Christine's POV

"Raoul, we have to go back…"

Raoul was rowing the gondola away from my angel's lair…So much had changed in the last few minutes. I used to think that he was a monster, but my angel of music had proven himself wrong. He had Raoul in a noose and was attempting to force me to marry him. It wasn't that I didn't feel for the man, for I did. I wasn't sure if it was love, but I did care for my angel. I wasn't sure why I did it, but I kissed him. Was it out of desperation for Raoul, or was it because I loved him? Oh, I didn't know, but after the tears fell from his malformed cheeks, he sent Raoul and me away. The Mob was coming…We heard them storming their way through the catacombs. Even now, as I sat there in my angel's gondola, I heard them screaming and shouting. I pressed my hands over my ears to drown out the sound of my angel getting murdered. But what was I doing? I had to go back…After everything that he had done for me, I had thrown him to the dogs. No, he deserved better.

"Raoul, we have to go back…"

Raoul, who was steering the gondola away, looked down at me, his face filled with confusion.

"Christine, you're speaking madness. We can't go back…We are going forward. We can't be seen by the mob. You heard your monster. They would do horrible things to us."

"And what about him?"

"I hope that he died the most horrible death, Christine. He deserves to burn in hell for what he's done."

And then, I knew what I wanted. As I looked up at Raoul, my heart began to scream. What was I doing? I needed to break free…I needed to find my angel of music. Quickly, I jumped out of the gondola and plopped into the freezing water.

"Christine!" Raoul's voice echoed off of the catacomb walls as he shouted for me. "Christine, take my hand…"

"No, Raoul, I can't do this."

"Christine, stop…"

Raoul tried to grab hold of my blouse, but I moved away.

"I can't do this… Just go! Go away…"

"Christine, I won't leave you here."

"I want to be left here! I…I don't love you Raoul! Now go…Just go!"

I didn't even look at Raoul as I swam through the bone chilling water. No, I swam on, the water numbing every part of my body. It was dark, so dark that I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face. Though, the water began to become clearer as I reached my angel's lair. Oh, I was never happier when I reached the chilled slab of land. It was quiet now…too quiet. It may have taken a while, but I was able to stand and begin my search for my angel of music. His once warm and comforting home had been turned upside down. Since it was too dark to see, I lit one of his candelabras and shun it over his damaged living room. The furniture was destroyed, and there was debris lying everywhere…But that wasn't all. No, the walls and floor were covered in blood. I covered my mouth with my hand to cut off the cries that wanted to emerge from my horrified lips. This was my fault…All my fault. If only I had stayed. The blood trail on the floor started off in drips and as I followed it outside and down a dark path, it turned into large puddles.

"Angel!" I called out his name as I continued down the dark corridor. So much blood…He couldn't be living. In my mind, I replayed the horrible events that could have taken place. What if the mob stabbed him? But this was too much blood for a stabbing…No, something worse had happened to him. It seemed as though I walked forever before coming across a tall pile of debris. I wasn't sure where the debris came from, but as I gazed up towards the ceiling, I realized that the ceiling had collapsed. There were heavy rocks and dirt everywhere…But the blood was still on the floor, making it obvious that my angel did indeed come this way.

"Angel?"

I paused after calling him once again. I paused and waited…and then, I heard a heavy cough. I'd know that cough anywhere… It was my angel!

"Angel!" I began to climb the rocks, never caring about my own safety for one moment. It seemed like forever before I reached the other side. Once there, I saw my angel lying there in a puddle of his own blood. His clothes were torn and his face was covered in blood.

"Angel…"

I reached his body and looked towards the pile of rubble, not really knowing why he wasn't moving…And then, I saw it…His right leg was trapped beneath the rubble. He was covered in so much blood, that I wasn't sure where he was wounded. Though, after taking a good look at him, I noticed that his chest was covered in a dark substance. I dropped to my knees and peeled away a part of his shirt, revealing a nasty wound below his ribcage. He was shivering, coughing, and groaning in complete agony.

"I'm going to get you out of here," I assured. "I'm going to get you free."

I didn't hesitate a single moment in attempting to pull the debris off of his leg, but it was no use, for the rock covering it was too heavy. He was trapped…Knowing that he was going to freeze to death if I didn't do something, I tore off my cloak and even though it was wet, it would have to do…I draped it over his body and crawled beneath it with him. He was so delirious, that he didn't even respond to my presence. I pressed my hand tightly against his wound, applying pressure to keep his remaining blood in his body.

"Someone will find us," I assured, pressing my body against his own. "Someone will be here soon enough."

"Christine…" my name deliriously slipped from his lips. His eyes were closed, making it obvious that he was nearly unconscious. For hours I shivered against his body, making sure that he got all the heat he needed. At one point, I even began to drift off, my flesh chilled to the bone in darkness.

"Angel, would you like to hear a song?" I shivered. I needed to stay awake, for if I fell asleep, I knew that I would most likely never wake up. Just lying here in silence wasn't working, so I decided to sing to him He didn't answer me, but I began singing anyway, my voice low and chattering. My angel did not respond to this, but I knew he heard me.

"Erik…"

Erik? Who was that? I heard a strange voice calling that very name. I stayed silent, thinking it to be the mob again. What if they left someone named Erik behind? What if they found my angel and I lying here? The footsteps were getting closer now, for I could hear them climbing the other side of the wall. I gasped and pressed my body closer to my angel's…I would protect him. I wouldn't let the mob get a hold of him again. I pressed my eyes closed, only to feel a hand against my cheek. I immediately gasped and waved my arms weakly about.

"Christine? Christine, dear, what are you doing here?"

The man had a lit torch with him, and I wasn't sure of his identity at first, but as the light became clear, I realized that it was Nadir Khan. I had only met him once, but that was besides the point, for he was here…

"Christine…" the man lifted me to my feet and threw his warm cloak over my shoulders. I sighed, for it was warmth at last.

"I was certain you would have left with the Viscount…Oh, but you're here, and you did great."

Nadir knelt down at my angel's side and pressed his fingers to his throat.

"He's barely alive…Oh, but you did good. You kept him warm."

"His…his leg is caught."

Nadir turned to the pile of debris. "We will have to change that then. Grab onto his arms and pull him…I'm going to attempt to move the rock."

I did as Nadir asked and pulled at my angel's arms the moment Nadir lifted the rock. The man was strong, for he struggled to lift the rock, but he eventually lifted it. When my angel was free, Nadir lifted him onto his shoulders.

"Come on…Let's get out of here before the mob returns. There's no telling what they're capable of."

"Raoul took the boat…He took the only boat."

"Then how do you think I got here? Come along…We have to get him to a doctor before it's too late. You did good, Christine, real good."

Nadir led the way, bringing us to a awaiting gondola that was on the other side of the lake. Once we got my angel situated, Nadir helped me in as well.

"What if someone catches him?" I questioned. "What if the mob finds out that he survived?"

"I've got it all under control, Christine. Don't you worry about that. The worst is over now."

Nadir rowed us across the lake while I tended to my angel. When the gondola came to a stop, Nadir lifted my angel over his shoulders once again.

"We're nearly there, Christine."

"Nearly to where?"

"To a private doctor I use."

"Doctor? We can't risk this…"

"I trust him, Christine…He's helped Erik out before in many situations. Never a problem."

"Erik?"

"That's the name of your tutor."

"Erik?" I tasted it on my tongue…It was strange at first, but the name suited him well. Erik…Erik, my angel of music. I was frightened at first about bringing Erik somewhere, but Nadir trusted the man we were headed to, and therefore, I did the same. I knew Nadir wouldn't endanger my angel, for he was a dear friend of his. When the door to the place opened, an older man appeared…Nadir began speaking in a strange language, a language I didn't understand. He disappeared for a few moments and came back alone…

"He needs surgery…My friend is going to do it."

Nadir pulled me by the arm and sat me down beside him.

"It's best that you and I rest now. We've had a tiring night…"

I didn't know this man well, but for some reason, I found comfort in him. I was exhausted…so exhausted and cold. Nadir rubbed my shoulders to get me warmer, and as he was doing so, I stretched out across his lap.

"You know, the doctor said that if it wasn't for you, Erik would have already been dead."

"How so? He was gushing blood…"

"You kept him warm. He would have died… The doctor believes he has a case of pneumonia but without your warmth, he wouldn't have pulled through this far."

"I'm cold…"

"And soaking wet. Once Erik is all right, I'll take you somewhere where you can shower and change. You still wish to be here, don't you?"

"Yes…"

"But why? Where is your husband?"

"He's not my husband yet. He…He refused to help my angel and so, I took it upon myself to make the right decision."

"And what a heroic one it was. You did good, Christine, so very good… He owes you his life for what you did tonight."

"I owe him my own."

"No, Christine, Erik owes you his life for what you did. He will never know the sacrifice you have given tonight."

And with that thought within my head, I closed my eyes and slipped away to sleep….Tomorrow was another day, and so, until tomorrow I wouldn't worry about Raoul or the thought of having to return to him. No, it was time to sleep and what a well deserving sleep it would be.

And may this be my Christmas present to you all...A New Story! Please review and I shall be updating this once a week. Thanks everyone...