Longest chappy yet! THE END IS NIGH! Thank you everyone for your support on killing the Fop, I totally agree!Hope everyone had a Merry Xmas!

Christine had been locked down in the cellar for almost a week now. At least, that's what she thought. She'd lost track of the days since she had been imprisoned at her former fiancée's home. The two men who had abducted her had been sent to find a doctor… Doctor Cicero he had been called. Ever since then, she had been on the verge of a meltdown. But it had been days since they left, and no word of the doctor. Food was occasionally sent down to her by a maid, but that was all. Would this be the end, then? Would she and her child die down in this cellar?

And Erik? What would become of Erik if I die?

So many horrible thoughts began tumbling in her mind, she started to feel sick. She wished she could just go to sleep, but her anxiety and the baby, who was getting very active, kept her awake.

All of a sudden, a crash from upstairs pulled her from her thinking. She heard raised voices, and what seemed to be a gunshot. All the commotion terrified her.

The door to the cellar burst open. The Fop stood there. "Get up. We're leaving."

He forced her up the stairs, and through the parlor, where the body of one of the men who had abducted her was lying dead from a gunshot.

Christine screamed.

* * *

Earlier that day, Erik and his new companion Isabeu had made their way into a nearby suburb of Paris. He had told her about his quest, and she listened like a true friend. But his new friend had gotten upset with him. The pair had hardly talked since that morning because Isabeu was mad at Erik for waking her so early. She told his that women don't like to be disturbed so early in the day. She had been asking around for directions from some locals, while Erik kept a lookout. Erik spied two familiar faces in the crowd, leading on another man. They were the two men who abducted Christine! He got off his horse, and ran after the three men. The bigger man, Ace, had heard a noise behind him, and saw Erik charging towards them.

Erik lunged at them, and grabbed Tent-pole and threw him to the ground. He picked up a large anvil, and slammed it into his head. Tent-pole stopped moving.

He turned to the other two, Ace pushing the other man into a carriage. Erik ripped Ace out of the carriage, and drew his blade. He held it to Ace's throat, but before he could deliver the deadly slash, a gunshot rang out. Erik felt a burning pain in his side, and let go of his enemy. His eyes were getting blurry, and he saw the two men made a speedy getaway in the carriage. He crumpled from the ground, and raised his hand to where the bullet had pierced him.

A steady stream of blood trickled down his snow white shirt.

"Erik!" A voice shouted. Isabeu's voice. She caught him before he crumpled into darkness.

Is this my death? He thought to himself, as his thoughts began to fade, I'm sorry Christine, I've failed you…

"Isabeu?" he managed to sputter, as he felt someone half carry him to an alleyway.

"Yes," she responded, tugging at his shirt, "Stay still, I need to get this bullet out of you.

Silly child, Can't you see-

"I'm dying?" he accidentally whispered.

"Not on my watch," she whispered as she took out her small medical bag.

***

Raoul had had his former fiancée blindfolded, and secured into a carriage after Ace had come back with news of The Phantom. In his anger, The Vicompte shot down his henchman. He had told Doctor Cicero to meet them at the abandoned opera house, since no one ever goes in there. In truth, the Fop was afraid. He needed to get rid of Christine and her baby before Erik could steal her back. But, unbeknownst to Erik, Raoul had a sinister plan for him. Raoul assumed that The Phantom would follow Christine wherever she went. And since no one ever goes to the opera house, no one would know what happened there…

***

"Erik?"

Erik didn't want to open his eyes. He felt groggy and dizzy. He felt Isabeu's presence, but mistook her for Christine.

"Christine?" he murmured, hoping that this past week or so had been a nightmare, a bad dream.

"Christine?" Isabeu echoed, "No, Erik, it's me, Isabeu. How are you feeling?"

"Terrible," he muttered, trying to sit up. "Where are we?"

"Inside the Opera Populaire." She said, "And don't get up so fast, your stitches will break. I had to do an emergency surgery back in that alleyway, or you would have-"

"Inside the-"Erik couldn't believe his ears. Why, of all places, should she bring them here?

"It was either this place or the jailhouse," Isabeu said quickly, catching the manic look on her companion's face. "The police were coming, so I took us to the one place in Paris that no one ever goes into. Is something wrong?"

He had no answer for her. He hadn't been here for eight months, and the place was almost fully restored. It was amazing.

"Erik," Isabeu intruded on his thoughts, "When you woke up, you said the name Christine. And while you were asleep, you kept calling to her. And now that I've told you where we are, you look sort of guilty…like…" Her eyes lit up. "Like YOU were the one that caused the fire here! And your mask…" Isabeu had been very polite about his mask before. She hadn't brought it up in previous conversation. "Erik, are you The Ph-"

"Yes. I am the Phantom of the Opera." Said the ex-Opera Ghost, scooting up into a seated position. "Or was, anyway. I must find Christine before Raoul can kill her. Come, now, help me up."

"We're in a bit of a pickle, friend." Isabeu whispered, "I hear someone coming, we have to hide!"

ow, here's the scoop. I am not going to be able to write the next chappy for, maybe three to five days. I have to go to D.C to visit Grandpa. So, I would love it If people would send me Ideas on how I should continue. Should the Fop be spared? Will the baby live? What about Erik and Isabeu? Will they find Christine in time? It's up to you, my dear readers. Bon Voyage!

-Isabeu A. Jones.