Chapter Four - Deadly Nightmare
Christine dropped off into a peaceful sleep under Erik's arm. When she was conscious again she was still on her side in the bed, Erik's arm wasn't round her but she could still feel him behind her. He must have turned over in his sleep she thought and she turned over herself to see him. But when she turned round it wasn't Erik she saw it was dwarf man with a wicked smile on his face. The face wasn't deformed but it scared her so much that she gasped and tried to shuffle backwards. But some invisible force pushed her back down in the middle of the bed in the shape of a cruciform. The dwarf loomed over her barking an evil laugh. As the laugh grew louder my whole room was suddenly ablaze in fire, but somehow the bed was untouched by the flames. The heat of it burned Christine's face and she cried out in horror.
The dwarf leaned closer toward Christine as she struggled helplessly against the invisible force. "So you think you can love that man? It seems that the small warning I gave you earlier wasn't good enough. Well it looks like you're in for this flaming fun every night, unless you get away from him missy. I cursed him to be unloved by all for his face and to be loved only for his music, and I intend for him to remain that way for all eternity" He leaned in so close that his nose was almost touching Christine's cheek, his hot breath burned as bad as the flames "And I will not have anyone meddling with my curses. So shall we have some more fun now, sugarplum?" As his bony hands reached towards the buttons of her pyjama top Christine screamed at the top of her lungs "ERIK! HELP ME! ERIK!" And she felt familiar hands shaking her and Erik's frantic voice above her "Christine! Christine! Wake up!" She bolted upright, sweat covering her face and panting in and out for air. She was still in her bedroom, it was still dark and Erik was still there beside her.
His arm wrapped round her shoulder "Christine what happened? You were all over the bed and screaming, it really gave me a fright." Christine threw her arms round him but this time she didn't break-down into tears, Erik hugged back her gently. "Oh Erik, I saw him, the devil. He had me pinned down on the bed and the whole room was on fire. He said that it was he who made me have that scary flashback memory earlier. And he said that if I don't leave you now I'll be having a deadly nightmare like that every night." Erik growled under his breath "That son of a thousand bitches, I thought by now he would have forgotten about me." Christine held him tighter "Erik I'm frightened. Please help me. I'm now scared to sleep, because he might come back again."
Erik Stroked her hair then pulled her round to face him with one hand on her cheek. "Christine love, listen to me. I think I know what he's trying to do. He's trying reawaken your fear of me and destroy our love. But I believe that the stronger our love will grow the weaker he'll become. So try not to think about him and be strong. If you see any more visions of him or any scary flashback memories, just say to yourself that it's not real. Do you think you can do that?" Christine nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder burying her face in his neck.
"Now let's go back to sleep my dear" he said leaning back onto the pillow, she squeezed his hand "But I'm still so scared Erik". He leaned back up and kissed her on her cheek "Come here" he whispered. As she lay back on the pillow with him and he wrapped his arms round her hugging her close to him, so that there was no space between them. "He won't get you while you're safe in my embrace." Erik said comfortingly. Christine nodded "Don't let go." She begged, hugging him back. "I promise my love" he whispered with another kiss to her forehead.