" Raoul, is it you? " Erik called out again.
" Who are you? How do you know my name? " shot back Raoul, hearing that unfamiliar voice.
It was indeed Raoul thought Erik. Raoul could be considered Erik's old old friend, but he was a betrayer too. He landed Erik in such a state today, he caused Erik to be disfigured.
" Who am I? " sneered Erik. Hearing that voice again, it made Raoul even more determined to cross over. Taking his first step into the water gingerly, it was rather shallow before it go deeper and deeper, until it reached his hip. From a far, he noticed that the person having a white mask over the right side of his face. Erik had gotten out of the water, back to his chair, turning his back against Raoul.
" Welcome my old friend! " greeted Erik sarcastically, without even looking at Raoul. Raoul took a look at the surroundings. He saw a lady lying soundly on the bed, where the black curtains were drawn. Edging over to have a better look, he realised it was Christine.
" Who are you? Why have you taken Christine here? " asked Raoul.
" Didn't she tell you that I am her music teacher? Oh... She must be fearful of me, afraid that I would not teach her anymore! " replied Erik.
" Show yourself, Christine's music teacher! " demanded Raoul in a booming voice.
Erik stood up immediately and turned to face Raoul. Both stared at each other for a long period of time, no one breaking the silence.
" Erik..." muttered Raoul after some time.
" Yes, Raoul, you still remember me! " exclaimed Erik, smiling as he walked down to Raoul.
" How can I not remember you? " laughed Raoul. He was thinking of why Erik suddenly appeared, why did he choose to be Christine's music teacher. His biggest worry was if Erik remembered what happened that year, when they were young.
" You came for Christine? " questioned Erik.
" Yes, " answered Raoul calmly. " Can I take her with me? "
" Didn't Madame Giry tell you that she has music lessons? It's time for her music lessons now! " insisted Erik.
" But she is sleeping! " argued Raoul.
" I have a bed. When she awakes, I will have the lessons. Leave now, this is my home! " ordered Erik.
" She would be more comfortable in her room! " persisted Raoul.
" She would be if I am with her! " continued Erik, not giving up.
" What's your purpose of doing this? " interrogated Raoul, sensing that there was something amiss. A normal music teacher won't keep his student in his room, on his bed, all alone.
" My purpose?! " laughed Erik. " What's yours then? "
" I need to protect her from any harm! " explained Raoul.
Erik had overheard the conversation between Raoul and Madame Giry. He knew it clearly that Madame Giry only allowed Raoul to meet Christine once, and that was in the morning. Other than that, he was not supposed to disturb Christine, needles to say about any protection.
" Do you think I would harm her? " questioned Erik as he stepped closer towards Raoul, forcing Raoul to stand at the edge of the steps. Stating daggers at Raoul, Erik looked as if he wanted to push Raoul into the water. Raoul was petrified but he stood firm. Without any words, Erik pointed towards the long stairway which would lead back to the ground floor of the Opera House. Raoul stole a glance at the unconscious from of Christine, but was pushed down by Erik. He managed to regain his balance before he fell flat down into the water. Turning back to look at Christine again, Erik shooed him.
As Raoul walked halfway through the water body, out of a sudden, Erik called out to him.
" I hope you have not forgotten what happened that year! " said Erik with a threatening and stern voice.
Raoul stopped momentarily before continuing his journey. Just as Erik caught the last view of Raoul, Christine started to wake. She pushed the curtains away and found herself still at the home of her music teacher. Erik heard the noises she made and knew that she had awoken.
" Was anyone here, Master? What are you looking at? " asked Chrisyine curiously as she sensed that her music teacher was in deep thoughts.
" Nothing. Sorry that I scared you just now, " apologised Erik.
" It's okay, I was too timid, " assured Christine. Returning to his table, Erik flipped through the papers on his desk. They are all scripts and music scores for the upcoming plays.
" You have a beautiful voice, I shall make you the main character of the next performance! " announced Erik.
" I can't. It's too pressurising, " rejected Christine.
" You can do it! Believe in yourself, you will soon get popular! " supported Erik.
" Please Master..." begged Christine.
" No! " screamed Erik, a little pissed off. Both parties were calm for a moment before Christine apologised. Erik went back to work after her apology. Christine was curious why her music teacher wore a mask.
Creeping closer to Erik, she pulled his mask away. A hideous scar was revealed and the skin seemed to be deformed. Erik placed his right hand over his face as he flew into a rage, dropping his pen and chasing after Christine.
" Damn you!
You little prying Pandora
You little demon
Is this what you wanted to see?
Curse you, you little lying Delilah
...
Who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty
Secretly,Secretly...
Oh, Christine... " sang Erik.
Christine panicked, her hands were trembling as she passed the mask back to Erik. Taking it quickly from her, Erik turned around to put on the mask.
" Go now! " ordered Erik who was still annoyed by what Christine had done. Chrisyine listened to her music teacher and left his home, into the water and up the stairs. Her clothes we're drenched but there was fine, she had plenty of spare clothes.
Raoul had really left the opera house, but determined to return another time. Meg went into Christine's room that night after not seeing Christine the whole day. She laid on her bed, thinking about what happened in the dungeon.
" What happened? Tell me, perhaps you would feel better, " comforted Meg.
" I am fine. Let's go somewhere! " suggested Christine. She took Meg's hands and ran to a secret room, where she would always light the candles whenever she was around. It was a place for her to remember her father and pray to him.
" What is it that troubles you? " Meg asked again as Christine lit the first candle.
" My father promised me that he would get the Angel of Music to teach me, but..." cried Christine. She realised that her music teacher was probably the Angel of Music, but he seemed so fierce, though he taught well.
" He would, I am sure the Angel of Music will teach you. Besides, don't you have a Grest music teacher now? " assured Meg, patting Christine on her back. Christine leaned against Meg as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was thinking of her father, thinking of Raoul, thinking of Erik. All she wanted was to sing and perform well under the help of her music teacher. She dared not wish for more, knowing that she belonged to a troupe and had little freedom except to perform and perform.