The Affair

Chapter 17

"So is that all that happened?" Madame Giry asked Christine. She sat down on the bed next to her.

"No, there's one more thing." Christine murmured. She looked over at Madame Giry with a sad smiled, "But I think I have made my final decision." 

"Wait, Christine. What was the last thing?" Madame Giry asked, she gave her a concerning gaze.

"Well, Raoul is sober, and-" Christine started, but was interrupted as Erik walked through the door.

"Madame Giry, I can't find Christ-" Erik looked over at them, "ine." he looked down and then at Christine, "Hello." he muttered.

"I'll talk to you about him some other time, okay?" Christine stood, she glanced at Erik and then walked out of the room, "I need to find my son anyway. Goodbye." 

"Wait, Christine. I'll help you." Erik turned to follow her.

"No, Erik." Madame Giry said, "You need to stay." 

Erik nodded and grabbed Christine's hand. He pulled her towards him and went in for a kiss, but Christine pulled away and shook her head. Erik looked deeply into her eyes, "Are you okay?" he whispered.

"Always." Christine looked away and back at Madame Giry, "Goodbye." she said and left the room.

Erik shut the door and looked over at Madame Giry, "What the hell!" he quietly growled.

Madame Giry shrugged, "She didn't tell me everything."

"But you know something. You always know something. She talks to you!" Erik hissed. He sat in the corner and laid his head in his hands.

"Erik. I will tell you what I know, but you cannot tell her it came from me." Madame Giry sighed.

Erik looked at her, "Don't tell me, just tell me who or what it is about so I at least have an idea- I- I'm at a loss here." 

"It's Vicomte." Madame Giry uttered. She looked at Erik sadly, "I'm terribly sorry, Erik."

Tears glossed over Erik's eyes, "Okay." he stood up and stormed out of the room.

"Erik, I'm sorry!" Madame Giry exclaimed. 

Erik pushed Christine's door open, "Christine." he said sternly, but he looked around and she wasn't there, "Christine?" he mumbled and went through the opening where the broken mirror was. He made his way around the opera house through his tunnels, but he didn't see her anywhere. Eventually he became distressed and went to see if Gustave was in box 5, he needed to talk to someone. He silently went into box 5, only to see Christine sitting in the front seat. He frowned and slowly walked up behind her.

Christine wiped her cheek and just stared aimlessly out at the empty seats, "I remember when you used to sit here. Almost every night and watch the show. Even before I knew you existed, I used to look up here and see a dark shadow, and then, I was so innocent. I never knew I would become this. Who I am today. Then, I didn't ever know there was a you, I didn't know it was you talking to me through my walls and I didn't care. I was fine with how it was. I had Meg and Raoul and Madame Giry and all these people in my life that I no longer have." she blinked and wiped her cheek again, "I gave everything up. My career, singing and dancing, friends... all for you. All, so I could be with you again."

"What are you trying to say?" Erik asked quietly, he sat next to her.

"I- I guess I am trying to tell you-" Christine paused, "That I need to be away from everything for a while. I-I'm leaving. Gustave will stay with Madame Giry." she paused, "You see, I came here to get away from my husband, and now I'm leaving because I can't stand to be around you and it's breaking my heart." 

"But, I love you Christine." Erik uttered, "and What about what Henrietta had told you? I remember you telling me something about that?"

"Love is fantasy, it's not real, Erik." Christine frowned and stood up.

Erik held onto her wrist so she couldn't leave yet, "What was so important that you needed to tell me? Somehow you've put it off for a while and when you start to talk about it, you stop."

"It's nothing. Goodbye, Erik." Christine left the room.