The Man Behind the Monster: Phantom of the Opera Story

29: Darkness Stirs

ELIZABETH'S POV

I woke up to a rather cold room, not feeling the warmth of Erik's body next to mine. I turned over, so I was laying on my back. I pulled the blanket up tp my chin since the room was rather cold.

Why had Erik gotten up so early? I surely wished that he would have stayed in bed with me.

I sat up in bed, throwing the blanket off of me. A slight blush started forming on my cheeks when I realized that I had not bothered to put on any clothes, after the events of the night.

I stood up and put my clothes back on. I looked back towards the bed, as images of last night flashed through my mind. The way he caressed my body, the way we both poured our love out to each other. It brought butterflies to my stomach. I don't know what the future held for us, but all I know is that I wanted to be with him.

It was quite silent in the house as I descended the stairs. I expected to be greeted by his figure once I descended the stairs, but he was nowhere in sight. Panic soon started to set in.

"Okay, well maybe, he walked outside to get some fresh air. He surely wouldn't have gone that far.", I thought to myself as I headed towards the front door.

I exited out the front to search for him, but again, I found nothing.

"Erik?", I called out into the void. But, I received no response.

I ran back into the house, to find any sort of clue or note as to where he had ventured off to.

I found nothing of use in the kitchen or sitting room. I rushed back up the stairs to the bedroom, only to find all of his belongings were gone as well.

No! He couldn't have just left me. He wouldn't! After last night, how could he?

It felt like the room started to spin.

No, this cannot be happening!

I ran my fingers through my hair. Tears started streaming down my cheeks.

"No, no, no...", I kept repeating to myself. "NO!"

I ran out of the bedroom door, flew down the stairs, and out the front door. I sprinted across the clearing and back into the dense woods.

I ran just as fast as I did the night before. Again, not a care in the world as to where I stepped. I found the pathway and continued on until the big, red barn came into few.

The entire time, I could barely see. Tears clouded my eyes.

How could he do this?

I cleared the tears from my eyes and, once I did, I saw a figure in the distance.

It was the old man.

"Mademoiselle, what is the hurry?", the old man said, as I made my way towards me. "Oh my, what happened?"

"Where is he? Where did he go?", I frantically asked. "He wasn't there when I woke up."

"Mademoiselle, it pains me to tell you this, but he is gone. Madame Giry arrived very late last night. She came to take him to another safe haven. To where exactly, I do not know."

I felt my heart stop beating. My breathing stopped. Everything stopped, once I heard those words leave the old man's lips.

He is gone.

I felt like I was spinning again.

"No..."

And then, everything turned black.

---

"Lady Elizabeth?", a distorted voice said.

"Miss Daae, please wake up."