She took one of the candles that was hooked on the wall and walked through the dark corridors of the hidden theater walls. After about two weeks of befriending Erik, he showed her only one of the many trap doors in the theater. Erik lived in the hidden room of the basement of the theater. No one barely even came down to the basement for there were rumors that "mysterious" happenings had occurred down there.
Christine could still remember like it was yesterday of how she had met the mysterious Erik. She found herself in the basement one day of Greenstreet Theater. She didn't even realized she had walked down there. It was as if some force had made her go into the dark cellar. She stumbled over a box and she fell. She knocked her head on something and blacked out. To her surprise, she woke up several hours later to find herself laying on a small bed with ice on the large bump that had swelled on her head. And then, she saw a young man in all black playing the piano and stopping every so often to scribble something down on some paper. She got up, although her head was screaming with pain, and tapped the person on the shoulder. He jumped and turned around sharply. He wore a mask covering only the right side of his face. Christine jumped back because of the persons reaction to her being there. But then he saw who it was and stood up and bowed.
"Forgive me. I thought you were an intruder of my home. I suppose you are wondering how you came here." He said to her. She only nodded.� You see, mademoiselle, I heard someone in the front room, and I went to see. Then I saw this beautiful young lady passed out on the floor. So I took you here and treated your injury. I am sorry if I frightened you. You may leave now if you would like. But please don't tell anyone of me."
"Thank you. Do you live down here?" Christine managed to say, shocked at how kind he had been. But why did he want her to live so soon?
"Yes, I do. So it would be best if you did not remind�.tell anyone. But please, leave now. I don't mean to sound insolent, but it be better for you to leave." And he walked back to his piano and began playing again. It was the most beautiful music she had ever heard.
"But-but we've only just met. I wanted to become friends with my brave rescuer who risked his own well being to save me when he heard I was in danger." Christine spoke stronger now. She wanted to meet the mysterious young man.
�I do not think that would be very wise. Not that I wouldn't mind having a friend. I never had a friend�.." His last line was whispered. Christine almost broke down in tears after hearing this. No one had been nice to him his whole life? Had he lived down here that long? The theater had been there for 50 years at least so it was very well possible.
"Well, may I be the first then to be your friend?"
"You really want to be my f-friend?" He asked hopefully.
"If you'd let me. My name is-"
"Christine. Christine Daaed. I know I'll saw you at the audition. You have a very beautiful voice, if I may say so." He said.
"You know me? I guess I'm already famous! But thank you. My mother used to sing but then she died�" Christine said.
"I'm sorry. My name is Erik. And, if we are to be friends," He said the last word slowly and unsure, "Then may I ask you n-never to ask about the mask I wear?"
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Just don't. And don't try to take it off. Please."
"Um, alright then if that's what you want." She said, even more curious to know what it was he was hiding.
"Thank you, mademoiselle. You are very understanding."
"You can call me Christine. You don't have to be so formal, now that we're friends!" She smiled, and she thought she saw a small grin creep upon his serious face.
"Friends, yes." He repeated quietly. "Would you care for a drink?" "Yes thank you." He brought her a steaming cup of tea.
"How old are you, Erik?"
"Seventeen.�
"Really? I�m sixteen!" They talked for a long time about music. Erik was a great composer, even at such a young age. After that visit, there were many more to follow. Christine smiled at the memories she had had with Erik. He really helped her with her music. And Erik's voice was like that of an angel's. She came to the door and walked in. Erik was playing the piano and singing a song that was in process of being wrote. He turned around when he saw Christine and smiled. Christine saw him smile a lot when they met. She assumed that the past few months had been the most he ever smiled in his life.
"Hi, Christine. How are you?" He got up and walked over to the small wooden table with two chairs and pulled one out gesturing for her to sit. She went over and took a seat and he sat in the other chair.
"Erik, I've been thinking a lot of, my mother, and you." "Your mother? And me?" He repeated.
"Yes, that day that I came into the basement, I think my mom somehow made me go there. So I could meet you�.And I've been very distracted lately and Meg asked me why and-"
"You didn't tell her about me did you? I should have known not to have trusted you�..I was silly to think-a girl like you-would want to be friends-with someone like me�" He said sadly.
"No Erik! You're my best and truest friend. I would never tell anyone your secret."
"I�m sorry, Christine. It's just�Your so, beautiful and talented and-"
"You are talented too!"
"But you don't know about�." He stopped suddenly and got up and walked over to face a wall, his hands behind his back. Christine went over and touched his shoulder. He was shocked at how nice she was to him.
"Erik, I know that you made me promise to never ask but�.what are you hiding from me?" She took a deep breath in, hoping he wouldn't loose his temper. Erik was a sweet, gentle sort but when he was angry he became a totally different person. She had only seen this side of him once, when one of the dancers had teased Christine about talking to herself sometimes.
"I���." Erik started but stopped. In the dim light Christine saw something slide down his face. It was a tear. "Erik, please. What happened to you? Why do you stay here, hiding from everybody? Please tell me. Maybe I can help you."
"No one can help me. I will never be normal."
"Erik, please. What. Happened," She said firmly.
"You don't know what its like to grow up when everyone is scared of you. My face�..I wear a mask to cover my face because when I was born�..the right side of my face was�.deformed and scarred and��.my mother was terrified of me the minute she saw me...but she had no choice but to take me home. My father, when he saw me he said I was a m-monster and h-he left�..my mother got a mask made for me and when company came, she hid me. Everyone thought I was dead, she told them I had died at birth, because that all I was, dead. She once told me I should have died. I remember that�I was only five�she said that when I die, the angels won't let such a m-monster into heaven. She was very religious, and thought I was Satan himself� She never hugged me. She avoided even looking at me. She..She hated me�. She said�" He stopped and choked backed tears.
"Oh my God, Erik. I had no idea your childhood, was so horrible. Erik, your face it can't be this�" She stopped. He was already in enough pain.
"Terrifying? It is. Christine, that's why I won't let you see me. You would run and then I would�."
"Erik, I would never leave you. Never." And to Erik's surprise, she hugged him. He stiffened, not knowing what a hug felt like.
"Christine, I can't let you see me, its too horrible."
"Erik, you know I don't care what you look like. Please, just let me know what you look like! I won't get frightened."
"But but.." He stuttered.
"Please?"
"Fine." He said, and closed is eyes.
"Why do you close your eyes, Erik?"
"I don't want to see the look of horror on your pretty face when you see me." He said sadly. Christine wasn't sure what to say so she took the mask off. She didn't scream, but was shocked. He's nose, was barely even there. His eye was slanted at an odd angle, and the side of his mouth drooped down. It was much worse then this sounds, but it was a difficult sight to describe.
"Erik. You can open your eyes."
"Your still here?" He asked, keeping his eyes closed.
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?" She asked calmly.
"Because you�I�Can I put my mask back on?"
"Oh yes, here." She handed him the white mask and he adjusted it into place before opening his eyes again.
"I wish you hadn't of done that." "Erik, its not that bad." She lied. It was really scary. She had almost jumped in fright, but she remained calm and unflinching for her insecure friends sake.
"Don't lie to me, Christine. I know its bad. I just wish I could be normal."
"You are normal! Your nice, and sweet, and you are an amazing singer and composer!"
"Do normal people live in hidden rooms of old theaters?"
"Well, no. But you don't have to live here."
"And where do you expect people to accept someone as hideous as I?"
"Erik, you shouldn't speak of yourself in such a terrible way. Now me�" She drifted off, remembering her childhood.
"Christine, your beautiful, and you can sing so wonderfully!" He had almost gasped in shock when she was about to insult herself.
"Yea, well, my life hasn't been to beautiful and wonderful."
"What happened to you?" He asked concerned
"My mother, she died when I was little. And then, my father had to raise me. He wasn't always mean. When my mother was still alive, he was so kind and gentle. I remember once, we all went to the beach. My father, mother and me. We spent the day building sand castles and playing in the ocean." She smiled at the memory, "But then, when they found the cancer in my mother, he became so cold. So mean. When I would cry because I knew my mother would be leaving us soon, he would yell and sometimes even hit me. My mother didn't know he did this though. By the time she did die, I became so afraid of my father I just knew that when I was old enough I had to get away. So, when I discovered I could sing, I auditioned for everything. And then, thank God, I got accepted into the school. And then I got the lead in the musical. And then I met you. I have never been happier Erik."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I'm sorry but I have to go now. Rehearsal starts in 10 minutes. Erik?"
"Yes?"
"You could try out for the musical you know. You don't have to be in the school to be in the musical-"
"And you think they would let the mysterious man who lives in the theater be in the musical? They do know I'm here you know! They do!" He yelled.
"What? They know about you?"
"Yes! The man who owns this theater knows I'm here and he lets me live here out of fear! I have lived here for three years now! I had tried out for the musical that year! And everyone looked at me like I was a freak because of my mask! And they tried to take it off so I ran and I found this place and I wrote a note to the theater owner saying I will live here or else. I didn't mean to sound threatening but I had no place else to go!"
"I-I didn't know. I'm so sorry-"
"You shouldn�t think you know everything Christine! Just leave me be! Go, Go now please!" He said and went back to the piano. And Christine left.
