Falling

Christine walked into work two days later feeling worn out. She'd been working for the past three nights until after midnight, she barely spent any time with her father anymore, and Raoul hadn't called.

She wearily went about her business not doing things up to her usual standard.

Marie noticed. "Christine, girl, what's up?"

Christine turned her head in Marie's direction while filling a cup with Diet Coke. "Nothi-"

"Whoa, watch out!"

The drink overflowed and, before Christine could react, she dropped the cup and it fell to the floor. "Damn it," she whispered.

Marie heard her and gasped. "Woah, Christine talks dirty? I had no idea! Wow, you get better and better!"

"I just spilt Diet Coke everywhere," she mumbled flatly. "I think I get worse and worse."

"Oh, screw the mess. I'll clean it up. Just take the person the order and when you come back I want to know why you're so down." She smiled. "Now hustle!"

Christine really liked Marie. She was lucky to have such a good shift manager.

After taking the order, she went back inside not really feeling ready to explain her pathetic problems.

"Now spill," Marie commanded, having just cleaned up Christine's mess.

"I already did," Christine replied jokingly, referring to spilling the drink. Both of them laughed. "Anyway, nothing's really wrong… I guess I'm just not used to working so much. And there's this guy... He was supposed to call me so we could hang out, but he never did."

"Do you not like working here?"

"No! It's not that! This job's great!" Christine saw the unconvinced look on Marie's face and quickly added, "Really. My problems mostly have to do with the guy who was supposed to call me."

"Well, about him.. Men are men. They do things when you least expect it. He'll call. I mean, look at you. How could he not? The guy's going to call. Trust me."

Christine finally smiled, deciding that Marie could be right.

"Don't be in a bad mood, not when it's pay day!"

"We're getting paid today? Already?"

"Already? Girl, I've been waiting for this for two weeks!"

Her gloom and doom mood vanished completely as excitement took over. "I can't wait to cash it!"

"They're sitting in that drawer right there," Marie pointed. "But hey, remember, the faster you cash it, the faster you trash it."

"I'll use it wisely, I promise." Christine smiled innocently.

"Sure, wild thing," Marie teased. Then, the girls got back to work.

Erik pulled into the Sonic parking lot at 10:00 that night. If that boy dares to show up, so help me... I will snap his neck.

To put it simply, Erik was not in a good mood at all. He needed to see his angel. She would make it all better, he knew. Well, she would if that boy didn't show up.

She couldn't possibly have feelings for him, whoever he was. No, she belongs to me. Well, she will belong to me. And even if she did feel something for the boy, it would pass. 'Lust' has never been 'love'.

Midnight came and Christine found that she was still in good spirits. Marie had really helped her out earlier.

I know exactly what I'm going to do when I get out of here. I'm going straight to the bank with my check! She giggled and Marie looked at her shaking her head but laughing, too.

When it was finally time, Christine grabbed her check and high tailed it out of there. She didn't even notice the black car parked near hers, or the masked man behind the wheel of it.

All that mattered was getting to the bank.

In no time she was there. The ATM seemed to be calling her name. Unfortunately it wasn't a drive-thru ATM, so Christine had to get out of her car and walk up to it. She didn't mind this time, though.

Erik smiled at her apparent excitement as she walked out of the Sonic building. He assumed she was happy to be getting off work. He was happy about it, too.

He gave her a bit of a head start before following behind her. My Christine..

They drove a different way than usual. Erik wondered where she could possibly be going. His first thought was that she was going to the boy's house. But, no, he decided. She would not go this late. That would be entirely inappropriate and unlike her.

He continued to follow fairly close behind so as not to lose her. It was then that she turned into the parking lot of a bank. A bank? What could she possibly need at a bank at this hour?

He parked pretty far from her so that she wouldn't see him but so that he could still see her, and he watched as she got out of her car and headed towards the ATM.

Something caught Erik's peripheral vision then... Someone was runningtowards the same spot that Christine was at. And the person had a knife.

Erik through open his car door and started sprinting towards the scene. He was ready to kill.

Christine deposited her check while humming softly. A smile was still on her face as she began walking back to her car.

A moment later, however, strong hands grabbed her from behind and she let out a gasp.

"We're gonna go back to the ATM and you're gonna do as I say," the man told her quickly, yet softly, and he began to drag her backwards.

Christine couldn't help but let out a terrified scream and struggled.

"Stop yelling!" She didn't stop, and he growled before ramming the handle of his knife into the side of her head.

It seemed like slow motion as she began to fall. Help me... That was her last thought before she fell to the ground unconscious.

She didn't see what happened a moment later.

"What the-" The man with the knife didn't even have time to blink before Erik killed him with one fluent motion of his trusty Punjab lasso.

Leaving him dead on the ground, Erik turned and bent to examine his unconscious angel. "Christine? Christine?" He checked her pulse and thankfully found that she was still breathing. "Christine, can you hear me?" A feeling of panic was wanting to set in, but Erik wouldn't let that happen. There was only one option.

He picked her up and hurriedly took her to his car. Erik noticed his hand was slightly bloody when he placed her on the back seat. His eyes narrowed in fear and anger. That evil man had damaged his beloved. Her blood had been spilt!

What if I hadn't been there? What then? He shook his head. Well, I was there. I saved her. I am her protector now.

Then, determination came over him. I must take her to the mansion. She is only safe with me. Only me..

Erik went around to the driver's side, started the engine, and quickly headed towards the mansion.