His Life is A Prize That You Must Earn

I awoke to noises in the corridor that lead to the stables. I listened silently for a moment. The faint sound of many pairs of boots against stone and rifles clicking jolted me to my senses. I brushed my hair out of my face and leaned over Erik who was sound asleep beside me. I kissed the unmasked side of his face hurriedly. His eyes fluttered open and he gazed at me lovingly.

I whispered into his ear, "Not a word, my love. Be silent!" The footsteps increased their speed and I knew they were going to come upon us quickly. Erik heard them too. He sat up swiftly as his eyes darted around the room with a feral desperation. He reminded me slightly of a fox cornered by a hunter's hounds. His arms wrapped around my body forcefully and protectively.

Dread filled my veins as the sound of men's voices grew in volume. They are here for him! Tears began to blur my vision. DAMNIT! I cant fall apart NOW! I frantically tried to come up with a plan, but found none in the depths of my mind.

"Erik! Is there no way for you to escape?"

"There is one way, but I would be seen by them if I went there now…"

He sighed deeply and turned me in his embrace. His lips met mine in an extraordinarily passionate kiss. I knew he was saying goodbye and pledging his love for me while his mouth moved with mine, and it made the tears escalade down my cheeks more rapidly.

He pulled away gently, his entire face twisted by his own crying. "If I never see you again…if they kill me…know that I will ALWAYS love you…even in death…"

"ERIK…STOP THIS CRAZY TALK! I WILL NOT LET THEM KILL YOU…AND YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN!"

He simply nodded and smiled at me regretfully. I closed my eyes and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, lifting me to my feet as he rose from the bed. He held me close while we walked out of the bedroom and into the main chamber. He then led me into the middle of the room and stood proudly while I sobbed onto his shoulder, his arm now about my waist.

The armed men were now filing into the same room as us from the dark gloomy corridor. Their weapons were raised at him and I squeezed him possessively. He returned the embrace strongly and placed his hand on the back of my head. He seemed fairly calm, but his grip on me suggested otherwise. My sobbing would not cease and I desperately wished it would, so I could comfort his nervousness. The hand he held on the back of my head was trembling with terror. One man broke the intense silence of the room.

"Sir, you are under arrest. Please step away from the woman, and no harm will befall you…" He placed a kiss on the top of my head and released me. I refused to let go which caused his whole body to tremble with unshed tears and sorrow.

"Please..," he whispered to me softly, "go, before they force us apart."

"I REPEAT MYSELF…Step AWAY from the woman!"

I couldn't control myself any longer and I screamed violently at the officer. "NO! HE IS MINE AND YOU CANNOT TAKE HIM FROM ME! LEAVE US! GET OUT! I WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE HIM! YOU WILL HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST! GO ON, DO IT! DO IT OR LEAVE!"

From all angles, officers rushed at us. I watched as Erik closed his eyes and clenched his fists. Forceful hands grabbed my waist and arms and I fought them with all my might, clawing the air in an attempt to get back to Erik.

"GET AWAY! LET ME GO! ERIK! ERIK!"

His eyes instantly snapped open to look at me as they seized his arms and tied his hands together behind his back. My stomach was in knots as I watched him stand so proudly while they secured his bonds. I mouthed to him 'I love you' and he closed his eyes once more.

All my energy for rebelling against the men who held me disappeared and I collapsed to the floor and wept. I looked up to see Erik being led away at gunpoint. I turned to the nearest officer, rose to my knees and begged him to help.

"Monsieur please, I love him…don't take him from me…he has changed…he saved my life…please, I love him…"

"Madame, he is condemned to death…I suggest you look for another man to love…perhaps an officer here would be willing to warm your bed." He grinned maliciously at me. Within a second I was on my feet and in his face. Without warning I raised my hand and smacked him fiercely.

"HOW DARE YOU! DONT YOU DARE OPEN THAT FOUL MOUTH OF YOURS TO SPEAK TO ME AGAIN UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO ASSIST ME!"

Immediately, my attention returned to Erik who was now no where to be seen. Panic set in as I raced through the corridor, the stables, and finally out into the main road. I saw him being brutally forced forward, when he wasn't even resisting them to begin with. It infuriated me. I softly spoke his name, my heart breaking at the scene displayed before me. Erik turned his head and saw me as he was pushed into a guarded carriage. He mouthed to me 'You are my one and only angel' and then was gone from sight.

The carriage pulled away with armed men on horses surrounding it. I thought about running after it, but sadly realized that it was a hopeless idea. What was I to do?

I decided to return to Erik's home and slowly turned to make my way back there. I yelped as I found myself inches away from the corrupt officers foul mouth. He forced his mouth onto mine and I kneed him hard in the groin. He cursed me, then cuffed me across the face. I was knocked to the ground, my head crashing against the solid ground beneath me. My world spun then turned black.

I found myself in a bright sunny garden, surrounded by flowers of all kinds and colors. My tears still fell one by one as my thoughts remained on Erik. While I surveyed my surroundings, a glowing woman dressed in a white gown with black downed wings made her way to my side. She placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and spoke calmingly.

"I know what you are going through…Erik's time for death is not now…You both deserve each other. There is one man who may help you get Erik back…"

"PLEASE! TELL ME! I WILL DO ANYTHING TO SAVE ERIK! WHO IS THIS MAN YOU SPEAK OF?"

" It may take some convincing, but I believe he will help you…When you wake, go find this man…you mustn't waist time."

"Yes, I will go immediately…whom am I to find?"

"Raoul de Chagny."