A New Beginning

Chapter 42

Erik woke up the next day and found it was still dark outside. He shrugged and went downstairs to distract himself at the piano until everyone else woke up. He played for two hours and then went to change and freshen up so he could start breakfast for everyone. He loved taking care of his family.

Christine soon walked downstairs and was greeted by her husband and a rose he was holding towards her. "You look stunning this morning," Erik said before dipping her and kissing her deeply, and even though Christine was still in her nightgown and her hair was a little messy, Erik meant every word. Just as he offered his arm to his wife to lead her to the table, there was a knock at the door. "I hope it's Nadir and not Gangle bothering us this early," he chuckled and pulled the chair out for Christine before going to the door.

Two gentlemen stood in front of Erik. "Mr. Y?"

"Yes, how can I help you?" Erik said, nodding at the men.

One of the men, the taller one, held up a sheet of paper and a badge. "I have an order to arrest you," he said. The shorter man took out a pair of handcuffs and looked at Erik with eyes that reflected fire. The tall man looked at the policeman and nodded. "Take him away," he said.

Erik did not fight, nor did he speak a single word as the policeman took his wrists and put them in the cuffs as the other one told Erik his rights.

Christine caught a few words from where she was sitting and immediately rushed over. "Erik. Officer, there must be some mistake," she told the tall one.

"There isn't," he said.

"Erik," she looked at her husband with tears in her eyes. "No," she whispered.

Erik looked at her with sympathy and leaned in gently for a kiss. "I will be fine. It'll be okay," he promised and kissed her tears away. "I love you," he said and the policeman took him into a cell-looking carriage.

"Trial will be in two days," the tall man told Christine, who nodded and shut the door behind her. Erik had promised her it would all turn out fine... but how? She had to trust him, for he had not once broken a promise to her. He had never broken one at all.

Gustave hopped down the stairs just then. "Where is papa going?" he asked, hugging Christine.

"He has to go away for a bit," she tried.

"When will he be back?" Gustave asked.

"I don't know, love."

Gustave's eyes filled with tears and he hugged his mother's waist tighter. "I'll miss him," he whispered.

"Me too," Christine choked.

It was so unfair in Christine's eyes because the man that had been arrested seconds ago was a different man that the one who had committed the crimes Erik was to be tried for. Christine wiped her tears and went with Gustave to eat some breakfast and then they took some upstairs to Lotte as well.

They spent the whole day in silence. Christine didn't tell Gustave what was actually going on, but he knew. He was too smart for her and he could easily sense something was wrong, but he was trying his best not to let Lotte find out anything. He spent the day cuddling her and showing her picture books.

A knock on the door startled Christine several hours later, so she went to answer. "Hello?" she asked.

"Christine," Nadir said, going inside with a suitcase in his hand. "Where's Erik?"

"They took him away," she said, still processing those events.

Nadir hugged her tightly and led her to the couch. He sat down next to her and took her hands. He kissed each one and then looked right into her eyes. "We're going to get him back," he said firmly.

Something in the way he said those words convinced Christine, because she nodded. "The trial is in two days, what do we do?"

"We start tomorrow, I'm very tired from the journey."

Christine squeezed his hand. "But... will it work?" she asked.

"It will."