Raging Fire


Disclaimer: I do not own P.O.T.O.
Chrisitne listened intently as Erik sang to her. He held her hands and pleaded to her.

Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude

Say you want me
With you here
Beside you
Anywhere you go
Let me go too
Christine that's all I ask of…

Erik never finished. Christine held the mask in her hand. She could hear the audience gasping and screaming. She stared at Erik for a moment. She could see the hurt in his eyes. He looked out at the audience and then pulled out a sword. He cut the rope next to him and kicked a lever by his foot. Christine looked up and saw the chandelier start to rock. Erik pulled her to him and ran across the bridge. He looked at the spot where the trap door was supossed to open.

''Damn.'' he cursed. He looked around for an escape, but couldn't find one. He heard the screams from below. They had found Piangi. The chandelier swung harshly and came crashing down towards the audience. People screamed and tried to escape from it. It plunged down into the seats and the sparks set fire to the auditorium. Erik jumped from the bridge and ran to find a way back down to his lair. Christine ran off of the bridge and screamed when a piece of scenery crashed in front of her. She turned and ran for the doors.

''Christine!'' she heard someone yell. She could see Raoul running outside. She tried to run after him, but her skirt was caught on something.

''Help!'' she screamed but, Raoul was gone. She tugged at the skirt until part of it ripped. Christine hated Raoul for abandoning her. Then, she remembered that Erik was still here. She ran back into the auditorium and down the corridors.

''Erik!'' she screamed. ''Where are you? Erik!''

She searched for him and kept calling out his name. She finally found him lying on the floor. He looked hurt. Christine ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.

''Christine.'' he whispered. ''Get out of here.''

''No.'' she replied. ''Not without my angel.''

He smiled and tried to get up, but he let out a cry of pain when he did.

''What happened?'' Christine asked him.

''I think I broke my leg.'' he replied. Christine felt tears well up in her eyes. She helped him get up and down the corridors.

''Christine. We have to go this way so no one will see us.'' he told her when she started to go into auditorium. He limped over to a door and pulled it open. He ran out with Christine behind him. Suddenly, flames shot out at them from all directions. Christine screamed and fell over. Erik caught her just before she hit the ground. He ignored the pain in his leg and carried Christine away from the building. He finally stopped when he got to the top of a hill. He set her down and collapsed beside her.

''Christine. he said. ''Wake up.''

She shifted alittle and then opened her eyes. She sat up and looked at him. Tears came pouring out of her eyes and Erik put his arms around her.

''Erik.'' she sobbed. ''What happened?''

He lifted her chin so she was looking into his eyes.

''You fainted and I carried you up here.'' he told her. She smiled and buried her face into his shirt.

''I'm so sorry.'' she sobbed. ''I'm a horrible person. I shouldn't have ripped off your mask. I didn't deserve to be rescued.''

Erik kissed her forehead and closed his eyes.

''No, you're not a horrible person. I am. You should have left me there. I am a demon and demons deserve to burn in hell.''

''No, Erik. You're not a demon. You're an angel. The angel of music. My angel of music. I love you, Erik.''

''I love you too, Christine.''

They held eachother for a few moments, wishing it could last forever. The flames grew higher and people tried to extinguish it. It finally went out and Erik stroked Christine's hair. She looked at him suddenly with worry.

''We need to get you to a doctor, Erik.''

''I will not go to a doctor.''

''Yes you will.''

''Christine.''

''Erik, just this once.''

''Fine.''

Christine helped him back down the hill and they looked for a carriage. Someone pulled up in one and let them in. They drove to the doctor's house and the driver let them out. Christine helped Erik inside, even though he assured her that he was fine. She asked for the doctor and he let her inside right away.

''What is the problem?'' he asked.

''He broke his leg.'' she said. The doctor examined his leg and cleared his throat.

''Actually, it's just a sprained ankle.'' he stated. ''And some very mild burns. He'll be ok, as long as he stays off of his leg for a few days.''

Christine smiled and thanked the doctor. He didn't charge them, so Christine helped Erik out the door and they looked for a place to go.

''We have to go back to the opera house.'' Christine told him. ''I need to see Raoul.''

Erik felt like a knofe had been stabbed into his heart. She wanted to see him? Christine noticed that hurt look in his eyes again.

''Erik, it's not that.'' she reassured him. ''I have to let him know how I feel about him abandoning me.''

Erik smiled and they continued down the street. Erik hid in the shadows as Christine approached Raoul.

''Christine you're a-''

She slapped him across the face. The people around him gasped. He rubbed his face and looked at her in confusion.

''That's for abandoning me, you jerk.'' she said. Everyone stared the two for a moment. Christine ran away from the crowd and into the shadows to get Erik. They ran down to a door and inside the opera house. It wasn't burned to ashes, just burned. Erik took Christine back down to the lair and Christine sat Erik down on the bed.

''We can stay here.'' she told him. ''At least until you're leg get's better.''

''You're an angel, Christine.'' Erik told her. Christine yawned and he told her to get some sleep. She layed down next to him and they both fell asleep together.