Love Will Continue - Sequel to Phantom Child

4. Like you don't really mean it

This chapter contains references to "Master Thaddeus: The last foray in Lithuania". Fear not, you don't need to know the plot, everything that needs to be explained is explained. Just wanted to warn you, so that you don't get discouraged while reading.

Also, keep me updated on your thoughts on the new character that appears in this chapter (it kinda got out of hand, you'll see what I mean) I'm so stressed because of adding him... With that, let's begin with the story, shall we?

The suitcase with my clothes and other necessary objects was already packed and waiting next to my door. We were leaving for the ship tomorrow at noon and I was already prepared to go. So for now I had some time on my hands to focus on gathering the things that I wanted to take, in order to keep myself entertained during the journey. My anti-boredom kit consisted of books, sketchbook and a few pencils. As always, I was haunted by the feeling that I was forgetting something. I decided to go through all the drawers once again, to check if there was still something that I could take with me.

The wardrobe never contained any of my things other than clothes, but I still searched through it anyway, only to find out that I had been right. The bookshelf had nothing more to offer to me, since I did not believe that I could read more positions than I had already taken with me. In my desk I was only storing more paper and pencils, so that also was not helpful.

The last one to check was the nightstand. I opened the first drawer and stopped moving at all as I laid my eyes on the familiar symbol. The Box of Secrets seemed to be begging me to take it, or at least I felt that way.

For almost two weeks I had been succesfully avoiding thinking about everything connected to the Phantom of the opera. I was just keeping focused on the everyday life and the thought of my late friend, Erik was completely out of my mind. Now I was fighting with myself, whether to open the box or not.

I knew that once I open it and look inside, the sight of the things it stored would send me down a spiral of emotions. I felt my head preheat as the thoughts were rushing. Finally I closed the drawer hurriedly and took a step back to continue examining my room in search for the unknown object I might have forgotten. "I don't need it." I told myself as soon as my thoughts quickly managed to come back to the subject of the Box. After a few seconds I found myself pacing the floor from the wardrobe to the window and back.

"I promised Christine. I moved on." I kept repeating these simple statements, but even they were not enough to convince myself.

Eventually I ended up taking out the Box of Secrets and putting it quickly into my bag, to get it out of my sight as soon as possible. I tried to defend my own actions with the fact that someone might open it and see what's inside, while I'm gone, but in reality that was just a crappy excuse to take it with me. I needed it with me just in case.

"In case of what?" I asked myself, but in fact I had no idea.

♤ ♡ ◇ ♧

I slowly dragged my suitcase down the staircase, since I didn't believe I needed anyone's help. Neither did Gustave. Asked, if his bag wasn't too heavy, he claimed that it wasn't and that he could manage. Somehow we both got to the front door of the house and opened it to see Christine just outside, waiting for us.

"I started worrying about you two." She stated playfully.

"I thought you trusted me." I retorted in a similar tone. 

Christine rolled her eyes, but still smiled.

"You know I do." She answered.

I didn't get to think of my response as we were approached by our carman.