Delarioux

Chapter 5

-Present Day-

Erik watched in grim satisfaction as Hugo seethed under Michael's stare. He was now being scolded like a child in the corner, clenching and unclenching his fists. He wouldn't hit Michael, Erik knew that for a fact, though it was clearly crossing his mind. They learned at a very young age to never even attempt a swing on their older brother, and even though they may be able to land a hit on him now, they would severely pay for it. It never paid to get Michael angry.Erik had only seen him enraged to the point of utter violence twice, the most recent being the premiere night of II Muto. Erik closed his eyes so tightly that eyelids started to throb.

Don't think about that. Don't think about Bouquet.....

Or Suzanna....

Or Christine...

He opened his eyes as he heard Michael push Hugo against the wall. Their voices were raised, but he didn't hear them, at the moment he could seem to hear anything except his own frantic heartbeat. Why did it hurt so much? It didn't normally hurt this much....

He wished he could stop thinking about her, he wished he could forget what she'd done to him. He wished he had had the chance to explain everything to her. Even so, wishing wouldn't do much for him now. He fingered the ring around his pinky. He placed his forehead in his hands and paused; he had forgotten his mask wasn't on.

But for once in his miserable life, he didn't care, it wasn't like they hadn't seen him like this before. In an instant, he grew bitter. He was angry at her now. Oh how quickly his emotions changed! If David and Suzanna could grow used to the sight of his face, Christine could have too. How could she have done this to him after everything he had given her? How could she have run off with a man she hadn't seen in ten years? Had she been that desperate to be away from him? How could someone be so shallow? He absentmindedly scratched at the table, reliving all that had happened in his mind just like he had been doing for the past week.

He loved her.

He loved her.

And she had thrown it all in his face. Erik became truly angry then. What kind of person has no regard about how they affect others?

What a hypocrite you are. His mind whispered.

I do care.

Do you?

Of course I do. I always took into account how she felt.

Are you absolutely sure about that?

I let her go because I love her.

After you blackmailed her. He reminded himself.

No, I-

After you drug her down to your sorry excuse of a study?

I-

After you pushed her?

I was-

After you screamed at her?

We were both-

After you shoved her into that wedding dress?

"Stop it." He slammed his fists onto the table with such force it nearly caused it to collapse. Michael turned from rebuking Hugo with poorly concealed surprise in his eyes. Realizing that he had just spoken out loud, Erik's eyes widened, making him look like the frightened little boy that he was. He didn't look into his brother's eyes as he fled from the kitchen, ready to bury himself in his bed once again. He was so distracted that he literally ran straight into David, who had to catch himself from falling over. Erik only paused for a second, noting that he could hear frantic footsteps racing to catch up.