A Place in This World

Summary: Without giving too much away, Erik is proven innocent and must make a new life for himself. He finds he has friends in a former rival and protégé and others that are willing to help him.

This will be an Erik/OW work of fiction. The rating is PG-13 overall, but there are some M rated scenes in much later chapters, but they will directly follow the PG-13 version; that way, those who do not wish to read them, do not have to.

There is no bashing of movie characters, only embellishing.

Alas, I do not own "Phantom of the Opera" nor any of its wonderful characters. I am just embellishing on their story; taking poetic liberties if you will. I do, however, own Michél and any other original characters not owned by ALW, GL, or SK. Some movie factors were altered to make the age issues a little more realistic. I also took liberties with Erik's origin and past. Character thoughts are in ( ) and bolded!

My Phantom is all Gerry. He is gorgeous of body and face. No mask can ever hide that! LOVE YA GERRY! My phantom is a gentleman; albeit, a suffering one…with a bad boy side! I have read the book – confusing as it was and did not care for it, and I have seen the wonderful movie. This story reflects the images of the movie, and the character portrayals are true to the actors that portrayed them in the beautiful movie. Any resemblance of my original characters to any other original characters by other authors is purely coincidental.

CHAPTER 1 – (Erik's POV)

Erik's lair, immediately after Christine places the ring in his hand.

The ring feels so heavy in my hand…she could not even bear to have it on her finger. I look up at her with every ounce of love in my heart pouring down my horrid face; carried away in each tear that I shed. She lingers just beyond my reach and speaks to me in a hushed tone, "You must flee, my Angel. They will be here soon. Get out now, while you still can." I do not even know why she feigns to care about my well-being.

My words come from my throat in a choked manner, "If, where, or when I go is none of your concern Christine. I hold no control over you anymore. Go and live with all happiness, you deserve it..."

I look down at the ring in my hand, examining it as though it were my most treasured possession."I never would have hurt you…or him, I want you to know that. He is a good man…go…" Oddly, I mean what I say. His determination and courage have earned my respect; he really does deserve her. I drop my voice to barely a whisper as the words stick in my throat, I feel as though I am being ripped apart from the inside out, "I'll have to find a way to carry on…just leave before I change my mind…take your memory with you when you go."

The last phrase was said in a hushed tone, barely audible to my own ears. I look up and nod my head in the direction of the boat; she turns from me and makes her way over to the boat where he waits for her. Why does she keep looking back at me with her brow furrowed; like she is actually worried about me?...Who am I trying to fool? She is worried about being found by the blood thirsty mob…she needn't worry, they are out for my blood, not hers.

I watch as he leads her out of my lair and out of my life. She is my strongest weakness; I drop to my knees…how can I go on? I have been driven by my need for her for years. I don't know how to be anything but her angel; or the dreaded Phantom…and now…I am neither; I am barely human…barely a man. I am haunted by the kiss that she should have never given me; but that one simple gift has freed my sanity from the grip of darkness that has been stealthily closing in on me.

It's time to face the music, so to speak. I am tired of hiding; tired of sparing the human race my hideous existence; tired of…being. Maybe it is time to pay for the crime of living; time to pay for being whom and what I am; an abomination. The desire and drive to exist is waning and I find myself anticipating the arrival of the mob. I hear them growing closer and chanting loudly about my being a murderer and needing to pay for my crimes; ironically, I finally agree with the human race.

In frustration, I break the mirrors that echo my hideousness. Moving a tapestry and shattering the mirror beneath it, I find a passage that I had almost forgotten was there. I enter, debating with myself whether this is what I want to do. I halt in mid-step, knowing that I cannot run anymore. I turn back toward the lair; as I do, I hear a faint fall of footsteps coming from behind me. I turn to find Madam Giry rounding the corner holding a torch. She looks rather frantic and much older than her 42 years. She takes my arm rather gingerly and demands my attention,

"Erik, what are you doing? They will hang you just for being who you are. You can't stay here."

She actually has tears in her eyes; she could possibly be the only other person, besides Michél, on the face of the earth who cares whether I live or die. We move further into the tunnel and turn into a small alcove, allowing us a little more freedom to speak. I look into her terror filled eyes and with as much sincerity as I can muster, I try to make her understand my logic,

"Margarite, I no longer possess the strength of will nor the desire to keep up this façade."

Ilook away, trying to avoid the questions I see in her eyes.

"I will accept whatever punishment befalls me; I am blessed to have lived this long, to have done the things that I have done, and to have seen the places that I have seen…despite this loathsome body. Death, if that is what is in store for me, will bring peace to troubled waters, Margarite."

She slumps down against the wall with her head in her hands, I know that she does not see my logic nor does she understand my need for inner peace. I bend at the knees to put myself at her level and raise her face with my finger to her chin,

"Your life for the past 24 years has been usurped by mine. You are still a young, attractive, and vibrant woman; I know that you yearn to have love in your life again Margarite."

She looks aghast at my suggestion, and she drops her eyes in shame. Her head begins to shake, denying my claim; I force her eyes back up to mine by shear will,

"Not only do you yearn for it…you deserve it... I am keeping you from living…"

Tears begin to from at the corners of my eyes, and the hollow drum in my chest that was once my heart begins to ache in a strange manner. I stand and turn from her so she cannot see my features,

"My death will finally allow Christine the tranquility that has eluded her ever since she was unfortunate enough to see my ugliness. She will be free…free to live her life without darkness and fear."

Finally, my thoughts turn to Michél, my faithful and only true friend. He has seen me through many rough times; he always speaks his mind and has put mine at ease on many occasions. For reasons that elude me, Heseems only to want the best for me.

Thankfully, I sent him away in search of my family tree, he is currently in Scotland after obtaining some information concerning my parentage. He has been gone for several weeks and is due back soon. He would not like my decision and would do everything in his power to stop me.

With my back still to her, I maintain a determined tone,

"Michél has all my affairs in order. I have made provisions for you and him. You should both have the means to live very comfortably for the rest of your lives…it is the least I can do…after all that you have done for me."

I make my way toward the tunnel, hearing, but trying not to acknowledge, the silent agony that Margarite is in. I harden myself to her pain. Without turning to her, I straighten my back and hold my head up high, "Why do you weep? I am not worthy of your tears."

A deafening pause impregnates the small cave.

"This is for the best Margarite…I thank you for the years that you have given me. Had you not rescued me all those years ago, I would not have known any of the life I have known; I would have surely been dead long ago. You were my angel of mercy…"

I lower my tone and my head, letting her know that I am resolved in my decision,

"...give no more thought to me…go on with your life."

Chapter 2 preview – Margarite's POV