Schizophrenia

Chapter 4

I awoke to something beautiful. It was a haunting, unearthly melody. I was compelled to follow it.

Drawing back the curtain of my room, I was met with the sight of Erik sitting at his organ, composing. It was hypnotic. My legs moved without a thought towards the music. The notes transcended the bounds of normal music. It went beyond anything I had ever heard before.

I hadn't realized I had been standing motionless with my hand on Erik's shoulder, staring, until his gaze met mine.

"I see you're awake," Erik stated, emotionless. I jumped back in surprise.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, taking a step back. I looked at my feet and began to shake slightly, my anxiety getting the better of me. "I was lost in the music, I did not mean to disturb you."

"That's quite alright, Miss Connors." He said in a gentle voice. That's when I felt two rough, calloused fingers lift my chin. "Always keep your head held high," His eyes bore into mine. It felt as though he was looking into my soul and I prayed to God the old saying held no truth.

I didn't want him to see how... damaged... how worthless I truly am.

"Do you play?" He motioned to the organ.

"Oh, no," I paused. "I, um... I play the violin. Although I haven't had the chance to play in several years." They would never allow me out of my restraints long enough for such an act. I miss it.

"Would you like to?"

I nodded quickly, "Yes, very much so,"

He held up a finger and walked away, disappearing into another room with a slight smirk.

When he emerged from the room, he held in his hand a beautiful violin. The strings were dusted with rosin. It made me miss my own violin greatly. Then, he did as I had hoped and handed me the instrument.

"Play something for me."

I gazed at the instrument as I brought it to my shoulder. It felt like embracing an old friend. I was unsure of what to play, but then a song came back to my memory. One I've known for many years.

The Music of the Night.

I was a song I had thought I long forgotten how to play.

Apparently not.

I played with more emotion and feeling than ever before. It was as if all the years in that hospital, all the pain, all the sadness was just being poured out into the song. It took the years of pain and torture and turned it into something beautiful. It turned it into music. It turned it into joy. For the first time in many years, I felt at peace.

The final note rang through the air and echoed throughout the underground. I let out a sigh as if only then was I truly breathing. Truly alive.

I looked up at Erik. His expression was consumed by such a wide array of emotion that it was unreadable.

"How do you know how to play that melody?" He whispered.

He slowly stalked towards me. I set down the instrument and held up my hands in defense. "I can't quite explain it." I stuttered, slowly backing away.

Wrong choice of words.

"It seems as though you 'can't quite explain a lot of things,' Miss Connors." My back hit the wall.

"I suggest, Mademoiselle, that you begin to figure out how to explain things, lest you wish to return to the surface with a new necklace of rope," Erik growled. His hands and arms were now at the sides of my face against the wall, trapping me.

"I- I don't know, Monsieur." My voice shook uncontrollably. Yanking a Punjab lasso from a lever, Erik whipped it against the ground, almost like a warning shot.

"Well, I suggest you come up with something quickly!" He roared, his anger quickly rising. I then felt a sharp pain in my skull as my eyes rolled back into my head.

I lost control of my body and began to convulse violently. I could make out Erik cursing and saw him frantically reach for a pencil. He held down my tongue to keep me from choking and brushed my hair out of my face, trying to keep my head from banging against the ground. I slipped from his grasp and my vision faded to black.

~~~

"Wakey wakey, Miss Connors." I tried opening my eyes but quickly shut them, due to the bright light directly above me. "You didn't take to well to that therapy session... Blacked out on us."

No. It can't be.

I opened my eyes to the sight of Doctor Roberts. I thrashed my arms, feeling my familiar restraints. "No, no, no, no..." I pulled harder, praying to God they weren't real.

Did you think you could stay in your little dream world forever? Ha! As if you actually deserve to be happy... You're pathetic.

"No, this can't be real!" I shook as violently as I could manage, shaking the bed.

"I don't recommend that, Ms. Connors." Dr. Roberts said with his irritatingly nonchalant tone.

"No, no, no! I want to go back! Let me go back!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

"Ms. Connors, you need to settle down before I have you sedated," Roberts said firmly.

"I said I want to go back! Let me go back! LET ME GO BACK!" I screamed as loud as I could. Rage, fear, and disbelief igniting within me all at once.

"Nurse!"

I continued to scream. I refused to stop until I felt a needle stab my neck. After that, the only thing I could feel was the tears as they cascaded down my face.

The voices had returned.

And so had I.

Author's Note: Well... That was... intense, to say the least. This was definitely an interesting chapter to write. The ending definitely had me tearing up a bit.

So, was it real or something Nicollette created? Will she find a way back to Erik's world? Or will she be stuck in the asylum for the rest of her life? Please leave your thoughts and theories in a review. I love hearing from each and every one of you.

Your obedient servant,

Dani Jade.