I Belong to You (Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Erik is so good to me. He takes care of me, he reads to me, he gives me wonderful gifts, and he sings me to sleep at night. I'm so lucky, which makes me wonder why I have nightmares. Life is great. It's a fairytale. So, why is it that I always wake up feeling scared and out of place?

Maybe it's nothing to worry about. I shouldn't overthink it. Everybody has bad dreams. They aren't so horrible, really. Seeing Erik always makes everything better. He makes me feel safe.

Christine closed her pretty purple journal and smiled as an idea came to her. I know what will make the nightmares go away!

She looked down at her watch. 3:10am. Would Erik still be awake? It seemed like he was a light sleeper just like she was tonight, so she hurried out of her room to find him.

Christine crossed the dark hall outside her bedroom, a strange feeling of nervousness spreading through her. I shouldn't feel nervous in this house. It's pretty much mine, anyway. How silly.

Faint deep breathing coming from somewhere in the distance stopped her in her tracks. She turned to the right and stepped forward with her hands outstretched in case she were to bump into anything. It was just so dark.

Her hands came in contact with what felt like the wooden edge of an open doorway, so Christine continued walking.

The breathing was getting closer. She tiptoed through the room until her knees touched something hard. She reached down and her hands lightly patted soft fabric. A bed. Erik's bed. He's...asleep.

Although she couldn't see him, a small smile came to her face. How sweet..

Suddenly, though, the silence was broken by a short gasp. "Christine?" Erik asked, alarm in his tone.

"Oh, umm, I," she stuttered. "I couldn't sleep."

She'd never been in his room before.. It was different, very different. Given the way the past glorious week had been, with each day exactly the same and no surprises, Erik found he wasn't fond of this difference. But, she looked and sounded the same, so perhaps there was nothing to be worried about.

He placed his hand on top of hers. "Oh no, angel, why? Is there a reason?" He hoped it was something minor. Her tone did sound the same as it had all week, but he couldn't let himself be completely sure of that.

"I have nightmares," she confessed feeling a little embarrassed.

Erik gulped wondering what they were about. Remember, she would not be acting this way if her nightmares had anything to do with what she once hated me for. "Whatever about, dear one?" he asked gently.

"Well, I'm not too sure. I just always wake up knowing I had a bad dream."

She looked like she was trying hard to remember, and quite frankly, Erik didn't want her to. "You're perfectly safe here, Christine. Try not to dwell on them. I would make your nightmares disappear if I could."

"You can," Christine said with an encouraging smile. "Maybe if I could sleep beside you..."

Erik felt his heart flutter. Her words were both shocking and wonderful. "You wish to sleep beside me?"

"If that's ok.."

"Oh, it's more than ok." He was overjoyed and unable to hide his elation. "Here angel, lay with me." He scooted over some, lightly pulling her hand with him until she was on the bed.

Christine didn't hesitate before resting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear.

Erik simply lay in complete amazement. She'd changed so much. This Christine was sweet and kind, whereas the previous Christine had been anything but. "Is this better?" he finally asked softly. Receiving no response, he knew she was asleep.