Past the Flames of Hell

By KaitlynRose

Raoul approached the see-through mirror, relieved to see that there were no flames in the dressing room, but it was filling with smoke. He slid the glass out of the way and smoke quickly entered the tunnel.

"Raoul, there's so much smoke," Christine said with a cough.

Raoul ran to the dressing table which held a pitcher of water. He quickly soaked a towel with water.

"Hold this over your nose and mouth he ordered." He then wet another cloth and put it over his own face. He hurried to the door and felt it. It was warm but not blazing hot. Very carefully he opened the dressing room door.

He was shocked at what he saw. Flames climbed up the walls all around. Had they made it this far only to die now? Then he saw a path leading through the flames. If they moved fast, then maybe, just maybe there was hope. With no time to think, Raoul grabbed Christine's arm in a vice like grip and moved quickly, ducking and dodging, making their way through the now abandoned building, heading in the direction of the stables.

A loud cracking noise above them caused Raoul to stop and look. A huge beam high above them was fully engulfed in flames. Another loud crack confirmed what he suspected. The beam gave way and began to fall straight for them. Raoul literally threw Christine out of the way before leaping to the ground himself. The beam crashed on to the floor next to them. The flames coming from the beam seemed to scorch Raoul's skin but only for a second as he scrambled to his feet.

Christine was disoriented and her energy was fading fast. He prayed she didn't faint, at least not yet.

"Hang on, darling. We're almost to the stables." The noise of the fire was so loud that he wasn't sure if she had heard him, but she tightened her hold on his arm and he continued to lead the way.

As they neared the back of the Opera House the flames died away. They hadn't traveled this far yet.

"Raoul, I can't breathe," Christine whispered between coughs.

"Not much further," Raoul repeated. He was also coughing, but they had to continue or they would perish.

He led her down the small flight of stairs where the horses were kept. The stable doors were closed and the horses were prancing and neighing frantically. He was leading Christine through the horses when a chestnut mare broke free of its stall and charged them. Once more Raoul grabbed Christine and leapt out of harms way. The horse continued to raise up on its hind legs and stomp its front ones down.

"Damn it," Raoul cursed. The horse was between them and the door, but to try and move past the horse meant getting a possible blow to the head.

"Yah! Yah!" Raoul called, trying to steer the horse in a different direction.

Christine couldn't take any more. Her throat and lungs burned, she was so hot, and her tightly laced corset simply wasn't helping. She tried to call out to Raoul, who was still trying to move the horse, but no sound came from her mouth. Her head felt so light. Suddenly it didn't even feel real anymore. It was like being in a dream. She tried to take a step but then the room began to spin and finally she was falling into blackness.

Raoul finally got the horse out of the way and ran to the double doors of the stable. He raised the bar and threw the doors open. He jumped back as the chestnut and his own white horse bolted out on to the street.

"Christine!" he called, but he didn't see her. "Christine!" He charged back into the stables. There were no flames yet but the smoke was growing thicker. "CHRISTINE!" His eyes searched everywhere. Finally he found her collapsed in one of the empty stalls.

He scooped her up into his arms and stumbled out onto the street into the waiting crowd outside. Several people he didn't know rushed up to them.

"Monsieur, let me take her."

"No," Raoul said and tightened his hold on her. No one was going to take her from him ever again.

"Please sir. She needs help. So do you. There is a doctor just across the street," the stranger told him.

"Take us to the doctor," Raoul ordered, still not letting her go. The man just gave Raoul a funny look but then led the way. Raoul followed him into the small hotel across the street. Inside there were two elderly doctors treating cuts and scrapes people had received during the hysteria that happened after the chandelier fell.

One of the doctors jumped up as soon as they saw Raoul enter carrying an unconscious Christine.

"Set her down on the settee," the doctor ordered. Raoul gently placed her on the sofa. The white dress she wore was ruined, her face filthy, but she was the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on.

"I'm Doctor Travold. What happened?"

Raoul wasn't about to tell the true story. "We got trapped inside and couldn't find our way out," was all he said. He watched the doctor examine her. He checked her pulse and then put his ear to her chest to listen to her heart and breathing.

"She is a little congested from breathing in the smoke but I think she will be fine. I don't see any burns on her." The doctor stood up to have a look at Raoul.

"I'm fine," Raoul said.

"I'll be the judge of that," Doctor Travold replied. He repeated the examination he had just performed on Raoul. "Your lungs are also a bit raspy, but that is to be expected. How did you get this abrasion on your neck?"

"I…I'm not sure," Raoul said. "It was very chaotic in there."

The look the doctor gave him said he clearly didn't believe his explanation, but he didn't press for anymore details. He had many more patients to see and if this man didn't want his help then so be it.

"You both need to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to ease your throats. Absolutely no work of any kind for at least a week. If she should get worse take her to the hospital."

"Thank you doctor," Raoul said. "Is there a way to get a stage to take me and my fiancé home to the de Chagny estate?"

"Vicomte, my apologies. I did not recognize you," the Doctor said.

"That's alright, but please, I would be grateful for any assistance, from anyone," Raoul said. He took a moment to look at his clothes. His shirt was in tatters and he was covered in soot from head to toe. He must have looked like a common beggar to the doctor.

"I can take you, monsieur." Raoul looked to see the man who led them to the doctor step forward. "I'm afraid I don't have a fancy coach, but I have a sturdy wagon down by the corner. I bring hay and feed in to the city for the animals. Your lady would have a very soft bed to sleep on for the trip to your home."

"Thank you," Raoul said. "I am indebted to you sir. I promise you will be compensated for your time."

"It is no problem, sir. I am happy to help. I will run and fetch the wagon. I will be right back."

"Please, what is your name?" Raoul asked.

"Pierre," the man called as he hurried out the door.

Raoul bent down to lift Christine.

"May I," someone asked.

"I've got her," Raoul said. Though Christine was as light as a feather, Raoul was weak and it was a struggle to carry her to the door, but he still didn't want anyone else to do it. Pierre pulled up in front of the door as Raoul was exiting. He hated to do it but he let Pierre help him lay Christine down in the back. Then he wrapped her in a blanket before making himself comfortable next to her.

Pierre got up in the driver's seat and with a snap of the reins the horses began to move. Raoul thought he would be able to stay awake for the hour it would take to reach his estate but between the exhaustion and the rocking of the wagon over the cobblestone streets, his eyes grew heavier and heavier until he finally drifted off into dreams.