"Who are you?" Christine cried as the dark figure threw her against the wall. The figure laughed. "Where am I?" She screamed as he approached her, "why am I here?"
"Your love will never find you." The man hissed, and if he does, "I will have the pleasure to make him suffer."
Christine shuttered, "please let me go." She whispered completely terafied.
"I know your lovers greatest weakness, imagine his pain when he finds you broken?" The man whispered into her ear causing her to shrink away.
Eric was shaking at the thought of what the opera ghost imposter would do to Christine, his Christine! He grabbed the envelope tearing it open.
Dear Monster, Demon, or manager,
I have your beloved angel. It's your choice your freedom or hers. You have 1 hour to find me. Come alone or she dies.
Nasr
Eric was raged "Nasr" he whispered to himself thinking of the man. He was one of the shah's guards, he inflicted the most pain on Eric. Eric felt sick, trying to think of where they would be.
Eric burst out the dressing room dogging the cast and crew who all questioned where Christine was. Eric bound down the stairs to the bitter cold outside Eric slipped when he stepped on the last step, landing on his shoulder.
Quickly shaking off the fall Eric ran down the icy streets to Nadir's apartment. "Daroga!" Eric choked his lungs already frozen, violently he banged on the door.
The door flew open and Eric handed nadir the letter. Nadir looked up in shock, "I know where he is. Head west 18 miles there is an abandoned temple it's hard to find."
"How did you know?" Eric asked in a panic. Grabbing one of Nadir's jackets.
"He used to talk about it, Now take my horse and go I'll watch Rosa."
Eric nodded, "if I'm not back by morning come and find me."
Eric sprinted to the livery banging on the big bar door. A lantern was lit in the room upstairs, a few moments later a man came and opned the door. "Nadir sent me to get his horse." Eric snapped quickly every second counting on Christine's life. There was no way he could get to the possible location in an hour but he had to try.
After the horse was saddled Eric swung himself up running him down the street.
"20 more minutes for your lover to arrive." The man laughed his dark eyes sending chills down her spine. Christine was huddled in the corner tears streaming down her cheeks. "Be strong, he will come, be strong." She whispered trying to encourage herself.
The temperature was dropping drastically as Eric excited the city. His lungs were burning and he could feel the snow clumping in his hair.
A man with a lantern stood in the middle of the pathway Eric pulled his horse to a stop. "The bridge is out," the man explained.
Eric cursed the weather, the bridge, Nasr, and himself. Is there a way arround Eric asked quickly saying a silent prayer. The stranger shook his head.
Eric rode his horse to the river the bridge was being worked on half of it was completely gone. Eric kicked the horse forward into the water, it was the only way past the river.
The horse hesitated, and Eric kicked again giving a weak frozen yell. Seeing no way out of it the horse stepped into the freezing water.
Eric was worried on how far the horse could make it, the water and freezing temperature was not in their favor. "Come on please." Eric pleaded weakly. The horse stumbled through the river till they reached the bank.
Eric kicked the horse again moving him into a lope. Eric knew he was killing the horse but it wasn't his priority now.
The man grabbed Christine forcefully. "I can't wait till I see the demons face when he sees you." The Persian man laughed sandwiching her between him and the wall his hand on her neck.
Christine screamed and kicked, "p..please" she begged trying to release herself from his grasp.
The man squeezed, "please no." Christine screamed fighting harder against him.
He grabbed her shirt and threw her against the wall.
The horse was slowing there was about three miles to go, three miles till he got to his Christine. The horse stumbled falling into the cold hard snow Eric went flying hitting the frozen ground. Eric crawled to the horse who lay there too weak to go on.
The temperature dropped again changing the snow to hail pelting his frozen face. Eric didn't care, he had to get Christine before it was too late.
Christine lay on the ground crying, her entire body hurt and to weak to fight anymore.
Eric trudged through the snow, he was so cold, and so tired. His jacket and trousers were frozen making it difficult to move. He was beginning to sweat and the world started spinning. He saw Christine standing in the distance calling him then running away, he tried to scream her name but he couldn't.
The vision faded into the darkness. He looked for it finding some more strength he pulled himself through the snow.