Christine
"Erik?!" I now cried frantically, walking slowly back to the couch.
As soon as those words left my lips, Raoul entered.
"Oh thank heavens, your safe!" He cried running over to me and grasping my hands in his; his face red with anxiety.
"I'm fine." I replied calmly. "Didn't you read the note I left you?"
"Yes I did, but I wasn't sure if it was you who wrote it." He said with a worried look sweeping across his blue eyes. He began looking me over for any injuries and then our eyes met once more as I began to speak.
"Well I did and what it said in it is all true. sighs I'm sorry Raoul, but I'm happy. Now if you please." I said tears welling in my eyes as I shakily pointed to the door.
Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin had a shocked look on their faces as they walked in, gasping for breath while their clothes were dripping wet. They stood for a moment, leaning on each other, as the color flooded back into their soaked faces.
Raoul was now at the point where tears were coming to his eyes, he knelt down beside me and softly spoke, "Little Lotte, Oh please tell me this isn't true, don't leave me."
"Little Lotte is no more, I'm afraid dearest Raoul." I replied chocking back tears of guilt and sadness. "I never will leave you because I was never truly yours for I am here now. I am home and..." I stopped for a moment trying to keep my fast draining composure. "I'm sorry." I bowed my head so I could not see the sorrow welling in his eyes, but it was too late.
His eyes, blue as sapphire, now shone with sadness. He slowly stood, turned, and walked away, leaving me in the darkness that he had dashed through. Andre and Firmin had an appalled expression on their faces as they too turned and walked away with Raoul. As the walked off I could hear them frantically asking Raoul, "What happened? What are you to do? Will she still sing?"
Raoul stopped looked at me, then looked at the two frantic managers as he said "She will still sing for you, as always. I will still support the Opera Populair; nothing has truly changed. She is…happy now and home, as she said..." He paused in the middle of the last sentence; he was fighting back tears.
He smiled at me and then turned quickly so I did not see the tears that were now flowing down his face, as he walked away. Andre and Firmin looked at me and then looked back at Raoul; the had the oddest look in their eyes as they both followed Raoul back to the light and away from the dark.
I sat in the darkness, my crying soon turned to sobbing; I was so tired. I cupped my head in my hands as I felt strong, gentle arms wrap around my waist and hold me. It was the only comfort I had.
"Erik?" I sighed between tears.
"Yes mon ange… shhhhh now… you are safe." He whispered, gently turning me around so that our eyes met, holding me ever closer. "I thought you were leaving with Raoul." He continued with an unusual gleam sparking in his eyes.
"Where would I go? My home is here." I replied smiling a little as the tears streamed down my face.
He sighed heavily, "You aren't going to make this easy, are you?" He said, smiling faintly as he bowed his head away from me.
I lifted his head so that our eyes met and said softly, "Who said it was going to be easy? I am not leaving. I love you Erik."
He gave me the oddest look as he said "You are delirious; you must rest for you are exhausted." Concern flooded his eyes.
He lifted me gently from the couch and carried me to his bed, gently laying me down in it. He gently kissed my forehead and shut the door behind him as he left.
I was too weak to protest to anything he said or did. I had not eaten or slept well in days and I was so exhausted that I immediately went to sleep, but it was an uneasy rest.