Phantom's Fate 《Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction》

26

A/N: So, my 8 AM chemistry class was cancelled, so here's an early morning update!

Enjoy!

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《Alia》

My eyes crack open, and for a moment, I don't recognize where I am. I turn my head slowly to see Erik beside me, his eyes shut in slumber. A small smile forms on my lips, but soon turns into a grimace as an overwhelming pain throbs in my arm. "Gah!" I reach up to snag my arm and the pain infecting it, but a hand catches my wrist. Heaving breaths, I glance over and see Erik is awake now, holding out two pills in his free hand. I stare at them for a moment before taking them and dropping them into my mouth. He offers a glass of water, which I down easily. I set it aside and throw my head back, my temples flaring with pain.

"What else do you need, my love?"

His smooth, rich voice immediately sends a sea of warmth through my body. Regulating my breathing, I turn my head toward him and meet those tender, loving eyes. "I-I'm good, I think." My mind drifts off to the moment it all went down until I passed out. Sucking in a breath, I sit up quickly and regret it. Piercing pain flashes through my arm, and I cry out. Erik's arms pushing me back down seem to ease my strains slightly.

"Please, take every movement slow. You'll tear the stitches."

My eyes drop to my right shoulder, seeing the thick gauze around it. I'm still in my ballerina costume, which is stained with blood. A thought appears in my brain, one that I should have conjured immediately. "Erik, are you okay?" I try to turn over, but he keeps me in my spot. "Did they get you too? Did they hurt you?" My tone progressively becomes more ravenous, anger bubbling in my blood. I swear to God, if they laid a hand on him--

"No," he coos, running his fingers down my cheek and to my jaw. My eyes flutter at the soft sensations they bring. "After your phenomenal speech, nobody moved a muscle against me as I carried you offstage. No one thought to follow, either."

Oh, that's a relief, I relax my shoulders, the right one throbbing profusely at the movement. Without notice, my head flares with heat, like someone has lit my brain on fire. I groan and curl my legs up, desperate for the hurt to disappear. "Do you need ice? More water?" Erik's concern bleeds through his taut voice. "What can I get you?"

"Maybe...some ice," I press my thumb above my eye as it burns up in the socket. I feel him fly from the bed and out of the room, not wasting a second. "I love that man," I whisper to myself, smiling through the discomfort. I hadn't even noticed Ayesha sitting at my feet, and she now moves up to my side. She meows quietly, her eyes big and curious as her head bumps into my hand. I breathe a laugh, stroking her tiny head with my thumb. My eyes land on the ring on my finger, and my heart somersaults in my chest.

That's right... He did ask me to be his. I am his now. He really wants me to be by his side day in and day out? My blush intensifies as my mind wanders over all the possibilities we will have together. A life with Erik, a life full of music, dancing, and love. A future with the man of my dreams, literally. I hope to God this all isn't some twisted dream. The mirror showed me reality, so this must be real too. It just...feels like heaven, too good to even be true. Yes, it is good, even if I had to get shot in the process. At least now, I can spend more time with Erik by my side instead of around the cast. Seeing Christine again will make me itch to throw punches at her perfect face. Then, send my foot at her fiance's boyish one.

I glance down at Ayesha with a sigh. "I need to stop thinking violent thoughts, kitty," I rub behind her ears, and she purrs in response. The pain in my shoulder has dulled to a numb throb, leaving my whole right arm tingling to my fingertips. Erik reappears with a towel and presumably ice inside, sitting beside me again. I take it and lay it across my face, groaning in relief. The cold feels so good against my burning face. "Thank you, Erik. I'd probably be dead without you."