Author's notes: This story is based on the 2004 ALW movie. It's a while since I saw it, so the details in this chapter may be wrong, but be patient with me lol The next chapter will be up soon, I hope. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own this chapter, or any of the characters in it, but later on, I own the story, because it's my idea. But from the beginning, this wonderful, wonderful story belong to Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber. I have to thank them for my future fame lol

And I also have to say that the lyriclines in this chapter aren't mine. They belong toAndrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. I hope they don't mind that I use them lol

Prologue

When people asked Raoul what'd happened in the fifth cellar of the Opera Populaire, he could never answer. He didn't remember, couldn't tell wether the story he told people was true, or a child of his imagination.

Sometimes, in the dark of the night, alone in his cold bed, Raoul could remember the fear when the rope had been drawn around his neck, The Phantom's voice, on the verge of insanity, calling to Christine to choose between them. He sometimes saw her face in his dreams, saw her eyes as they travelled from The Phantom to Raoul and back again.

He never remembered it afterwards, but at night, his dreams were often visited by the scenes from that night. That night when he'd lost the love of his life to a murderer and a monster.

The dreams always started at the same place, when he stood tightly bound to the bars of the gate, water to his waist, a rope around his neck. The Phantom was on his right, pulling the rope, saying to Christine in a low and threatening voice:

"You try my patience. Make your choice."

Christine had been standing in front of them, dressed in a soaking weddingdress. Raoul had been sure she would choose her Angel just to save his, Raoul's, life. But then she'd began to sing, her voice more filled with emotions than ever before, and The Phantom had let go off the rope, pulled towards her by her song.

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

Raoul had seen Christine put her arms around The Phantom's neck, and then she'd kissed him. The Phantom's arms had gone around her waist and he'd pulled her closer to him.

Raoul had closed his eyes, not wanting to see the scene in front of him. It's an act, she's doing it to save me. Those words had been drumming inside his head, but even so, he'd known they weren't true.

He'd heared The Phantom sob against Christine's shoulder, and then the sound of splashing water had made Raoul open his eyes. The Phantom had rushed to his sides and began untying the ropes.

"Take her, forgive me, forget all of this."

He'd then rushed up on the shore and pulled the lever that controlled the gate. The gate behind Raoul had started to move upwards, causing the water to move in waves. Raoul had reached for Christine.

"Come on, darling, he's letting us go."

But she hadn't moved. She'd been standing looking at The Phantom, a calm expression dawning on her face.

"No." she'd said firmly, her voice echoing through the cave.

Both Raoul and The Phantom had stared at her. Raoul had moved to her side and touched her arm.

"Sweetheart, you don't have to stay here. We're free to go, come on."

But she still hadn't moved, only turned her gaze at Raoul.

"No." she'd said again. "I don't want to go. Heavens knows I love you, Raoul, but..." She'd once again looked at The Phantom. "It is here that my heart truly lies."

Raoul had backed away from her, hurt, angry, confused. She was staying! Staying with that...that...thing! Raoul had turned around and ran as fast as possible through the water. When he'd been outside the cave, he'd heared the gate close behind him. He'd then stopped and turned around. He'd seen The Phantom's lair through mist, which had made him feel as if he'd been in the middle of a dream. He'd seen The Phantom pick up a candelabra and smash it against one of the tall mirrors. The sound of the glass hitting the ground had reached Raoul's ears. He'd then seen the The Phantom take Christine's hand and lead her into the mirror. She hadn't once looked back.

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