Chapter 21

Christine awoke to the worst pain she had ever felt in her life. It began in her lower abdomen and then shot through the rest of her body. It felt like something was inside of her desperately clawing to get out. Sweat poured down her face, soaking her hair. She was only faintly aware of voice nearby, but she couldn't understand them. Another searing pain went through her making her cry out. The voice stopped and then footsteps came toward her. More words swirled around in the air, but Christine was unable to comprehend them. Her hands grabbed on to anything they could fine trying to brace her for the next agonizing pain. Someone put a cool cloth on her forehead, but it do nothing for Christine. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity in hell the pain subsided. She lay in a pool of sweat and tears unable to move or talk. The voices she heard soon became face as Madame Giry and Meg pressed cool towels to her body and tried to soothe her.

"It's all right dear just keep taking deep breaths." Madame Giry said in her usual nonchalant tone.

Christine could see that it was either sunset or sunrise, because a small stream of light peeked through the curtains. The room had a warm and comforting glow, but was unrecognizable to Christine. The walls were mostly bare with the exception of a few small black and white photographs of people she did not know. The bed was simple with white sheets and a wooden headboard. The room was much different from her bedroom that she remembered last being in.

"Christine can you hear me?" Madame Giry asked. Christine slowly turned her head towards the woman and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. She tried to respond, but her voice got caught in her parched throat.

"Meg pour a glass of water from the pitcher over there on the table." Meg quickly went over and poured the glass of water, nearly spilling it all on the floor, because she was shaking so badly.

The past week trying to care for Christine had been extremely difficult to do. She would sit next to Christine's bed placing cold towels on her forehead and silently saying prayers. At night she would wake up to Christine's moans or screams from pain or a nightmare. The worst was when Christine awoke begging to see Erik or asking if the baby was all right. Sometimes she remembered what happened and sometimes she seemed to not even know her own name. Meg did not understand how such a horrible thing happened to her beloved Christine and it made her sick to think that she would have been dead had the doctor not arrived when he did.

"Meg hurry up!" Her mother snapped at her again.

"I'm coming, here." she said as she handed the glass to her mother and watched as Christine choked it back up.

After a few moments Christine was able to take a few sips of water, enough to clear her throat. Things were beginning to come back to her now, but then a thousand questions came rushing to her mind. Most importantly, "Where's Erik?". Madame Giry and her daughter exchanged glances.

The past week had been just as bad for Erik as it was for Christine. The doctor had pronounced him dead after twenty minutes of trying to revive him. Just as they were about to remove his body the doctor found a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. He spent the next few days unconscious or throwing up. The poison tried to ravage his body for everything it had, but Erik was too determined to live. The doctor came by every day at least twice to check on Erik. The day before he had declared that the poison had finally left Erik's body and that he should be feeling better very soon.

"You are a very lucky man I hope you know!" The doctor said as he checked Erik's vital signs.

"If my child is dead than I am cursed man, Monsieur." Erik looked directly into the Doctor's eyes through his masked ones. It was the first time Erik had spoke in a week. His voice came out very dry, but strong. The doctor was surprised that he had said something, but not surprised that he already knew his child was dead.

"She will be able to have more children..."

"Christine will never forgive herself or me for letting out child die while still inside her womb!" Erik suddenly sat up and shot daggers at the doctor who recoiled from him.

Unsure of what to do or say they both stared at each other. Erik was lost in his emotions and the doctor was lost in his fear. The man that sat before him was not the poor creature he had been nursing back to health, but rather a wounded animal ready to take it's revenge out on anyone that dared get too near.

"Do you know what is under this mask Doctor?" Erik was suddenly feeling murderous. "Did you get curious while I was unconscious and decide to take look at the freak underneath?"

"No I swear I didn't!" Even though Erik was still sitting the doctor felt crushed by Erik's mere gaze.

"I know what you are thinking. You think that I'm so horrible creature that only the devil could create, don't you? I bet you think I should have died instead of that disgusting boy!" Erik now supported himself on the headboard of the bed as he stood up.

"I don't think that at all Monsieur!" The doctor had backed himself into a wall and was nearly on his hands and knees begging Erik to believe him.

"Well good. You should get a reward for being so righteous. I'll give a free look at what some have paid up to three dollars to see!"

The doctor screamed in horror at the sight of mangled gnarled flesh that seemed to be barely attached to his face. The skin was purple and blue and the muscles that shown through underneath were red. His eye stuck out of it's socket and was surrounded by an assortment of blue and red veins that bulged and throbbed. The doctor felt bile rise in his throat.

"What do you think Doctor? Can you fix me or not?" Erik said in a low and dangerous voice.

"I...I..."

"I didn't think so. Leave me before I decide to kill you!" Erik had instantly resorted to his old ways. It was the only way to ensure his safety and not get hurt. The doctor ran out of the room not needing to be told twice to leave.

"Where is Christine! Someone had better answer me before I tear this house apart!" Erik's yells could be heard all through out the manor.

"I will only let you see her after you have calmed down!" Madame Giry said sternly holding her ground.

"I am calm, now let me see her!" Erik was ready to fight anyone who got in his way.

"Erik she can't handle you being like this! If you really care about her you would let her rest and..."

"Don't give me that bullshit Giry!" Erik said cutting her off and pushing passed her. He opened every door he came across before finally bursting in on Meg reading the paper to a slightly dazed Christine. Meg shot out of her chair and backed away from the bed. Christine could do little more than turn her head in his direction. Despite everything she still managed to give him a small smile. Erik felt his heart melt and break all at once. She had no idea what was going on and he would have to be the one to tell her. She looked so beautiful to him laying there. He knew that Christine did not deserve this. He had put his angel through such hell and now was getting ready to clip her wings. Erik slowly approached the bed barely noticing Meg run out of the room sobbing. He had forgotten his mask, but the mask could not protect him. Christine's smile faded as she realized how bewildered her love looked. A feeling of dread came over her with every step he took towards her.

"What is it Erik? What did the doctor say?" Christine lay on her back with her head gently turned toward Erik. Her eyes were somber, but he could the hint of fear that glowed deep within in them. He lay next to her on his side taking in everything about her in that moment. The way her dark brown curls surrounded her in a halo, the way her lips looked so fully as she left them slightly parted and the way her stomach rose and fell to the rhythm of her breathing. Christine was God sent and the most beautiful creature he had ever created. And here his greatest work rest next to his most grotesque.

"Oh Christine...I...so much has gone wrong." He lowered his head, because he could no bare the pain he would soon see on her face.

"Erik what has happened please I am begging you just tell me!" She became panicky and tried to sit up, but a terrible pain came over her. Christine cried out with tears coming to her eyes. She didn't understand what was happening or why he would not touch her and comforter her or even look at her.

"Christine please try not to move, even as I tell you this." He took one last deep breath and looked directly in her scared eyes.

"The child is dead..."