A/N: So I figured that this moment would be when Christine comes back to Erik when she's giving him the wedding invitation and Nadir was sitting outside the room and Raoul came to get her. This is the next morning. :D (And for the record, it is implied that they were 'intimate' the night before. Just wanted to make that clear. ) Anyways… Here we go…

I was perfectly content with myself, lying on top of my sheets on my bed. My Angel, who had spent the night with me, had gotten up out of bed to get dressed in her room upstairs. I pretended to be asleep; even though it was obvious I had already woken and dressed for the day. I placed my hands behind my head as I rested on my pillow and gave a deep, happy sigh. I was left in peace like that for a while until I heard Christine's footsteps walk back into the room. I looked to see her out of the corner of my eye, standing at the foot of my bed. My angel was beautiful and was dressed quite exquisitely, as usual. There was my Christine, waiting there for me to notice her. It had been a long night the night before, so it was only natural that I had been "sleeping in" longer than I normally do. She gave a shiver and crossed her arms, though it wasn't because she was cold. Surely, if she were cold, she could have climbed back into bed! No, she was crossing her arms because she was playing with me! Her acting was horrible none the less. After a moment she gave a heavy sigh, only to turn away and give a shy giggle, even began to hum. I doubt she could have been to upset with me anyways. After all, it was just the other night that she had kissed me, and touched me, and confessed her love to me! She showed me that she loved me, every way possible! And I had loved her back. And though she wouldn't let me kill that fop, her fiancé, she did come back for me, because she loved me. She loved me?

"Get out, Christine."

"What are you talking about?"

She giggled, mistaken what I had said as a joke, my perfect fool.

"Leave, Christine. Leave this place-"

The electric buzzer rang then. Luckily Nadir had been in the house to answer the door. My sudden hate for this girl was growing rapidly like a wild fire. How dare she come back? How could I have been so stupid the night before to believe that she loved me? I had been tricked into letting her paint me a picture of warmth and hope. But of course she did not love me. Even my own mother didn't love me! If anything, she pitied me, feared me, she hated me back! How dare she come here and play me like a damn flute! Like hamlet, I would not stand for it any longer, to be thought of to be so ignorant! I heard Raoul's muffled voice and continued on.

"Go back to your home. This jest is wearing thin. I don't want you here anymore. I've had enough of this make believe game, don't you understand?"

Christine changed from her little rosy self to being utterly mortified. I refused to make eye contact. I tried to fumble with my mask for a bit before placing it over my distortion. After that, I had no choice but to simply stare at the canopy above my bed. I will admit that it was impossible to avoid her stare, even without making eye contact. There was always that connection between this beautiful nightmare and I that left a gut ripping feeling whenever something was wrong. I reminded myself that this hurt was all an act for her. I had nothing to fear, there was no way she really loved me, no way she was so devastated, and there for, there was no reason to feel any sort of remorse.

"But Erik, who will take care of you? You are sick,"

"Nadir can take care of me just fine."

"You could be dying!"

I ignored that realistic possibility; my heart sank a little still.

"You're lover is waiting outside this room for you this second! Don't want to keep your lad waiting, do you? Stop wasting your time with this monster and go!"

Christine raced to the side of my bed and reached for the left, affable side of my face. I stopped her, grabbing her wrist and throwing her a menacing glare. There was so much emotional nonsense I was about to throw onto her shoulders but the click of my chamber door froze us like this. I sat up to try to see who was about to rudely enter, but as quickly and randomly as the door had opened, the door slammed shut. Obviously, Nadir was trying to stall from Raoul getting to his precious Christine; though little did he know it was no use anymore. I looked back at Christine who was crying, tears streaming down her face. I stood, still gripping onto her wrist, and she willingly let me drag her to the door. Then I made the mistake of looking at my angel's face for a final time. A flashback of all those days when I looked into this child's face and saw all the joy in life, saw all the love in the world.

"Angel… Please don't make this harder for me then it already is…" I said rather sincerely.

Before I knew it, her lips collided with my own. As much as my mind protested, I did not push her away. I begged every muscle in my body to retreat from her, but I wouldn't budge. We kissed each other in perfect silence. I felt her tears fall against my face, and then felt tears of my own slip. Christine finally pulled away and gently peeled my mask away and whispered close to my face. I could almost feel her lips against my own. Again, something possessed me to crave her. This time I was fortunate enough to ignore it.

"Erik, I will always love you."

I handed her the purse that she had brought with her, and I could have sworn she must have smuggled my mask in it with her.

"Another day, Love. Another Life….Apologies."

And with that I threw open my door where Raoul and Nadir were awkwardly sitting in my drawing room. Nadir was sipping tea, and Raoul was sweating, his eyes were wide like a mad man. With Christine still in my grasp, I grabbed the boy with my free hand and dragged the both of them to the front door.

"I believe this belongs to you vicomte. Do not fret sir, I found your lost jewel at my door step the other afternoon…. Oh, do not give those accusing looks to her monsieur. She was only giving me an invitation to your..Wedding. Do not worry, I will be busy that date, I assure you."

Christine was trying to look back at me multiple times as I raced them both to the front door. When we made eye contact, I merely gave her a small wink. I might not have wanted the best for her at this point, being mad at her and all, though I knew how Raoul's bad days were, and if he were to know that I took Christine before their wedding, Heaven knows the fit he would have thrown. And I for one did not want to be caught in a sea of their problems anymore. I unlocked the door and through them out of my house. Raoul jumped up as fast as he could, knowing very well what happened when he stayed in my layer for too long. He helped Christine up and started dragging her toward the exits, and lakes. Still Christine continued to look back, until the vicomte yanked her so hard she stumbled forward a bit.

"Enough Christine! We must hurry before the monster captures you again! Are you hurt?"

"No.. But Raoul!"

And before they were out of sight I added;

"And Vicomte! Keep her in sight! She keeps coming back. Like a moth drawn to a flame," I laughed bitterly, "and we all know how that disaster ends…."

And with that I slammed the door and turned to find nadir with his hat and gloves on. I walked past him with indifference. I walked right past him and sat in his spot, and while I was at it, I picked up is cup of tea.

"Is this any good Daroga?" I took a sip.

"Erik, I don't think it is safe for you to live here anymore." I spit the tea back into his cup.

"What the devil are you drinking, this is not Persian tea!"

"Erik, the authorities are coming for you."

I sighed, finally giving into the conversation. I placed the tea cup down and stood so I could face him at eye level.

"I suppose you are right. That damn fop probably knows his way down here and could show them how to find me with relative ease. I shall pack and I can be ready by next week. "

"I will go with you so I can help you move in. Do you have any idea where you will go?"

I sat staring into the liquid in Nadirs cup, thinking about all the possibilities, and came to a rather unpopular conclusion that I knew I would have to go for if it meant my life was at risk.

"I know a woman, a place we can go in Boscherville."