Lack of sleep. Here you go.

XxXxX

Christine went, if possible, whiter than she already was. She remembered that place. Memories flooded her Raoul and the Persian, tortured screams, she shuddered.

Madame Giry walked over to the organ and shuffled through the papers feverishly, as though to find something to contradict the sinking feeling of dread over where he was working. As it was, her efforts were futile. There was nothing but discarded sheets of music.

Madame Giry turned to Christine, who had been watching her the whole time and uttered the words, "We must find him before it is too late!"

"But the letter said that I... never mind."

"Good" Mme. Giry nodded, "Then we shall go. We must be off."

"Where?"

"Well, to get things to eat a few skins of water and you need something to wear that won't snag of course." Madame Giry said, eyeing Christine's frilly dress.

"Oh," Christine said reluctantly following Madame Giry to the boat across the lake, up the path, and out of the mirror.

Finally she said, "Can we hurry? I feel like every moment we waste Erik could be dead or dying! Please!"

"Calm down, Erik made it through this long. Do you expect to go down to find a starving, parched, most likely wounded man, and not have bread, water, or bandages? I think not! Now while I go and get what we need, you put these on." Madame Giry said, shoving to Christine a pile of clothes she had taken out.

Then she abruptly turned on her heel and walked out leaving Christine standing dumbstruck. Then, remembering herself, she pulled off her dress and pulled on a velvet like robe that fit her so perfectly it was though it was especially made for her. Next she put on soft padded shoes and a cape with a small clasp. She shivered when she saw what it was a skull. She was then tempted to take it off but hardening her resolve she walked out into the hall and looked around. Mme. Giry was returning with a pack of what Christine assumed was provisions and bandages.

Madame Giry looked her over, nodded once and then turned and walked towards the third cellar stairway to the trapdoor that would lead to the torture chamber.

XxXxX

As Christine dropped through the trapdoor it closed above her. The room they had dropped into was hot and bright. The floor was burning hot under Christine's feet, she pulled the cloak off. "What the hell is Erik getting at with the lights on?" Christine exclaimed.

"I agree." Madame Giry looked around them and saw him.

Erik.

Lying in a crumpled heap in a puddle of dried blood, his clothes were in tatters and from the looks of it he was not breathing. Christine ran over to him and pulled his head into her lap. Madame Giry walked over pulled out a skin of water and poured it onto Erik's face and hands and some in his mouth to cool down his body, which was normally freezing cold but was now flaming hot. There were large deep gashes on his head and a steadily oozing wound on his side. Madame Giry felt his pulse, it was shallow and faltering.

Madame Giry started work on his wounds and Christine went in search of the door. Finally, after about a half of an hour of trying, she found it and opened it. Christine then went over to help drag Erik out of the chamber.

XxXxX

They had found him. Madame Giry laid him on the bed that Christine had once lain on. Madame Giry forced water down his throat, and used cool rags to keep down his body temperature. Then she left to go get something.

Christine sat for a while watching worriedly, then curiosity overcoming her she moved to see if the form of a man was sill alive. She moved her hand to his wrist to check his pulse.

There was none.

XxXxX

How was that? Big thanks to Corynne!