And I'm on a roll :) Here's another chapter for you guys :) Don't worry things will get better I promise :) Anyway I only own my own character Charlene but none of the characters from Phantom (although I wish I did). Anyway thanks for the reviews they make me feel so happy every time I see one :) Now on with the show! :D

Heartache and Pain

Chapter nine: Stop pretending Charlene!

Erik's POV

I groaned and felt slightly disorientated when I looked around as for a moment I couldn't remember why I was in my music room. I then remembered a melody teased my mind last night and I must have gone into my music room to write it down before I forgot it. I looked down at the melody and decided to play it to see how it sounded. As I got lost in the music I forgot the world around me for a moment and couldn't hear anyone approaching me until I felt air on my face...

Charlene's POV

The moment I woke up the first thing I heard was a beautiful melody emanating around my room; I smiled a little when I realised Erik must be composing again and I followed it in a trance-like state in the direction of the music room. I soon ended up in the music room and my eyes immediately fell upon the back of Erik. What did he really look like under that mask? Would it harm to take a quick peek under it since he appeared to be under the influence of his music? I walked slowly over to him and touched the mask. I jumped back a little when he moved and I stood still thinking he had caught me but when he continued to play I knew everything was ok. Yet again I proceeded to pull the mask off by placing my hand under his mask and before I knew it I had pulled it off. However I never got the chance to have a look at what was actually under the mask as I was roughly pushed to the ground which disorientated me for a moment. I looked up to see the angry eyes of Erik and I just sat there in shock as he approached me.

"You wanted to see the beast didn't you?! Well behold the sight of my accursed ugliness. And once you see my face you can never be free!" He yelled. I finally found the courage somewhere to pick myself up and run out of the room. But I felt someone grab me around the wrist and they spun me around. I looked up and saw Erik with a burning fire in his eyes which caused me to kick and punch in whatever direction I could in the hopes I could escape from his iron grip. However his grip was so strong I couldn't escape so I proceeded to do the one thing I knew would help me escape and that was scream. And when I scream I mean scream really really loud which caused Erik to break out of his stupor and let go of me. I then ran out of the room without looking back. I didn't even stop to grab a coat and just ran out of the flat in the hopes Erik wouldn't come after me. I kept running but I would look back every so often. That move had proven to be my downfall as I collided with a person and fell to the ground.

"Charlene. I didn't expect to see you here. My goodness you look like you have seen a ghost. Would you like to tell me what troubles you?" I heard a familiar voice question and when I shook the dizziness away I saw my ex standing in front of me.

"I would not like to tell you what is troubling me at the moment and frankly it isn't any of your business since our last encounter. Why can't you just leave me alone?!" I yelled in reply.

"What will it take for you to forgive me? I felt so bad losing such a great friendship after I acted like such an idiot by dumping you in such an awful way." He replied passionately. I was stunned into silence for a moment as he looked genuinely guilty; but before I could even reply to his statement I heard someone shout my name and when I turned around my eyes widened in shock as I saw Erik running towards us.

"Raoul what on earth are you doing here?! I thought you were working in the office today." Erik questioned quickly. I looked between Erik and Raoul and saw shocked expressions gracing both their features.

"Whoa wait...how do you know my ex?!" I questioned demandingly.

"He's your ex...I mean I know we encountered him a few times on the street but I never knew I actually hired your ex to work at our office." Erik replied.

"You hired him! How could you?!" I yelled.

"He did well in his interview and we needed another person to help out with rape cases as one of our workers retired recently so we were one short in terms of workers." Erik replied matter of factly.

"I can't believe you lied to me! I thought you at least...cared about my feelings!" I yelled in reply; only hesitating for a moment. I can't believe I nearly revealed my feelings for Erik in front of them both.

"Please Charlene, let me explain. I didn't know how you would react to the news and so I didn't want to hurt you by telling you. I had a feeling he was your ex but I had only seen him once or twice so wasn't 100% certain until you made it obvious you knew him in that sort of way." Erik pleaded. I just looked at him angrily whilst breathing heavily and instead of saying another word I walked off angrily in a random direction as I didn't honestly know where I was heading. But before I could get any further I was grabbed around the wrist; after the last time this happened I instinctively struggled in their grasp.

"Charlene...ouch...will you stop struggling for a moment...ouch!" I heard Erik yell demandingly.

"Let me go before I scream again!" I seethed angrily.

"I didn't want to resort to this but I hope someday you will be able to find it in yourself to forgive me." Erik explained mournfully and a moment later I felt a characteristic pinprick in my arm followed by darkness.

The first thing I did when I saw light was whimper slightly and then proceeded to cover my eyes with my arm weakly.

"Good you're awake. I think I gave you a bit too much sedative as you were asleep for hours." I heard a voice explain matter of factly and that caused me to rise quickly. But a wave of dizziness washed over me and I leaned back against the pillows again until the dizziness passed. I then found the energy to yell angrily at Erik.

"You drugged me! I can't believe you drugged me! I hate you! I will leave this place and I never want to see you ever again!" And with that statement I got up from the bed and grabbed my coat then proceeded to walk determinedly out of the front door.

Erik's POV

All I could do was watch as Charlene stormed out of the door determinedly. I stood there shocked as her words sunk in; she said she hated me. I can't believe after all she has been through and has started talking that those are the last words she comes out with.

"Erik are you ok I heard shouting?!" I heard Nadir yell although for some reason it sounded distant to my ears.

"Charlene's gone." Was the only reply I could come out with.

"What do you mean she is gone? She can't have gone far. Maybe she's in the bathroom or something." Nadir explained matter of factly.

"Didn't you hear the front door slam? She's gone; and she told me she hated me. I guess she doesn't care about me after all and that my feelings for her were not genuine." I replied forlornly.

"Erik...stop wallowing in self pity and go after her!" Which made me look up with wide eyes for a moment; I know Nadir can be stern when he needs to be but this is totally out of character even for him.

"Honestly Nadir I never knew you cared." I replied sarcastically and with that I quickly grabbed my coat and went out of the door after Charlene.

Charlene's POV

I had been walking for what felt like hours but in reality I was probably only walking for about half an hour or less. For a moment I thought about a life with Erik but I pushed the thoughts away by thinking harshly to myself.

"Stop being pathetic Charlene! Stop pretending Charlene! Erik could never love a disabled freak like you!" I found myself at the park and I actually debated about throwing myself into the lake just to end it all. I couldn't live on knowing I cared about a man who didn't care for me back. I had a look around and found a secluded spot by the lake where no-one was in sight to stop me from ending my life. I then proceeded to walk into the lake and just let it wash my troubles away. But as the darkness took over I felt someone lift me out of the water and I quietly said.

"Don't worry mum and dad. I will be joining you soon." And with that the darkness took over...