Chapter Two! I know it's kind of short, but I promise I'll update again really soon! I hope it's good enough. Special thanks to Erik's Mistress and Tadriendra of Mirkwood for reviewing! Yay reviews! Anyway, here it is…

XxXxX

"I can't go back!" Christine fought with Madame Giry in front of the coach.

"We're leaving Paris to escape that cursed Opera House!" Raoul supported her.

"Please," Madame Giry begged. "Something's wrong. Something's very wrong! I know Erik better than anyone… Perhaps even better than he knows himself! I heard that scream… I've never heard him scream like that before."

Christine sighed. "Erik's just upset that I'm leaving. In time, he will come to see that it is best…"

"It's not Erik's broken heart that has me worried," Madame Giry argued. "I feel that someone has done something to him. Something horrible. I fear he may have been put in harm's way…"

"But he is safe in his lair!"

"Actually…" Raoul said quietly, "when I went… down there… for you, I… I heard people coming. They were looking for a way around the lake."

"What! Why didn't you say something!"

"Because I didn't think they'd actually find him! Or I thought he would at least be wise enough to hide!"

"Do you think someone could have found him?"

"I think it's possible…" Madame Giry said gravely.

"We must help him!" Christine headed for Madame Giry's carriage.

"Wait!" Raoul protested. "Christine!"

XxXxX

Madame Giry crossed the lake alone. Christine and Raoul were busy arguing outside the secret entrance. Raoul clearly didn't want to go back to Erik's lair, however, Christine felt that they must. Madame Giry knew that there was no time to waste, so she left the couple alone and went down by herself.

She stepped from the boat into Erik's home. "Erik!" She noticed the shattered mirrors. There was blood on the floor. But where was Erik?

"Erik!"

She heard a soft whimper from behind the organ.

"Erik?"

She gasped when she saw his battered body. There was so much blood! His face was a complete mess. She wouldn't have recognized him, were it not for those green eyes, barely open, staring out into nothingness. Madame Giry knelt and took Erik into her arms and rocked him. Who could do this to her little Erik? Who could be so cruel? She looked at his hands mournfully. He would never play again, she knew.

Madame Giry looked into Erik's eyes. "Oh, Erik… You poor thing… Erik…" She stopped short. Something wasn't right. There was something wrong with his eyes! They were open, but… they weren't focusing. At first, she was afraid that this was his death-stare. She quickly put her hand on his bare chest, and let out a sigh of relief when she felt the steady rhythm of his chest rising and falling. He was still breathing. She lifted her hand and waved it in front of his face.

He didn't see it.

"Oh, mon Dieu! What have they done?"

"Madame Giry!" Christine and Raoul suddenly appeared in the lair. Obviously, Christine had won the argument.

"Oh, Erik…" Christine whispered, kneeling down beside him. "Erik, I'm so sorry. I should have known better than to leave you here all by yourself. I'm sorry… Oh, look at your hands! Your beautiful hands! They're… they're… Madame Giry, why isn't he looking at me?"

Raoul grimaced at the sight of Erik. "Oh… oh, my… what have they done…?"

"Madame Giry!" Christine cried, taking Erik's face into her hands. "What's wrong with him? Why won't he look at me?"

"Christine…" Madame Giry choked.

"Don't…" Christine said. "Don't tell me they killed him! Don't say it!" She put her ear to his chest. "He's not dead… he's not… I can hear his heart beating… he's fine… he'll be alright… Erik? Look at me! Please, Erik… Erik…?"

"Christine, it's useless," Madame Giry wept softly. "Stop it. It's useless. Oh, Christine. Those wicked people… They've made him blind!"