Twisted Every Way

Chapter Three

Meg stopped us and she stepped in front of me. "Christine, your angel? You mean the actually Angel of Music? Christine, stories like that just don't come true. Angel's don't come down to Earth from Heaven to help little girls sing." She stopped and her eyes grew wide. "Maybe the presence you felt was the Opera Ghost!"

My blood went cold and I felt my body go rigid. "Op-Opera Ghost? What Opera Ghost?"

Meg shook her head and glanced around nervously. I shook off my initial feeling and started to walk forward again without her.

"Meg, you speak of Angels not being true, but now you speak of ghosts as if they are true!" She didn't say anything, so I stopped, making her look at me. "I heard him sing to me, Meg. He is real!"

_______________________________

ERIK

Little did the girls know that the Opera Ghost was listening and watching their every more. I heard all the giggles, the screams and I saw Christine as the brightest ray of any sunshine.

I never ventured out into broad daylight, knowing the stares and fear I would get from doing so, but I wanted to see Christine's expression when she saw her name on that list.

The very thought of her singing in that theater in front of a full audience was what pushed me to use my Opera Ghost tactics to make sure she was on that list.

My eyes were focused on her every move. The way she smiles, the love she has for her friend, the way she bit on her lip when she was reading the list. It was all so intoxicating.

I understand now how men lose themselves in the idea of love. Ever since that night, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't eat, I couldn't breathe without thoughts of her. She was everything.

There was so much to do, so much to work on until she was named Prima Donna, but I believed deep down she could do this. She simply needed to be pushed and made to be believe in her own potential.

When they started to dance, my mind blanked and all I could focus on was the joy flowing out of Christine. I ached because she was so beautiful and I, I watched from the shadows. Taking every unknowing glance I could absorb.

Her smile was breathtaking, her laugh was infectious. I felt myself smiling at her happiness and shook my head at her innocent girly silliness. She was so full of life, the complete opposite of myself.

Lessons breezed through my mind and I snatched them eagerly, envisioning ways to help Christine succeed. The things I could teach her, show her. Things that would give her new insight into the beauty of music, if only she would let me.

They began walking away and my body automatically moving, not waiting to lose sight of my Angel.

After a few blocks, I heard the blonde girl ask Christine about her audition. That intrigued me, and I tuned into that conversation quickly, making sure to keep pace. I faded easily into the crowd, keeping my head tilted into my hood, allowing the mask to be kept out of sight.

It must be faith. Something God himself planned when he created our very souls. He knew we were destined to be together, and now so did I. But God had a cruel way of snatching things out of my life in a blink of an eye, without remorse and always without mercy. So why should I trust this? Why should I trust him?

Finally Christine answered and she replayed the night, and as she started, a crowd neared and I had to fade further into the shadows. Curse the daylight! This is why I detested moving about in the light.

Frustrated, I neared them again and heard the last part of Christine's story.

"Then the strangest thing happened, Meg." My heart leaped and I felt my hands become sweaty as I gripped them tight, listening as hard as I could. "When I told him my name, I heard a small echo. It was so soft and so light that I almost felt as if I had imagined it, and when I looked around no one was there! It was as if.... As if it was my Angel finally speaking to me, and I felt... whole again." She shook her head and sighed, "Oh Meg, I have no words to describe it. My Angel was there with me and he said my name! As if he heard me the entire time and he was proud!"