A/N: Quick Update! Yeah! Well, I decided that since all my wonderful reviewers reviewed so quickly, I could update quickly. ; ) So thanks to all ya'll who review! Enjoy this chapter... (It's the regular length again! lol)
Chapter 7
The next morning, Christine awoke still in her sitting position with Erik. She glanced up at him and smiled. He was still sleeping. She vaguely remembered last night, only bits and pieces. Mainly she remembered him singing to her with his angelic voice. After having heard his voice again, she realized how much she had really missed him all these years. She had missed his music, his voice, his talents, but most of all, the feeling of protection that he always emitted when he was around. Whenever he was near, she felt that she was truly safe and that nothing could harm her.
Quietly, she got up, careful not to wake Erik. She thought that she should check on Emma, since she had not seen her since their argument. Christine deeply worried for her daughter. It seemed that she was traumatized after Raoul's death, although what child wouldn't be. Of course, Christine knew how it felt to lose a father, having lost hers at a young age. She was very close to her father when she was growing up, and was extremely upset when he died, but she didn't remember being very traumatized, at least not like Emma was. Perhaps it was because a family member had killed Raoul. Yes, that must be it. Christine couldn't fathom how much pain she would have felt if her mother had killed her father. But… sadly, she didn't remember much of her mother either. Looking back on it, Christine realized that she had a lead a sort've broken life. Having lost her only family at a young age, being seduced by the Phantom, and murdering her husband. But through out it all, she never let it get her down. She was always optimistic on her views of life. Now, when it seemed like her life was finally coming together, she was sad. Her husband was dead and her daughter hated her. Even though she now had Erik again, she still felt like she needed something else to complete her, and that something was Emma.
At last she reached Emma's room. Tentatively she knocked on the door, but received no reply.
"Emma?" she called. Still no answer. Slowly she turned the doorknob, and was thankful that it was unlocked.
At least she didn't lock me out.
She peeked her head inside and once more called out Emma's name. She looked all around the room, but saw no sign of her daughter. She opened the door all the way and ran inside, calling Emma's name several times. Christine stood at the edge of the bed, searching worriedly around the whole room. Her eyes landed on the window, which was wide open. She ran over to it and peered over the edge, looking for any sign of her daughter, but to no avail.
Quickly she withdrew her head and ran down the stairs, nearly falling over. But she reached Erik at a quick pace and was frantic to wake him.
"Erik! Erik!" Christine cried.
Erik was awake in an instant, and was surprised to see Christine so worried. "What is it, my dear?" he asked.
"Emma! She... she's not in the room and I can't find her anywhere!"
In an instant Erik was on his feet and took Christine's hands in his. "Christine, tell me what happened."
"I... I just went up stairs to check on Emma, and... and when I got there I knocked but she didn't answer. So I opened up the door, but she wasn't in there and the window was open. Oh, I think she ran away Erik! What if something happened to her... She could be hurt... or ...or..."
"Shh, Christine. Settle down. It'll be all right. Do have any idea where she would have gone?" asked Erik.
"No."
"Come Christine, we better hurry," said Erik as he led her to the door.
"Oh Erik, do you think she's all right?" wondered Christine anxiously.
"I'm not sure," replied Erik as he grabbed his cloak and fedora. He also grabbed Christine's cloak and handed it to her. Hastily, she put it on and followed Erik out the door.
Christine followed Erik as he walked in long strides, going as fast as he could.
"Shouldn't we take a carriage?" asked Christine.
"It will be better if we go on foot. The town is only down this hill. Emma couldn't have gone farther than that."
Christine said no more, but just followed Erik in silence. Her mind was now too preoccupied with what could have happened to Emma. She only hoped that Emma wasn't hurt or lost. She couldn't stand the mere thought of thought of it. The quicker they found Emma, the better.
It only took about ten minutes for them to get down to town. It wasn't very large, so they immediately started checking every store and every corner. After only a couple minutes of checking, Christine was already starting to worry even more. What if they didn't find her at all? The thought made her feel ill. She urged Erik to look faster, but he sad that he was going as fast as he could. They also asked everyone in town if they had seen a teenage girl with long brown curly hair, but everyone just shook their heads.
When Erik and Christine were about to give up hope, they saw one last alleyway at the very edge of town that they hadn't looked in yet. Both of them hurried over and went down it. At the very end, in front of a large brick wall, was something that made Christine's heart leap into her throat. She started feeling faint, and her knees nearly buckled, but she forced herself to move. She walked slowly forwards, afraid that her worst nightmares were coming true. When she was about 10 feet away, she let out a loud sob and ran forwards. There on the ground was Emma, unconscious and covered in bruises. Up and down her arms were bleeding cuts and her face was badly swollen. Her clothes were ripped and marks continued in a few places in her legs. Christine fell over besides her daughter and took her in her arms.
"Emma..." she whispered brokenly. "My poor dear child." She continued crying into her daughters' hair.
Erik walked up slowly behind her, not wanting to intrude, but ay last knelt down besides Christine. With a shaking hand he reached out and took Emma's limp wrist to make sure that she was still alive. For a moment he didn't feel any pulse, which made his throat start to constrict, but alas, there was a tiny pulse. It was very feeble, but it was there.
"Is she… is she alive?" asked Christine, almost afraid of the answer.
"Yes," said Erik. Christine gave a sigh of relief. "But barely. She needs a doctor."
"Is there one in town?" asked Christine hopefully, still clutching Emma to her.
Erik hung his head, and after a short pause replied, "No."
Christine let out another sob and clutched Emma tighter, afraid that if she let go, Emma would lose her life.
"But I think that Nadir may be able to help her, at least until we can get her back to Paris and find her a real doctor," continued Erik.
"Thank God."
"Here," said Erik as he held out his hands. "Let me carry her back to the house."
At first Christine didn't let go, but then finally gave in, knowing that she would not be able to carry her daughter all the way back. So she carefully placed Emma in Erik's arms and stood up, eager to get her daughter some help.
They walked quickly through the town, avoiding all people and were silent to the few who asked questions. They spoke to no one and continued back to the house. Erik prayed that Nadir would be in the house by now, for he knew that Emma would not be able to hold on much longer. She had lost a lot of blood and he was sure that she had at least one broken bone.
After what seemed like forever, they finally reached the house and bolted inside. Still with Emma in his arms, Erik went franticly around the house searching for his dear old friend. Erik was greatly relieved when he found him in the kitchen, making some tea.
Nadir heard him come in, and turned around. "Ah, Erik I…" he stopped suddenly when he saw an unconscious Emma in his arms. "Oh my… what happened?"
"We don't know," replied Erik, his words fast. "But can you help her? You're the closest thing to a doctor in town…"
"Yes, I'll do what I can," said Nadir at once. "Please place her in the bedroom while I get some equipment together."
"Thank you," said Erik as he turned from the room and hurried up the stairs.
Erik placed Emma gently down on the bed and turned to Christine, who immediately flew into his arms. They didn't say anything, but just held each other. Erik looked down at his poor Christine and then over at Emma. His mouth hardened and he swore that he would kill whoever did this to Emma.
Nadir entered the room, holding a medical bag and a bowl full of hot water. He sat down at the edge of the bed and felt Emma's neck. He swore softly under his breath and tore some medicine from his bag. He forced the liquid down her throat and then placed his hands over Emma's chest. He began pumping it forcefully and then checking Emma' neck again. He kept doing this several times, until at last he seemed satisfied.
"Will she be alright?" asked Erik quietly.
"It's hard to say… but I think so."
Erik gave a sigh of relief.
"She does have a broken arm though. Lucky her nose didn't break as well. She should just need a few bandages and rest. Lots of rest."
"Will she need another doctor?" asked Erik.
"No, no. I have everything I need here."
"Should we wait outside then?" questioned Erik, not really wanting to leave, but he knew that doctors needed their room to work.
"Yes, yes. That would be good."
So Erik led Christine out of the room, thanking God that Emma would live.
A/N: Poor Emma... Wonder what she did? Well... both Sugar Peaches and Emily Singing Reflection get kisses from Erik!
Erik moans/ He kisses those two /they swoon
Okay! Well, we actually don't know what Emma did yet, but that was what she was originally going to do... But what happened along the way? Hmm... read the next chappie to find out!
It is a fanfiction sin to read and not review!
