I Belong to You (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Erik was shaking as he sat in an empty seat at the table. Christine was across from him and her parents were on either side. He looked out straight ahead, but the moment his and Christine's eyes met, he found he had to look away. He didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve any of it.

He couldn't look at her parents either, especially not them. In fact, he was very surprised Christine's father wasn't beating him up for what he had done. This entire meeting was shocking.

Christine was just so glad to see him. She was incredibly relieved. He was still wearing his mask. They hadn't forced him to take it off as she had feared. He did look like he had lost some weight, though, and that was concerning since he had already been so skinny.

She knew she needed to say something to take away the awkwardness. He was probably so confused... She didn't really know how to begin, but finally decided upon asking, "How are you?"

To hear her voice again... And it was so close to him, she was so close to him. Erik still couldn't look at her, his eyes downcast. "Fine," he whispered in reply.

Looking from both of her parents and back to Erik, Christine said, "You don't have to put on an act, Erik. You can't be fine in a place like this." Perhaps her parents would seem less hostile if she were to get him to tell the truth.

Erik's eyes closed. He felt like crying and begging their forgiveness. This would probably be his only chance... But.. Why were they here? To get an apology? Or was there something more they wanted? "I suppose it is not pleasant, but.. it's what I deserve."

Good, good! His honest words were encouraging to Christine. Maybe they would actually get somewhere.

John Daae finally decided to speak. "Are you just saying that because Christine is sitting across from you? To please her?"

His tone seemed aggressive, but Christine didn't say anything to calm him down. They'd discussed this and they had made an agreement. If her parents were to ever trust Erik, it required that they could and would say whatever they pleased during this meeting. Also, Christine felt the need to know Erik's answer, as well, to be reassured.

Erik might have been surprised by this entire visitation, but he wasn't surprised by John Daae's hostile tone. He finally looked at them, from Norah to John. "I can assure all three of you that I am telling the truth."

He didn't deserve to speak to them, but truth be told, this was like an answered prayer. "This may be the only chance I have to apologize for my actions. I can never truly relay how I am for committing such a heinous crime. To have kidnapped you..." He paused, his sad eyes finding Christine's for a moment. He swallowed, his mouth dry with guilt. "Is something that cannot be undone.

"I wish I could take it back, all of it," he said. "I came to realize how wrong I was, but it was too late. The damage is irreversible."

Norah decided to speak then, her eyes narrowed. "How can we ever truly believe you, though? How can we know for sure that you regret what you did?"

He could feel the intensity of their stares. Erik now knew what this meeting was about. It was an interrogation to get him to affirm their accusations, to make him tell a lie in order to confirm that they should remain angry. Perhaps lying and allowing them to hate him for his crimes forever more was what he deserved, but Erik couldn't simply let them believe something that wasn't true. "I know it is difficult to believe a word I am saying, but if you will allow it, I would like to explain."

John caught his eye and nodded once.

Erik knew he couldn't look down while talking, no matter how tempting it was to do so. They deserved eye contact from him in order to feel his honesty. His eyes moved from John to Norah to Christine as he began. "I was thinking of no one but myself when I kidnapped you. I wished to sate my repulsive desires. After living what I thought was an unfair life, I felt I deserved some happiness. I believed you would solve all of my problems and I also had the deranged idea that you would one day learn to be happy with me.

"Time and time again I attempted to control you. I forced you to be near me, I forced you to marry me, I forced you to wear my ring... All the while I thought my actions would change you. But they didn't. You remained adament and strong, and I remained stubborn. It wasn't until I drove you to a post office that everything changed. I was going to let you mail a letter addressed to you both."

His eyes moved from John to Norah. "But when I stopped the car, you fled. You ran away before I could stop you. I believe you experienced the first signs of Stockholme Syndrome while in the woods, and that is what caused you to come back. For a week, you seemed blissfully happy with me. And I, in an unforgiveable manner, allowed it to continue.

"It was one morning a week later that you became yourself again. You were frightened and angry, as you had every right to be. And you fled from me again to the room I called your bedroom."

Erik's eyes lingered on Christine as he finally arrived at the most important part. "It was while sitting alone in my room analyzing your behaviors that something inside of me suddenly snapped. I finally understood. I could never control you and I could never make you happy. I had taken away the life you once loved. I had worried countless people. I had committed the ultimate crime. It had to stop. I knew what I had done was completely wrong. You had been right the entire time. My thinking had been skewed from the beginning. I knew I had to take you back. You deserved happiness, love, and light. I had kept you in the dark."

He finally sighed knowing his explanation wasn't enough. It could never be enough. "I can never forgive myself for what I did, as I know none of you can either. But, I just wanted to...explain, while I had the chance."

Feeling that he'd said enough and taken up more than enough of their time, Erik began to stand.

Christine's sudden words stopped him in his tracks, though. "Don't go, Erik." She sounded desperate. "Please don't go. Sit back down."

He could deny her nothing and slowly sank back onto the chair.

"I have a question for you," John said. "Do you love my daughter?"

Erik froze, the question catching him off guard. He was not expecting to hear that at all. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, unsure of how he should answer.

"It's ok," Norah said reassuringly. "You can tell us the truth."

Her words were surprising, too. Erik's heart was hammering in his chest as he looked from John to Norah with questioning eyes. Then his eyes found Christine who nodded encouragingly. "Yes. Yes, I do love your daughter."

The three Daae's looked at each other. Christine observed the first signs of acceptance, although it was a bit reluctant, in their eyes. Extremely pleased with their expressions, she smiled before looking into Erik's eyes, attempting to convey her complete and utter sincerity as she said, "I love you, too."