This story is very dark and may be triggering to some. Christine is going to go through some serious shit of her own before meeting Erik. Read with caution. I will continue depending on the response I get.

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Nothing But A Lie

Chapter 1

"Please don't touch me," the petite blonde begged, frightened tears flooding her eyes.

The man was tall and sturdy, a body she might have been able to appreciate in any other circumstance. He wasn't extremely attractive, but not necessarily ugly either. Ordinary was a good word to describe him. Dark hair, dark eyes, the lower half of his angular face covered in stubble. He wore khaki pants, and a light blue button down shirt. She guessed he was in his mid-thirties at the least. He looked just like a normal man, perhaps a teacher or a car salesman. There was nothing sinister looking about him at all, but she was still afraid.

There had to be a reason why he lured her into his home.

The man gawked at the beautiful girl he'd successfully trapped in his apartment. She was the loveliest girl he'd ever seen, and he'd been waiting for so long to study her up close while she was actually conscious. She was a tiny little thing, around five-foot-two if he had to guess, with wide violet-blue eyes and long, wavy, pale golden hair. Her pale pink sundress hung over her little curves deliciously. He felt privileged just to be able to look at her.

"I've never had such a pretty girl in my apartment before," he marveled.

"Why am I here?" the girl whispered. "I want to go home."

"Home?" The man came closer to where she cowered in the corner in his living room, and she gave a frightened squeak at his proximity. His voice was gentle as he crouched to get on her level. "Why would you want to go back to an empty apartment, Christine?"

She shuddered. She hadn't told him her name. How did he know she lived alone?

The man continued, trying to soothe the scared girl. "I think if you just stay with me for a while, you'll realize how much nicer it is to have someone. To not be so lonely for once." One long finger came out to stroke her cheek, but she flinched away from it.

"Wha-what are you saying?"

The man noticed the tiny hint of an accent she had when she spoke, no doubt from her Swedish decent. How adorable.

"I've never had someone to call my own before," he whispered back, smiling a little. "I am…honored. Christine Daae is mine. Wow." He stroked her hair gently, and she could only stare in open-mouthed terror.

The strange, awed look in his eyes was unsettling. "Look…mister…I have work in an hour. I have to go home and get ready."

"'Mister'?" he chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "That's not what you would call a boyfriend, is it? My name is Sky."

"B-boyfriend?" she squeaked. "I don't even know you. I'm going home!"

Christine made a run around him toward the door, but he grabbed her upper arms in a strong grip that had her planted solidly in place. Immediately, tears flowed when she felt his hot breath in her ear.

"You aren't going anywhere," he breathed. He could feel her tremble beneath him, could here her sobs, but he ignored them, instead inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. He couldn't help but moan softly. She really was intoxicating.

"If you don't let me go," she whispered shakily, trying very hard not to think about what horrors waited for her if she didn't get out. "I'm going to scream. Someone will hear. This is an apartment complex, there are people everywhere!"

Sky sighed. He spun her around to face him, and even with her tear-streaked face, she was still stunning. How did he get so lucky? What a shame he would have to resolve to threats so soon…

Christine watched in horror as he pulled an open switchblade from his pocket, and a frightened cry sounded from her throat.

"Shh, baby calm down," Sky crooned, and he dropped to one knee so he could see her crumpled, downturned face, putting the knife back in his pocket. He wondered if it was normal for a nineteen-year-old girl to react like she was, like a child would.

Well, he always knew she wasn't an ordinary girl. No, she was special. "I am not going to hurt you unless I absolutely have to, okay? And I think you'll be a very obedient girlfriend. Right?"

She shook her head, confused and terrified. This was not how she foresaw her day going. After a nice church service, coffee at her favorite bookstore, and a walk in the sun, she actually felt relaxed as she walked back to her apartment complex, despite the stress she was under. Her sophomore year of college was starting soon, and she needed to find a cheaper place to live. Her apartment's renewal rate was going up, and she didn't know how she was going to pay extra money each month for it. She desperately didn't want to leave it, and so she put off searching for a new one. Which was stupid.

The colorful sign for free puppies on a neighbor's door had caught her eye, and though she knew she couldn't afford to take care of one, she couldn't resist at least seeing them, and maybe holding one. Animals were her number one weakness.

The man who answered the door seemed friendly enough. He was even a little charming at first, offering her a detailed description of the puppies and a few jokes before finally inviting her inside. She'd definitely seen him a few times around the complex, but they'd never officially spoken.

She'd only realized something was amiss after she was already inside the clean, finely furnished apartment that didn't look like a place where any animals resided. When she turned back around, she noticed him holding the sign in his hand as he shut and locked the door behind them.

The puppies? She'd asked, dread creeping in her belly.

He'd looked sheepish. I'm…sorry. I hate to disappoint you, but sadly, there are none.

She'd been paralyzed with fear then, even though he stayed a few feet away for a while. It was when he finally took a step forward that she begged him not to touch her.

And now here they were; this man was telling her that she was now his…girlfriend. He wasn't going to let her leave.

She felt like she was going to be sick.

He noted her shaking head and stopped it with gentle hands, ignoring how she tried to flinch away. "If you do exactly as I say, you will never feel an ounce of pain. I promise. Do you hear me?" He waited, but the girl wouldn't give any indication that she heard him. He sighed, and dropped his hands from her face to pull the knife out again.

She gasped and coughed, her fear choking her.

"Hey," he met her eyes with his brown ones; entranced with how blue they were, even when she cried. He was pleased when she didn't look away as he spoke. "You have my word. I will not hurt you if you do exactly what I tell you without argument. Okay, sweetheart?"

His tone was so gentle and sincere that she found herself nodding, and he gave her a small smile. "Say, 'Yes, Sky' so I know you understand," he encouraged.

"Yes, Sk-Sky," she whispered reluctantly. He smiled more happily, and she swallowed, not comforted at all by it.

"Such a good girl," he commended her, stroking her cheek. "I knew you were perfect for me the first time I saw you. You're already exceeding my expectations."

Her stomach churned. How long had he been watching her? How much did he know? Oh God… What was he going to do with her now? She started to cry again.

Sky's smile faltered at her fresh tears. "What is it, baby?"

"Just…tell me," she blubbered miserably, "Are you going to…to…"

"Shh, come here," he tried to pull her in for an embrace, but she resisted, sobbing into her hands. "Christine, hush. I promised you I wasn't going to hurt you unless I had to. Why can't you accept that?"

"Then…why am I h-here?"

He took her tiny hands in his large ones and stood, her eyes following his movement with caution. "Because you belong here, with me. You were all alone, and so was I. And now we're together. We can make each other happy."

"B-but, Mister…I mean Sky," she corrected herself when she saw the warning in his expression. "I'm f-fine being on my own. I don't want a…boyfriend." Her voice cracked on the last word.

"Really, Christine? You're fine with having nobody in your life? No family or close friends or significant others?"

Her eyes flashed defensively. "I h-have friends." It was sort of true. She had people to talk to at church and work and school. But she didn't really hang out with anyone outside of those…

"Uh huh, sure you do," Sky teased her lightly. "You really shouldn't lie to me. I know everything. Like how you have no living relatives, no close friends, and no boyfriend. I even know how your lease is ending this month, and you can't afford to renew it." Christine gulped, and looked down in shame. "I will take care of you. I will be all you've ever needed." His thumbs brushed little circles on her hands, and she was so confused.

Weren't kidnappers cruel? Harsh? Yet, her captor seemed genuine, gentle, but terrifying all the same. It had to be an act. He looked normal, but was probably some mentally ill, creepy, lonely man who wanted some young girl to put his paws on. The thought made her flinch.

"The semester starts in just a few weeks," she whispered frantically, her head shaking. "I'm already signed up for classes. I can't neglect my schooling."

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he assured her. "But for now, just relax. We need to get to know each other better. But first, I can see you have questions. Why don't you sit?" He gestured to his supple, dark leather couch, and she obeyed, too afraid to refuse.

He couldn't hold back an excited groan. "Oh, you are such a good girl, aren't you? Yes, this is going to be great. I just know it."

She didn't say anything, just continued to watch him fearfully. He was…weird, if anything. He stood in front of her and clasped his hands together. "Okay," he began, releasing a breath. "Rules first, yes?"

"Rules?"

His tone was friendly as he recited his commands. "Yes. Rule number one: you will not try to leave. The windows are screwed shut, the doors are locked from the inside, and only I have the key. If you do somehow get out, I'll only drag you back. And if you even try, I will know."

He paused for a moment, as if waiting for his words to sink into her brain, and then continued conversationally. "Rule number two: you will do exactly as I ask without argument, and try your best to appear…well, not so reluctant to do so. Rule number three: you will treat me with nothing but kindness and respect. I know you're a sweet girl, so I don't think I have to worry about that much. But still, if any of these rules are broken, you will be punished."

Sky pulled out the knife and stroked it; subtly hinting what her punishment would be if she disobeyed him. He looked apologetic as he continued. "I don't want to punish you, baby, but I have to if you disobey me. I have a few different means of punishment, which again, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I don't want to scare you any longer."

He cheered a little as he said his next words: "And if you comply like the good girl I know you are, you will be rewarded! I look forward to giving you rewards, Christine. I know you'll be receiving much more rewards than punishments. Right?"

She could only stare at him, no words forming on her tongue. Something told her that these so called "rewards" would be just as awful as the "punishments".

"Right," he finished for her. "Because I know you won't break my rules. You will be the perfect girlfriend."

Sky sat down on a matching recliner beside the couch. Though he would have liked to sit right by her and be surrounded by her wonderful warmth and scent, he knew the girl would be too frightened to have him close so soon.

"Now for your questions." Sky gestured to her.

Christine swallowed. "How long have you been…watching me?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"Since you moved in," he stated. "I own this complex, actually. I like to keep a close eye on all of my patrons. You stood out to me, though." He smiled at her. She shuddered.

Sky waited for her to respond, but she just sat there trembling. He cleared his throat and she flinched, meeting his eyes again. "Any other questions?"

Christine could only think of one at the moment. "What are you going to do to me?" she breathed.

Sky sighed impatiently. Of course all she wanted to know was if he was going to fuck her or not. She was obviously terrified of that possibility, so he would have to slowly build up to that, and she would feel safer if she thought he wasn't. Plus, he wanted this to be like a normal relationship, and normal couples built up to that sort of thing.

"Don't worry about that right now. I've already told you I wasn't going to hurt you. You really need to listen better," he chided her, and she looked down in shame. "No more questions for now. You hungry?"

She shook her head, and he sighed. "Okay, we can wait. How about some conversation over TV?"

He strode to the end table to pick up the remote, and as soon as he turned his back, Christine panicked, jumping up from the couch and running to the door. She screamed and pounded her fists against it when it wouldn't open, until one large hand clamped over her mouth and the other held a fistful of her hair.

She whimpered, the strong scent of his cologne thick in her nose. Tears blurred her vision as Sky pulled her hair down, tilting her head until she was looking up at him. If her tears hadn't blinded her eyes, she would have seen the deep disappointment his held.

"Why would you do that, Christine? Now I have to punish you, and I don't want to do that."

Sky dragged her to the sofa with ease, though she fought him with everything in her. Still, she was no match for his strength, and all she could do was sob as he pulled her onto his lap. He anchored her kicking legs with one of his, and held both of her dainty wrists in one hand, and she had to fight from screaming when she saw his other hand reaching for the switchblade again.

"No, no, please!" she cried. "I'm s-sorry, Sky! Please don't hurt me. I won't do it again, I promise!"

"No, you won't," he agreed, his eyes hard. "Because this will show you how serious I am about my rules."

After a second of thought, Sky pulled the handkerchief from his shirt pocket and stuffed it into Christine's mouth.

She tried to spit it out, but trying to move it only made her gag more. "If you don't scream, I won't stuff your mouth next time, okay?" Next time… Shaking uncontrollably, Christine shut her eyes, too afraid to see where he intended to cut her.

Sky took the blade, cutting a careful, shallow stripe on one of her inner forearms, enough where it would cause pain without bleeding too much. Christine didn't scream—such a good girl she was, even getting punished!—only writhed and cried.

Her arm immediately stung where he must have cut her, and she finally opened her eyes. Feeling the pain along with seeing the angry red wound was just too much for her to handle, and she fainted, her body going slack and her head falling against Sky's shoulder.

He worried when he saw her eyes flutter closed and felt her relax against him. Did he accidentally cut her too deep? He examined her cut, and no, it was just as he intended it to be. It would heal quickly. He checked her pulse and it was strong, and when he removed the fabric from her mouth he leaned in and heard her breathing. He sighed in relief, and gently laid her down so he could retrieve a damp cloth for her cut.

He shook his head as he cleaned and wrapped a bandage over her wound, disappointed that he had to punish her so soon. Perhaps the girl had more fight in her than he'd anticipated. Either way, he would much prefer other methods of punishing her, but she was definitely not ready for those…

Well, It didn't matter. He still loved her, still wanted her all the same, and was still thrilled that she was finally with him.

Besides, she would learn. Yes. She would learn very quickly.