Disclaimer: I Do not own any of the rights to the original characters of Phantom of the Opera. They are the property of Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber
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1
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Raoul rowed the small boat steadily through the murky waters underneath the flame-engulfed opera house. He and his love were finally going to live safely and happily ever after without anymore of the Phantom's nonsense. Christine, her hand grasping Raoul's shoulder, bit her lip wondering what was to become of her abandoned tutor. Even after all he had put her through, she still felt incredible sympathy for the poor creature.
The boat began to rub up against the dry land and Raoul stopped rowing. He threw the paddle away carelessly, jumped from the vessel and onto the solid ground. He put out a hand for Christine to take. She took his outreached hand and manoeuvred herself from the boat. She turned her head around once more to glance back to the dark shaft of water that led down to the Phantom's secret dwellings.
Raoul squeezed her hand. "Come, we must leave quickly. The fire's going to burn through soon."
Christine jerked her head away and looked back to Raoul longingly. She nodded and they began up the long stairway that led back to the opera house. They only hoped that the fire had not yet moved to where they were headed.
As they mounted the final steps and headed out into the opera house, the temperature change hit them like a brick wall. Raoul pulled on Christine's arm and they began running for the exit. Christine looked up as she ran, observing the ceiling. Flames peeked out from cracks in the tile and began growing and spreading, setting the rest of the opera on fire as well.
They ran through the doors just as the ceiling flames began dropping down onto the floor and setting the rest on fire.
Outside there was tons of commotion. Screaming, crying and yelling could be heard from all over. Crowds had gathered at a distance, watching the fire eat away at the glorious architecture as though it were some kind of entertainment for them.
Raoul looked along the road at the lineup of parked coaches, trying to see if his was there or not. Suddenly he spotted it.
"There's the coach!" He yelled and looked at Christine.
Christine was watching the fire, mesmerized. Raoul grabbed her arm, dragged her away from her perception of the current disaster. He pulled her all the way to the coach.
"Vicomte!" The coach operator exclaimed, seeing Raoul approaching with Christine.
Raoul helped Christine into the carriage, then went to around the driver.
"Vicomte, you made it out alive! I thought I'd never see you again."
"I'd feared that myself, as well. But I must have been lucky because I'm talking to you right now, am I not?"
Raoul and the driver shared a laugh, then the driver mounted the front of the coach and Raoul headed to the carriage. He climbed aboard and sat next to Christine, who had her head in her hands and looked to be in utter confusion.
Raoul placed a hand on her shoulder. "Christine, what's wrong? You're okay now. We're leaving and never coming back. There's nothing to worry about."
Christine raised her eyes to Raoul's and shook her head. "I think I made a big mistake," She said, her voice filled with tears.
"What? A mistake? What do you mean?"
All of a sudden Christine jumped from the carriage and ran in the direction of the burning opera house.
Raoul's eyes bulged from his head. He couldn't believe what had just happened. "Christine!" He shouted, watching her receding figure head towards the large building. He saw her go through the entrance and his heart skipped a beat. He jumped from the carriage as well and began after her.
"Vicomte?" The carriage operator asked, confused.