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

Chapter 46

At the Daae Mansion in the morning, Gabriel is drinking coffee in his study, reading letters, and replying to business letters. Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Charlotte enters inside with a smile and joins her father at the table. "Good morning, father," said Charlotte.

"Morning," Gabriel replies as he puts the letters down and sips his cup of coffee. "How are you this morning?'

"I'm good."

Suddenly Alex bursts into the room. Gabriel and Charlotte turn and smile at Alex. Charlotte notices that something is wrong. "Ah, Alex! How are you doing today?" asks Gabriel.

"I'm good," Alex replies. "But I think we've got a problem."

At the same time, Erik is on his horse riding through the woods. Within a minute, he arrives at the mansion.

"I heard that Erik is on his way here," Alex informs them. Gabriel and Charlotte stand up, shocked and concerned. Charlotte walks to Alex and asks, "He's coming here! How does he know?"

"Madame Giry must have told him," Gabriel replied. At that moment, a servant named Corrine enters the room. They turn as she curtsies to them. "Excuse me, Monsieur," says Corrine.

"Yes, Corrine?" Gabriel replies as he looks at her.

"There's someone here to talk to you," she answered.

Everyone looks at each other. Gabriel sighs, then head to the door. Charlotte and Alex look at him, curious about what he's going to do. "I'll be right back," Gabriel implies. Gabriel leaves the room; Corrine bows slightly to him as he goes. Charlotte and Alex look at each other with concern.

At the same time, Erik enters the mansion and takes off his coat and gloves. On the second floor, Eliza notices Erik. She slowly backs up and whispers, "Oh no! This can't be good. I've got to tell Christine." Eliza quickly heads to Christine's bedroom.

As Eliza turns to leave, Erik notices her at the exact moment. However, he looks to his right and sees Christine's uncle heading toward him. Erik raises his arms and says, "It is so good to see you, Monsieur Daae."

"Erik!" Gabriel replies as he steps in front of him. Stopping Erik from continuing to go upstairs.

Erik sighs and asks, "Where is she?"

"Who?"

"You know who. Christine! I know she's here!"

Gabriel sighs and pauses. He then walks towards Erik, touches his shoulder, and politely says, "I'm sorry, Erik, but she doesn't want to see you."

At the same time, Christine is in her room, lighting a candle for her father and praying. Suddenly Eliza rushes into the room and announces in a panicked tone, "Christine! Christine! He's here! Erik! He found out about us being here! What should we do?" Christine sighs and shuts her eyes as she knows that time is up. Erik has found her, and she will have to face him. Christine will have to tell him the true reason she left. She opens her eyes, looks at the candle, and says, "Let him in."

"Are you sure?" Eliza asks. "I don't want to see you hurt again."

"Yes, I knew sooner or later that he would find me here," Cristine replies. "Plus, I think it's about time I tell him the truth." Christine looks down and rubs her belly, knowing that telling Erik that he is the father of their child will not be easy. Eliza tilts her head down and then leaves the room.

"I need to talk to her!" Erik shouts.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," Gabriel replies sternly. She told us that she doesn't want to see you."

Eliza walks halfway down the stairs, stops, and interrupts them, "Excuse me, but...Christine wants to talk to you, Erik."

Erik and Gabriel glance at each other, then back at Eliza. Gabriel walks up a few steps toward Eliza and asks, "Are you sure, Eliza?"

"Yes, sir. Christine is asking for him."

Gabriel turns around and stares at him. Erik slowly walks up the stairs and stops in front of Eliza as he is slightly confused that he is sure what he had just heard out of Eliza's mouth. "Follow me," Eliza politely asks.

She and Erik walk upstairs and head to Christine's bedroom. As they do, Gabriel sighs as he knows that Erik and Christine seeing each other will not be easy for either one of them. Alex and Charlotte notice Erik walking with Eliza and are surprised. Charlotte quietly but quickly walks up the stairs, confused by why her father allows Erik to see Christine. "Please don't tell me he wants to talk to her," Charlotte begs her father.

"Yes, he does, and Christine agreed to see him,' her father replied.

Alex walks a few steps up the stairs and asks, "Does he know about the -"

"I don't think so," Gabriel interrupts him. "But I have a feeling that Christine wants to tell him. Plus, I feel that Erikis here because he wants to apologize to her." Gabriel, Charlotte, and Alex look at each other and then up the stairs.

At the same time, Erik and Eliza stop a few feet from Christine's bedroom door. Before she opens the door, Eliza politely asks, "Erik. Before you go in, just please try not to upset her. It's been hard for her ever since we left."

"I don't understand," Erik thinks to himself. "It hasn't been easy for all of us."

"She would wake up every other night from nightmares. She has a hard time sleeping at night, and she cries until she falls asleep every night. So please try not to upset her."

"I'll try. But I don't think it will be easy for me either. For I, too, haven't been getting enough sleep, and ever since she left, I've had horrible nightmares about her. I know I don't deserve an apology, but I have to do this. Because if I don't, I will not ever forgive myself."

Eliza and Erik stare at each other briefly then Erik walks to Christine's room. However, he stops, turns to face Eliza, and adds, "For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of her ever since I was a child. Now people are born for many things, Eliza. In the sewers, I was born to live, if they call this living. I was born so that she could save me. That's what she's done. She was the reason I was born. I love her more than anything in this world. It would be a cruel deed to God to send her otherwise." Erik turns back to the door and walks back to the door, but as he puts his hand on the doorknob to open the door, he stops. He shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath as he is nervous and scared. "Well, here goes nothing," Erik thinks to himself.

He gently opens the door and walks inside. Once he closes the door, he notices Christine standing and gazing out the window. "Christine," says Erik with tears in his eyes.

Christine gasps as the sound of her name paralyze her.