Ok just to clarify anything in italics is what a character is dreaming :) Don't own any character from Phantom but do own Charlene as I created her :) Enjoy and please review :D Thanks again to the guest reviewer who pointed out the slight error I made :) On with the show :D

Heartache and Pain

Chapter five: Please don't leave me!

Charlene's POV

I was walking through the park smiling and laughing happily to myself when I felt arms wrap themselves around my waist which didn't make me shudder in revulsion. In fact I felt safe and loved and when I turned around I saw Erik smiling down at me. But when I went up to kiss him he suddenly disappeared and when I looked around I couldn't see him anywhere.

"Erik! Where did you go?!" I yelled. But he never replied and when I looked around again my eyes fell upon a happy couple who I couldn't recognise for a moment as they had their backs to me. But when I turned around I gasped as I saw Erik in front of me with his arm around the waist of Christine.

"Why would Erik love someone like you? You disabled freak! No man could ever love you again. You will be alone for the rest of your life." Christine said coldly. Why did she have to be so mean to me?

"No please don't leave me! Erik please I love you, don't leave me!" I yelled.

I screamed out Erik's name again and found myself sitting up in my bed. Why did I have such a vivid dream about Erik? I don't even think I love him or do I? I heard rapid footsteps approach my room and I wrapped the bed sheet tighter around my body.

"Are you ok?! I heard you scream out Erik's name." Christine questioned.

"I heard you scream out my name and the fact that you loved me. Are you ok?" Erik questioned as well. I covered my ears and I so badly wanted to scream. I was experiencing too much auditory information at this present moment in time and it felt like my brain was about to go into overload or something. I had to get away from all the noise I was experiencing so decided to run out of my room. I saw them both try to grab me so dodged out of the way and ran down the stairs. I think I did run past Nadir but I couldn't tell as I ran out of the door. I didn't stop running until I reached the park and I caught my breath back when I reached a bench.

"Charlene...is that you? Please will you let me explain and let us be friends?" I heard a voice plead and I turned towards the source of the voice to see my ex-boyfriend standing in front of me. What was his name again? To be honest I think I have sort of erased his name from my memory since he broke up with me since I wanted nothing to do with him after the way he dumped me. I was greatly upset after he dumped me as he was just talking to me on facebook when he told me it wasn't working and that we should see other people; ever since that incident I have forgotten everything we have ever done together.

"Please Charlene, I never wanted to upset you, I just felt it would be better if we were no longer in a relationship as we were looking for two different things in our relationship. I felt like I couldn't give you everything you wanted so I broke it off." He explained pleadingly. I just looked at him without saying a word. Firstly I still wasn't speaking after my rape ordeal and secondly I didn't know what to say to him. I still think he is a selfish jerk and still want nothing to do with him after the way he treated me. And the worst thing was I didn't have the advice from my mother to handle my first proper relationship and also the fact I believe he took advantage of my naivety and innocence. At the end of the day all he wanted from me was a sexual relationship and not the meaningful relationship that I was after.

"Charlene please say something I want you to forgive me." Yet again instead of answering I ran off in the direction of the exit. But I never reached it as I was grabbed around my wrist causing me to struggle instinctively.

"Please don't run off; all I want you to do is forgive me for hurting you. All I want is for us to be friends. I liked spending time with you and still would like to even if we only do it as friends." He pleaded again. I then proceeded to start hitting and kicking out in any random direction hoping to make him let go of my wrist. Suddenly, I heard a voice that made me feel safe and he yelled demandingly.

"Hey boy let her go, can't you see she doesn't want your attention?!" I turned my head to see Erik coming towards us with an angry expression on his face and Nadir running close behind him. I then felt Erik's hand around my wrist and he pulled me out of my ex's grasp.

"Now I want you to leave this girl alone. She is deeply traumatised and doesn't need people like you manhandling her!" Erik demanded angrily. I looked across at him from behind Erik and saw a confused expression grace his features suddenly. I tugged on Erik's arm signalling I wanted to leave before my ex asks anymore questions as he is probably really suspicious as it is and I don't need him asking me anymore questions.

"Come along my dear we are leaving. I'll prepare you dinner when we get back." Erik explained gently whilst taking me away from my ex.

"Would you like to explain to me who that boy is and why he seems to be familiar with you?" Erik questioned curiously. I thought for a moment and questioned to myself.

"Should I really tell him about my ex?" I then shook my head rapidly. Why was I thinking about whether or not to tell Erik about my ex? I shouldn't have to worry about his feelings should I? I looked at him and could sort of tell he was waiting for me to tell him something but I just shook my head rapidly in response and went towards the flat. I then decided to take a nap upstairs in my room as I felt really tired today for some reason. Was I exhausted mentally after seeing my ex after so many months being away from him?

I woke up after smelling something nice coming from downstairs and after smoothing down my clothes I went down the stairs to see what was for dinner. I smiled a little when I could smell the characteristic odour of Chinese. I could feel the tears forming when memories flooded my mind of the times my father cooked me Chinese as a kid. I still have a book somewhere in my house with all of his recipes that I formed over time. I had hoped to show the cooking skills I gained over the years to a potential lover or husband but I knew that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"Ah I was about to call you down for dinner. I have rice and some dishes for you. I'll start to dish up your dinner for you. If you make yourself a drink and set yourself down I will bring you your dinner momentarily." Erik explained matter of factly. After helping myself to some orange juice I sat at the table just as Erik placed the plate down on the table.

"Ah Christine. Our guest was just settling down for dinner; would you care to join her?" I proceeded to just continue eating my dinner in silence as I wasn't really interested in listening to Christine flirting with Erik. But when I heard the scraping of a chair against the floor my face fell as I realised Christine was in fact going to join me for dinner.

"How has your day been today? I heard from Erik you saw someone you were familiar with. Would you care to tell me more about this boy you met?" Christine questioned gently. I looked up at her and thought for a moment. Should I tell her about my boyfriend? I then decided I had lost my appetite and ran to my room. When I got to my room I lay on my bed and just cried and cried. How long was Christine going to stay here?

That night I had the same dream as the night before but this time there was a little more than meets the eye.

Yet again I was walking through the same park with Erik and we were smiling and laughing happily. I thought nothing could go wrong for us. But suddenly darkness descended over the park and I heard manic laughter surround us. But when I looked to Erik for comfort I saw he was no longer in sight. Where did he go?

"Erik...where are you?!" I yelled.

"Why would I care for you? I would never care for someone like you; you disabled freak!" I heard him exclaim coldly. I thought Erik was such a gentleman.

"You know he only ever cared about me don't you? He would never ever care about a disabled freak like you." Christine said coldly; and I thought she could have been a friend to me some day. But I was so horribly wrong about them both. I then heard manic laughter again and when I turned around I saw the three men from that night. As they approached me I saw Erik with his hand around Christine's waist just standing there watching as the men came closer and closer towards me. I kept screaming but Erik didn't come to help this time and as they had their way with me Erik laughed as he walked away with Christine in tow. I then screamed again as one of the men brought down a knife towards me...