Erik and Christine: Loves Secret (A Phantom of the Opera Story)

Chapter 4

Next day, Christine is getting ready to leave to find Erik until she hears her bedroom door handle rattling. Christine turns around and sees Raoul entering the room.

"Christine. What are you doing?" he asks. Christine smiles at him and says "Nothing. Just getting ready to go out for a while. I remembered that I left some things at my fathers mansion. So I am going to the mansion to go get them." Raoul smiles back, kneels down and says, "Oh, no you shouldn't do that. I'll have someone go get it for you." "No it's fine. I can do it on my own. Please," Christine insisted and knowing that she didn't want Raoul to know why she was really leaving the mansion. "Alright, if you say so. Besides, I'm letting you know now that I am going out of town for a while," Raoul said as he stands up and walks towards the door. "How long?" she asked. "A couple of days. Maybe a week," he replies. "Raoul, you realize we're getting married in October. This is July," she says with a concerned tone in her voice. "I know but I promise I will be back and we will spend more time together. I promise," he replies. "Alright. But please, be careful," Christine says softly. "I will."

Raoul opens the door. Christine stands up and says "I love you." Raoul smiles and says "As do I." He walks out and closes the door. She is relieved and finishes getting ready.

An hour later, Christine and a servant arrive at the village. "Well, here we are Madamioselle," says the servant. Christine gets out of the carriage and tells her servant, "I'll be back in a while. Stay here." "Oui, Madamioselle Christine."

Christine wanders around the village and looks for anything suspicious. Trying to see if maybe...just maybe if Erik is in the village. She stops and looks at an ally and notices a man that looks familiar. She slowly walks in the alley to where the man was going. She tries to hide so she can not be seen to get a better look. When the man turns around, she notices who the man was. It is her Angel of Music. She watches him moving things around. When he disappears, she decides to follow him. She is astonished how long he's there.

"Is this where he lives?" she asked herself.

Erik looks around his bedroom to see if there is anything that he missed. "I think that's everything. I just forgot my music scores. Ah! They're on the piano I believe." He says to himself.

She enters the room and sees how the room is simaliar architecturaly and stylistically to where he lived down below the opera house. "So this is where he's been living for the last two months. Ever since the fire?" Christine says silently. She notices Erik by the piano grabbing some pieces of music in his hands. "I knew I would find you."

Erik stops and turns around. He is shocked that Christine found out where he lived. "Hello Angel," she says softly. "Christine," he replies softly.

"How...how did you find me?" he asked with a nervous tone in his voice. "Intuition. Plus I saw you walking in and out of the alley," she says as she walks towards him. They both stare at each other, speechless and overwhelmed to see each other again.

"I had to find you," she says. "You shouldn't have. I told you in the letter to not follow me...to find me," he replies and implies to her. He gets up and walks up towards her. "I don't care. I just knew that all along that since the fire not too long ago, that you were still alive," she replies sincerely. He looks at her face, seeing that she has tears that are about to roll down on her cheek as she sits down on a chair. "I never gave up on that. Not one bit," she admits. Erik looks at her and asks her, "Never?" He reaches for her hand and she looks straight into his eyes as she takes his hand. "Never. Because I know you never give up so easily, you always find a way to get out of sticky situations," she implies. She walks towards him as she is holding his hand. "That maybe, but I'm still a wanted criminal you know. And by now they will believe that I am dead, he replies.

"At first I thought that was what Madame Giry was going to tell me, but I always knew that you were alive," Christine implies. She looks away from him but he takes his other hand, touches her chin and turns her head lightly. "Oh, Christine. If, only," Erik sighs. "You shouldn't be here. Shouldn't you be with Raoul...with your fiancé?" He lets go of her hand. "He's gone actually. Gone on business," she replies. "Ever since the fire. At first he would stay and never leave but lately, he would leave. He's always gone on business." Erik looks at her with a concerned and confusing look on his face. "What do you mean?" Christine walks closer to him. "Since he is a business person and the opera house is in ruins. He is finding other places to make money. Personally I think he should just have people fix the opera house. And I would rather live there instead of the mansion," she says.

"Why's that?" he asks. "Because it's so...gloomy and not the same as it once was. He moved the piano to the attic, and moved almost any memories that I remember so he can make the mansion more "suitable" and "more 19th century looking,"" she replies. Erik gives her a look and says, "that's a pathetic excuse." They look deep into each others eyes. "It's the truth. I would never lie. Not even to you. Because you are my angel," she implies. He looks away from her.

She does the same and looks back at him and asks, "By the way, were you the one who fixed the piano?" He walks around her and says, "Yes I did. Isn't it glorious?" Christine's eyes gazes at him and she says, "It looks better than how I would have done it. But I wish you were there to see me play it." Erik smiles. "Technically I was." Her eyes wide open and her cheeks are blushing. "You were?", she asked. "I was outside. And I remember every note that you played," he says as he walks around his piano. "Show me. Please," Christine pleaded to Erik. He walks in front of her. "Alright. Just give me one moment," he said. Erik looks at the piano and sits down. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and begins to play.

As Erik is playing, Christine is amazed at how Erik remembered her piece. "He does remember," she says to herself. "You do know my piece. I...I don't know what to say," she stutters. Erik continues to play. "I can't believe he remembered every note!" she says to herself once more. Erik finishes playing and slowly stands up to face Christine.

"You are truly gifted by remembering my piece," she says with the speechless tone. Erik walks towards her and says, "I loved every moment of it. It was so intoxicating." As Erik walks towards her, he begins to feel intoxicated as well just by knowing that Christine is there and how much he longs to hold her in his arms. "beautiful. And...and." He lightly touches her face with his hands. They look at each others eyes. "From the heart?" she asked. He lowers his hands to her shoulders and lets go. "Yes," Erik says softly. He walks away from her. "I can say that I did lie to Raoul about this piece because it did come from my heart because it brought me memories of us," she said. Erik stops and turns around. "Of all we went through. All the pain that I caused you. Because when I played, I wasn't just playing for my heart. I was playing for you."

Erik walks towards her once more. "You did?" he asked. "Yes. Because I care about you. Even when you told me that you loved me," she replies. Christine looks over his shoulder and notices his belongings and has tears in her eyes. "I can see that you're leaving. Is it because of me?" Erik shakes his head and walks towards her. "No, it's just there are too many memories of us here," he replied with a quick response. He looks into her eyes as she tries to hold back her tears. "It breaks me to see you go," she said softly. Erik hugs her. "As do I," he says softly. Christine let's go of Erik and they look at each other in the eyes. "I wish you all the luck, my angel. But know this...I will always think of you and always be there for you when you need me."

Christine turns around and leaves. As she leaves, she closes her eyes and tears roll down her cheeks. Erik looks down as he realizes that once again, he is all alone. "Oh, Christine. Why Why do you torcher me with your words? I feel as though I cannot leave now. Not like this. But I know I have to," he says. "I will leave but I will come back and see you again. My angel. My Christine."