Christine's wrists ached and her head pounded. She was tied to a wooden chair and the ropes cut unforgivingly into her wrists. Her golden hair dangled over her face, masking the still bleeding reminder of her suicide attempt. Perhaps she had succeeded. She was told as a child that taking one's own life was a guaranteed passage to hell, and that is where she was certain she was. For surely hell could be no worse than this.
The tears began to flow of their own accord, streaming down her porcelain face. This was the end she was sure her life was over. She would never see the sun again she would remain for all eternity within the confines of this dark prison.
"You know it pains me to see you cry." Erik stated simply, slowly approaching the weeping figure.
"Then let me go," was Christine's soft reply. It was barely audible but Erik heard it none the less.
"Christine knows Erik can't do that." He said sadly, kneeling at her feet and clutching the hem of her dress.
Her only response was the continued shedding of her tears.
Erik stood and left her, seeking solace in his own bedroom. He sat at the organ and let his head fall into his hands. He let out a heart wrenching sigh and he himself began to cry. Didn't she know that a piece of his soul died with every tear she shed? That he loved her too much to let her go? She was his life, his muse, his sole reason to live. If she left he would die. But he knew he was killing her. She was a delicate rose that need sunlight and tender care. The darkness of his world and his blood stained hands would surely cause her to wilt and die. But he couldn't let her go.
"Christine."
It was a soft and gentle sound. Its utterance briefly dried her tears. She was unsure of its location and wonder if it was merely in her head. For she was certain her Raoul had just called her name.
"Christine, are you there?" Came the same soft voice.
"Raoul?" She croaked, her heart lifting slightly from its dark despair.
"Oh Christine! Yes my love it is I! I am here to rescue you!"
Christine's heart fluttered at the sound of her lover's voice.
"Mademoiselle I need you to let us out." A voice unfamiliar to Christine directed.
"Monsieur I can't, he has tied me to a chair." Christine's voice wavered as she suppressed a sob.
"You must find a way, it's our only chance." Raoul whispered.
"The monster claims to love you, ask him to release you. If he harbors any true affection he shall release you from your bonds." The unfamiliar voice said.
"I, I shall try." Christine whispered.
Erik was smart and Christine knew it. She had no idea how she could ever convince him to release her. Her acting skills were lacking and she had always been a terrible liar. She was certain that no matter what tactic she tried Erik would see through it.
Her head throbbed as she tried to think. The pain from her head wound was clouding her thoughts making it difficult to form a single coherent thought let alone a plan. How was she supposed to beckon him to her without arousing his suspicions? To Christine's luck she did not have to beckon him for he soon returned of his own volition.
"Christine has stopped crying." Erik stated, standing in the door frame.
Christine sniffed and looked up at his masked face, "Please untie me. The ropes hurt my wrists. I swear I shall not again attempt to kill myself."
Erik eyed her warily before moving behind her and undoing her bonds. When he saw her red, swollen wrists he broke into a hysterical sob, "I have hurt Christine, Erik promised her no harm and I have damaged her pretty wrists. For that alone Erik deserves death."
Christine stared at him. She hated him. She hated him for everything. She was reasonably happy before he came along. Not carefree like the other girls but at least she wasn't miserable. Sure, she now had the voice of a prima donna and the heart of her old friend, who would not have noticed her otherwise, but she would not get to enjoy either. For she was certain that if she stayed here she would never sing on stage again and if Erik ever discovered Raoul in his house he would kill him without a second thought. Yet as she stared at the broken man at her feet, begging for her forgiveness and asking for death for harming her, she could not bring herself to express it. She wanted to tell him that he did indeed deserve death, that he was a horrible man that ruined her life, but all she could manage was a meager, "It's really not that bad."
Erik flung himself at her feet and kissed her shoes. "Christine is too kind to Erik. Christine knows Erik meant her no harm?"
"I know Erik." She uttered.
She did not understand him. How could a man murder without remorse yet torture himself over causing her a sore wrist? She knew he had been mistreated all his life. That he was abused like an animal. People acted as though he had no feelings. Once she had condemned them but now she was about to become one of them.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Please review! It really does help along the writing process!