The Phantom's Revenge

Chapter 6: Mine

I had passed out after the unearned beating I had received. When I came to they were still there. Chatting and laughing with each other, as if nothing had happened. I moaned in pain. Everything was sore.

"Ah, welcome back Monsieur!"

He strutted towards me angrily. His half-mask and hairpiece in place. Instead of a riding crop in hand he had a small mirror.

"So, Monsieur so you still think you're handsome?"

He held the mirror to me so I could see myself. I looked like a rotting tomato. My whole face was swollen and red. I could see, but my eyes were barely opened. My nose was crooked and blood had crusted over where it had run from it. I groaned at my reflection.

"Yes, now the outside matches the inside! Don't you think Christine?"

We both turned to her. She looked up from the riding crop that was in her hands.

"Yes Erik. It does!"

She exclaimed. I moaned as I watched her get up and go to him. She leaned against him and he put his arms around her. My wife. And she was! Still my wife, no matter how much she hated me we were still married. The thought angered me. She picked something small from the ground and held it up.

"Raoul, I think this belongs to you?"

I looked closely to see it was a tooth. They both chuckled as I groaned. If I ever did escape, no woman would want me now that I had a missing tooth! Oh, the horror. She threw the tooth at my feet and turned to walk away.

"W-wait. Could you find it in the k-kindness of your hearts to give me new clothes? T-trousers at least? Please, I beg you both!"

They glanced at me, then each other.

"And why should we do this?

P-prove to me Christine, prove t-to me you haven't lost your humility!"

She glared at me and guided him towards their little home, saying nothing more. Giving me no response. I deserved to be comfortable, I had given her a comfortable life! She came back with a long piece of fabric and a knife. She cut my trousers off of me and tied the fabric around my waist, gagging and holding her breath the whole time. My trousers, although off my waist still hung at my ankles. This scrap of clean fabric covered me, but did nothing to keep me warm. I watched her trudge away.

"Thank you Christine."

She huffed as she walked away. I wanted to laugh. There was the Christine I knew. One of the worst thing about being held prisoner was the countless hours of boredom. I had to find ways to entertain myself that wouldn't resolve in punishment. I would count the number of stone bricks that made up the walls, floors and ceiling. I would talk to the rats that would come by. I listened to the water drip from the ceiling and turned it into music. None of these sufficed today, so I tried to sleep in the uncomfortable position. I dreamt of my nice warm bed. A nice hot meal. Of any kind of warmth. I was so sick of being cold. There was a fire in the room where they sat. I could see them, their bodies close as they warmed themselves. I envied them. For nothing but the fire. As I nodded off I heard the popping of wood burning.

I awoke to the sound of chortling. They were in hysterics, practically rolling on the floor laughing. At my expense probably. I tried to ignore them and sleep.

"Erik, why didn't I find my way back to you sooner?

I don't know my darling, but I'm glad you did."

I was just able to hear them. It hurt me to hear that. I knew she didn't like me anymore, but I still loved her! She was my Christine, no one else's. I started to shake in anger.

"Erik, I love you.

And I you Christine."

I had enough. That made me lose my temper. I screamed again and again. until my lungs hurt and my throat grew dry. They both glanced towards me as if I was a pest then went back to their conversation.

"Christine! Christine why!?"

I screamed angrily.