You guys surprise me! You know I'm an E/C shipper! How could you think I would actually let Erik die? Well here's a super super quick update, just so some of you don't hunt me down and kill me.

Chapter Thirteen

Erik finally awoke, but was too weak to even open his eyes. He lay down with his eyes clamped shut, praying that when he opened them he would be in his bed, with Christine curled next to him. But as his fingers traveled the surface he was on he did not feel the silk sheets surrounding him. Christine's warm body was no where to be found. Instead, he felt a cold, damp stone floor. Wearily, his eyes opened and he took in his surroundings. The room was almost completely black, but he was apt to seeing in dark spaces, so it wasn't too much of an inconvenience. It was a bare room, without as much as a bucket of water. He forced himself to stand and walked to the door. Not surprisingly, it was locked.

Erik was more concerned about Christine. He knew this was the Vicomte's doing. He saw the glimmer in his eye when he claimed he would return to fetch Christine. Of course, the Vicomte didn't return however, he just sent criminals to do his dirty work. For now, he prayed that Christine was at least safe and being kept in much finer conditions than he was.

"I don't like this Frankie. Not one bit. If the Vicomte were to find out it would be our necks."

Erik heard voices on the other end of the door.

"We'll just wait an' see Jasper. The guy tol' us he'd know if we could sell him in two days. What's the harm in two days? We looked under his mask, we know the gypsies 'ill buy 'um. We'll bring him some bread and water to keep 'um going. Then if the gypsies wanna pay, we hand 'um over. And if not, we blow his brains out, like we was gonna do in the first place."

"I still don't like it. This was a good bit o money I got from this, and I wanna make sure I don't lose it!"

"A good bit o money?", Frankie replied. "Jasper, think o what the gyp's will give us. Probably doubleno, triple!"

"Alright", Jasper grunted.

Erik heard keys jingling, and watched as the lock on the door turned. He searched around the room, frantically looking for something to assist his escape. He followed his hands along the ledge that went around the room. By some strong of God, he found a rope. It was about six feet long. He quickly scurried behind the door just as it was opening.

"Hallo, little bugger! We've got some wata and breads for you!", shouted Frankie.

Suddenly from behind them Erik leaped and holding on the both ends of the rope and threw the middle over their heads as they stood next to each other. He pulled the ends of the rope together as the two men choked from the strangulation. Before they breathed their last breath, Erik whispered in their ears:

"Compliments of the Opera Ghost, my good gentlemen."

Ok, everyone breathe a sigh of relief.