Christine sobbed into her hands, not caring who saw or heard her.

She was heartbroken. Everything she had ever wanted was gone, riding away in a carriage somewhere in Amiens. He had left her without even saying goodbye. He had just left her with a damn note!

Christine began to cry harder as pain crushed her heart. She felt a gentle hand on her back and looked up, slightly frightened.

Nadir stood above her, his eyes sad as he pitied Christine. "Come, child. Let us speak inside," he said softly, helping her off the ground.

Christine slowly got up, her lip quivering and her body trembling. Nadir wrapped his arm around her shoulder, guiding her back to the house. He tried to steady her, but she shook and cried the whole way inside. He brought her into the parlor, letting her sit on the divan.

"Christine, tell me what has happened," he said, kneeling before her. "Why are you bruised up? Why was there so much screaming late in the night? Why was there a note from Erik under my door this morning?"

The young girl put her head in her hands and let out a loud cry. She felt so guilty for making him leave. She should have told him about her pains, she shouldn't have hid anything from him. She had promised him never to hide anything from him, and she did just that! It was all her fault.

"I-It's all my fault!" she sobbed. "I should have told him, Nadir! I could have prevented it all!"

"Christine, slow down. Breathe. Tell me everything, I will listen," Nadir coaxed, handing her a handkerchief.

Christine took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes, taking in a deep breath. "I… I felt pain yesterday, s-so I went to see a doctor. I-I didn't know Erik had seen me and followed me, and to him I seemed very suspicious. He watched as I went inside, thinking that I had paid the man to sleep with me. But oh, he was mistaken.

"I heard word that this doctor was involved in a few practices that interested me. He was said to be able to know whether a woman was pregnant by examining her for discoloration and pressure…"

Nadir's eyes widened. "Christine, you did what?" he gasped. "Do you realize how frowned upon those practices are?"

Christine hung her head, staring at her lap. "Oh, I shouldn't have done it, Nadir… I know that that man was a doctor, but I felt so uncomfortable and so wonton the whole time! The sounds Erik must have heard me make were awful! No wonder he thought what he did!" she began to cry again, burying her face in the handkerchief.

Nadir could not believe what he was hearing. The practices she was speaking of were not only highly frowned upon, but they could get her in a lot of trouble, and it seemed they already had. If anyone knew she went to this doctor, she would be known as a whore. These doctors were great doctors, but awful at the practice of examining the women in this way. They would often touch them in ways they shouldn't, claiming it was just 'part of the examination'. Women were warned never to go see doctors for these examinations, but they often didn't listen.

Christine had obviously been very desperate for an answer, because she was a smart girl and would have never gone to this doctor. But oh, had she made a grave mistake.

"Calm down, Christine… what happened next?" Nadir asked.

She wiped her eyes and continued. "I left after seeing the doctor, feeling very violated and wrong. He had said that it was too soon to tell if I was with child. I just wanted to go to Erik, for him to comfort me and tell me everything was going to be alright. But instead, I returned to find him waiting for me in my bedchamber. He… he attacked me… he strangled me and screamed at me, thinking that I had betrayed him…"

Nadir's eyes wandered to the dark marks on her neck. Had Erik held her that tightly? Had he let his anger get so out of hand that he nearly killed her?

Christine continued to speak of the horrid events. "…After he'd thrown me to the floor, I told him that he was wrong. I explained to him that I was seeing a doctor because I had been feeling pain. He suddenly became so sad, all of his anger had left. He tried to touch me, to calm me and say he was sorry, but I sent him away. Oh Nadir, why did I do that? I broke his heart!" she cried.

The Persian shook his head. "Do not blame yourself, Christine. He had no right to do that to you. So I assume he left after this?"

The young girl nodded. "Yes, but I returned to him late in the night. I came into his room seeking comfort, for I had been feeling more pain. He was reluctant to touch me, for I know he was very ashamed of himself, but I made him. I lay in his bed and he held me while I slept, but when I awoke, he… he was gone…"

More tears came with those last words. Christine was an emotional wreck. Nadir shook his head. "He left. That bastard left. I presume he left you a note as well?"

Christine looked up and nodded. "He left a note saying that he was leaving. He said he left me my payment and that he wanted me to find someone else to love, someone who would treat me better. But I cannot, Nadir! He is the one I love! I already lost one man I love, I cannot let another slip through my fingers!"

Nadir pursed his lips. "Christine, I am afraid that you cannot get him now. He is probably out of Amiens by now. He left some details in the note he gave me, but no specific locations. He instructed me to not let you come after him. He wants you to be away from him, to be in safety. He is afraid of harming you, Christine…"

Christine shook her head. "I don't need to be away from him, I know he would never harm me again! I want him back, Nadir! I need him back!"

The Persian laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Child, Erik is going to do everything in his power to hide himself from you. He expects you to hate him, to shun him. He does not want you looking for him."

"I do not care what he wants. He should know that if I love him, I will look for him. I will search everywhere for him, Nadir! I will search and search until the day I die!"

Nadir sighed. He knew he could not get through to her. "He has promised to write me when he is out of France. If you will, wait before you do anything extreme. Wait for me to receive his letter, then I will tell you what you can do. He expects me to care for you, and I must do my job."

Christine hung her head once more, getting up from the divan. "May I see you letter, Nadir?" she asked, turning away from him to hide the tears in her eyes.

The Persian pulled a folded note out of his pocket and handed it to her. Christine quickly unfolded it, her heart hurting as she saw Erik's handwriting.

Daroga,

I regret to inform you that I am leaving France today. I have done something terrible and must flee immediately.

I ask you to please watch over Christine. I have hurt her badly, and I want to make sure she heals. If she is to become ill, take her to a trusted doctor immediately. When I write you again, I expect to hear of her condition.

I know the girl will be very upset, very angry. No matter how emotional she is, do not, under any circumstances, let her try and find me. I will be far gone and I do not want her wasting her time searching for a monster. She deserves much better than I, remind her of that. She no longer needs the burden of my presence. I was reminded that I am not a man, but a monster. Christine needs a man. A murderer will do her no good.

My next letter to you will contain instructions and what I want you to do with Christine. I know she will most likely not want my guidance, but I feel that I must provide it to her. I owe her a brighter future.

I am aware that she fears she may be with child. As for me, I have a strong feeling she is not. The pain she has been describing is not the pain of pregnancy. She has had this pain before, I would know. I fear that she will be reminded of what this pain is from soon. Tell her I am sorry for this.

When it happens, leave her alone. I know Christine well, she will need time alone. Let her cope with it on her own.

If I am wrong, and I know I am not, tell me immediately. The next letter will have arrived by the time she finds out her fate, so you will know how to contact me. You must inform me whether she is with child or not, for if it turns out that she is, I will send more funds to her so she may have money for the child.

Do take good care of her, Nadir. I love her and I do not want anything or anyone else to harm her as I have.

Erik

Christine was so upset and confused; she had no idea what to do. She let her sadness consume her and dropped the note, rushing out of the parlor and down to her bedchamber. Nadir called after her, but she locked him out, collapsing to the floor and sobbing.

Erik was out of France by nightfall. The image of Christine's face stuck in his mind. She had looked so broken as she ran towards his carriage. She was so lost, so defeated…

And he had left her.

Erik hated himself. How could he just leave her like that? How could he be so selfish?

He imagined what Christine was doing now? Was she angry? Was she crying? Was she sick? Was she fast asleep, trying to forget him?

Erik could only hope she wasn't hating him, though she had every right to. He did not deserve her love anymore.

He remembered the marks he had left on her skin. He had let the animal in him be released, and look at what he'd done! He'd bruised her, he'd scared her, he'd made her cry! Now he'd left her like a foolish idiot!

Erik hated himself more than ever. He wished he could return to her, but he knew he couldn't. He had to go far away, he had to get away from Christine.

From his love.

From his whole life. He had to start anew.

Erik put his head in his hands and closed his eyes, letting the dark, depressing night consume him.