The Unwind

Chapter 7

Christine sat in Box 5, blindly staring over the edge at all of the empty seats. She imagined the feeling of them all being full, and her up on stage, belting out the last notes of one of her arias. His arias... She moved slightly, only enough to re-position herself to sit comfortably. What am I going to do. She sighed quietly, she let only a few tears escape from her eyes, but only because she couldn't hold them in any longer. As she continued to sit there alone, she began to feel a presence in the room, and of course she knew it was him, Erik. Who else just follows her around. She rolled her eyes and turned around to look at him, "What do you want?"

Erik's eyes became a little wider. She can feel my presence now, imagine how special I feel. He stepped out of the darkness and sat next to her, "You were gone," he looked at her, "All night..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know I had to check in with you every minute of the hour, I'll have to remember that next time."

"Next time?" Erik paused, "Look, I'm sorry for what I did, please just stop being snappy with me. I can't begin to handle it when you're angry with me." he frowned, he pulled her close to hug her, but was surprised when she immediately pushed him away. He sat there for a moment, then turned her chin towards him so she'd see him clearly, "You smell like alcohol and cigarettes."

"You smell like puddle water, but I don't complain. Maybe you should stop playing around in your 'lake'." Christine huffed and pulled away from him again.

"You were with him, weren't you?" Erik asked quietly.

"I told you I was going there." Christine replied, she turned back to look over the edge.

"No, Christine. Going to see him is different, you'd only faintly smell of it, but you, my darling, why you smell awfully just like he does. Maybe even worse." Erik became flustered with both anger and fear, "You were with him, weren't you, Christine? Tell the truth!"

Christine stood, "It wasn't meant to happen, I was seduced."

"You didn't say no, obviously." Erik stood and moved closer to her, "I understand you're angry with me and I'm sorry, but this, this-" he paused, "Why have you stayed with me? Your pregnant, with my child. Our second child together, Christine!"

Christine looked at him, "Erik, I'm sorry. I apologize. I don't know what I'm doing."

"That act won't buy, Christine! You've betrayed me, you said you loved me!" Erik shouted, he grabbed her by the arm, "You lied to me!"

Christine's eyes searched his, all she could see was anger and hurt and she had no idea how to fix it, "Erik, please, don't do this."

Erik's gaze fixated onto the door as their son Gustave came running into the room, followed by Madame Giry.

"Gustave, you know I cannot run as quick as you can, why did you drag me all this way-" Madame Giry looked at Erik, then to Christine, "Oh."

"Mother, are you alright? I heard yelling." Gustave frowned and looked at Erik, "Are you two arguing?"

"Gustave, sweetheart, everything will be fine, pack your belongings, I fear we're not wanted here any longer." Christine frowned and kissed Gustave's forehead, "Run along now, dear. I won't be much longer."

Erik looked at Christine, "Christine, no, please. Not again. Don't do this." his eyes glossed over with tears, "Please."

Christine looked at him, "I do love you, I never lied." she mumbled and went for the door.

"You can't keep running, Christine! You can't keep running from your problems!" Erik grabbed her arm once more, "You belong here, I love you!"

Madame Giry took Eriks hand away from Christine's arm and held it, It'll be okay, she mouthed to him.

"What of my children." Erik wiped a loose tear, "Am I to never meet our child? Am I never to get a chance to show Gustave the truth?"

"You had dozens of chances. It's not my fault you don't know how to be honest and let me in."

"I was trying, but I can't do that when you keep running from me! No one will ever love you as much as I do, Vicomte doesn't care for you, he only doesn't want me to have you!" Erik shouted, "Christine, I'm sorry, please stay."

Gustave came back to box 5, "Mother, my friend is here. We're going for supper, do we have to go?"

"I suppose you can stay, go and have fun." Christine kissed the top of his head again and watched him run off, "I think I just need to clear my mind."

"Christine, Where will you go?" Erik frowned, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"It doesn't matter where I go." Christine mumbled, "I just need to. No one will know where I am, it'll be good. Let Meg do the performance."

"I haven't taught Meg to do anything, the crowd wants you!" Erik huffed.

"No, you do." Christine left to go collect her things.