The Affair

Chapter 13

Christine looked around Eriks lair, fiddling with his little nicknacks and looking over his music. She briefly smiled as she walked across a picture that was drawn of her, it was obviously old, she looked different now, she was older.

Christine sat at the bench by his organ and fiddled with the keys, she looked up at the music that was sitting on the bar, she picked it up and started to hum the tune of it, but she quickly turned to look back at the entrance as Erik walked in.

"Erik, I told you. I don't know anything about it, now please, I need to get back to my dancers." Madame Giry said.

"You know something, I heard you!" Erik frowned.

"I can't tell you anything that you don't already know." Madame Giry told him.

"Erik, you musn't be rude to Madame Giry, she's like a mother to me." Christine crossed her legs and looked at him.

Erik looked at Christine, "How did you-" he looked at Madame Giry, "How did she?"

Madame Giry shrugged, "She's not stupid. I should go, and give you two some privacy, eh?"

"Please." Christine weakly smiled, "Thank you."

Madame Giry nodded and left.

Erik looked over at Christine again, "You're here."

"I promised." Christine stood and walked over to him, "Did you not want me to come?"

"Of course I did." Erik mumbled, he wrapped his arms hesitantly around her waist and pulled her close, hugging her tightly.

"Are you all right, Erik?" Christine frowned.

"Always, when you're here." Erik replied quietly.

"What were you and Madame Giry talking about?" Christine asked.

"Something that I heard you two talking about a few days ago... When you came home after seeing Vicomte..." Erik looked down at her.

"Okay, Erik, sit down. Please." Christine pushed him away gently.

"I already know, Christine. I know what you're going to tell me." Erik sat down on the bench and put a hand on his forehead.

"No, Erik. I know you're one step ahead of me on this but you have to let me say it. I need to say it." Christine frowned.

"Wait- what's wrong, Christine? I know it's a terrible thing for you, but... I'm sorry..." Erik said.

"Are we talking about the same thing?" Christine looked at him, "Are you sure that we're talking about the same thing?"

"I'm almost positive, Christine." Erik replied.

"Okay, fine. You already know..." Christine mumbled.

"Just to be sure, so you can get it off your chest, we'll say it at the same time."

"Fine, that's fine." Christine sighed, "On 3?"

"Sure. 3." Erik weakly smiled.

"Vicomte's Cheating on you." Erik said blurted without a second thought. 

Before Christine could even get out what she was going to say, she looked at him, surprised. 

"What?" Erik asked quietly, "Is that not what you were going to say?" 

Christine stayed silent, it almost made her sad to think about Raoul's cheating again. Instead of telling him the truth, she just nodded slowly, "Yeah, that- that was it." she muttered.

"Are you okay?" Erik asked quietly.

Christine falsely smiled and moved away from him. She shook her head and looked at the ground, "I should go. My son is waiting." 

"Wait- will you come back tomorrow?" Erik looked up at her, waiting for an answer.

Christine paused for a moment and nodded, "Sure." she uttered, "Sorry to cut this short." she frowned and walked out.