I apologize for the disturbing violence. I had to write it to get it out of my head. Please read & review!
The Phantom was broken and devastated, walking through the shortest path of the labyrinth up to the opera house when his quiet contemplation was cut short by a knife to his throat. His lair had been infiltrated. There was no time to fight, but he wondered if it was even worth it. Christine had chosen Raoul, and left him broken and sobbing on the floor. Why should he care where he ends?
A hard thump on his head had Erik seeing stars. It wasn't until he landed in a heap on the floor in the music room that he could see straight. His captor had thoughtfully bound his wrists behind him, so he couldn't wrestle away or use his lasso.
"Well, well, well, Monsieur Phantom - not so imposing now." Raoul snarled, kicking the captive man in the ribs, eliciting a groan. "You shall never have my Christine. She is not going to see you again, Ghost."
"You've already won - She chose you! Had she wanted to, she could have stayed after I freed you. Please! Leave me in peace." The voice betrayed his heartache.
"Chose me? Chose me?! Words only go so far! She whispered your name in her sleep! Talking about her angel saving her. Ugggggh! Until you're gone, she will not be wholly mine." Shrieked Raoul in a near frenzy kicking his captive again.
"Please. Do not blame her! She was probably dreaming. Leave me be, I'm just a broken man. I cannot bear your cruel taunting. Let me go. I'll never bother you." Erik's pitch raised, as he began to plead. Raoul snapped.
"A man? You are naught but a monster! Shame for you to think Christine would ever love you! A MAN? You are NOT a man. I am a man, you disgusting creature. You do not know what a man is! What men are capable of! I will show you what a man can do!" Raoul bellowed like a crazed animal, a sinister grin crossed his face and he cackled wickedly.
Raoul dropped to his knees beside the creature, and with one quick motion, sliced the back of Erik's trousers along the back seam. The knife cut through his under drawers as well, and when Raoul ripped them apart, Erik tried to fight, realizing Raoul's intentions. It took mere seconds for Raoul to drop his trousers and force Erik's thighs apart. Savoring in the moment, with a savage roar, Raoul forced himself into Erik.
An unearthly shriek escaped from Erik's lips as he was forced open, flesh tearing, bleeding. Stars whirled around his head, and in that moment, he felt like he was drowning. Erik sobbed uncontrollably, unable to escape the fiery pain. With every cruel thrust, Raoul would growl in his ear "This is what a man does! He takes what he wants." Horrible thoughts filled Erik's mind - If he'd force himself on Erik in that way, what would Raoul do to Christine? His sweet, innocent flower Christine. He began to cry anew, this time for fear of his beloved's future. Erik fought harder, trying to buck the savage man off of him, he couldn't bear the thought of Christine suffering like he. Raoul dug his nails cruelly into Erik's hips, drawing blood and giving him better leverage. Erik cried out like before, as Raoul's thrusting became more vicious.
In a flash, it was over. Raoul fell over onto him, bleeding heavily from a wound upon his head. Christine was standing terrified, wielding a heavy candlestick coated in blood. Before she could open her mouth, Erik crawled from under Raoul and began to run away. The candlestick hit the floor with a loud crash and Christine sprinted after him, grabbed his arm and spun him towards her.
"Wait!" Is all Christine could say, before Erik fell to his knees and began to sob, holding Christine tightly. Christine held onto him and they cried together. They stayed like this for what seemed like forever. Erik stood, and helped Christine to her feet. They turned and headed back to where Raoul lay motionless on the ground.
"Help me. We have to get him out of here. I know just what to do." Christine kicked Raoul's face before informing Erik of her plan.
It took quite a bit of effort to bring Raoul up to Christine's dressing room. Erik limping slowed them down, but she did not say a word. Christine carefully lay on the floor, arranging her skirts so they were immodestly above her waist. After wiping away some of the blood and mess that covered Raoul, Erik gently laid the body down upon his beloved. He handed her the heavy candlestick that she had bludgeoned Raoul with and turned to escape.
"Christine… I love you." Erik whispered, then disappeared into the darkness leaving Christine momentarily speechless.
She brought the candlestick down upon Raoul's skull again and let out a blood curdling scream that echoed throughout the opera house. Madame Giry was at her side almost instantly, with a look of horror at the scene before her.
"What happened? Christine, are you alright? Did he…" Madame knelt beside her and stroked her hair. The poor woman was upset at Christine's plight. She knew all too well how it felt to be on the other end of the conversation.
"Non, Madame, I stopped him." Christine sobbed. Her thoughts were far away from the lavish dressing room, down far below the floor that she was lying on. How was her angel? How badly was he hurt? All she desired was to go to him. Madame Giry helped her up, and had Meg summon the police. After speaking with the inspectors, the distraught Christine was allowed to go. Meg had wrapped a dressing gown around Christine's shoulders as a measure of comfort. Instead of heading home, Christine snuck down the many halls in the labyrinth that was the underground lair of the phantom.
Softly, gingerly Christine walked, so as to not startle the already traumatized angel of music. She paused, listened, and continued in the direction of the soft sobbing. He was lying on the bed, sheets covering him. Christine could not stifle the gasp of shock when she saw the bloodsoaked towel on the bed beside him.
"Go away!" Erik pleaded, pulling his bedding closer around him protectively. He was trying to shield his innocent flower from the horror. Her face was pale, her hand over her mouth in shock. "Please, Christine, go. You needn't see this."
"But Monsieur, my Angel, there is so much blood! Are you truly fine?" Christine asked, in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Erik. Please, that is my name. Call me Erik." He refused to meet her gaze.
"Erik. Erik. Is there nothing that I can do for you? Please?" Christine's desperate plea to help her angel broke through to him. He lifted a glass from the bedside table, and without another word she disappeared into the other room to fill it from the pitcher. She reappeared quickly and handed Erik his glass.
"My Christine, always caring, thank you" Erik's voice cracked, him forcing every word for her benefit "I swear to you, I will be okay. I am not ready to talk about what you saw earlier" his voice rife with shame, Erik continued "There must be many questions. I will answer them - but not now. Do not be ashamed to ask, I know you want to."
She reached for his hand and he gripped it tightly. "Erik… I… am glad that you are… that you are alive." A tear ran softly down her cheek.
"Hush, my Christine, no more tears. Wait." Erik sat up, and gingerly shifted so he could be closer to her, grabbing both hands, he continued "You saved my life, and I haven't properly thanked you. I am indebted to you. Thank you, my beautiful flower. Now, you must go - I need rest for me to recover. Tomorrow, my dear, no matter how hard it is, I will answer you. Please, my love - go get some sleep." He softly kissed her hands, and nodded towards the door. As Christine walked away, she could not see the tears rolling down Erik's face. He could not see her tears either. The walk home took what felt like forever, and the rain began to fall.
The stairs to her small room may as well have been a mountain, step by step she cried until she reached the top of the stairs. By the time that Christine opened her room, she had no more tears to weep. She tossed her wet clothes into a heap, pulling on a soft, high necked chemise and climbing into bed. She was asleep as soon as her head was on her pillow.
Christine was awakened by the earliest rays of morning dancing upon her face. Slumber had been anything but peaceful for her - nightmares, horrors - the terrible truths of the events of the previous day haunted her. Erik's anguished cries echoed in her head, visions of Raoul on top of him, and all the blood tortured her sleeping mind. As one could say, the imagination can be worse than truth. She dressed quickly, still exhausted from her fitful sleep, and headed down to the opera. Christine paused, and with a smile purchased a single red rose from a young girl hawking them in the avenue. Around the stem, carefully she tied her hair ribbon - a token for her Erik so that he may never feel so wholly alone. Stopping at two more vendors, Christine procured breakfast for the two of them, before disappearing into one of the side doors of the Opera. She made her way quickly down through the labyrinth, padding quietly on the cobbled floors of the tunnels.
Erik greeted her softly, kissing her hand "I knew you'd come. What's all this, my Christine?"
"For you, Erik" She handed him first the rose and then the basket of food "The ribbon is mine, I wore it last night. So you will never feel so alone again - as long as you have it, you have a part of me. Also, breakfast - we both need to eat, so I stopped and got us pastries and marmalade."
Speechless. This was the first time that Erik could recall anyone doing a deed so kind and sweet for him that he was at a complete loss for words. A single tear trailed down his cheek, overwhelmed by the beautiful brunette's generosity. He gazed into her stunning green blue eyes, and thought he would shatter to pieces. Breath hitched in Erik's throat as Christine stepped closer to him. He thought his heart would explode as she gazed into his eyes. The moment that their lips met, soft and tentative, he began to cry.
"Erik, what is wrong? I'm sorry, I should not have kissed you - I've upset you!" Christine covered her face with her hands in horror. Erik took her hands in his and pulled them from her face, which was rather scarlet. She looked up at him, tears threatening to spill over from her eyes when he brushed his lips against hers gently. He pulled her close, in a tight embrace, and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"There is nothing that you have done wrong. In fact, you have done so many things right that the number is unquantifiable to me. I am not used to anyone caring for me, not like this. I do not understand why you treat this… creature with such kindness." Erik led Christine to the settee, sat and gestured for her to join him. She placed the food upon the table and sat beside her phantom. In silence, they ate breakfast.