Chapter 3

Life and Death

Christine followed the secret path that Erik had showed her months before that lead to the lair, when a blood curdling scream filled the passage way. Christine knew only Erik was the only one able to produce a sound so horrid. She quickened her pace and the scream continued.

Suddenly it just stopped and Christine stopped with it. Then she started running as fast as her gown allowed. A few moments later she reached a one way mirror. She stopped for a moment and took in the sight before her.

Erik lay on the ground unmoving, Christine frantically searched for the button that slid the mirror out of the way. Tears fell down her face as she search was he dead? Don't let him be dead she thought. Her hand slipped and the tears fell faster; she had to get to him, she need to tell him something, but what?

Finally her fingers found the small rectangular oddity in the wood and the mirror moved aside.

Christine rushed to Erik's side. She rolled his thin frame onto her lap and brushed a few strands of his black hair out of his face.

"Erik," Christine cried, "please wake up… I need you."

Erik was unresponsive.

"Erik please, please just wake up. I can't live without you."

Erik felt tears streaming down her face and she watch a few of then fall onto Erik's cheek, yet still he was perfectly still. She laid her hand across Erik chest, no heat beat. He was… dead…

"Erik no!" Christine sobbed. "I love you…" The words surprised her, but she'd known all along they were true, but was too late now. Erik was dead.

Christine collapsed into tears upon Erik's still chest. She grabbed one of Erik hands, they were colder than ice, even colder than when he was alive. He was gone, and there was nothing to be done.

"NO!" Christine screamed. "Erik no! You can't go! I love you, you just can't go."

Christine's head lay across Erik's chest. Suddenly there was a weak thump from inside his rib cage. Then another stronger one, and then another, and another, until there was strong and steady beat emanating from within Erik's body.

Erik's eyes fluttered open, revealing his beautiful golden eyes. "Christine," he whispered.

"Erik!" Christine exclaimed excitedly. "you're alive!" Christine took Erik in her arms and just held him there. "Don't ever leave me again Erik… I love you."

A shocked expression crossed his marred features and Christine now noticed he wasn't wearing his mask, such a small detail, he was alive and that's all that mattered. She would deal with Raoul later, but now she was going to be with Erik her true love.