Chapter 19: Fleeing

The weeks that followed were difficult both physically and emotionally, Erik had not spoken to me and I hadn't spoken to him. He was still up to his usual antics, they were growing more dangerous and violent by the day. I couldn't bear to see anyone get hurt anymore. My hormones were off the charts; I was crying at every single little thing! Meg would say something so sweet and I'd lose it. Neither Meg or Christine know of my pregnancy and I intend to keep it that way. My aunt said that I can only keep it a secret for so long, even though it's been nearly a month my stomach was already beginning to grow. It was subtle but it was there, truth be told I missed Erik. I missed my friend, I missed his music and his teasing demeanor. But he made it very clear that he wanted nothing to do with me… with us. It was getting to the point where I couldn't stand to be in the Opera House anymore, it was suffocating me. I'd become good friend with the doctor who treated me. He was the one that was making sure I was okay and he made sure that the baby was okay as well. Sometimes he would let me assist him with his work, however many people objected to the idea. The world may be modernizing but many people still believe that a woman's place is at home.

But I can't help but be drawn in by medical sciences. It all fascinates me; the doctor would have seemed to agree with me. He told me I could be a better doctor than any man who lived and breathed. Had it not been for the given circumstance I might have pursued this field, but with a child there was no chance of me having a career. My Aunt Giry refused to let me pick up anything heavy or anything that would require me to bend too far over. She'd then lecture me about how I needed to eat more. It was hard to eat, between being nauseous all the time and being depressed; food was the last thing on my mind. Sometimes my mind did drift back to America, to my mother. She never wrote me like she promised, I missed her so much. She'd probably be ashamed of me, who would be proud of a nearly 20-year-old, unwed, pregnant daughter? I couldn't face my mother, there's no doubt in my mind that my aunt has already written to her about my situation. No, I couldn't go back to America I had to go somewhere else. Somewhere safer and more remote, maybe Ireland would work. A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Claudine?" My aunts voice rang from the other side of the door.

"Come in." My voice was small and frail. My aunt entered my room and stood before me. I knew I looked like a complete mess, I had dark circles under my eyes and my hair was thrown up into a lazy bun.

"Claudine look at you, let's get you bathed and cleaned up." My aunt proceeded to walk in and help me up. We walked out of the room, her arm looped in mine as we walked silently to the common bath house.

"I'll heat up some water and you just relax." She walked off for a few moments before returning with a pitcher of hot water. She poured it into the bath tub and walked off again, she repeated this process until the bath was full of hot water.

"Go ahead and undress, I have business to attend to for now but you just relax and let your troubled mind ease." She walked off and I did as I was told. But my mind wouldn't ease, I needed to get out of France. I needed to disappear.

Erik's P.O.V

For weeks I had been trying to compose a new opera but with no such luck. I couldn't get Claude off my mind. I missed her smile and her terrible jokes, I couldn't even remember the last time I had ever smiled so much. Christine never made me feel the way that Claude did, she treated me like an actual human being. Claude wasn't fearful of me; I was just a mere person in her eyes. Isn't that what I've been striving for after all these years, to be accepted by at least one person in my lifetime?

"Erik?" I looked behind me to see Madame Giry behind me. She had that pointed look on her face. The kind she had before she lectured me.

"What is it Antoinette? This better not be about Claude again." Even saying her name sent a pang through my chest.

"It is and you need to snap out of it Erik, you need each other. Neither of you have slept a wink since the argument." I rolled my eyes.

"What do I care that she can't sleep?" I did care a lot.

"She's the mother of your child." My child…

"I don't care for that thing that's growing inside of her, nothing but a drunken mistake." I made sure to make my voice as venomous as possible.

"Are you that selfish? That you would cast your own child, your own blood off as nothing? Just as your own mother did to you?" I snapped my head towards her.

"You forget your place." She glared at me.

"You need to make things right with her before it's too late Erik. Don't let your wounds and insecurities stand in your way of happiness. This opera house has nothing more for you but a life of darkness." I sighed, she was right.

"I can't leave my music; I can't leave Christine." I couldn't leave her… could I?

"You're an idiotic man! How many times do you have to hear it before you believe it? Christine does not love you! There's no future with her!" This made my blood boil.

"Oh and I suppose that there's a future with your niece? The girl with no family, no title, not a penny to her name? A pregnant wench with no prospects? At least Christine is making a name for herself!" Giry stood straight and cleared her throat.

"Christine has only made a name for herself with your help. Not because she's ambitious. Claudine is a gifted child and if you'd pull your stubborn head from your ass you would have noticed. Now I have a sick niece, who might I add despite herself still loves you. I have a feeling you love her as well Erik, otherwise you'd be able to compose." She then flounced out of my lair and back into the world of light.

MEANWHILE…

I left the bath house feeling refreshed but my mind was still troubled, staying here was not an option anymore. Rushing to my room I ran to the very same spot where I hid my locket, I'd been saving money since I've arrived in this damned place. I had to get to Ireland and make a new life for my child and I. Taking the money and few belongings I wrapped my aunts shawl around my shoulders and left. I wouldn't dare to look back, if I had I would have ran straight into that monster's arm. I felt so guilty about leaving my family without a word. Meg would be devastated. But I needed to do this, I had to detox myself from him. It was a thirty-minute walk from the opera house to the carriage port, from there I would have to take a ship to get there. This was not going to be an easy journey…

Alright guys! Theres chapter 19! So I'm going to take a few minutes to address somethings, firstly the polls were a huge flop, there was very little participation. So I will write the story as I had originally planned. Secondly, the next chapter will take place after the Opera House fire so that'll be a few months in advance. Lastly, I cant wait to write the next few chapters. I only have a few left before this story is complete. I will be doing a sequel but the title of the book is still pending. PM me if you have any ideas and I just might put you in the story as a secondary character! Best of wishes to you my loves!

-Kara