Remembering the Angel

As the Outcast Heard

Erik's POV

Erik had to step in. Their meeting this morning was no accident. The show would not go on without Christine being revived as well. All of Christine. He owed her that much. She would remember everything, and he prayed all he had done to make up his faults would be enough. So that when she did remember, she would forgive Erik, but he knew he had to be there to tell the whole story. He wanted to share with everyone the real story of The Phantom of the Opera.

Walking into the room, he looked around to see many pairs of eyes staring at him in wonder. He said nothing, began taking off his gloves and meeting the eyes of everyone in the room. His Phantom was always one for dramatic flair, and this occasion was to be no acceptation. 

"Hello ladies, gentlemen." he remarked, eyeing Raoul, "Such a shame I had to reunite with you all on today's terms, but clearly I needed to share every side of this tale. Christine..."

He approached her tentatively, every step unknown territory now.

She stayed where she was, wide-eyed, gaping at the man before her.

"Mon ange..." Erik said longingly, as he got close enough to feel her breathing.

She blinked, and stepped back placing her hand on his shoulder, holding him away from her, "Then tell me. The truth, Erik. All of it." was all she said, breath uneven.

He searched her face for any trace of compassion, when he saw none, The Phantom bowed his head obligingly.

"I will try to explain myself the best I can." He took a deep breath, "Know this. I am not the man I was. I have done everything in my power to kill off that monster inside me. I hope you know that to be true, Christine."

She met his eyes, and he saw it, the little part of her that hoped he was a changed man, the part of her that wanted to love him. So, he began.

"When you were a young woman in the Opera house, you used to walk around at night singing. Wandering about the stage, in the costume house, singing. Practicing notes from songs when you were a mere a ballet corps member. I used to listen, every night for your voice. Then finally I broke every rule and spoke to you. Without an introduction you assumed I was this 'Angel of Music' sent to you by your father. I wished it was so. Regrettably, I took on the role you believed me to be so I could be your teacher. However, when I continued with the charade throughout our lessons. I...I fell in love with you, my Christine.

No one but you heard as the outcast hears...I did many things I regret because of this love. But I will not regret loving you.

As for the murders, Buquet, similar to a past version of the young Viscount here, was a liar, a drunk, but something even worse than you, sir," he gestured to Raoul, "ever wondered why at random chorus girls would pack up and leave? Why that man got so much amusement out of watching them shriek in terror over me?"

Meg's breathing began getting uneven, Erik pressed,

"He would do to them what, unfairly, Meg had done to her. Then claim he was possessed by 'the Phantom' when he did so. He touched them. Violated them. Scared them. I had hoped my bosses would solve the issue themselves, but alas, I had to take matters into my own hands. What I did to him that day was brought by himself. I will not apologize."

As for Piangi..." Erik trailed, "Christine, You were, are, my muse. My music. Long ago, I opened your voice, gave it life, which you returned by giving life to me. I needed to sing Don Juan with you. Deep down you know that. When I went to restrain the man from coming on stage, he began beating me.

Though that may sound like the right way to defend one's self, it brought me back to being that child freak. Beaten every night by a man who watched me break, the man who broke a child. I snapped...his death, is the one I regret."