Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from this section, they are based on the novel POTO. My ff is based from the film, using the actors portrayal, yet I am using Eriks background in Perisa. It will be explained in later chapters. Rated M for a reason! (again later chapters)

The story is set during the end scene when Erik lets Christine and Raoul go. Then story continuestwo months after.

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"You tried my patience. Make your choice!"

He yanked at the noose mercilesly. Christine jumped in terror and was choked in complete shock. What could she do? Erik had now threatened to kill Raoul, and it was on her decision. The tears streamed down her face, as she gazed hurt and confused at him. Her angel had now set conditions for love. Although she had already made her mind up, she still trembled at the thought of never seeing daylight again. She would stay here with Erik and save Raoul of course, yet she was not going to let Erik win without reminding him of what he was doing. Her response came with so much passion; it drowned out every cry of anger around them, echoing in the dank darkness.

"Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you…you are not alone."

She pressed her tear sodden lips to his, and she felt him go rigid. She kissed him so softly, she could feel him shaking from his lips alone. She backed away and looked at his deformed face with hurt and disappointment threatening the very heart of Erik.

Her response had been a heart wrenching shock to him. He had longed for her touch for so long, yet had never expected an embrace, never mind a kiss. He tensed up so much he began to shake. He had dropped the rope obliviously, and just stood confused at the sudden rush of compassion from Christine. He could do nothing, and his heart broke as she pulled away and looked in his eyes. He saw such sorrow in them; he wanted to hang a noose around his own neck for hurting her so much. He gasped sobs, and melted once more as she moved to him again, more forcefully now, sliding her tongue into his mouth, sending the flames dancing in his head and body. He felt dizzy with shame and, strangely, complete and utter loneliness. He had never felt more alone as Christine pressed her body to his, feeling her warmth and drinking in her scent. He knew he could not punish her for his feelings.

He backed away from her, eyes raw from his pain filled tears. Thoughts raced through his mind as he tried to think of a million ways he could back out of situation. He almost fell more than once; seeing nothing but the darkness he was condemned to. Backing away blindly was the best thing he could think of at that moment.

"Take her...forget me...forget all of this.Leave me alone - forget all you've seen. Go now - don't let them find you! Take the boat - leave me here - go now, don't wait . . .
Just take her and go - before it's too late . . .
Go . . .

He turned to see Christine and Raoul embrace, and his heart finally broke in two.

"GO NOW! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!"

He ran hopelessly into his bed chamber and threw himself to the ground. In his anguish, he knocked a few things to the ground, including his barrel organ. He picked it up in trembling fingers. Friend, he thought, pawing the Persian monkey lovingly, I shall return 'there' once more...I promise.

"Masquerade...Paper faces on parade, Masquerade... hide your face so the world will never find you..." He choked on his last word, it broke into a sob. He noticed a presence next to him...

Christine had saw Erik sprint to his bed chamber, and made to follow. Raoul grabbed her arm.

"Christine, he is letting us go! Don't push our luck, please Darling." He pleaded with her. She looked at him through swollen eyes. What she saw in his eyes were softness, kindness and love. It was a different experience to look into Erik's eyes, which were both murderous and adoring. She shook the memory away and lightly pushed Raoul from her.

"No Raoul...He deserves more than that." She sloshed her way through the water, ignoring Raoul's response.

"A murderer deserves nothing but hell."

Christine moved silently up to him as he sang his dieing tune. She almost fainted at the hurt she saw in his face. His deformed side twisted to an even more hideous form of pain and anguish. Her legs almost failed her as he looked at her and spoke in a broken voice.

"Christine...I love you."

He had no other way of saying it. He loved her more than his music, more than life itself. He lived to know she existed safely, and so lived with his monstrous self to watch over her. Now, he had lost her, and had lost the will to live. All he could do was admit to her finally what they had both known all along, and it hurt. It hurt so much to hear himself say it that he wished god would not forsake him in ending his life right then.

He saw a tear fall from her face as she pressed something into his trembling hands. He opened them to find a ring. The ring which he had ripped from her neck at the Gala party, the engagement ring from Raoul to Christine. He looked at her in abandonment, but she was already backing away into the darkness. As he watched her leave with Raoul on the boat, his burning Opera falling around him, the chants of the mob after him, he ignored. All he saw was her, her face turned to him, disappearing from him forever. Her expression was unreadable, he wanted to run after her and hide her away again. But to his love, he could do no such thing but watch her leave...

Sleep had been denied from Christine for a long time now. Not that she couldn't get to sleep, it was the re-occurring nightmare that kept her waking in a cold sweat. The nightmare of watching from a boat, across a lake, to a man, who stood helpless on the other side, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not get her legs to move. She would scream and kick but nothing, not even a whimper would emerge, until she woke to find her actions had been performing outside of sleep. Maids would be stood over her, mopping her brow, trying to calm her down. The all gave frightened glimpses to each other as she would mutter and stutter after being awaked so abruptly. Her gabbling on about an angel...

It had been 2 months since the Opera Populaire had burnt to its foundations. Christine had been brought to the De Chagney residence in Paris after the ordeal by Raoul. They were not married yet, as Christine had been unwell and not in a fit state to talk of such things. She had been lethargic and yet unable to sleep, evidence of this showing in the dark circles cruelly shunning her face, and her red rimmed eyes, swollen with unreleased misery. She hardly talked, and when she did it was broken and weak. Raoul had tried to comfort her, and it had worked for a while, until night came and her memories with it. He had left her up to the best doctors in Paris to attend to her depression. He explained in as vague a detail he could manage to explain her depression, and yet still was met with confused and questioning looks.

Christine had given up on herself. She felt she had been raped by guilt, and her body was now punishing her heart and soul. She had fell prey to a deep aggressive depression, and nothing was going to pull her out of it. Her mind was at first a whirling vortex of agonising thoughts and regrets, but now it lay silent. Deadly silent. She didn't even think about responding to Raoul, when he clutched at her hands desperately in an attempt to literally drag her out of her state. Little could be done but wait. Wait for a mourning to end.

Raoul found himself turning surprisingly jealous. Christine had kissed Erik two months back to confirm she would stay with him to save Raoul, yet he had let them go. His jealously was a child of his shame and admiration for the once Phantom. He admired Erik's love for Christine, his devotion setting himself to doom, and he was ashamed that he had not pulled such an act of love out by being saved. Thus, his jealously plagued his mind as Christine sank lower into thought of the man she had left, not the man she had left with.

Raoul had pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind as he entered one bright morning to Christine's room. It was dark, the curtains were drawn, and Christine lay like a ghost in an armchair.

"Lotty, what are you doing, you should sleep in your bed!" He said alarmed. He moved the curtains to allow the prying sun enter, making Christine squirm and squint under it cool morning beams. He knelt beside her chair and stroked her arm lovingly. "How are you feeling this morning, my Lotty, better?" He smiled and moved her straggled hair from her face gently. She turned and gave him a tired smile.

"A little, Raoul, thank you." He lent over and kissed her on the forehead in new hope. He left for a moment, leaving Christine alone. She strained out of her chair, her long nightgown and robe shifting, feeling like weights on her weak form. She moved to the window, feeling like a wilted flower under the strong sun. He eyes throbbed under the suns happy glare, and she frowned. It was such a pretty sight of gardens and trees that promised new life and happiness with the spring that had arrived. She resented it for looking so, for she felt none of its new life appearing to her.

Christine had lied to Raoul. She felt worse than ever, but she was sick of putting Raoul through her ordeal, and decided to make an effort, as not to worry him so much. She sighed, pressing her head to the cool window panes, listening to the distant fountain in the gardens and letting a spring breeze lightly brush past her from a window Raoul had opened. She felt no better at all.

Raoul entered again, bringing with him breakfast for two on a large tray. A placed it on her dressing table and beckoned for her to come sit with him with a smile. She groaned inwardly. She had no intention of eating, her stomach felt like rot. Still, she sat with him, and tried a little of everything from the plates and drinks. She drank all of her tea, hinted with lemon, as she found it gently awakened her slightly.

"You are looking better." Raoul beamed. He brushed his fingers on her face. She flinched, as her skin was tingly to touch. She thought she had seen a glimmer of a frown on his face, yet it passed almost as quick as it had came. She smiled in defence and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you for this," she nodded to the tray of half eaten breakfast. "I wish I had the stomach to finish it.." He chuckled slightly, and she felt her heart flutter slightly. He was stunningly attractive when he laughed.

"Don't worry Little Lotty; you will soon get your strength back. And talking of feeling better, I've asked one of your maids to accompany you on a carriage ride around the Estate. I'm sure the fresh air will do you plenty of good." Christine gritted her teeth at the thought of making that much of an effort. Yet, she held her weak smile and nodded, much to the delight of Raoul who beamed at her.

"Good, well, it would be fitting. I have some visitors today that wish to discuss finances of the sort, I'm afraid it won't be at all of interest to you." He added before leaving.

Raoul had sent a maid to help Christine get dressed and ready for her morning trip. The estate was quite large, and she knew it would take a decent two hours to get from one side to the other. The carriage was made with a driver, a maid and a basket for a picnic. As two maids and Raoul helped Christine into the carriage, she flinched at every touch. Her illness was affecting her body as well as her mind, and she felt in no fit state for this outing at all. Yet she had made a promise to herself that she would make an effort on Raoul's behalf, and he was trying to help her in all his goodness. She leaned over the carriage side door to give Raoul a fleeting kiss before the driver pushed the horses onwards. She turned to watch Raoul as he stood watching her leave. He looked so proud and gentlemanly. In a horrible instant vision, her nightmare flashed before her eyes. The road turned to a lake, the carriage to a boat, day into night, and Raoul...into Erik. She let out a cry at his pain filled face, mourning her with his tears. She spun around in the carriage, her breathing turned sharp and full of sobs. The maid clung to Christine's shoulders terrified.

"Driver," she yelled. "Turn the carriage around, the Lady isn't to well."

"No!" Christine intervened through her tearful gasps, the vision vanishing as quickly as it had come. "No...Keep going. Its...it's the heat, iv not been accustom to it for some time." The maid frowned. It was morning, not yet 10 and the morning air was cool. It was not hot enough to get so worked up about. The maid remained silent in her seat, a heavy frown plaguing her forehead.

The trip had been pleasant, and Christine had enjoyed some of it, yet she had felt somewhat insecure when she would try and wander for a bit, while the driver and maid would gaze ever pressingly in her direction, waiting for her to fall or faint or cry. She would not give them that today, she demanded to herself. She moved through a grove of trees, pawing them tenderly. She so enjoyed the sunshine, her face felt fresher under its gaze, and she felt some weight lift from her. She began to hum slightly, and found herself humming Raoul and her own love song. The corners of her lips turned to a small smile, and she sat down in the grass. Why was she ignoring the man in front of her, a man that flung himself into danger for her? She had not confronted her depression yet, and she didn't feel ready to, yet questions still haunted her mind. What if he had not let her go?

"Ma'am; its time to return!" The maid's voice sounded distant in Christine's mind. Now she was outside, she didn't really want to leave, yet the thought of returning to Raoul in higher spirits made her feel better.

The carriage rumbled and clattered over the gravel paths towards the De Chagney house. Christine recalled the first time he had brought her there. She was astounded by its beauty, windows glistening through a grey stone shell, a fine house standing proudly, like its owner. She had felt in awe and respect of Raoul. Christine laid her head back on the seat as they rattled forward, letting the air pass over her face soothingly. Yes, Raoul was right, the trip had made her feel better.

As she drank in the morning air, something stung her nose. She opened her eyes in surprise and sniffed again. It was the sharp, deadly, undeniable smell of smoke. As it dawned on her; she snapped her head upward to see the De Changey House aflame. The flames had penetrated the windows, shattering their former glory, and smoke rose high above the Estates tree tops. Christine let out a scream, as did the maid. The horse reared and came to a halt, tipping the carriage and its contents over. Christine fell hard, and she cried out in pain, trying desperately to scramble to her feet weakly. She began to half limp half run towards the building before arms grabbed her from behind. It was the driver.

"No Ma'am!" She twisted and screamed in his grip, but she was too weak to do anything of use by force, so she sunk her teeth into his arm. He cried out as she bolted from his grip towards the main entrance, the door untouched by the flames yet. She ran through the doors, ignoring the shouts of protest from behind her. She scanned the entrance parlour frantically, and tried to scream Raoul's name, it emerging like a shrill whisper. She cursed herself loudly in frustration, and ran into the Stairwell, where she stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes widened with terror, and she let out a blood curling scream, and again, and screamed in a state of hysteria. There, on the ash and timber filled staircase, was a mans body...Raoul's body.