The Fifth Cellar (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 28 - Alive

 Erik's POV:

It was completely dark. My vision had gone black. I could feel my heart slowing to a stop. So this was death. Just nothing. This is what I had come down to. To tell the truth I wasn't dieing because I had lost Christine. It was that I had lost Eva too. After all this she wouldn't want to be with me and even if she did she couldn't ever love me. No one could love me. I did love Eva. I realized that after Christine had left. I realized what I had thrown away. Eva might have loved me. No, she couldn't have loved me. I realized then that I had been arguing with myself. It didn't matter now. Eva was gone and not going to return. She was so beautiful. Any man could love her. She was perfect. I felt a tear slip from my eye but I didn't have the strength to wipe it away. Suddenly I heard screams, someone was screaming my name. Howling my name. The pain that laced it was unmistakable. Suddenly I felt a warm body lay down beside mine. Then I heard someone whisper,

“I will soon join you, my love. We will be reunited in death.” It was then I realized it was Eva. She was planning on dying beside me? No, she deserved to live. I deserved to die. I managed to croak,

“Eva.”

Evangeline's POV:

I was sobbing uncontrollably now. I had lost him. He was dead. There was no way to bring him back. I had determined I would lay down beside him where I always wanted to be and when Christine buried him she would bury me as well. Suddenly I heard a croak,

“Eva.” I shot up and looked at Erik. His eyes were just barely open and I could just see a faint glow. He wasn't dead yet. I shouted his name and he winced. I hugged him sightly and noticed that he didn't return it. He was probably too weak.

“Oh, Erik, Erik, you are alive!” I sobbed into his chest. He whispered,

“Don't die with me. There is nothing to be done for me. Go live a happy life not haunted by my memory.” I shook my head.

“Erik, you are going to live. When was the last time you ate?” He sighed slightly.

“Two weeks ago.” I rolled my eyes and said,

“Hang on for me. For me, please, Erik, for me.” I wasn't sure what his facial expression was but I hoped he had agreed to live. I hurried from the coffin and found some wine. I walked forward and lifted his mask ever so slightly. He flinched and if he had been stronger he would have pushed me away. I lifted it enough so that he could drink. It gave him some more strength and I hoped it would be enough. He drank the whole glass and I hurried away to find something for him to eat. I managed to rustle up some soup and fed it to him. It was awkward but I didn't care. I wanted him to live. I didn't even notice that his lips weren't like most. I was too worried about his health to care.

This went on for several days. He grew stronger but not strong enough to leave his coffin. At last he was and managed to feed himself. He drew away from me every time I tried to get close. I didn't know why he would. He said he loved me. I couldn't understand why he pulled away. Finally I had enough. I sat him down four days after my return and said,

“Erik, what is wrong with you? I try to get close and you push me away. Its like you don't want anything to do with me.” I sighed and I saw his shoulders shaking. “Did what you say in your letter mean nothing?” He looked up at me with tormented eyes.

“I don't take back one word I wrote. But don't you see, you shouldn't stay here. This isn't a life for you. Go back to the surface where you can find someone normal. Someone who deserves your beauty and talent. I am well enough to live.” He turned away from me and started to walk to his room. I had had it with him. I walked up behind him and spun him around. I grabbed that mask from his face and threw it to the side. Erik screamed loudly at me, clinching and unclinching his hands in anger. His twisted features glared down upon me as I pulled myself to my feet.

“Are you happy now, Rat?! You have now had the pleasure of gazing upon Erik's horrid face! Well?! How does Erik look?! Go on! Run! Scream! DIE! For all I care! No one could ever bear to be near to Erik after seeing him!”

I silenced him by placing my hands on either side of his face and pulled myself to his height as our lips crashed against each other. I felt a warm sensation surge throughout my body as he ever so gently placed his hands on my back. I could tell that he didn't know what to do and I slowly backed away to catch my breath. My face remaining inches away from his. I rested my forehead against his and smiled at him as I looked into his stunned eyes, my arms will wrapped around his neck. I could see the tears pour from his eyes and he raised his hand to his lips as if he could not believe what I had done. I looked up at him and whispered,

“I love you.”