Author's Note: I have received one review and a couple of private messages questioning why it was such a big deal for Christine to see a doctor in Chapter 24. I am actually glad this was questioned, because I did quite a bit of research on the subject before writing the chapter.

Christine did not go to a regular doctor. The doctor she visited was one who practiced an unnamed practice in which they would examine a woman's labia for discoloration and feel for any added pressure in the area. They claimed that this practice would enable them to be able to tell if a woman was pregnant or not (of course, in very early stages of the pregnancy). This practice was extremely frowned upon because it involved a strange man touching and examining a very intimate part of a woman's body. Christine was ashamed to go there because of the way the strange doctor had touched her.

Anywho, I hope that answered your questions! On with the chapter!

A week passed since Erik had left Christine and all hell was breaking loose.

Christine had spent most of her time locked in her room, mourning the loss of her lover. Nadir hardly saw her at all, only seeing her when she would come out to have a piece of bread or use the restroom. He felt awful for the girl, but he could not do much about it. All he could do was wait for Erik's letter.

But everything would soon change.

It was early in the morning on a Monday and Nadir had been asleep in the parlor. He had fallen asleep there last night while doing work and had never gotten up to go to his bed. He was sleeping peacefully when he was awoken by a loud scream.

The Persian sat straight up, his eyes flying opened. He ran out of the parlor and down the hall, going in the direction of the scream. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the doors to Christine's bedchamber and the bathroom wide open and a light trail of red leading from each door.

Nadir quickly ran to the bathroom, pushing the door open even wider. He found Christine on the floor, tears running violently down her cheeks.

"No!" she screamed. "It can't be, no!"

She was dressed only in her bloomers and short chemise and Nadir could see how much blood stained her bloomers. His face went white at the sight of the blood on her clothes and the floor. How long had she been in here?

The young girl desperately tore a rag down from the hook, not even noticing Nadir's presence. She tried to get the blood of the floor, but her attempts were not successful. She let out a loud sob and hung her head, her arms wrapping around her middle.

"Christine… what is going on?" Nadir asked, still in shock.

Christine looked up at him, her face red and blotchy from all the crying she'd done. She did not speak, she couldn't find her voice. Instead, she began to sob once more, putting her head in her hands and weeping loudly.

Nadir slowly went to her, laying a hand on her back as he knelt down beside her. "We must get you cleaned up. I will let you clean up and change in my private bathroom. Come now," he said, reaching out his hand for her.

She did not take his hand. Christine was so embarrassed and so upset, she did not want to go anywhere until the bleeding stopped.

"I-I want to be left alone," she mumbled, choking back another sob.

"Christine, you cannot sit like this. It is not good for you," Nadir said, trying to get her to look at him.

Christine continued to look at her bloody lap. "It doesn't matter anymore. I don't have Erik or his child. Nothing matters anymore, Nadir," she whispered.

The Persian understood then. This was not about what he had thought. She was upset because she was not carrying Erik's child after all.

He let out a soft sigh. "Christine, I know you are upset, but you cannot remain like this. Things do matter—"

"No! Just leave me!" she said harshly, turning away from him. "Leave me to wallow in my sorrows alone!"

Nadir could not fight with her any longer. He left her, not knowing how to help her. He cursed Erik for leaving him alone with her, for leaving at all.

A knock on the front door disrupted his thoughts. Nadir quickly went to the door, finding a messenger on the other side.

"I have a letter for Monsieur Khan," the boy said, handing Nadir a letter. Nadir placed a coin in the boy's hand, then shut the door. He knew exactly who this letter was from.

Nadir ripped open the envelope and read the words on the page.

Nadir,

I am just outside of France, waiting for you. I am staying at a small, private inn and will leave as soon as I receive a message back from you.

My instructions for you are to go to Vienna. You must leave France and Christine. Tell her that you have been offered a job in Vienna and must leave immediately. She will believe you, I have no doubt that she will.

I have been in contact with Antoinette Giry and she and Meg are coming to meet me at the inn. They will be travelling with me to my new Opera House, where we will hide out and work. You mustn't tell Christine this. I know that she does not know where the Opera House will be located, but I cannot risk things. Do not let her see this letter, either. If I find that she has seen it, you will have me after you, and we both know that would not end well for you.

I hope that Christine is in good health and that you are taking care of her. Hopefully she is not dwelling much on my departure.

What I would like you to do with her is simple. I would like you to instruct her to return to Paris. Monsieur Reyer, one of my former loyal servants at the Opera Populaire, will be waiting for her. I have been in contact with him and he is holding a role for Christine in their grand re-opening show, Hannibal. She is familiar with the role of Elisa and will do just fine. She is to be in Paris is a week's time to claim the role, and I expect to hear that she has reported back to Reyer.

I thank you for your patience.

Erik

Nadir knew he had to tell Erik what was going on down the hall. He made his way to his office, grabbing a piece of paper and pen.

Erik,

I feel it would be in your best interest to return back to Amiens. It is hell here, my friend. Christine is in terrible health, hardly eating or drinking anything, not getting much sleep, and doing a lot of weeping when she is alone. She has spent the entire week locked away in her bedchamber, not allowing me to speak to her.

This morning I was awoken by her screams and found her in the bathroom, sitting in a pool of blood. I have no clue how long she has been in there, but she will not let me help her. Trust me, I have tried my hardest to help. She is hysterical over her bleeding, sobbing over the fact that she is not carrying your child.

I fear that she is going downhill very fast, Erik. The loss of you has devastated her terribly. She needs you back, she does not care that you may have hurt her. Not only does she need you back, but I need you to return as well, especially if you want me to go to Vienna. I cannot leave her alone like this, she will destroy herself. You are dooming her to damnation.

Please take my advice, Erik.

Nadir

He folded up the letter and went to the post, giving it to a boy to have delivered.

Christine remained in the bathroom for most the day, sobbing to herself and not getting up from her spot.

Her heart was shattered. When Erik had left, all she could hope for was that she could have his child with her. She just wanted a piece of him with her, and a child was something she'd always dreamt of.

When she awoke to blood stained sheets, she felt as though she wanted to die. She had rushed to the bathroom, praying to God that it was just a dream, but when she felt the pain in her abdomen and began to bleed again, she knew all of the signs had been false. She had never had Erik's child with her after all.

The thought hurt her badly. Every last piece of him was gone. She had nothing.

Christine wanted to die. She truly believed she had nothing else to live for. A child was her last hope, and now that hope had been shattered.

As she sat on the cold, bathroom floor, she let her pain and sadness consume her. She had no desire to tie on her rags and to clean up the bloody mess anymore. There was not point, it wouldn't make her feel any better.

Finally, after spending nearly the whole day in the bathroom, Christine got up and ran water in the bathtub. She needed to clean up and lie down, for she was exhausted from all the crying. Christine removed her ruined bloomers and chemise, quickly washing herself. When she had finished, she tied her rags around her and grabbed her robe from the hook, slipping it on. She got on her hands and knees and began to scrub the blood off the floor. It took her nearly an hour to clean everything up, and once she did, she went to her bedchamber. She removed the bloody sheets and climbed into bed, not bothering to change into her nightgown.

She lay in her bed awake all night, mourning the loss of the child that never was.

Author's Note: Poor Christine );

I apologize for the shortness of this chapter, but the next one should be longer. The drama is not over yet, my friends.

Thanks again for all the reviews. Don't hesitate to leave me any because I love them!