My Dearest Saffron

Chapter Eight

I woke up with a terrible headache. It felt as if I had been struck with a brick. My body felt limp and weak. I had no perception of what happened before I fainted. The dizziness had faded. As my eyes slowly opened, I saw that I was still in the Phantom's lair. I was on a velvet sofa, next to a fireplace. I slowly sat up, and then proceeded to stand. I walked towards a stone archway, leading out to the rest of the cavern.

I rubbed my head with my hand. The headache hadn't gone away. I sighed. I was in so much pain.

"Hello?" I called out. I was sure I was talking to the air. I shivered. It was so cold down here. My eyes looked around for a sign of the Phantom.

"You're awake." I jumped. The Phantom was sitting at the organ. I must've missed him while I was looking around.

I smiled at him. He smiled back. I walked over to see what he was doing. This sequence felt so much like the musical; During the scene where Christine wakes up after The Music of the Night and takes off the Phantom's mask. I would never take off his mask if I was Christine in this case. I got to where he was sitting and sat beside him. He was composing something... a song, with a lighthearted melody. 

"What are you working on?" I asked, looking at him in wonder. I haven't been this close to him since the night we met.

"Oh, nothing much. Just a song I haven't worked on in a while..." He trailed off. He looked towards me, then back to the sheet music.

"Would you mind...Playing it for me?" I asked. He looked at me in disbelief, like if he hadn't heard that question in a century.

He sat there, considering the idea. "Alright." He replied. He placed two gloved hands over the keys and began to play.

Who knows when love begins...

Who knows what makes it start?

One day it's simply there...

Alive inside your heart..

My heart started beating faster. I had heard his singing voice only once before, and the memory of it faded. But now, I will never forget his voice. My face clearly went red. I sat there in shock as he continued with the next verse.

It slips into your thoughts...

It infiltrates your soul.

It takes you by surprise, then seizes full control...

I really wanted to sing along, but I unfortunately didn't know the lyrics. I closed my eyes and started breathing slowly. I didn't want to faint again. I did my best to keep my composure.

"That is all I've written. It often causes me to spend years to write a single song." He spoke. He took his gloved hands off of the organ keys and looked at me. "Did you...Like it?" He asked.

I paused to think about what to say. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard!" I exclaimed. His face lit up in surprise. He looked at the sheet music in disbelief. I smiled and kissed a part of his mask. The Phantom's eyes went wide. His pale face turned into a lighter pink color.

"H-How are you feeling?" He asked, quickly standing up. I turned around.

"I feel fine. The dizziness and headache wore off." I replied.

"You overworked yourself." He said. He shot me a concerned look. "Don't ever do that. Again."

I wanted to say, I was only overworked so you wouldn't infect my dreams, but I couldn't say any of that. We stood in silence for a bit, and it got a little too quiet.

"If you don't mind me asking..." I started. "...What's your name?" He shot a quick glance at me, and turned away, looking ashamed.

"Very well." He replied. "My name is Erik." I could feel my eyes sparkle.

"Erik..." I whispered. "Erik..." I repeated his name probably seven times. His name lingered in the air, much like the smell of candle wax.

"Well...Seeing as it is almost midday..." He started. "You should head back to the surface."

"Alright... Erik." I teased. He laughed. He led me to the boat, and we hopped aboard it.  

A/N: WE GOT A NAMEDROP WOOOHOOOO!!! I'm so happy that this story is where it is now. I've been working on it since August of 2022, and it's only been read by a few of my friends. I'm so thankful to be able to share this story with the world!! Love you all!!

WC: 761