other way. This might cause a stir with the press, but Phantasma will not be harmed. The people love it too much."
"Gustave?"
When I heard my papa calling out for me, I shushed the girl and hid her in a nearby closet. Great…I had woken my papa. Any minute now, he would be coming around the corner in his robe, scolding me because of my loud entrance. But as the moments prolonged, my papa never emerged. Curious, I slipped quietly to his doorway, finding him tossing and turning in bed, screaming out random words…I sighed, for he was only having another nightmare.
"Gustave?"
I gasped and spun around to find Melody standing behind me.
"I told you to stay…What if he would have been awake? He would have murdered us both."
"What's wrong with him?"
Melody had never seen my father in daylight let alone without his mask. Therefore, I took her hand and led him away from Mister Y's room.
"Come away from there," I said. "It's not safe…He's really cranky if he's woken from his slumber."
"Why was he screaming out in his sleep?"
"He gets horrible nightmares," I said. "His life hasn't been an easy one."
Once we entered my room, I fluffed up my bed and motioned her to lay down.
"Gustave, I've heard rumors that your papa wears a mask. There have also been rumors going around as to why…"
"You wish to know about his disfigurement?"
"His what?"
"That's right…My papa is horribly disfigured. He wears a mask to look normal. It took me a long time to accept him for who he really was, but it's hard at first…Extremely hard. I don't want you to go snooping around him, Melody. It's not a pretty sight."
"A man can't possibly look that hideous, Gustave."
"He's not hideous in my eyes any longer, but to the world and you, he would be. His face is like one of a skeleton. Nadir says that I look just like him, but I don't see it…I know that I used to look like my mother when I was small, but now, when I look in the mirror, I don't see her anymore. I don't even see Mister Y…Maybe that's because he's disfigured…But, my uncle Nadir said that when he looks at me, he sees my father."
"Maybe you're what he would have looked like if he wasn't born disfigured?"
"Maybe…Only God will ever know I guess."
After changing into my night attire, I crawled into bed beside her and closed my eyes.
"We'll stay here until we're married."
"Married?"
"Of course…You do want to marry me, don't you? I mean, we are having a baby."
"I do want to be married, Gustave, but this all seems so sudden. Usually, two people get married before they decide upon bringing children into the world."
"What are you saying? That this child was a mistake?"
"Never…Things happen. My papa always said that God has a plan for all of us. He doesn't make any mistakes."
"So, if you're going to have a baby, then it couldn't possibly be a mistake. No, we're going to get married, and then, I'll get a steady job in Phantasma and buy us a home. That's where we will raise our baby…"
"Sounds wonderful, Gustave."
"And it will be. We just need some time is all…My papa will understand. It might be hard for him at first, but he will come to understand all of this."
Melody snuggled into my chest and sighed. "I love you, Gustave…"
"I love you too...In the morning, I will talk to my papa."
Erik's POV
On nights where I struggled through nightmares, I didn't sleep much. Though, early the following morning I woke to find Christine standing in my kitchen. She was bustling around and making tea for me. I could only smile and wish that she were actually here. Oh, she was so beautiful…
"Christine?"
When she heard me call her name, she spun around, a look of worriment displayed across her face.
"Erik, I was wondering when you were going to be getting up…"
She approached me and began adjusting my shirt…Oh, I could never get it right, not without her fingers smoothing out the wrinkles.
"Erik, something is going to be happening today," she began. "And this something is going to not only be important, but it could hurt you deeply…"
"Christine, what are you talking about?"
She pressed a kiss to my lips and brushed her finger over my cheek.
"Promise me that no matter what happens today, that you'll stay strong and understanding."
"Christine, tell me…"
"Mister Y?"
When I heard Gustave's voice, I turned to find him standing in the doorway to the kitchen, a look of confusion displayed across his face.
"What are you doing?"
My hands were outstretched as if they were caressing Christine's shoulders, and they had been…But when I turned to face my arms, they were grasping onto nothing but thin air.
"Mister Y?"
"Nothing…" I put my hands down. "It was nothing, Gustave. I'm not feeling well is all…Thought I saw your mother for a moment."
The second I mentioned this, the boy hurried to my side and placed his hand upon my forehead. Oh, why did I say such a thing? He always worried about me, and now, I had him feeling the same once again.
"Gustave, I'm all right, this I assure you."
"You're not feverish…But this isn't the first time I found you acting strange these past few years. Are you sure you're all right?"
I nodded. "Of course, I promise you. Now, did you have something to tell me?"
I crossed my arms over my chest and looked down at the boy. His face was filled with uncertainty, making me feel uncomfortable as well.
"Well, spit it out, boy…I haven't got all day you know."
"Um…Well, I met Melody last night. She's going to be staying here with us for a while."
"Is she now?" I growled. "And did you ask me if it was all right? I find that very disrespectful…What has gotten into you, boy?"
"I know that I didn't ask you first, Mister Y, but it was urgent. She didn't have anywhere to go…She escaped from a local psychotic ward. Her father placed her there a few months ago. That's why we haven't been able to see one another. Please, papa, it's only until I save enough money for us to move out."
"Move out!" I snapped. "Gustave, what has gotten into you?"
I grabbed hold of his shoulders with all my might and slightly shook him. Moving out? He was just a boy…No! If he obtained responsibility, I wouldn't be able to see my angel any longer. Oh, I would never allow him to move out. No, he needed to stay right where I could keep my eye on him. As long as he needed me, I would have Christine in my life.
"Mister Y, stop…"
The boy pried my hands away from him and took a step back.
"You're acting like a child," he cried. "I want the job you promised me so I can take Melody, marry her, and then, move into a house of our own. I love her, Mister Y…Do you understand me? I love her. She is my Christine…Mother loved you, and I know that she would have wanted me to grow up and be happy."
"Your happiness should be running Phantasma…That's my happiness! That's always been my happiness!"
"That's because you've never had anything else."
This shattered my world…Anything else? I've never had anything else…Oh, how dare he say such a thing to me.
"That's right, papa…You've never had anything else. Once mama died, you acted as though your life ended. You may have tried to act like my papa, but I know that you only found happiness in your work."
"That's not true, Gustave. You know I love you…"
"I never said that you didn't. But in my heart, I know that I could never replace mama. That spot in your heart was filled with work, because that's all you ever did. Sometimes, uncle Nadir was more of a papa than you were. You tried, I know you did, but I know that you will never love me like you loved mother."
"Gustave…"
"I know you've been holding off on giving me a real job in Phantasma because you're afraid. You're afraid that I'll grow up and become a man. It's going to happen…You can't treat me like a child forever. I've found love, Mister Y… I love Melody and she is going to become my wife. I want to marry her, and I want to live on my own."
"You're abandoning me!" I selfishly replied. "Abandoning me, just like I abandoned your mother after making love to her…I regret it, all right! I regret leaving her. But don't do this to me…Don't leave this house…Don't grow up!"
Gustave sighed and opened his mouth to speak once more.
"Mister Y, there's more…You can't stop me from growing up because I'm already turning into a man. I love Melody, and I know this seems a little fast, but she needs me and I need her."
"What are you saying?"
"A…A few months ago, after taking her out on our first date, we came back here… She and I made love in my room. After that morning, I never saw her again until last night. I guess what I'm trying to say is that her father sent her to the asylum because she became heavy with child…my child."
My heart broke into two…The boy was going to be a father? Oh, I would murder him! Had I not taught him better?! Had I not taught him right from wrong?!
"What have I told you about waiting until marriage?!"
"I know…But it happened, and I don't regret it."
"A bastard! That's what you're going to have…"
"Not if I marry her," he cried. "Not if I am her husband before she has the child. I'm sorry, Mister Y… It shouldn't have happened, but it did…and now, I am asking you to give me my job and accept this. This is going to be your grandchild."
And then, I grabbed the boy by his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"You're no son of mine!"
"Put me down!"
"You're nothing but a bastard! A stupid, stupid bastard… You've made this bed, and now, you can sleep in it. Get out! Get out of here…Take your whore and get out!"
I threw the boy across the room…When he looked up at me, his nose was gushing blood, and he had tears in his eyes. I knew my words hurt, but what he said to me in return was ten times worse.
"I'm glad you left my mother… You didn't deserve her!"
And then he took his girl by the hand and left…never to return. Once more in my life, I had lost everything and everyone, and all because I was a monster.
So...um...Erik was very understanding. What else could we have expected from him? Anyway, please review!