Love of a Stranger

Ob1MegOb1

Chapter 41

(Night of the Performance…)

(Erik)

I stayed in the shadows backstage as the night's performance drew near. It was a situation I had once again become used to…skulking around in the dark. Out of sight and out of mind. I had once again returned home ten years ago…returned to the dark where I truly belonged. Because when I was out in the light…I closed my eyes in pain…bad things happened. Bad things happened to good people.

I saw William constantly running around backstage. It appeared he had become some sort of manager within the tour company. For a brief moment the light of pride at seeing the man he had become shown on me. And then it disappeared just as quickly. I allowed the darkness to take me again…as it should.

It amazed me that here I had planned and waited for this moment…and I could not take it. Somehow deep down I had always known I would never see this performance to its fruition. Madeline had been right…none of this was going to bring any sense of closure.

Everything around me hurt…having the tour company here…seeing Christine during rehearsal…while I skulked in the background…seeing Becca and William…it was too much….I can't take it anymore. '

I slowly made my way out of the theater even before the orchestra began, "Good-bye," I said softly.

(Jasmine)

Even outside the theater, I could feel the excited energy. Everything was buzzing around us. And yet this still felt so odd to have such high caliber theater in the middle of a sideshow.

"Everybody seems excited," I said trying to keep my voice even. I knew that Marius was less than happy about the fact that Christine had the spotlight solely shining on her this time around. But he took it in good stride.

"I'm sure," he said simply. "Apparently a lot of the partners are here who funded this theater."

"I'm sure they are anxious to see the Christine de Changey," I teased. I could imagine the eye roll coming from him.

"I also guess many of them were silent partners who are just exposing who they are now," Marius tsked, "Afraid the returns on a sideshow would look bad on them." Made sense sadly… "Ah here is one now," Marius said, "The monsieur here has been attending the practices."

I extended my hand as Marius introduced me. But the hand that took mine sent shivers down my spine, "Ah thank you, Master Thoreau," that all too familiar voice said, "I tell you it's rather exciting to see all of this finally come together." It couldn't be…my body began to shake and he only squeezed my hand tighter. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said his voice smooth but venomous, "I'm sure we will see each other soon."

I couldn't believe it…he had been attending the practices…how had William not seen him? Rebecca? And then his presence was gone. "Jasmine?" Marius said concerned, "Are you alright? You look as if you've seen a ghost." Because I had…Paul…

"His name?" I said faintly.

"Oh, I guess he didn't say did he? Monsieur Paul Bisset? He's apparently been a major donor for the theater here. But a silent partner like I said so this is probably the first a lot of them are hearing of his name." But his voice faded out and I suddenly felt very dizzy….a nightmare had returned…and I felt myself fall…and slowly fade to darkness.

(William)

Everyone was moving so fast backstage. So much excited energy. I felt like I was barely keeping up with everything on top of making sure that Gustave and Alex were being safe backstage with Christine. He told me what had happened with Jasmine. I had resisted every urge to go back to the apartment and check on her. I had known that eventually, this place was going to overwhelm her with memories of Erik. I had barely been able to stave off those as well….I could only imagine what was happening to her.

"William," I heard Marius' voice say behind me. What was he doing here? And then I saw he was carrying Jasmine collapsed in his arms.

"What happened?" I said running over.

"We were mingling in the theater and one of the backers for the theater came forward to introduce himself. I recognized him from some of the rehearsals." I led them back to an empty dressing room so that we could lay her down. "The moment this man started talking she turned white like she had seen a ghost. And she seemed faint when she heard his name."

"What is his name?" I asked gently pulling the hair out of her face.

"Paul Bisset," he answered. My blood went cold. That bastard…that bastard was here. I hadn't seen him but then again…he had probably done everything he could to avoid that.

"William?" Marius said his green eyes becoming stormy as he saw the same look cross my face that no doubt had crossed Jasmine's when she heard the name.

"Paul is responsible for almost every single bit of misery our family has endured. He is the one who got Erik, Jasmine's husband, killed. He killed our cousin." Marius' eyes turned even stormier but I suddenly realized….

"I need to get Alex. And if I see Raoul and Christine I will warn them too. They are quite aware of how Paul is also. Stay with her please."

"Of course," he said as I made my way out. The orchestra was starting to play…the song was beginning.

(Erik)

The night was very dark this evening and the winds high. And even the calm waters of Coney Island were raging tonight. This ended up being perfect in a way that I hadn't planned for once. Accidents happened all the time on the docks…now I would just be another one. I walked to the edge of the boardwalk the spray cooling my burning skin. I closed my eyes and for a brief moment, I could see her smiling. She was standing there smiling and her hand extended towards me.

I slowly took one step towards her trying to not pay attention to the edge of the boardwalk. It was time. This was the end.

"Mr. Y," a new voice suddenly said behind me. I paused trying to ignore it but I knew that voice. I had heard it before. I turned as a gentle rain began to fall. I thankfully was still wearing my stupid mask. As I turned I found the boy who had come into my office the day before. What on Earth was doing out here?

"You should go back inside boy," I said softly, "It's not safe out here."

"No it's not," he said stepping forward, "you should be inside too. Everybody's listening to your song right now. Don't you want to know what people think of it?"

I closed my eyes knowing that the only people I had cared about hearing it had already. "Go away, boy," I said my voice steely.

"No sir," he said determinedly. "You are an amazing man who created all these amazing things. You can't do this."

"You don't know me, boy!" I said my voice rising and he turned from me. "You have no idea who I am or what I have done." I turned from him and slowly made my way back to the edge the waters becoming much rougher in the time it had taken for me to talk to him.

(Jasmine)

I could hear music as I slowly came to. "Jasmine," somebody's voice said softly. It couldn't be… "Erik," I said softly.

"It's me, Jasmine," Marius said softly.

I groaned slowly sitting up, "What happened?"

"You fainted after seeing Paul," he said his voice hard and even.

I jolted remembering now, "Alex, Becca, Will, we need to get them."

"William already went to get them," Marius said calmly. "We need to just stay here for now." I could hear the performance starting.

"Are we backstage?" I said confused.

"Yes," he said softly, "We needed someplace to lie you down. I also figured he would be in the audience so probably not a good place to be."

I nodded my head but as I heard the song I felt myself coming to a halt. As the orchestra continued to play I felt my heart begin to race. I knew this tune…this was….

"Jasmine, what's wrong?" Marius asked softly. But I was too caught up listening to the music. I was waiting…waiting for those first words of the song. And then…

Who knows when love begins

Who knows what makes it start

One day its simply there

Alive inside your heart

My whole world began fading out. How could this be? The only ones who knew or heard this song were me, Erik, and Alex. Erik hadn't even written it down. He had recited it from his mind and his mind alone. "Marius," I said gripping his arm, "who wrote this song for Christine?"

"They said that Mr. Y himself wrote it specifically for Christine. Why do you ask?"

I quickly got up and began to pace the familiar music still echoing so clearly in my mind. I could hear Marius' anxious footsteps behind me. "What the hell is going on Jasmine?"

"I know this song Marius," I said quickly.

"Well yes, I am sure you heard her rehearse it…"

"No, I heard it ten years ago. Ten years ago this song was sung to me in my bedroom. It was sung to me and Alex as a baby," I muttered, "by my husband. My husband as you know is a composer."

"Well, maybe he knew this Mr. Y-" Marius started to say.

"Are maybe they are one and the same," I muttered hardly believing it. It couldn't be possible…if Erik had been alive all this time he would have tried to find us. He wouldn't have stayed away. He wouldn't have abandoned us.

"But Jasmine," Marius said confused, " your husband is dead. You told me your husband had passed."

"There is actually a way we can find out," I muttered. I extended my hand, "Come with me I need your help finding my way back somewhere."

"No need," a familiar voice said behind us. I recognized it as the man who had been in Mr. Y's private quarters. The one who had asked me if I was an acquaintance of Mr. Y's. "I apologize for intruding," he said simply, "but the door was open."

"You said I looked like somebody that Mr. Y knew," I said softly.

"Jasmine he is one of the acts here," Marius said irritably, "we can't trust him.

"Please I have a way of confirming if you are who I think you are," the man said quietly. "Although if you are then it is a miracle."

"What do you mean?" Marius said evenly.

"I think you are the Master's wife," the man said softly. "And you may be able to save him yet."

"Save him?" I asked confused.

"My master plans to end his life tonight after the concert," he said softly.

"But it's not you who I am worried about," he said softly, "it's me."

My voice was steely, "Then quickly take me to his quarters. I need to know once and for all."

(William)

Goddammit, I was going to kill that boy. As the show had come to a close we had realized that he had run off again. And now I was running around backstage trying to find him before Jasmine realized I had lost him again with Paul here and aware that we were as well. When I concluded he wasn't in the theater I took a look outside. The weather had gotten nasty with high winds and rain. I prayed to god he hadn't headed anywhere near the water.

"William!" Nadir said coming up beside me. "Several stage workers said that they saw a boy heading towards the docks or the boardwalks they weren't sure. They say it seemed like he was following someone."

"Alright you take the docks I will take the boardwalks. We need to find him before this storm gets worse." Immediately I took off in the direction of the boardwalks cursing this stupid boy. He had to know better then take off in a storm like this. That made me think whatever he had followed had really gotten to him. Finally, the boardwalks were in sight.

And despite the rain and wind, I could see off in the distance two figures. I recognized the smaller figure as Alex right away and immediately I started rushing over. But who the hell was he out there with? But as I got closer my steps began to slow and my eyes widened. That body language and figure…and I could see the glowing white mask on his face and my heart started racing.

There was no way it could be him….on this night of nightmares and returns. It couldn't possibly be him. Because if it was he was a dead man.

(Erik)

I had only met this boy for a moment in a day. So even as my back was turned from him I found myself still listening to his protests. Even as I took another step yet closer to the edge. One final step and I was done. There was a break though in the child's protests and suddenly I felt strong hands on my shoulders. They gripped me like vices surprisingly flinging me back. I stumbled back falling on my back.

In the meantime the person who had grabbed me pinned down my arms and held me down. I looked up and immediately recognized those fiery eyes. But these hands weren't the weak hands of a boy anymore. They were the hands of a man…the strength of a man.

His face was only inches from mine now. "Didn't I tell you that if you hurt her I would kill you," William said through gritted teeth. "Why why would you do this? Why wouldn't you tell us you were alive all this time?" I started to talk but he only he slammed me down harder. "Do you know how hard it has been without you?" Even now I could hear his breath starting to catch.

"You're wrong," I muttered, "I never brought anything but pain to this family."

"Pain?" William said disbelievingly. "Pain? Don't you think it would cause your wife and child more pain to not be here? How does abandoning them make it easier for them?" In truth though I hadn't really heard them. He had referred to Jasmine and Alex as if they were still alive. But that couldn't be…

"Why would it hurt them?" I said back my voice calm and steady. "They're gone."

William's eyes turned disbelieving as I said this. "Erik," he seemed lost for words for a moment his hands shaking now. "Erik, Jasmine and Alex are alive." And slowly his eyes turned towards the boy that had been standing with me on the boardwalk. I looked at the boy and suddenly it hit me like lightning. Those eyes staring at me right now…I knew them all too well. He had been trying to pull me back from death just like his specter had when I was poisoned. "No," I said softly my mind rejecting that. I had seen the house…I had her ring and locket. My hand shot to them…I would have known. I would have known if they were alive.

"They can't be," I said firmly pushing William aside. The rain was pouring down on us chilling me to the bone. The waves become more wild and harsh.

"Erik," William said desperately, "Don't you even recognize your own son. It's Alex right here in front of you," he began to scream.

"I don't care," I screamed my hands shooting to my head drowning out his words. "Even if they were I don't belong with you. All I ever brought to this family was pain and death. Everything I touch turns to ash because of who I am. That man who loved and cared was gone the moment they died, William. I am nothing but a shell now…a cold empty uncaring thing. That's all I ever was!" I yelled.

"Bullshit Erik," he said his voice shaking. "I know you have had ten years of sorrow like us. This whole thing was somehow a mixed up mess. But we have a chance to fix that now to be a family again."

"There will always be a mob William!" I cried. "There will always be people shooting and threatening our existence. I can't," I said my voice shaking as I saw the images of Jasmine bleeding, the house in ashes running through my head. "I can't let anybody suffer because of me again."

"But you'll let us suffer for the rest of our lives because you want to supposedly protect us," William said shaking his head. "When are you going to understand that we love you. There are people who want you on this Earth whether you believe it or not."

My whole body was shaking, "I can't go back," I muttered. I started walking back towards the edge trying to drown out his protestations now. It had revolved from the boy to him. Two people who….this boy he couldn't really be…

"You told me I had to go on no matter what," a new voice said. My heart froze as I recognized her voice. "So I had to trudge on…keep living even though some days it hurt so much I thought I couldn't go on. But I kept going because of my promise…and because I love our son. I love our family and I will do anything to protect them. You also told me that once. So how come all of a sudden you have forgotten that?"

The tears were running down my face just like they had every time she had appeared in my head for the last ten years. "I can't because I'm not strong enough without you."

She chuckled her voice sounding like it was right behind me now, "It's funny I said the same thing when I had heard you died. But it was you that told me I was strong enough to keep going. It was you who pulled me back from the edge. Now I guess it's my turn to do the same."

"What do you mean?" I asked softly my voice shaking. And then my whole body jolted as I felt two hands on my own. My whole body calming at their touch even though they were shaking. I knew this touch this feeling. And then suddenly the whole world seemed to stop, even the rain. Slowly she turned me towards her and I felt my whole body go numb. There were those determined eyes. Her hair pulled back like always but drenched from the rain. I reached forward gently caressing her face and she leaned into me tears going down her face. "Is this real?" I said my breath catching.

She smiled, "I hope so because I can't afford to be going mad again." And without a second thought I pulled her in and my heart soared to feel her body against mine again. My legs were becoming weak and I fell to my knees, her as well. This couldn't be happening…I had been so sure.

"How did this happen?" I said softly.

"I don't know," Jasmine said softly, "But we'll figure it out." I still couldn't believe it was her as I held her close. Behind her, Alex and Will watched on along with another man I didn't recognize. He must have come with Jasmine. I looked down and I saw around her neck…my wedding ring. I gently fingered it around her neck before guiding her hand to the locket and ring still around my neck.

"We thought each other was dead," she said softly. To me…that level of manipulation was unbelievable…they would have had to time it just right. Fires just days apart from each other…both making out that we had died. Only one thing stuck in my head…

"Paul," I said through gritted teeth.

"Well done Phantom," his voice suddenly said. I jolted up but halted as I realized he had Alex while holding a gun on me and Jasmine. I looked over to see Will and the other man both watching anxiously as well.

"Mom," Alex said softly his voice even but scared.

"Alex," she said trying to push forward but I held her back. "Erik let me go," she said through gritted teeth. But I positioned myself in front of her. I would not allow this bastard to get her shot again.

"Your like a plague that can never be cured," Paul said. "Every time I strike at you just reappear whole and renewed."

"That's a bit of an understatement Paul," I said calmly. "You managed to throw me into the darkest pits of hell…making me think my wife and son were dead. That I had gotten them killed for being me. You did the same to her…convinced her so well that we truly believed we had lost each other. No Paul if anything you allowed the monster you so loved to tease to come out." I stepped toward him. He pointed the gun at Alex.

"I pointed a gun at a child before," Paul said evenly, "I'm not afraid to do so again. Especially your spawn." The boy looked up at me eyes wide. Paul laughed, "That's right…I guess he didn't know you were his father. Thought he was dead all this time. And yet here you are…abandoned him and his mother. And now you can watch one of them die."

"No," Alex said as he pointed the gun in our direction.

"So who shall it be?" Paul said venomously.

"You know the answer to that Paul," I said evenly.

"No!" Jasmine cried and suddenly the other man appeared pulling her back. "Let me go, Marius!"

"Such a martyr," Paul gloated, "Afraid your family won't know who you are anymore?"

"I don't know who I am anymore," I said softly, "But I know…I never stopped loving them. Not for a single moment."

"Well I guess you will have that," Paul said cocking his gun in my direction. Normally I would have a way to fight back. Someway to stop him…

"Paul!" Somebody cried and a few shots rang out. I looked behind me and it was Nadir and….the Vicomte making their way up. "Alex!" Jasmine screamed.

Paul stumbled his arm still around Alex as one of the shots grazed his shoulder and they were teetering close to the edge of the boardwalk. I reached forward grabbing Alex and pulling him forward which unfortunately swung Paul back around as well. I pulled Alex into my arms and then quickly shoved him over to William.

I got up and turned around again to find Paul had found his footing again. I rushed forward grabbing his arm but not before he got a shot off. My side exploded with pain and I felt myself going numb but I still used my momentum to swing at Paul and knock him off balance. He teetered once again while I fell to the ground hard. Unfortunately, he gained his balance while I could hardly move from the pain.

He raised his gun ready to finish me off when two shots went off. Paul looked down for a moment his eyes wide. He looked in Jasmine's direction his eyes…remorseful for but a second…and then slowly he fell back and off the boardwalk and into the dark sea below. I looked back and saw that it was the Vicomte who had fired the shots. For now, Paul was gone…I pulled my hand away from my side…it was soaked with blood. Dammit…as everything began to go numb.

(Jasmine)

"Erik?" I said searching madly. He wasn't answering. Nobody was talking for that matter. Finally, I felt his hand grab mine and he was shaking badly. "What's wrong?" I said, "Where are you hurt?" Without words, he guided my hand and I almost cried out in dismay as I felt the bullet wound. No through and through this time.

"Marius and the others took Alex and ran for a doctor," William said breathlessly beside me. He squeezed my shoulder comfortingly. "Come on old man you have to hang on."

"Oh shut up boy," Erik said irritably but I could still hear the pained edge in his voice.

"Lie still and try not to talk," I said softly gripping his hand tightly.

I felt his hand upon my face gently stroking it. "I'm sorry," he muttered, "I'm sorry for giving up. If I had just tried to find Becca and William…I would have known but I gave up."

I shushed him, "You thought your family was dead. I know how you felt."

"But Becca and William were my family," he said softly his voice breaking, "and I just left them. Abandoned them. That is not forgivable."

"Erik," William said softly but Erik must have stopped him because he didn't say any more.

Erik was still holding my hand but I could feel the strength in his grip beginning to disappear. Suddenly he chuckled softly, "It's probably better this way. I am hardly the man you loved anymore."

"That's not true," I said softly holding his hands tightly. "We all experienced darkness these last ten years Erik…believe me."

(Erik)

Even in my numbed state, I could see the pain in her eyes. Is this what I had looked like these past ten years. "I almost gave up everything," she said softly, "because of the pain emanating in my heart. But I had people here to support me and help me. We will find each other again," she said softly, "But you have to stay with me."

I wanted to believe her words so much…but it almost felt like…too much time had passed. How could I ever atone? But she was becoming blurry in my eyes. I was starting to feel so tired…my vision becoming dark.

(Jasmine)

"Erik?" I said softly as he suddenly went quiet.

"Sorry love," he said softly, "I'm just so tired."

"No," I said gripping his hand tightly, "You have to stay awake remember?"

"I'm trying," he muttered, "but it's getting harder." I had kept my hand on the wound the entire time trying to stop the blood flow. And now I worried that the bullet had hurt something internally and if it had. There was nothing we could do.

(Erik)

Even in my delirium, I could feel the fear emanating in her hands. Her eyes started to look scared as did William's. My strength was disappearing faster now and I even began to fear that I would not be able to hold on until the doctor got here. So I knew there was something I had to say before I lost the chance to. That even though darkness had taken me again…I had to say this. "I love you," I said softly surprised at how weak my own voice sounded.

She gripped my hand and she was trying to hold back her tears, "I love you too. And we will say it to each other a thousand times more after this night." And that's when I realized, as the numbness began to take over, that I did not want to die. I wasn't ready to give in yet.

Suddenly Jasmine was yanked away from me and our hands brushed for a second before several figures surrounded me. My vision was going because I couldn't quite make out who they were. But the one person I could make out was Jasmine. At first, I couldn't hear her I just saw her saying something. And then finally I heard it, "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. So don't you either. No matter what." And then everything went black.

Reunited at last! Stay tuned for the next chapter!

TBC

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