There Are Dreams That Cannot Be: A Phantom of the Opera Phanfiction [Completed]

Chapter 15 ~ Floating, Falling

Erik's POV
I sobbed harder as her eyes closed and she almost stopped breathing. I nervously felt for a pulse and was relieved when I found out that she was alive, but just barely. I tightly tied my jacket around her stomach to help stop the bleeding and lifted her up into my arms. Christine seemed to have magically disappeared. That was a good thing, though, because if she ever came near me or Ryleigh again I would kill her without a second thought. "Stay with me, Ryleigh, please. I need you, Angel" I whispered as I sat her gently in the boat and began rowing us across the lake. I stopped the boat and slowly lifted her up and navigated us through the catacombs, determined to find help.

Ryleigh's POV
My eyes shot open and I stared at the white ceiling of a familiar room. I then realized that it was the ballet dormitory, except that I was the only person laying on a bed. I sat up and saw Erik standing over by the door, conversing with Madame Giry and a man who appeared to be a doctor.

I sat up and walked over to see what was going on, and heard the words "...in a coma, nothing we can do except wait, whether or not she lives is up to her..." I froze when I heard this. But then I realized that I was standing right next to the three of them and none of them seemed to notice me. I waved my hand in front of Erik's face, but he looked straight through it over at something behind me. I turned around and was utterly shocked and terrified at what I saw: myself, laying in the bed with my eyes closed, my chest moving up and down every now and then. I felt like I was going to faint, but then I realized that I couldn't. Why was I able to see everything that was going on, but I couldn't wake up?

"Can any of you hear me?" I asked loudly, but no one responded. I tried to tap Erik on the shoulder, but my hand passed right through it. It was like I was a ghost, but I was alive.

I listened as the trio conversed for a few more minutes, and then the doctor exited the room, shaking Erik's hand.

"I am truly sorry, Erik. I wish we could do more for her. But I have heard stories of people who are aware of everything that is going on while they are in a coma. Try talking to her and see what happens. She just needs the will to wake up" Madame Giry comforted Erik, who looked as if he was about to have a mental breakdown. I hated having to stand there and watch him suffer while I was the cause of it all! But I couldn't do anything about it, I didn't know how! I sighed and walked over to where Erik was now sitting by my bedside, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Ryleigh, I miss you more than anything. It's only been a day and I cannot bear the pain that I feel. Please, wake up if you can. I need you more than anything else on this Earth, I love you" he whispered, tears pouring down the half of his face not covered with the mask. My heart broke to see him in this much pain. Pain. That's when I realized that I didn't feel anything. I couldn't feel anything. My stomach should hurt something awful, but it didn't. I hated myself for being pain-free while Erik was suffering because of me. I sighed and sat on the floor next to the chair that he was sitting in.

"Erik, I love you. And if I could wake up, I would do it in a heartbeat. I need you, more than anything" I said softly, knowing that he couldn't hear me.