I don't own Phantom of the Opera
Ch. 14
I've now spent barely less than a week in the same bed, just listening to the conversations around me. Trying not to think. Now the visitors have become less continuous due to the new opera that the ballerinas were talking about, so not thinking has become more and more difficult. The long lapses of silence when I can no longer drift into unconsciousness seem to go on forever. So I'm forced to think, and the only thing that comes to my mind is the last thing Erik said to me. At times I'm deathly afraid of what could come of him, others I'm ready to run to his arms.
…
"I don't know what to do anymore Christine; everyone's telling me that you aren't coming back. I need you to come back." Meg's usual teary sobs are replaced by a calm composed voice. I don't want to confront her; I don't want to see the small sad accusing eyes. I hear a dry laugh before Meg continues talking. "You better come and confront your rival; she's driving the rest of us crazy." There's silence for a while then Megs walks away. I don't feel the guilt that I know I should. I don't want to leave this state, it's so much easier.
…
Cold hands close around my neck, slowly getting tighter, the smell of alcohol infests my nose. "You won't come back." An intoxicated voice sobs. I've stayed in my imaginary cocoon of safety for too long and I know it. I've never tried to wake up until now. I fear for my life, I fear whoever is on the outside now squeezing harder and harder. My efforts are futile; I have nothing tangible to hold onto. Trying to open my eyes suddenly seems like the hardest thing I've ever attempted. "Why don't you wake up?" I know that I'm getting short of breath, but I don't feel the ache. Oh God please save me. I redouble my efforts to feel my body to open my eyes, but it's like trying to walk through glue.
I don't know what's happening anymore, could I already be dead. The hands are still on my neck, I know that much, but something is different. There's a sudden yank I feel myself getting pulled, but I don't know where. "You!" the hands finally let go and I hit, not the bed, but a cold wooden floor. The loud blows right beside me make me fear for whoever is on the receiving end. Finally all noise stops, there's something different about me. I can feel my head pounding…I can feel.
I try very slowly to open my eyes one more time and I can see. I look straight up at the ceiling for a few minutes the try to turn my head. The extreme dizziness almost makes my cry out, I wait for my vision to clear and look up at a man that I at first cannot recognize. It takes me a while to take in the dark cloak and boots and after seeing the mask on the floor I know its Erik. He's looking down and after I shift my gaze I can see why, Raoul is on the floor his head bleeding and his arm bent at an unnatural angle. I feel no worry for him instead studying Erik for any signs of injury. I open my mouth to speak, and my first words come out in a whisper. Erik jerks his head up and puts a hand to the left side of his face and rushes to my side.
"Christine?" I notice the nonexistent hair and mildly figure that he usually wears a wig.
I try again to speak, "are you ok?" I can see at first shock, then anger, then at last amusement.
"I think you've been taking the doctors herbs for much too long." A slight chuckle escapes his lips, and he turns to put on his mask and wig. Frustrated that I didn't get an answer I ask again. "I am fine Christine" he answers with compassion, slowly he reaches under me and puts me back on the bed. He stands up and I take the moment to look at his face, there are large bags under his eyes and he's much paler than usual.
"Raoul tried to kill me?" I notice with no shock in my voice, he stiffens and looks back at Raoul.
"You made me forget about the worthless thing." He turns back toward me the steel in his eyes so much different than the gentleness they held before. "I swear if he isn't already on his way to hell I'll make sure that he feels my wrath."
"No" I try to sit up, but Erik puts his arms on my shoulders and pushes me back in bed. The frown shows his displeasure at my outburst and I feel like a child getting reprimanded.
"You don't want him to be punished, after what he was doing to you. Your neck will be bruised in the morning and most likely you won't be able to talk due to the swelling! If you are going to beg me let him live then you ask too much of me." His hands get tighter with each word until he finally lets go. "I must go Christine, someone is coming." With that he climbs out the window and not a moment later the door opens.
…
The doctor burst in and had the most expected reaction. He stood looking in horror at the scene around him then finally came to me to take care of me. After he deemed me healthy he went to look for someone to help him take Raoul to his own bed. He never asked me a question, never said a word all the while. The next morning a team of ballerinas bombarded my room, none of them were Meg. Erik's prediction had come true and they had fun asking me yes or no questions. I obliged them as much as I could, but I was extremely grateful when Madame Giry shooed them away. Madame Giry didn't say anything she just gave me a smile before following them out the door. Meg came in the afternoon, there was an awkward silence for two seconds then she walked up to my bed and collapsed in tears. We hugged for a long time, and after finding a note book and pencil we had a long conversation. About what happened, and how sorry we were. No one confronted me about Raoul until later in the evening. The doctor came in with a frown.
"Your friend has woken up, he took quite a beating." I nod my head and wait for him to continue. "We know that he had been drinking last night, and that you have many bruises that weren't there yesterday. All the signs say that he attacked you. He told me that he saw a monster that night and tried to save you. Which I can take until I realized that your blanket was on the ground when I walked in, which might or might not have meant that you fell off the bed and seeing you are still weak. I'm almost absolutely sure that you couldn't have gotten up on your own. I told the police that I didn't want them to interrogate you right now, but I want to know if you know what happened." I nod my head almost immediately he sighs softly. "Did Raoul attack you last night?" I nod once again and without another word the doctor leaves. I close my eyes finally able to feel peace sense I woke up. Raoul should be safe from Erik in jail and the bastard will get what he deserves.
…
I wake up at the sunrise; I at first admire the shades of pink and orange in the sky. I try getting out of bed, just to see if I can do it. After determining that the most I could do is sit up I relax against the headboard. The room is slowly filled with more light, a sliver of it hits the night stand and I notice an envelope. The skull stamp is familiar and I'm filled with dread and delight. I open the letter and shake out the paper.
Dear Angel,
Did you think that you could hide Raoul from me, dear? If so it was very naïve. Your time to choose is running short and I must ask that you hurry before my patience decides.
Yours forever,
Erik.