House Arrest [phantom of the opera fic]

CHAPTER FIVE

(Eriks POV)

I took a deep breath and began my story.

"I was born in Rouen, a small village just outside of it really. My mother's name was Madeline, and she hated me from the first moment. She couldn't even bear to name me. I am named after the priest who baptized me... when I was about 8, she decided she didn't want me anymore after an exorcism by the priest just made my behavior worse."

Christine took my hand, "Your behavior?"

"I was a troubled child, obsessed with mirrors and beauty... I guess I still am... I was always taking things apart and putting them back together, I even managed to turn the grandfather clock into a harpsichord." I chuckled a bit at the memory of my mother finding me playing Mozart on a clock of all things. We had a perfectly good piano in the parlor. "She thought that I was possessed by a demon of destruction. After the priest performed the exorcism, she told me she was going to take me on a walk to celebrate the success. I was a fool to believe her. I knew the exorcism had failed, and she knew it too. I only agreed because she never let me outside and I thought that I would finally live like all the other children in the village... how wrong I was..."

I felt Christine run her thumbs over the back of my hand, and in continued.

"She lead me through the forest and frequently glanced behind at me to make sure I hadn't run off or removed my mask. I had a nasty habit of ripping it off when it was pulling at my hair...well, what one could call hair."

She interrupted, "so your hair has always been like that? But just the other night you had a full head of it."

"A wig, my Christine. My hair has always looked like this. Where was I? Ah, yes. Eventually we reached a gypsy fair. At first, I thought it was wonderful. All the lights and sounds were completely new to me. My mother pulled me along to the wagons where the employees stayed. She tapped on the door of the most elaborate looking one and waited. She suddenly held my hand! She touched me willingly! She held tight onto my hand and I instantly hugged her waist never wanting to let go. It was the nicest she had ever been to me, but it was only because she knew my fate. The heavily decorated door swung open to reveal the master of the circus, named Javert. My mother and Javert talked for a bit while my attention was on the fair. I wanted to let go of my mother and see the sights, but I wouldn't  give up that hug. She had never given me one before."

I took a deep shaking breath,

"My attention was brought back by my mother taking my mask off my face, revealing it to Javert. His mouth fell open and he quickly handed my mother a little pouch full of coins. My mother pried my hands off her, telling me I was to stay with Javert. Forgive me, if this next part is not the whole story. I took a few blows to the head and I have some trouble recalling this portion of my life."

I wracked my memory, "I soon learned the place she took me to was called a Freak Show... Javert locked me in a cage and whipped me constantly, forcing me to show my face to crowds of people. He brought in hundreds of dollars off my but I never saw a dime... God, Christine it was horrible... I don't even know how long I was there. The days and nights blended together. I was kept in total darkness, without even one candle.

"Oh, Erik..." Christine had fresh tears on her face, "How did you escape?"

I didn't want to tell her the next part. She was much too innocent, but she deserved an answer.

"After one of my shows, I had finally had enough. As Javert was collecting the coins off the ground, I took the whip he had foolishly left next to me and strangled him with it. I didn't realize that a young ballet girl had witnessed it... she got me away from the fair and took me to the opera house. It has been my home for twenty-five years."

Christine held onto my hand tightly, "that girl was very kind."

"That girl was Madame Giry."
"She was?"
"Yes, she's been my closest freind all these years..."
"Well, when you're all better I'll come visit you in the opera house..."
"I'm no longer welcome there. Not that I ever was. I was found innocent on account of insanity, and given a restraining order."
"They can't keep you from your home!"
"I would sneak back in, but the Vicomte knows where my home is. I suppose he's j usy going to keep me like this for the rest of my life..."

Christine placed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand and I looked at her in shock, "you kissed my hand...and you didn't die..."
"Of course I didn't. You're a human, not a poisonous plant."
I closed my eyes and sighed

Christine was confusing me.

Did she love me or the Vicomte?

I heard the door open and someone else stepped into the room.