Part II

Several Years Earlier…

"For goodness sake," the Phantom muttered. "How did that meddlesome Persian and the fop make their way down here?" A faint jingle of a bell could be heard in the room. He wiped his exposed forehead and turned to Christine, who was still trembling before him. "Well, my dear, it seems we have company, now don't we?"

He traced Christine's chin with a gloved finger, and she resisted the urge to just bite him. He might just snap, and not in a good way.

"Why don't you stay here, my dear, while I take care of the intruders?"

Without waiting for Christine's response, the Phantom left the room-no, vanished was more accurate- leaving her alone before the two caskets. The scorpion and the grasshopper were just waiting to be turned.

"What… what are you doing to me?"

A scream echoed throughout the caverns, and Christine covered her mouth to stop her from crying out. Raoul! That's what it meant by fop!

More screams followed. It was maddening, for she knew no way out of the room. She did not know how many days or nights passed since the first scream was heard. She lost track of time, silently picking at a dish of cheeses next to the caskets. Now that he wasn't here breathing on her back, she could slowly take it all in. All that happened.

Unfortunately she no longer heard what other cries were going on. And thus, she sat in silence, pondering on all that happened up to this point. Was Raoul safe? Has her deranged angel-turned-devil been defeated?

And suddenly, Raoul appeared. His blonde hair was severely disheveled, his entire body was drenched wet with water and blood; his face in particular was bloody and bruised, with many cuts around his face and eye sockets. But his smile displayed nothing but triumph.

"I did it Christine! I beat the monster once and for all!"

"You…" she approached his stooped figure cautiously. "You have defeated him?"

"I have surrendered him to the Surete, little Lotte! We are free at last!"

"Oh Raoul!" She kissed him fervently, which he returned with equal passion. "I love you so much!"

"And I too, Christine." He took a step back. "Why, Christine! You are about as skinny as a skeleton! What has he done to you?"

"It didn't do much," Christine mumbled. "I'm fine, really." In truth she was feeling very light-headed. "It did leave some cheese right there. But not much. I suppose I am just very hungry."

"Oh, my dear, I am so sorry for all you've been through!" Raoul scooped her up in his surprisingly still-strong arms. She noticed that, despite being drenched wet, Raoul failed to roll up his sleeves. "Come, let us go back up to the opera house. You need food and a new set of clothes."

"We both do," Christine giggled. "You don't smell very nice yourself."

"Then it is settled, Christine. Let us go!" He began walking straight into a hallway that Christine did not notice was there before.

"But Raoul, do you know the way out?" she protested. We'll be lost-"

"Don't worry." His eyes shone like a lantern in the darkness. "I know the way."

Christine… Christine… Another voice echoed from the depths of the cavern, pleading for attention. But Christine didn't care. Who she chose was final.