Bring Me to Life

Chapter 04

During the course of Raoul and Christine's conversation, there shall be sentences borrowed from Leroux's novel.
**

Christine had an extremely dreamy air about her. Raoul couldn't help but to worry. In the Park, while the two lovers roamed freely, he inquired.

"Christine, what is going on?"

She seemed to wake up.

"I do not know what you mean, my love."

They sat on the grass. It was a beautiful sunny day.

"There's something about you..." said Raoul.

Then, he realized.

"The ring! You are wearing his ring! The monster's ring! How could you? You told me you had lost it! Christine!"

She covered her right hand irritably and said:

"This is none of your business!"

"None of my business?!" laughed Raoul, incredulous. "We are about to get married!"

"You gave me no ring!"

"I was going to!" he was almost in tears.

She bit her lower lip and sighed.

"Are people so unhappy when they love?" asked Christine.

"Yes, Christine, when they love and are not sure of being loved."

888

Erik was nervous, fidgeting in the fancy carriage, beside Melissa.

Today was the day.

She was free from the Opera for a fortnight and could visit her "Daddy".

What Erik didn't know was that she had declined to warn her father she was bringing her lover along...

And how could she? Her father was as conservative as a politician. She would be fidgeting as much as Erik, if it were 'elegant'. Regardless, her corset didn't allow that.

When Erik visualized the massive gates of the mansion, he felt more than intimidated. There was more to Melissa than what she had told him. She was rich, from the looks of it. Stinky rich. He could see cherub sculptures spitting water and found it such a cliché. By analyzing the whole structure, the white Greek columns, the square windows, he found a terrible mix of bad taste. The door was like a castle's and made him cringe.

If only he had been responsible for that project!

"I see you don't like my house," said Melissa, giving him her arm.

He blushed. Was it that evident?

"Did I say anything? I didn't!"

She smiled.

"Wait till you meet Daddy. He's adorable! You have so much in common!"

Erik frowned. In common? Thinking about "daddy", he nearly peed his fancy pants. Hopefully, Melissa had said good things about him.

When a maid opened the door and faced Erik, her eyes nearly popped out of its sockets. But she swallowed hard and proceeded.

"Miss, we didn't know you were bringing a friend. We'll prepare the guest room."

Erik was terrified.

'Wait. She didn't prepare them?!'

"My God, Melissa!" he whispered in a panic.

"Everything is going to be all right. Trust me."

When even she didn't know what to trust.

Then, as if on a cue, a man, gray head and beard, tall and a little overweight, smoking a cigar, came to receive Melissa.