Erik

I ran as fast as I could to Mon ange... I wasn't entirely sure where she was at, but it didn't matter. I could feel where she was; I guess that's how I soon found her. "Thank God." I breathed as I saw her; she was still alive but very pale though.

"How is she?" I asked Madame Giry who had a solemn look on her face.

"She is stable... for now." She said as she bowed her head.

Her daughter gasped when she saw me. I could hear her whisper, "Le fantome." I saw her staring at me and I gave her a half smile before I walked over to Christine.

Madame Giry gently lifted the blanket they had laid over her to reveal the wound. There was blood covering her dress and a tear where the bullet entered. "My poor, sweet ange." I said as tears streamed down my face while I grasped her fragile hands in mine. The bleeding had stopped though and after an hour or so she regained consciousness.

When she opened her eyes, she looked around at us, frightened. She tried to sit up, but the pain shot through her and I gently laid her back down.

"Erik?" she asked.

"Yes mon ange, I'm here. It's fine; you are safe now." I said pushing her hair out of her eyes.

"What happened?" she asked. "I remember vaguely; it's all a blur." She said; her eyes told me she was exhausted but she would not rest till she knew what had happened.

So I told her; when I finished, tears began to pour down her face.

"Is it over now? Is he..." she began to sob now and it broke her speech.

"Yes mon ange it is over. I'm afraid I did what I did because...if I did not..." I sighed heavily and then went on, "he would have killed me, then... He would have come for you." I said after a short moment.

I caressed her face gently with my hand, she took my hand in hers when I said, "I have one question for you though." She nodded as a signal for me to continue. "You risked your life for me... Why?" I whispered.

She smiled and began to blush very faintly and aid, "Love is stronger than Pain."

I smiled at this and said, "But our Love is stronger than Life." She smiled and her cheeks grew even redder.

"You must rest now mon ange... We will talk once you have regained your strength." I kissed her gently and soon she dosed off, still grasping my hands in hers.

I looked at Madame Giry and all that were in the room. They were silent; their eyes were locked on me. I suppose they never thought that I could be loving, kind, caring, or have any feelings at all.

I slept beside my angel that night and woke with her in the morning.