Hello there my dear readers! New year, new chapter. I'm sorry it took so long, I hope you like it. I know it's a lot for one night but this is the same night from the last chapter. I guess Erik has been composing for quite a while now.

"Finished."

Aha it is finally complete. Let's take go at it shall we….

"Then at last, a voice in the gloom

Seemed to cry, "I hear you! I hear your fears your torment and your tears."

She saw my loneliness

Shed in my emptiness

No one would listen…"

After playing the song in it's entirety I sat there basking in it's melody. I think it's beautiful. So very beautiful. Hmph. Funny isn't it? How can something so foul, so disgusting create something so magical and alluring?

I wonder what Christine would think of this? Knowing her I think she would like this very much, but I could never show her this. I will just have to teach Christine another, less personal, composition of mine tomorrow. I can't show her this, no. She wouldn't understand, she'll never understand what she means to me. She inspires me in ways I never thought possible. Her innocence reflects all that I am not, all that I could never be. It is better this way, I wouldn't want to frighten her. She deserves better than me, that much I do know. But she is just a child, perhaps my protruding darkness will not shatter her purity. She is so naive, too naive. But I will never leave her. I won't. I can't abandon her...not how my mother abandoned me.

I shunned the grim memories away and tucked the sheet music to it's corresponding folder. I shifted my body to turn and face the rest of my home, looking around I was quite satisfied with my surroundings. It was a little before Christine came into my life when I started to borrow unused set props, I came across them in an old room which no one cared to use anymore. It was not as if I did not pay a price for them. Everything was covered in inches of dust, I was coughing it up for a whole week after that. But it was all worth it, those candelabras and drapes fit perfectly in my home. It is a bit of a pain to light all of those candles, but I decided a long time ago that if I could never be beautiful, everything around me would be.

Traveling up the few steps to my bedroom I pulled the tassel lever to raise the curtain surrounding my bed. Your swan bed that is. Oh shut up. Now go bother someone else! Temper, temper. "Enough!"

Silence filled the room as my echo faded off of the cave walls…..That's what I thought. Now, let's see if I can get a few hours of sleep before I meet with Christine. I didn't bother taking off my mask or changing into my night wear so I simply threw myself on the soft sheets and let my heavy eyelids find their slumber.

"IMBECILE!" Smack "Who told you it was alright for you to go outside huh?!" The little boy holding his face from the pain, shakingly answered with fear,

"I'm sorry mother."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" she raged pacing back and forth. She turned to look at him then with a few quick steps she was towering over him. Mere inches away from his face she spread out her hands and hovered them before his self made cloth mask. "You are dissssgusting to look at!" Tapping now firmly on the cloth covering his forehead she seethed "Get it firmly into that ghastly head of yours!" With hot tears streaming down his face, Erik could only nod in obedience. "Oh please stop looking at me like that...like you're expecting me to care. You should know better by now." She dragged him from the one side of the room to the other where he had a tall length size mirror leaning against the wall. She ripped off his mask and stood him before herself in front of the mirror. Grabbing both shoulders from behind she continued,

"You're HIDEOUS!" Now openingly shedding fresh tears Erik tried turning his head away from the frightening monster staring back at him. She grabbed his chin with one hand and a handful of hair in the other forcing him to stare into the mirror.

"Take a hard loong look at what you really are." She then broke out into a roaring malicious laughter that made the hairs on Erik's neck stand up. "You thought I could really love something like you? Look at you! You're ruining my life!" She pushed Erik to the ground and spat, "You're nothing. Not to me. Not to anyone." She shook her head and left slamming the door behind her. BOOM.

My eyes shot open as I quickly awoke from my nightmare. I could feel my chest tighten. Only able to take short, rapid breaths. Oh no. Not again. In my stressful state I could still hear the echo of her words. Monster, hideous, imbecile even.

I can't breathe. I can't- I need air. I need to get out of here.

I wiped the few drops of sweat from my upper lip and pulled the lever once more. Throwing my legs over the edge of the bed I grabbed a nearby cloak and left the room. Running down the steps I came to a harsh stop when I reached the shore of the river. No, no! That damn boat is too slow. Where am I going? Without a destination I-I.. The roof. Yes I must get to the roof. I need air.

I discarded the idea of using the boat and made my way over to the hidden staircase Madame Giry had used just a few hours ago.

Finally emerging from the many flights of stairs I was in the main lobby of the opera house. I have half a brain to just walk out those front doors but that's too much of a risk. It's almost morning, someone could see me. Cursing the hour I walked across the lobby opening up one of the pillars and ventured into another hidden staircase.

So many stairs. Usually these stairs are never a bother, but this time was different. By the time I made it to the roof I was gasping for any air I could get. I busted through the door and threw off my cloak trying to regain my breath. I fell to the floor landing on all fours. The crisp morning air felt cooling on my body but from the tightened feeling in my chest it made my lungs burn.

Why won't this stop like all the other times?

Pain had always been sort of an unwelcome friend but this..this was unbearable. I crawled over to the edge of the the roof overlooking the square outside of the opera house. It looked so peaceful. So pleasant. I used what little strength I had to stand and step up onto the edge. One step would be all that it takes to fall off. Just one step.

I stretched out my leg to feel what it would be like. This would certainly not be the first time I've thought about taking my own life, but having this unrelenting agony in my chest, it could very much be the last time. The solution seemed more and more appealing as the seconds passed by. With the never ending pain in my chest and my futile attempts at breathing, I've made up my mind.

"NO!" cried Christine.

Madame Giry and Meg heard the bloodcurdling scream and ran from their room to Christine's side.

Slightly shaking Christine, Madame Giry pleaded "Christine what is it? What happened?"

Feeling Madame's hand on my shoulder and hearing her voice only then I realized it wasn't real. It was another dream. No, a nightmare. An awful, terrifying nightmare. As the images started to come back to my head I threw myself into her arms and cried my eyes out.

"Shhh there, there" soothed Madame Giry while rocking me back and forth. I didn't know where Meg was until I felt another, smaller, hand gently stroking my hair. I was so glad to have both of them by my side, even though selfishly I wish Erik was here. He is like the big brother I will never have. I hate not being able to tell them about my dream. I dreamt about the accident, only this time I wasn't on the horse and it wasn't Papa who died. I was a few feet away and couldn't move, I could only watch as Stella trampled Erik's face. Even though I've never actually seen him, I've made up a picture of what he might look like. One dream and one nightmare tonight, half of me was amazed I can still see in my dreams, but the other half wished I hadn't see any of it. All that blood. Is that what Papa looked like? Oh Erik, where are you?

What am I doing?

I stumbled away from the edge and sat down leaning against the square base of a statue. Perched against the marble figure I could only hold my chest, hoping that this miserable pain would go away. Killing myself, ha! Oh what was I thinking? Nothing apparently. Oh shut up will you. Well what would you like me to say? Hmm? Thank you for almost killing us both. No I don't think so. Us? Excuse me but are you the one in agonizing pain? No….Ha, us. What about Christine?

Christine. During this whole episode of mine not once did Christine cross my mind. How could I have been so selfish? What a fool I've been. You got that right. What are you still doing here? Needn't I remind you that you have a meeting with Christine tomorrow. What would she think if you never showed up huh? How would she feel? Abandoned. Yes abandoned, by you. Don't you realize how imp- Yes your right. I'm sorry what was that?

Feeling my breath calming down and my chest loosen up I was able to manage, "I said you're right, now leave me alone." And like that the voice was gone. Killing myself….that would only end my pain and pass it on to Christine. It would only drag her into that gaping sadness she's been trying to fight all of these months.

I stayed there for quite some time watching the sunrise, peeking over the rooftops. By the sunlight it was about an hour or two earlier before Christine usually wakes up. So I decided that the rooftop would be just fine for now, no one came up here anyway.

I don't know how long it was before I was already on my way back. The orchestra had already began rehearsals so I stuck to the catwalks. Oh goodness that cellist needs some serious tuning, I mean how hard is it-wait someone's coming.

I quickly hid when I heard the other footsteps on the catwalk. Damn, it's just Buquet. Buquet was the new scene director Lefèvre hired a few weeks back. There's something about him that doesn't sit quite well with me.

Continuing to the chapel I was honestly quite surprise to find Christine already there, waiting for me. I could also see that she had lit a candle. It wasn't necessarily in front the picture a patron had donated to Christine of her father, but it was close enough.

I remember that day.

Christine was so heartbroken from not being able to actually see the picture for herself. Her screams could be heard all throughout the dormitories, I had never seen her so distraught since her father's passing. Not visiting me that day, she stayed in bed angrily weeping, punching her small fists into pillows as she did so. I thought it was rather childish on her part but, when we met in the chapel the next day I was ashamed of ever thinking so. It was indeed the man I had seen that fatal night. Christine was afraid of ever losing it so I offered to place it in one of the small frames that were here in the chapel along with some candles. I had hoped it would bring her comfort in a way, to know exactly where it was any moment of the day, but that was not the only reason why. I still feel guilty to this day, but I just thought perhaps this would be another, more secure, reason why she would come to the chapel. Other than just coming down here to visit me.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard her sweet little voice call for me.

"Is it you? Angel?"

"Yes it is me Christine." with my answer she turned towards me and stepped forward until her her little arms were around my waist. Usually I would welcome her warm little hugs but this time her skin was cold as ice.

"Christine you're freezing! What's wrong?" When she wouldn't answer I reached down and cupped her tiny face in my hands. "Christine why are you so cold?" I briefly demanded.

Shaking her head left to right she replied, "Oh it was horrible. H-horrible."

"What was?"

"My nightmare. Erik my nightmare." Sniffling with each word she continued. "I dreamed that you died."

In that second it was as if she had ripped all of the words out of my mouth. This had to be have been some sort of cosmic joke made by a truly evil God. I was guilty of almost killing myself earlier, but to give an innocent child such a horrid dream, now that was cruelty.

"Oh Christine, it was just a nightmare. I'm here nothing can harm you." I let go of her small visage and returned her embrace. I did not like the fact that she was still freezing cold but hopefully my warmth will help that. "You should rest little one, here I'll take you back to Madame Giry's."

"No please I don't want you to leave me." She nuzzled her face more and more into my torso. "Don't ever leave me.." she whispered.

Not two seconds passed before I answered, "Never. But I do think it is wise we save singing for another day, I want you to rest. Agreed?"

"Okay."

"Say I have an idea. Why don't we listen to the orchestra rehearse for a little while? Hmm, what do you say?"

"I'd love to!" her little face lit up with the offer as she squeezed me a bit tighter than before. I wiped off the remaining tear streaks she had down her face when she questioned,

"But what will Madame or Meg think if they come down here and don't find me? I wouldn't want to worry them."

"You won't, I promise." I had already thought of leaving a brief note to Madame Giry. "But we will have to take a secret way there."

"Why?"

"This way is more safe for you." And me. "Come along now."

I grabbed her tiny hand in mine and brought her before my secret door hidden in the wall. With my unoccupied hand I felt for the trigger to my domain. Crossing the threshold I lead Christine into the pathway and shut the door behind us.

After walking for a couple of minutes she asked, "Why is it so cold here?"

"Oh." Had I forgot she was freezing to begin with? "I'm sorry little one. Here," I undid my cape and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling both sides to meet together in the middle. "Better?"

"Yes thank you." she chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry, I it's just that your clothes is so big on me. Haha I can feel it dragging on the floor."

I turned my attention to what she was talking about and I couldn't help but feel laughter grow from my belly when I saw how big my cape was on her. The hem was very much on the floor surrounding her. "It is a bit big for you. No matter, come let's keep walking."

"But I don't want to damage it by dragging it on the floor, I ruin everything I touch now."

I knew what she was referring to but I didn't want to bring that up in this moment. She had broke several things within the last week, one of which was an antique vase Madame Giry had, given to her by her parents. "You're not going to ruin anything, and even if you did I wouldn't care. Your health is more important to me than some old cloak. Come on."

She paused for a second before she raised her hand for me to take, I grabbed it and lead the way.

We reached Madame Giry's office in a short amount of time. I found some paper and a quill to write her a quick note.

Madame,

Do not fear for her she is safe, we are not leaving the opera house we will be watching, or rather listening to rehearsals.

I didn't want to sign it because I feared someone else might read it, I would have sealed but for the time being this would have to do.

"Erik are we almost there?" Christine whispered from the spot I had left her in.

"Yes just a moment, I'm just fetching a blanket for you." Antoinette wouldn't mind if I borrowed a blanket or two, especially if it was for Christine. "Alright let's go."

After several flights of stairs I eventually had to carry Christine due to her tripping on my cape. We finally reach my favorite view in the whole the whole theatre, box five. I put Christine down and helped her into a seat, placing myself in the seat next to her. I unfolded the blanket and tucked in Christine, attempting to bring her back the warmth she so desperately needed.

"Alright," she whispered "now I know we are somewhere in the theater. I'm just trying to figure out where."

"If it's any help we're not on the first floor." I mused.

"After all of those stairs I would hope we're not." she chuckled.

She stuck out both hands from the blanket in an attempt to feel her surroundings. All was well until she stood up, I was growing more and more anxious as she was leaning closer to the edge of the railing. I wanted her to try and figure out her surroundings by herself but I could not take this any longer, she could fall. "Alright I think that's enough exploring for today." I leaned forward grabbing her little shoulders and placed her back in her seat.

"You said I should always check my surroundings," crossing her arms and pouting a bit annoyed, "that's no fair."

Fair? "Life is not fair. What makes you so special?"

Taken aback from my harsh remark she lowered her head and scooted as far away from me as she could in her seat. That reaction I was used to after so many years, but from Christine, I just couldn't handle it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," I pleaded, "I don't know what came over me just now."

Still with her head low she responded, "You didn't have to speak to me that way."

"I know, again I apologize. I didn't want to hurt your feelings, I just didn't want you to fall." To my explanation she didn't answer, and I could not take this tension any longer so I pitifully continued, "Come, I will take you back to the chapel now."

She raised her head and clenched onto the blanket sitting in her lap, "But why?"

"I did not mean to upset you so I think it's best that you return." I didn't want to take her back, but what was I to do? Did she not want to go back? Before I knew it her big brown eyes were moist with tears. "I don't want to go back. I want to stay here, with you. Just please, don't speak to me like that."

Shaking my head I sat back down in my seat, "Oh Christine I'm so sorry, please forgive me." I whispered. Quiet still yet this time she held out her hand for me to hold. I happily reached for it, and gave a slight smile when I felt her warmer than before. When I looked back at the stage Madame Giry had appeared with the rest of the ballerinas for rehearsals. I didn't think much of it since she was in her regular work routine, but she seemed a bit distracted. Perhaps she recieved my letter. My suspicions weren't confirmed until Christine gave a small cry when she thought she felt a spider on her leg. Antoninette and others looked out of the theatre to see where the sound came from. Antoninette slowly looked up at the box but made no sound, after assuring to Christine that there was nothing there I looked back at Antoninette. She gave me a slight nod for which I returned back to her. She reprimanded some of the ballerinas for becoming distracted and carried on with rehearsals as if nothing had happened. After a while I noticed Christine raise a hand to cover a yawn. "Are you well?"

"Yes I'm just a little tired that's all."

"I think for now it would best you return home. You had a long night, you should rest."

"Oh alright" she complied accompanied with another yawn.

Returning to the Giry home, Erik accompanied Christine inside just as he had hours before. He folded the borrowed blankets and set them at the foot of Christine's bed.

"Oh before I forget." Christine said as she undid the cloak and held it out for Erik to grab.

He grabbed it and placed it on himself. "Ah yes, we wouldn't want Madame to see this by mistake."

"No of course not, I wouldn't want you kicked out of the opera house because of me. In fact you should go now," slowly pushing Erik in her attempt to find the door" I don't want anyone to see you here."

"No of course not." he mocked.

"It's not funny Erik, please leave."

"Alright, alright I'm going, but you must get some rest."

Now it was Christine who mocked "Yes sir."

"You must rest because starting tomorrow, we commence your singing lessons." In delight Christine reached out to him and held him in a quick embrace. After closing the front door Erik fled to his hidden passageways, and went home to acquire what he would need for tomorrow's first lesson.

If you have any questions/comments/concerns please feel free to review or PM me. Thanks a million!