**THIS IS JUST AN EXCERPT***
"Christine, I love you."
The eeriness of his hypnotic voice broke through the silence of their shared confusion. Fresh tears fell past her lids, wetting her face as the intensity of his attention drilled holes into her resolve. His confession was not surprising, nor did it offer the clarity that she lacked. That year alone she had been gifted with two profession of love and there had been a brief moment in time when she'd trusted her belief of the emotion. However sure she had been, it all seemed insignificant when she was forced to face the reality of all that had just transpired.
Everything she had trusted seemed poised and ready to cave in around her. His face, however gruesome, no longer remained a source of unending terror. Even as she prepared to leave him behind she knew that he would forever remain her Angel of Music – a man disguised as a father's gift. But a new possibility began to offer its realizations. Perhaps she had been the gift sent to release a tormented soul from the grip of his demons. Admittedly she had not played her part well and she feared that the moment had already past.
Despite her readiness to sacrifice her freedom in exchange of Raoul's life the feared Phantom had set her free. She doubted that he knew that it was in that moment, as her lips pressed affectionately against his own, that she was struck with the realization that she did not know the true meaning of love. Faced with an opportunity to bid him farewell she found herself unable to utter the phrase.
"Angel," she whispered breathlessly the only name she knew him by. A single step carried her towards him. "I want to help you – I need to know that you will be safe."
A recklessness was birthed within her in that moment. She understood the insignificance of her offer, how truly incapable she actually was, but she had to try. Newly perplexed the fold of jutted flesh that served as a brow fell into a frown, almost as if he were afraid in the truth of her words. Her mouth gaped open as words presented themselves to be spoken only to flee from her before she managed to utter a single one.
Above them another tremor shook the whole of the lair, lurching her unexpectedly forward. Falling forward she gasped as she managed to catch herself upon the cornered edge of his beloved organ. Breathing heavily, she waited there for the shaking to stop, her eyes coming to rest upon a frightened figure hidden beneath a mahogany bench. The cat's eyes were wide as they watched Christine warily. Summoning her courage, the young woman reached forward and as the ground continued to shake, pulled the frightened animal into the crook of her elbow. Balancing the creature within the firmness of her grip she hoisted herself upward and through loosened strands of curls she spotted the Phantom frozen with his arm's outstretched. His sterling eyes tracked a trail along her frame, his gaze pausing only momentarily upon his beloved pet before they locked onto her face.
"I cannot guarantee your safety." His voice was almost distracted, but he remained stoic and she felt
strangely vulnerable in his presence.
"You will keep me safe." You always have.
It did not shock her to find that she believed the words she had spoken almost too quickly. For all the
fear she had felt it had never been for herself. It was because of his actions that she knew that there was no line he was unwilling to cross to ensure she was out of harm's way. He continued to stare at her, his expression guarded. Then, as quickly as he had before, he moved towards her. She stiffened but remained planted where she stood as he halted only to tilt himself toward her. Her skin bristled with anticipation, half expecting him kiss her, only to have him gently pry the cat free from her arms. Balancing the cat in his hold he peeled away from her and her stomach clenched, her body underwhelmed by his reaction. Without word he sat at a messy desk and pulled out a piece of crisp stationary from within its top drawer. She watched with growing interest as he began to heat a cube of blood red wax and commenced writing with long measured strokes. Filled with anxiety she drew nearer to him, her arms wrapping around her petite frame as it fluttered and faded. Pieces of mortar and stone rained down from the ceiling above them and sprinkled its dust upon every surface signaling the progression of the fire above. There was a renewed urgency as she realized that soon their escape would be impossible.
To read the rest please visit the revised version of this story on my page! 3
