Love Story

Chapter eighteen: Within


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Christine stood in the back of the church eagerly waiting to be walked down the isle by her father. Christine was wearing her grandmother’s wedding dress. Even though Christine’s friends weren’t there to see her get married her parents were there and that was enough for Christine. Charles came in the back room and got Christine. “It’s time, Christine.” Charles said smiling to his daughter. Christine smiled back and took her father’s hand and they walked to the front of the church where they waited for the music to start.
As they walked down the isle Christine saw a few familiar faces. Some of them were people Christine’s parents had made friends with while they stayed in Persia. Christine saw Erik standing at the front with Amar by his side as his best man. When Christine and Charles came to Erik Charles kissed Christine on the cheek and handed her hand to Erik who took it greatly. Christine turned to Erik and the priest began the ceremony.

“…and by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The priest said to Erik. Christine smiled sweetly as Erik removed her veil and cup her face in his hands and gave her the sweetest, softest and the most romantic kiss of Christine’s life. When Erik pulled away they both smiled. Then Christine dropped her flowers, wrapped her arms around Erik’s neck and pulled him into a passionate and fiery kiss that made the murmur and the women swoon and sigh.

The two walked hand in hand as they went down the isle with the guests following them. They came to the outside of the church where Christine’s world suddenly went into slow motion when she looked up and saw Raoul coming towards them both. Christine was happy to see him…until she saw what lay in his hand. Raoul raised his gun and fired twice at Erik. Everyone screamed and ran for cover. Erik was hit in the arm but Raoul missed the second time. Raoul saw Amar raising his gun but Raoul fired first and hit Amar in the side with the third shot. Christine got down on the ground and Erik moved over her to protect her. Amar winced in pain but never flinched as he fired at Raoul twice.

One bullet hit Raoul in the stomach but Raoul still had strength as he fired once more before falling to the ground dead. Christine was sobbing beyond control. She heard the sound of the guns falling to the ground followed by a body dropping. Erik moved off of Christine and pulled her into his lap. Then Erik began looking over her body and making sure she wasn’t hit. “Are you alright?” Erik asked her urgently. “I’m…I’m fine.” Christine said. She noticed Erik’s arm but it was just a flesh wound. There was suddenly a scream. Erik and Christine both looked up and saw Amar on his knees holding his chest.

Erik got up from his spot and ran to aid his brother. Christine ran to Amar’s side as well. Amar fell back in Erik’s arm as he gasped for air. The last shop had hit Amar’s chest and he was bleeding to death. Blood was coming out of Amar’s mouth and he was beginning to choke. Erik sat him up so Amar would drone in his own blood. Erik put his hand on Amar’s chest wound to try and stop the bleeding but it wouldn’t stop. “It’s over…” Amar choked out as he lay dying in his brother’s arms. “No...no,” Erik whispered again and again as tears fell down his face. Erik kissed his brother’s forehead and rocked his body back and forth in his arms. “I love you brother,” Amar said as his eyes began to feel heavy. “I love you too brother,” Erik said back to Amar.

Amar turned to Christine and looked her in the eyes. She was the only woman he had ever loved but even in his moment of death he couldn’t bring himself to tell her how much she meant to him.

Christine took his hand in hers and Amar knew now he had to tell her even if that meant hurting Erik.

“How you changed my world

You precious thing

You started to exhaust me

Everything I’ve done I’ve done for you

I move the stars for no one

You’ve run so long you’ve

Run so far

Your eyes can be so cruel

Just as I can be so cruel

Oh I do believe in you

Yes I do

Live with out the sunlight

Love with out your heart beat

I, I can’t live within you

I, I can’t live with you…”

Then his eyes rolled back and closed…forever. Erik pulled Amar tighter to him and let his tears wash away the blood on Amar’s face. Christine sat back and held his hand tightly in hers. Then Erik let out a sound that sounded more like his body was being ripped apart. It was a mix between a roar and a sob. It was so loud and so full of feeling that everyone could hear it…and most of all feel it.