When I Hear You Sing.(Phantom Of The Opera)

Chapter 2- Gustave! Gustave!

Erik Destler

         I ran up the stairs with Christine following behind me. I looked around for Gustave and followed his cries of despair. I found him in the kitchen, lying next to a fallen chair. He held his ankle tightly and tears rushed down his face.

           Christine rushed past me and held him in her arms.

            "Gustave! Gustave! It's alright, darling. We're here now. Hush now, Gustave.", She held him in her arms and softly rocked back and forth as he cried. I knelt down and looked at his ankle.

             "What happened, my boy?", I asked softly. Gustave sniffled and took a deep breath.

           "T-the chair f-fell down when I was o-on it.", he cried. "I- I j-just wanted a c-c-"

               "A what?", I asked, trying my best to calm him down.

                 "A cup! A cup for water.", He sighed. I chuckled and got up to get some water.

                 "Here you are. How is your ankle?", I gave him his cup and he smiled gratefully.

            "Better. Could I go to bed?", He asked shyly.

              "Of course. Do you want to walk or be carried?", Christine asked gently. Gustave wrapped his arms around Christine and she stood, holding him tightly around her. She left the living room for a while before returning.

               "Are you alright, Erik?", She asked as she sat next to me on the sofa.  

               "I-if I weren't downstairs, wasting my time on your voice, he wouldn't have been hurt.", I hissed.

                "Erik, children get hurt! It isn't your fault."

             "Oh I know it's not my fault, Christine."

              "What are you implying then?", She asked, twirling a strand of her hair like she always did when she was irritated.

              "Oh nothing.", I shrugged. "I just mean it was your fault our son was hurt."

               "What?", She was obviously taken aback by my comment.

               "It's your damn voice, Christine! It's always putting me in a trance!"

                "Oh, well I'm sorry you wasted your time on creating my voice! It isn't my voice, Erik! My entire voice, my entire soul, is yours! I only sing for you!", She cried.

                  "I wouldn't have even given you that voice if I knew what would happen to me!"

             "What, exactly, are you referring to? The fact that I gave my everything to you and you would pretend to kill yourself? The fact that I forgave you? The fact that I married you and gave you a beautiful son who loves you?"

               "You put me through hell, Christine! Time and time again I am put through hell! You're so- so selfish sometimes! I give everything to you, but you are never happy! I love you and I will never, never leave you, but that is not enough for the great Christine Daae, now is it?"

             "It's Christine Destler. What are you trying to tell me?"

           "It shouldn't be like this. We should not be like this. I die of love for you, everyday. You do not love me! Don't say things that aren't true because it's never been true from the start! You just wanted your damned angel! Well I am no angel! I am Erik! As you are Christine! I cannot give you more than me!", I shouted.

        Christine looked at me as if she were to say something. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Tears filled her eyes and I instantly knew I had hurt her.

           "You poor, unhappy man!", She cried and ran to our bedroom, slamming the door. I sighed and kicked a chair over. All I ever was was a phantom. Why did I only hurt the ones I loved? Well, no matter anymore. They didn't love me. I was no longer loved.

         Any ounce of pain drained from my body. Any love or joy I had ever felt was gone. I felt anger rise and course through my body. The hatred I had felt towards the world returned. The gentle and soft touch of my fingers was now gone.

             "Christine.", I smirked and walked to the door.

Christine Daae

            "Christine!", I heard his voice call after me. My body tensed. I had only heard that voice long ago. His voice was dark and intimidating, just as he was the night before I left with Raoul. The truth was that Erik never knew the physical pain he caused me that night. I was in bed for a week with bruises and cuts everywhere.

            Would he hurt me again? Maybe. I didn't know. Erik and I had never fought such as that.

         "Let me in.", He shouted. I did not listen. Instead, I grabbed a candle holder and held it close to my body, shivering.

          "I won't do it, Erik. You frighten me.", I tried to sound calm, but my voice quivered. I heard a large slam, causing me to jump. The door slowly opened. Erik stood there and smirked at me.

            "Voice lessons. Shall we?", He said calmly and sternly. I nodded and stood. He grabbed my wrist tightly, his nails digging into my skin.

             "Oh, Erik?", I smiled in attempt to get his attention. He turned to me and returned the smile.

                "Yes?", I studied his features. His eyes were dark and cold, purely filled with bad intentions. I gently put my hands on his face and kissed him. I felt no love in his lips. They were mean and venomous, just as they were before he let me go. I hugged him tightly and kissed him once more. The love slowly returned. It was not gentle, but close. It was an attempt to love and that was all I had asked for.

            "Christine, I'm so sorry for frightening you! Oh, your poor wrist! Have I hurt you? Did I truly? I'll do anything to make it up to you! I'm truly sorry, my love! Oh, heaven! Forgive me! You must!", He cried as he kissed my hand gently.

                 "I feel fine, Erik. You frightened me, that's all. I thought I had lost the man I love!", I wrapped my arms around him and he wrapped his around me.

                    "You shall never lose me, Christine. As long as I live on this earth, you shall never lose me."