Someone There To Catch Me

Chapter 1: End Your Days With Me

Christine's POV

Raoul was pulling me along as we rushed out of the Phantom's lair. He had just cut Raoul loose from his lasso and screamed for us to leave him as we dashed up the steps. We reached the lake and Raoul began to untie the boat. I looked down at my hand and realized I was still wearing my angel's ring. I didn't feel right taking it. I did not want to go back, though, because I knew if I did it would be harder to leave him.

"I'll be right back"

"Christine where are you going?"

"I…I have something that does not belong to me."

I walked back down the stairs trying not to make a sound. My angel was on the floor and singing out a few words of Masquerade. I thought about turning around and leaving, seeing how much I had hurt him already, but before I could, he noticed my presence in the room. He stood up and tried to compose himself. I saw a hopeful look in his eyes; a "she came back" expression on his face. And when I needed them most, words failed me. I could only hold out his ring to him and try not to cry.

"Christine, I love you."

My heart was breaking and I did not even try to hold back the tears anymore. I kissed my angel's hand and gave him back the ring. I could not look him in the eye, but I knew he was crying too. I headed towards the stairs but stopped. I turned around and our eyes met for a moment as he nodded his head at me; almost as if he was saying, "It's okay. You can go."

"Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime."

He loved me. He loved me and I was leaving. Why was I leaving? 'I was leaving because I had Raoul who I know would support and protect me and who loved me too,' I reassured myself. But did I love him the same way he loved me? I don't know exactly whom I was singing to, but I hoped that my angel would sing back the reply.

"Say the word, and I will follow you."

But instead, Raoul answered the call.

I reluctantly took Raoul's hand and began to walk up the stairs. He led me around the corner and down the couple steps to the boat.

"Share each day with me. Each night. Each morning."

My mind was somewhere else because before I knew it Raoul was in the boat with his arm extended out to me.

"Let's go."

I was about take Raoul's hand when I heard the pain my angel's voice echoing throughout the tunnels.

"You alone can make my song take flight."

It killed me to leave even the Phantom of the Opera and I was already regretting coming back to the boat with Raoul. I realized then that I could not go. I could not leave with Raoul because if I did, I would never be truly happy because I was not in love with Raoul, not like that. I was in love with…

"Christine, get in."

I quickly pulled my hand away. "I'm sorry Raoul. I…I can't go with you. I belong somewhere else, with someone else." I say choking down tears.

"Get in the boat!" He grabbed my left wrist and twisted it hard.

"It's over now, the music of the…"

I punched his face with my free arm and he fell back into the boat unconscious as it began to drift away.

I rushed back down the stairs and ran across to him, meeting him with the biggest embrace, which almost knocked us both over, and cut him off as he began to say "Night."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed my apologizes into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never meant to… I never wanted to hurt you. I was just scared. Please say you'll forgive me. I don't want to be with anyone else because I love you and I am just so sorry."

I was so distracted with trying to explain how horrible I felt to my angel, that I had not realized that he had been silent and had not moved. It was only then that I became aware that this entire time he had not been hugging me back. And for a moment a cruel truth crossed my mind, a harsh possibility that I deeply feared, 'What if he didn't want me back?'

A/N: Please read and review! This is my first fanfic and I would love to get some feedback. (Constructive criticism welcome!) I do not own Phantom of the Opera