Chapter 36

I saw the fire long before I got to the Manor. The smoke billowed up over the trees and a bright glow shone over the area. I drove at breakneck speed up the long, twisting road to the gates of the Manor. But I found I couldn't get through. Crowds of onlookers had gathered, as well as the police, ambulance, fire brigade and the press. I ended up swearing at several people as I pushed my way through, leaving my bike behind. I didn't care what happened to it. All I cared about was getting through.

I reached the gates, which had been forced open and kicked someone out of the way as I ducked under the barrier. Instantly a police officer was on me.

"Stay behind the barrier!"

"You don't understand, I live here! Where's Erik?" I shouted. The officer stared at me.

"You live here?"

"Yes! Where is Erik?"

He pulled me over to another officer, a chief who looked at me.

"What?"

"This girl says she lives here."

"What's your name?" he asked me sharply.

"Christine Daae. Please, where is Erik?" I cried. He looked at me blankly.

"Erik?"

"Erik Lavonne! He lives here too, it's his house! Where is he?"

The officers looked at each other and I felt my head spin.

"You mean… he's not here? He's still inside?"

"Get me a fireman; we've got reason to believe there's someone inside!" The officer shouted. I screamed and started to run towards the burning house.

"Erik! ERIK!" I screamed.

Two firemen caught me and I kicked at them, still screaming for Erik. One of them let go as I kicked him and I started towards the house again.

"Erik! ERIK!" I cried, feeling tears streaming down my face.

Oh God, please let him be alright. Please let him be alive, please don't let him die, God, please…

"Please, Miss!" the fireman shouted, dragging me back. Several windows suddenly exploded and a few people screamed. I screamed too and tried to get to the house.

"Erik, please! Erik!" I cried, sobbing.

"Miss, please stop or we'll have to send you out!" the fireman shouted.

I felt my legs give way and fell to my knees, staring in horror as the house burned. Then the tears blurred my vision completely and I began to sob as the home I loved fell apart.

Someone knelt beside me and I realised it was Nadir. He held me tightly.

"Christine…"

"Nadir, he's still inside! He's… He's…" I whimpered.

"They're working on it, Christine. They'll get him out. Come on, let's get out of the way." He led me back towards the gate so the firemen could get past, spraying water everywhere.

Nadir stood with me by the gate, holding me up as I felt weak. I stared at the house, not bothering to wipe my tears away.

"He can't be dead, Nadir, please say he'll be OK." I whispered. Nadir didn't reply. I saw his eyes were bright and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see him give up hope. I had to keep my hope.

It was all I had right now.

I heard something and looked over at the television reporters. They were fighting to reach me, shouting questions and the cameras were suddenly going off. I stared at them and Nadir started to yell at them. I turned back to the house and closed my eyes, clasping my hands together in silent prayer.

Please, God, don't let him die. He doesn't deserve to die, please don't do this. Let him be alive. Let him be alive. Don't let him be dead. I love him, God, I love him. Please let him live.

I squeezed my eyes tightly closed as I fell to my knees, still praying silently. The tears leaked out and I could hear people shouting questions to me, the flash of cameras. None of it registered. All I could think about how the last words I had said to Erik had been in anger, accusing, full of fury.

Please… please… I need him. Please let him be alive.

"Christine?" I looked up and saw Meg behind the barrier. I got shakily to my feet. She reached out her hands over the barrier and caught me, hugging me tightly. She was crying too.

"Oh, Christine…"

"He's gone, Meg. He's…" my voice cracked and I sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder. I could hear Meg crying softly, the feel of the barrier cutting into my legs as we held each other over it.

"Christine, he'll be OK. It's Erik, he'll be OK…" She whispered. I blinked hard and saw that the television cameras were on us. There was a flash as a camera went off and Nadir pushed the photographer away, standing over Meg and me protectively.

There was a sudden bang as more windows shattered with the heat intensity and I turned quickly to face the fire. Several people shouted or gasped as the flames soared ever higher. Pieces of burning debris were falling, forcing the fire-fighters back. So far, the fire had mostly kept to the right side of the house but now it was spreading quickly.

For some reason my mind started to race through the rooms that were burning. One was living room, the kitchen, the bedrooms, the music room. The thought of Erik's beloved piano going up in flames sent a stab into my heart. And then a terrible thought struck me.

What if Erik had been in the music room? What if he was still there?

"NO!" I screamed as the flames reared up again. I fell forward a few steps, but stopped, searching desperately.

He's dead

The thought struck me and I wailed in anguish, clasping my hands over my mouth. I closed my eyes and buried my face in my hands, screaming into them. I felt Nadir stand beside me, Meg's arms around my shoulders.

And then…

"On the roof!" someone shouted. I looked up quickly.

Among the light of the flames, on the left hand side of the house, I saw one of the balconies, people running towards it. And standing on it I saw the outline of a man.

"Erik… ERIK!" I cried and ran forward, following the firemen. The heat of the flames made me reel away but I pressed on. The heat made my skin begin to burn and blister; I wasn't wearing the protective clothing that the firemen had. The smoke stung my eyes and I had to blink hard several times to see. I heard the press pushing through behind me, Nadir and Meg on my tail.

Erik was climbing up onto the edge of the balcony. He was going to jump! I ran forward and screamed his name again.

He looked down and saw me. I saw his eyes widen. Then he looked away and jumped towards a tree. My breath froze and everything seemed to slow down until it was hardly moving as Erik reached for the branches of the tree.

His hands wrapped around the branches. I felt relief wash over me and then I screamed as the branch broke with an ominous crack.

Erik fell towards the ground. I felt completely numb.

He twisted as he fell and landed on his feet, falling at once to all fours, choking and coughing. My heart began to pound painfully.

"Erik!" I shouted and rushed forward to him. The police didn't stop me now as I fell towards Erik. He got his feet when he saw me coming and shouted my name again and again, rushing to me, clutching his side.

"Christine!" he shouted, reaching for me.

"Erik!"

I fell into his arms and held him tightly. His arms wrapped around me, squeezing me so hard it hurt but I didn't care. The numbness washed over me again and I was crying, and so was he, and I knew that the press were filming every second but I didn't care because he was kissing me and it tasted of salt from his tears and mine and I felt nothing and everything and, God, I love him so much…

And then he fell to his knees, pulling me with him. I clung to him, sobbing, my arms tightly around his neck.

"I thought… I thought you were…" I whispered. He lifted his face to look at me.

"Christine…"

"I thought…" I whimpered before beginning to cry again. Erik looked into my face and then he held me tightly again.

I kissed him again and he pulled me to him, holding me as if he'd never let go. And then he gasped and began to choke. I started back, shocked.

"Erik, what's wrong?" he had gone pale. I stared at him. "Erik?" A policeman rushed forward as he fell forward. I leant forward and caught him, holding him tightly, his weight awkward in my grasp.

"Paramedic, now!"

"Broken ribs, lung damage…"

"Get him to surgery…"

"…the mask…"

Everything after that was a blur. My head was spinning and was vaguely aware of being put into an ambulance, hearing people talking about going into shock, felt a needle in my arm. After that blackness washed over me.

Have you ever woken up in a hospital room? It's a relatively terrifying experience. At first all I knew was that it was nice and cool. And then I heard a regular beeping noise, which I knew was good but didn't know why. I was also aware that I was aching, but I couldn't say where the pain was coming from.

I opened my eyes. It was hard and my eyelids seemed like sandpaper. The whole room was white. It's supposed to be a colour of purity, but all it meant to me was emptiness. It reminded me of those days Dad and I had spent in Mum's hospital room. It was so neutral, so blank.

I lifted my head off the white pillow. My head was pounding, much like it had yesterday morning. But this wasn't a hangover. This was much worse.

Erik.

I had to find Erik.

I pulled the needle that attached me to the drip from my arm. A drop of blood leaked down my arm onto the white nightdress I was wearing. I was almost grateful for the colour in the sea of white. I went to the door and opened it. It led into a corridor. I moved along slowly, almost unsure as to whether or not I was awake.

"Miss Daae!" I turned and saw a woman dressed in white. A nurse. She looked at me in surprise. "Miss Daae, get back to bed immediately"

"Please… where is he?" I whisper. My voice isn't strong enough to talk properly.

"Your father has gone back to his own ward, I'll fetch him."

"Not Dad. Erik. Where is Erik?" I said hoarsely.

The nurse stared at me and then took my arm. I wrenched it out of her grasp.

"Where is Erik?" I said again. The nurse said calmly,

"The doctor will be with you in a few minutes. He'll talk to you."

"Where is Erik?"

She didn't reply this time. She simply took my arm and pushed me back towards my room, standing over me until I'm lying on the bed again.

This doesn't feel real. I must still be dreaming. It's all too surreal.

A man in a white coat entered. More white. I felt ill at the sight of him, although he was a friendly looking man. He smiled at me brightly.

"Christine, how are you feeling?"

"Where is Erik?"

"That's all she's said since she's woken." The nurse said anxiously. The doctor sat down beside me. I edged away.

"Christine, how are you feeling?" he asked again. I stared at him. What the hell was wrong with these people? I took a deep breath.

"Frankly, doctor, I feel like shit. Now, where is Erik Lavonne?"

The doctor made a note on his clipboard and looked at me.

"Christine, we believe you've got mild shock. It's really nothing to worry about; you should be ready to leave by the end of the day. Your arms are also a little sore because of the heat, but they'll heal, no problem."

"I don't care. Where is Erik?" I said desperately. I put my hand on his arm. "Where is he? Please, just tell me where he is."

The doctor looked at me and then sighed.

"Erik Lavonne is in a different room, recovering from surgery."

"Is he… is he going to be OK?" I asked. The doctor licked his lips slowly, trying to decide what to tell me.

"To be honest, Christine, we don't know. He's got several broken ribs, a punctured lung, concussion, smoke damage to the lungs… combined with the shock of the whole incident, we can't make a statement at this time."

I stared at him blankly. None of it was sinking in. This was Erik. He'd be OK. He was always OK. I make one more request.

"Can… can I see him?"

"I don't think that's such a good idea." The nurse said. But I kept my eyes on the doctor. He hesitated and then looked at the nurse.

"Fetch a wheelchair."

When we reached the room, the doctor looked at the nurse.

"You can go." She didn't look pleased but left anyway. I stood and opened the door.

In a bed with white sheets lay Erik. I moved over to him and sank into the chair near his head. He was barely breathing. The only sign that he was alive was the reassuring beep of the heart monitor. I touched his hand. It was horribly cold.

He looked dead.

I shook the thought away and then realised something. I look at the doctor.

"Where is his mask?"

"On the bedside table. He doesn't need to wear it here." The doctor said. I picked up the white mask and slipped it onto Erik's face. He didn't move and the doctor was about to protest but I said,

"He doesn't like people to see him without his mask."

I picked up one of his hand and pressed it to my lips. I heard the doctor leaving us alone and pressed my cheek against the cold hand.

"I'm sorry, Erik. I'm sorry for what I did. For what I said. For running away again."

Empty silence. I kiss the hand again.

"Please don't leave me, Erik. Please don't leave me alone. I love you. So much it hurts. Don't leave me. I'll do anything you want. Just don't leave me."

My voice slid up so high that it broke. I held his hand against my face.

"I need you more than I ever needed anyone in my entire life. I don't care about anything else. Just… come back. You promised, remember? Promised that you'd stay with me, not matter what. I'm not going to run anymore, Erik. No more running. Just promise you'll stay with me." I whispered.

He didn't reply. He didn't wake up. He didn't say a single word.

And I wept.

A/N: OK, I was practically in tears on this chapter and I wrote the darn thing. Stupid hormones. Next chapter soon. I wouldn't dare not let it be soon after some of the threats I got after the last chapter! Although, I have to say that Lizzie Black's threat was the worst. Taking away my POTO DVD? That's just CRUEL!

OK people! Voting for the Phantom of the Opera Reader's Choice Awards starts tonight. The link to voting is in my profile. But I have to say, I highly doubt I'll win anything after seeing what other stories are up for awards. Still, I can't believe I was even nominated!

Please leave a review on your way out!

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie