"No." he stuttered. Absolutly no way was he entering the Moulin Rouge ever again. He would've rather faced anything else in this world other than having to go into a place so dismal and full of memory.

In the rain, Christian stood in awe of how worn the Moulin Rouge was. With it being abandoned for the past year, the windmill itself had rusted, with bits of graffiti scribbled around its doors and shattered windows. Considering only a year had passed, it looked as if it had been left for 50. Christian thought, what he almost wouldn't give to just see it as it was one year ago; a place of exoctic beauty and sin, of color, and life.

Christian's thoughts were ubruptly interupted when he heard a crack, a loud scream and then,

"HELP ME PLLEEEAASSEE!" Christian didn't have to guess, he knew the girl in there was in trouble.

Fear overtook him at that moment. Not fear of what could be facing him inside, but just the thought of having to walk through the doors of the Moulin Rouge again.

"I can't do it." he said. "I just can't. He let his head fall downward as he came to terms with his lack of courage. "I swore I'd never come here again." Rain dripped from his hair, down his body and into the puddles beneath his feet.

"CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME? AAANYYYBOODYYY?" the voice shrieked.

Christian looked up. He had to do this. He had no choice. But, how could he be so certain that the girl wasn't yelling for someone to rescue her from him? He heard her cries continue, and bit his lip. Clenching his fists, his heart began to race. "I can do this. I have to." He said, and began to step forward. He heard one more muffled cry and that set him off.

He burst through the doors with lightning speed and began to frantically search for her. The floors, the walls, up above. She was nowhere. "No… NOOO!" he paniced. He was not going to let her get hurt because of him!

His eyes tried to focus on his target but he couldn't help notice how musty the dance hall and theater had become. The red curtains had been torn to shreds, the seats ripped and walls vandalised. Obviously, the place had been overrun by crooks recently at one point. It was dark and damp, and Christian could hardly make his way throught the piles of rubble and dirt. He could feel cool drops of water land on his face from holes in the cieling above. "What a shithole." he thought. Taking a few more steps forward Christian heard something rustle below him. Another step, and then he tripped and fell. With a whoomp he landed on a pile of wood, thankfully only landing on his side. The sound was real close now, perhaps only inches away.

As Christian tried to rise to his feet, a jolt of lightning illuminated the entire place, bringing out the ghostly shadows of things he once recognized. He was in the dancehall now, he was certain. Thunder. He waited. Another flash of lightning, and then he came to a sudden realization. He knew exactly where he was now, there was no denying it.

Where he was standing now was the exact place that he stood a year and a half ago when he first saw layed eyes on Satine. Hisvision glazed over and he found himself helplessly vanishing into a memory.

He opened his eyes to a stream of glitter and confetti falling from above. And then, he heard her voice.

"The French…are glad tooo diiee foor love..."

He remembered being completely captivated by her stricking apperance, being hit in the eyes by the shimmer of jewels that covered her corset, watching her ravishing red hair fray in curls down to one side of her face, his friend Toulouse, leaning over and whispering, "it's her, the sparkling diamond…"

Thunder boomed even louder, bringing Christian out of his short daydream. The storm was getting worser and more violent by the minute.

A brighter flash lit the hall, and Christian was blinded. Thunder roared seconds later and rattled the wooden frame of the building. It was enough to make Christian jump and trip yet again landing him face first. The fall made him scratch his cheek, hard enough so that he started to bleed. Paying no attention, he rose again and continued to look.

Something above loudly creaked as if it were about to break. Christian tried to not pay attention but some small part of him was a little skeptic. Lightning flashed once again and he now saw what he was he looking for. He just hoped it wasn't too late.

The girl lay on her side, barely concious with what looked like a severely broken leg. A dull moan escaped her mouth and she whispered, "No."

Rushing to her side Christian tried to get a better look at her condition. Her half-open eyes showed a streak of terror that made Christian feel even more pity for the girl.

It was definite, she had broken her leg, but had also a bruised forhead with a trickle of blood oozing from the wound. She would be alright he believed, but she had to get out of theresoon so her condition didn't worsen.

"Please leave me...not you..." she gasped.

"Ssshhh." he whispered. "It'll be alright. Im going to help you."

The girl didn't reply. Christian grabbed hold of her face so that they looked at one another.

"Ms., how did this happen?" he asked as politly as he could.

Again the girl didn't reply, but only looked up. Christian followed her gaze to where he saw a broken beam about 15 to 20 feet above. He understood what happened and nodded.

The girl's eyes started to flicker and she was out. "Please, hold on a little longer...I'm not going to let you go." he urged.

Christian lifted the girl ever so carefully and was able to see the full extent of her damage. What he found was that she had more bruises and wounds upon her back and arms that were all bleeding and need of repair. Clearly the girl had taken a very serious fall. He slipped her from under what looked like a piece of the wooden beam fromabove and cradled her in his arms. Waiting for the next flash of lightning he walked towards the door and prepared to leave.

He ran back out into the rain, of which still fell from the sky in buckets. The wind roared throwing rain into his face and making it that much harder to find his way. But nevertheless, he was determinded to find help.

The next few minutes of Christian's life flashed without even time to think, but that didn't matter. The girl was fading fast and his only concern was finding a doctor.

He came to the end of the street to a small house where the word DOCTOR was clearly printed on the front door. He came to the steps and pounded with an available fist. A man of his early 60's appeared at the front door wiht a puzzled expression.

"Yes.. What's the problem here?" he barked.

"Please, she needs help. She fell and broke her leg and hurt her her head. I don't think she's too good right now. Here, take her."

"Bring her in here, lay her on the bed."

Christian obeyed and set her down gently. "Is she going to be alright doctor?" he nerviously asked. The doctor pushed him aside and proceed to take a quick look at her leg and head. He sighed.

"Well, she's injured pretty bad, but we'll manage to getting her back on her feet in a few months. Her head'll be fine in no time, her leg may take longer, and she looks quite a bit malnurioushed." he paused and asked, "Say, how'd she get in this condition anyways?"

The doctor waited for an answer but none came. Christian had already left.

A few buildings away, he sat in an alley out of the rain to catch his breath. Cupping his head in his hands he breathed a sigh of relief. She was going to be ok. I guess for once, I did do something right. Taking another drawn out breath he stood up and began to head home. He stopped however, and took one look back. "I wonder if I'll ever see her again?" he silently thought. He faced frontward again and went on his way.