I am posting early since I will be busy tomorrow and did not want to leave you hanging on that cliff too long!

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Chapter 10

Farewell

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The river was so cold that her body went almost completely numb the second she hit the water. It was difficult to even breath once she managed to fight her way to the surface as the current carried her farther downstream. Her arms reached out blindly in the darkness searching for something in which to grab onto, but she had drifted out into the middle of the river and there was no way she could reach the shore.

She had almost given up, succumbing to the weariness of her constant struggle against the force pulling her under when she struck something hard. The sharp pain that shot through her frozen body was sufficient to have caused her to black out, but somehow she managed to retain her senses long enough to grab onto the cold stone that had impeded her. She could no longer feel her fingers and could only guess whether or not they were obeying the commands sent to them from her exhausted mind. She was no longer being swept along with the water so she had to assume they were complying. She only hoped she could hold on long enough for Erik to arrive. For she knew he would come, if only to seek his revenge for her attempted escape, but she didn't care. Just to see him would be heaven to her and she would just have to hold on and wait.

Erik searched the water frantically, holding the lantern high in order to see clearly. The minutes ticked by and as each one passed Christine's chances narrowed. Erik had no way of knowing how far she had drifted, possibly miles, but he dared not rush ahead for fear he might miss her along the way. The search would take time, but time was running out.

He came to a fork in the river where it split down two tunnels, forcing him to make a choice. If he chose wrong she was as good as lost, there was no time for error. Erik held the lantern out before him, shining it down each tunnel. He had never felt so helpless in his life. He was about to make his choice when he caught sight of a hint of white fabric swirling amid the water, and willing to grasp at any straw he headed the boat for it.

As he neared he could make out Christine's small form clinging desperately to a rock protruding from the river. He couldn't tell if she was conscious or not, her eyes were closed and her face deathly pale, but she clung there, her fingers dug into the rock as if holding on for dear life.

"Christine! Christine!" Erik called, desperately searching for any movement or reaction, but she did not even flinch at his cries.

Bringing the boat close to her he steadied it on the rock as he reached out and removed her hold, pulling her inside to safety. As he cradled her in his arms, tears of relief welling up in his eyes, he whispered her name over and over trying to get her to awaken.

"Christine, please open your eyes. I am so sorry, please be all right. Don't leave me." Erik practically sobbed, rocking her back and forth as he pulled her to his chest protectively.

However, all she did was begin to shiver uncontrollably, her skin like ice to his touch. Swiftly he removed his coat and wrapped it around her as he laid her down to pick up the pole. He had to get her back to his home quickly before it was too late.

The trip back up the river seemed as if it took forever, his worry and concern greatly exaggerating the time. His constant glances at her unconscious form not giving him much encouragement. When he finally reached the dock, he wasted no time getting her out of the boat and into her room. Erik frantically removed her soaking dress, leaving her light weight chemise on, it being so thin it would dry quickly. Then he covered her with the blankets and quilt from her bed. Though Erik continued to speak to her, rubbing her hands trying to warm them, she still would not open her eyes.

Before long she began to become fitful, a raging fever leaving her delirious. Her skin went from ice to fire in a matter of hours, filling Erik with dread. As he sat beside her, doing his best to comfort her, applying cool compresses to her forehead, he berated himself over and over. He had done this, he had brought her to the brink of disaster. Yet she was the one forced to pay the price for his folly. His entire existence revolved around Christine and he knew that if she died he would perish beside her from grief.

All he ever wanted to do was love and cherish her, yet he destroyed all he touched, causing her to flee into danger by the force of his rage. She had done nothing to deserve this, she had never asked to be the hapless victim of his poisoned love. He had dragged her into his world of darkness, deceived her with lies and never giving a thought to how it may affect her. He had expected too much from Christine. What obligation did she have to be the one to rescue him from his bonds? Now she lay before him, perhaps dying and all because of him. He would gladly lay down his own life if it meant her release from the torment she was now suffering.

During the next day, Christine continued restlessly drifting in and out of consciousness as her fever raged on. In her delirium she called out for her father, begging him not to leave her in a voice so frantic that it just about broke his heart to hear it. He tried to calm her, holding her hands down as she thrashed violently, afraid she might do herself harm.

Erik hardly left her side, venturing out of her room only to fix her some warm brother and doing his best to coax her to drink. He had never had to care for someone before, the whole experience making him feel helpless and overcome with worry. Would she recover? Was he doing the right things for her? Should he leave her side and fetch a doctor? So many questions to which he did not know the answers. Erik continued to hold her hand and speak gently, trying to calm her as best as he could, but his own fears were mounting. He had tried all his known remedies for pain and fever that he had learned from the gypsies, but they seemed to have little or no affect. If her temperature did not break soon there would be little hope for her survival…and no chance for his.

As the day drug on Erik's guilt and shame increased. To see her lying there, so frail and helpless as the fever only grew, made him feel like the true monster he was. Why had he not believed her? Why had he thought her faithless and cruel? For one brief moment he had held everything he had ever desired…only to destroy it all with his accusations and rage.

"Please forgive me, Christine." He pleaded, kneeling beside her bed as he cradled her small hand in his. He bend his head and placing it against his forehead, the heat of her skin a sharp contrast to his normally cool body. "I would never have gone through with it, never kept you my prisoner. You are everything to me, my love. I did not mean to frighten you so, to force you to try and escape. Please forgive me." Yet no matter how he begged or apologized, Christine would not wake up.

It was in the late hours of the following evening that Erik began to notice a slight improvement in her condition. Though she was still

warm to the touch, she had slipped into a more peaceful sleep and no longer cried out or thrashed about unconsciously. By the next morning her fever was gone entirely, leaving Erik in a joyous stake of relief. She still refused to awaken though, her mind and body too exhausted from the heated battle it had just fought inside her.

The past two days had left Erik in no better shape, he was completely drained of all energy and feeling. He had gone through such a range of emotions that he felt there was nothing left inside of him to feel. Yet, the stabbing pain he experienced at the thought of the task that lay ahead told him different. He would have to return Christine, now before he could change his mind. He knew it would be the best thing for her, though he wondered if he could survive the loss. No matter what, he had to do what was right for Christine, he owed her that much…and so much more.

Erik decided it would be easier if he took her back now before she awoke. It was difficult enough to part with her while she was asleep, it would be next to impossible if he had to look her in the eye as she left his side. He only wished he could tell her how sorry he was, to beg her forgiveness for accusing her of the lies he now knew were false. In the end he hoped that by returning the necklace he had given her she would understand. So bundling her up in several warm blankets he carried her sleeping form to the boat and began the sad and silent journey up the river.

Raoul had spent the past few days searching, with Meg's help, for any clue about the Phantom that may have led to Christine. No one knew anything that could help, that or they were all too afraid to talk, but Raoul went over every inch of the Opera House, looking for trap doors or hidden passageways and returning several times to Christine's dressing room. It had been the first place he had looked but had found nothing. He kept going back to it though, if Christine had heard the Phantom's voice in that room there must be a clue to be found, but where?

So this was the scene that Erik came upon as he opened the panel behind the mirror. Raoul was making his way around the room taping on the walls, obviously looking for secret passages. Erik had to give the man credit, he hadn't given up. This posed a problem though, for how was Erik to return Christine with him in the room? He supposed that he could wait for Raoul to leave, but the damp air was bad for her condition and he dared not let it worsen. Being seen was inevitable, there was no other choice. He gazed down at Christine's angelic face, committing every detail to memory.

"Good-by my darling Christine," he whispered. "Remember me kindly, if you can think of me at all. Though I realize I cannot keep you I shall hold you forever in my heart." He bent his head down to kiss her, savoring the touch of her lips on his one last time. "I love you," were his final words.

Raoul had long since passed frustrated and was now working on despair, when for some unknown reason all the lamps mysteriously went out. Leaving the room and him standing in total darkness.

"Blast this drafty old Opera House!" He grumbled as he fumbles for a candle. Taking a small box of matches from his pocket he lit it,

illuminating the small room once more. When he turned around he almost fell backwards, so shocked to see a figure standing before him that had assuredly not been there five seconds earlier. Raoul knew immediately who this man was, not only by his description, but also by the ominous presence he posed. The man did not speak, he only stared at Raoul, and though he couldn't be sure he almost thought he detected a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"I know who you are, you are this Phantom who has abducted Christine Daae!" Raoul accused, finding his voice. "I demand that you return her to me at once."

"As you wish Monsieur." Erik said. slowly stepping aside, giving Raoul a clear view of the bed where the sleeping Christine now lay.,

Raoul gave a gasp and took a few steps towards her, only to be halted by the Phantom's warning.

"Take heed Monsieur Vicomte, she shall never be out of my protective gaze so treat her well. Never let her know anything but happiness or you shall risk my wrath." Erik told Raoul in a threatening voice, then with a flourish of his cape the light went out once more.

Raoul frantically re-lit the candle, afraid that once he had he would find Christine gone once more. To his infinite relief, the Phantom had left but she still remained. He ran to her side kneeling by the bed as he took her hand in his.

"Christine?" he called. "Wake up my dearest, he is gone, you are safe now." When he got no response he became worried. "Christine! Please wake up," he called louder, but still no response. "What has he done to you?" He rose then and rushed to the door yelling for anyone to fetch a doctor quickly, returning to her side once he received an answer. "Do not fear Christine, you are with me now. He will never harm you again."

Erik remained on the other side of the mirror listening as all the Opera House became alive at the news of Christine's return. A doctor soon arrived, pushing his way through the crowd that had formed outside her door. After several minutes he gave his diagnosis, saying that Christine was in good health, she was just exhausted and in sore need of some rest. Erik's relief was great at the news, his fears only now beginning to subside.

"I shall take her to my villa." Raoul announced. "There she can recuperate in peace and safety."

"But Monsieur, do you think that is wise?" Firmin asked. "Such an act would be scandalous. For a young lady such as Christine to reside in your home un-chaperoned would destroy her reputation, as well as reflect badly on the Opera House."

"What choice do we have? I refuse to let her remain here with a madman lurking around, ready to snatch her away anytime the mood strikes him. He managed to spirit her away once, and behold the results," he motioned to Christine lying on the bed. "I hear by swear to protect her from any and all dangers this man poses."

"Very well, but please think of Christine. Take precautions to salvage her reputation. Heaven knows she had been featured in the papers enough already." Firmin sighed.

Raoul thought for a second then glancing over at Meg, who stood by her mother, and got an idea.

"Meg, will you accompany Christine to serve as chaperone?" He asked. "You have been such a loyal friend, I beg you to extend your aid a bit further. Please Meg…for Christine."

Meg glanced up questioningly at her mother, her eyes giving a silent plea for approval. A nod from Madame Giry sent a quick smile to Meg's lips.

"Of course Monsieur." She told him, turning towards the door. "I will fetch a few things now and return for the rest tomorrow." She left to do as she had said.

"There, my dear anxious friend." Raoul told Firmin. "All shall be quite respectable. Having Meg in residence as well should silence any wagging tongues." He turned to his servant who stood in the corner awaiting instructions. "Claude, go fetch the carriage and bring it around front. I wish for no more delays in removing Miss Daae to safety. This accursed room is still thick with the threat of this Phantom's presence." He had spat out the title as almost a curse as he looked around the room, shivering unconsciously.

Raoul then carried the sleeping Christine out of her room, out of the Opera House and most painfully…out of Erik's sight.

Wwwwaaaaaaa! Christine all gone! Erik sad! You sad too?

Ok, it can only get better from here on out…right? Well…..

So what did you think?

Erik is trying so hard to do what he thinks is right to make amends, but in the end he is just shooting himself in the foot isn't he?