Sorry this chapter is so short, but if I put it together with Chapter 19... things would just be wierd... So its a separate chapter all it's own. Hope you guys like it, and something really good happens... you'll find out wha it is if you just read, so... just read! LOL.

IMPORTANT! I need to give my friend Danielle some credit for this chapter. My first version completely sucked, and I mean, nothing flowed or went right, but she came along and completely saved my life! Thank you, Dani! You Rock!

Disclaimer: I do not own PotO.

Jane wrenched her hand out of the Ratcatcher's grasp and ran toward the door. She tried desperately to unlock it, but the Ratcatcher gripped her arm and spun her around to face him. He used his body to crush hers against the wood of the door, rendering her utterly immobile.

"Erik," Jane whimpered with the last breath she had. She could feel the Ratcatcher fumbling with something behind his back, and a second later she saw the glint of a dagger. The Ratcatcher gave her a little more space, just enough for her lungs to get air.

"Erik, by now, is dead, mademoiselle. Even if he were alive, though, what do you think he would do? Come to your rescue?" the Ratcatcher scoffed, "Do not try to fool yourself, mademoiselle. Erik doesn't love you. He is trying to pretend that you are his beloved Christine." The Ratcatcher tried to put his lips to Jane's neck, but she wriggled away. He pressed her body more firmly to the door.

"No," Jane breathed, and the Ratcatcher brought the dagger up. He put the blade between her shoulder and the strap of her dress.

"But you know that I'm right, mademoiselle. He only keeps you and pretends to love you so that he can imagine that he's with his precious Christine" The Ratcatcher paused, then sliced off Jane's strap,but he had put too much pressure on the knife. It cut a small, shallow wound in Jane's throat.

Jane gave a small cry, more of surprise than pain, and she felt a warm, sticky trail of blood flow down her skin. The Ratcatcher smiled and put his tongue to the crimson liquid, licking it off Jane's skin as she watched in a stunned horror.

A high-pitched scream escaped Jane's lips, but the Ratcatcher covered her mouth with his. He kissed her passionately, despite her violent struggling, then he pulled away and struck her across the face. The dagger was still in his hand, and he used it to sever Jane's other strap.

The dress, now unsupported, fell to a useless heap around Jane's ankles, and the Ratcatcher continued to cut her chemise, until nothing was left unexposed...

Erik's ears perked when he heard Jane scream. He ran to her shut door and put his ear to it. He could hear feeble whimpers and deep breathing through the wood, and he took a shocked step back. No doubt it was Jane and the Ratcatcher.

"Jane!" he mouthed, debating on whether or not to make his call audible. He decided against it. The Ratcatcher obviously believed him to be dead, which might come in handy.

Erik quickly dashed down the hallway to get to the column and behind the walls, where he could get to Jane's mirror.

Jane tried to scream, tried to make some noise, but the last ounce of her strength had long since left her.

How many times had the Ratcatcher hit her? More than she could count. Jane's entire body pounded with pain, and she could feel death slowly but surely coming. She knew that she was going to die. The Ratcatcher was going to kill her.

No... not again... anything but this... After a while, Jane was no longer able to struggle. Her body went strangely limp, since she was too weak to do anything. When the Ratcatcher saw that she wasn't going to put up a fight, he eased her body away from the door and dragged it onto the bed.

Jane winced as his fingers touched her flesh, exploring places that she would only have let Erik come anywhere near had she been able to do anything about it. The Ratcatcher's chest was bare, but she was relieved to find that his bottom half was still dressed. There was no pain, save for the throbbing of her limbs and face where the Ratcatcher had hit her, but everything was still as horrible as the first time.

Where are you, Erik? Jane wondered frantically, Please, I need you! She tried as hard as she could to stay awake and fight, but slowly an unnatural sleep ensnared her mind, and she went unconscious.

Erik's heart was racing, every beat resounding in his eardrums. He maneuvered expertly in the twisting corridors, and time seemed to stand still as he forced himself to go faster still.

After what seemed like an eternity, he came upon the back of Jane's mirror. He looked through the glass and inhaled sharply.

The sight that met Erik's eyes was one that he knew he would never forget. Jane was lying there, knocked out, while the Ratcatcher savagely abused her delicate body. Erik felt his heart fill with hate again, and he threw open the mirror.

The Ratcatcher stopped, stunned, but Erik had his lasso around his throat before he had time to move. Erik pulled on the rope mercilessly, watching as the Ratcatcher gasped pathetically for air. The Ratcatcher lashed out, punching Erik with all the strength he could muster, and Erik, caught by surprise, was forced to stumble back as the blow made contact with the side of his face.

Erik grunted, but he quickly moved aside as the Ratcatcher made a pitiful attempt to tackle him to the ground. He caught the end of his Punjab and pulled it tightly again, using his foot to drive the knot of the noose into the Ratcatcher's neck. Erik had him pinned on the floor, and he kept a firm grip on his lasso, feeling a savage pleasure as he heard the sound of the Ratcatcher gasping for air.

"This... is for Jane... you bastard!" he spat as he gave the rope a sharp tug. A loud crack filled the air as he broke the Ratcatcher's neck. To satisfy his new rush of energy and loathing, he picked up his sword and ran the blade through the Ratcatcher's heart.

Erik stood up, but it was a long time before he worked up the courage to face Jane. Finally he made himself slowly turn around, and his heart sank.

Jane's bare form was sprawled over the bed sheets, her eyes closed and her hair damp and limp. She wasn't the majestic, lively image that Erik loved so dearly. He looked upon a harassed and abused creature.

"Oh, Jane... my love," Erik whispered as he put a shaky hand to her neck. To his great relief, he felt the beat of her heart. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there.

Erik removed his cloak and bent down. He spread it over Jane's body and gently wrapped her in the soft material. Hardly conquering his urge to cry for Jane, he picked her up. Jane's head angled away from him, but he pushed it to his chest so that it wouldn't wobble.

Erik carried Jane through the open mirror, making sure that his cloak was firm around her. He tried as hard as he could not to look at her while he took her to his home.

"Jane... my beloved angel..." Erik let his tears fall as he laid Jane down on her bed. He cradled her body, feeling such a sadness for her that he never had before. Every minute or so he checked Jane's pulse to reassure himself that she was still alive. It was a long time, but at last Jane awoke.

Again, sorry this one is so short... the next one (I think) will be longer... then again, I might be paraphrasing, so don't take my word for it! Thank you guys for all of the wonderful reviews, even though I got a really bad flamer on that last chapter... and I mean, a REALLY bad flamer... yeah, that was a spirit crusher... maybe you guys can make it better? Please?

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