After I had been dropped off at the Giry Breakfast Company, I headed in the direction of the fire escape. I climbed up several flights of stairs, stopping outside my window. I sighed, turning back to the stairs. It was quiet- too quiet.

I heard a sigh. Erik stepped out of the shadows, not meeting my gaze.

"Of course you followed me," I said, rolling my eyes. Erik's eyes met mine, his expression pained and hurting.

"Erik…" I sighed.

"I can't…" he said. I raised an eyebrow. "You can't leave me…"

I looked away, opening the window to my room carefully. "It's not like I want to… I have to. If I stay… there's no way I'll ever be able to answer any of your questions, nor my own questions. I have to set my mind straight, and the only way is to leave for awhile…"

Erik sat on the steps of the fire escape, head in his hands. It wrenched my heart to see him like this, but I didn't have much of a choice. I climbed in the window, silently grabbing a suitcase, filling it with clothes, money, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, a comb; the works. I zipped it shut, when Annie pounced on me, licking my hand happily.

"Good to see you, too," I said with a smile. I then realized that where I was going, I couldn't take her with me. I'm pretty sure you couldn't take dogs in airplanes, and the person I was visiting was allergic to dogs. (Ok, I just made that up. I don't know if he's actually allergic to dogs. If someone knows, please tell me.)

With a sigh, I climbed back out to the fire escape.

"Erik," I began, sitting next to him. "Where I'm going, I can't take Annie with me, and you did say you'd bring her to your home… I know, it's a lot to ask, and I don't expect you to, but… could you… watch her for me? Take care of her?"

Erik's surprised gaze met mine. "Of course…" he said.

Tears welled in my eyes. "I'm so sorry…"

I hugged him, not knowing what else to do. "I love you…"

He was crying. I could tell, because his voice cracked when he said, "I love you, too, amour. Always."

I pulled away, looking deeply into his eyes.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I can't tell you that," I answered with a sad smile. If I do, you'll follow me."

He looked down, eyes closed in despair. I lifted his head with one hand, kissing him softly. Of course, he got more out of that kiss than I willingly gave him.

He backed me against the rails of the staircase, his hands entwining in my disheveled hair, still soaked from the never ceasing rain. His kiss grew rough, his passion growing. He was afraid of losing me, of never seeing me again. That much was clear.

I returned the kiss with just as much passion. His fear grew with his lust, and soon his tongue was mingling with mine.

"Christine," he murmured. "I love you. I want you…"

I stood up suddenly. "Erik…"

He looked away. "Go."

I frowned, climbing inside to grab my suitcase. As I climbed back out, Annie followed, sitting near Erik obediently. I shut the window quietly, suitcase in hand. I stood there for some time, simply staring at him longingly.

He didn't meet my gaze. "Go, then!" he nearly shouted.

Startled, I hurried down the metal steps to the alleyway below. Running out, I waved down another taxi, hurrying inside. I didn't look back once.

At the airport, I paid for a last minute flight to London, England. The flight took a total of four hours, and it seemed to drag on forever. My mind kept straying back to Paris, to him.

But I had to concentrate. Erik vs. freedom… believe it or not, it was a tough decision. I wanted to complete high school, move on to college and become a professional singer. But my love for Erik prevented that. If I chose Erik, I would live in a sewer, mind you, a decorative and rather nicesewer, for the rest of my life. If I chose freedom, I'd never see him again.

Finally, the plane landed, and I was able to stretch my legs. It was now 8:30 in the morning, and I knew exactly where I was headed. Another taxi drove me to my friend's rather large apartment in London, only a few blocks from the Majestic Theater. I hurried up the steps to flat 561, knocking on the door, hoping it wasn't too early in the morning for him.

The door opened. Inside was a man with graying hair, brown eyes and sort of pale skin, wearing a light blue shirt and tan dress pants. He stood only a few inches taller than me, and at the moment, was shocked to see me.

"Well, if it isn't my goddaughter."

I laughed. "It's good to see you, too, Andrew."

Don't act like you saw that coming. You know you didn't.

Well, what do you think? REVIEWWW!