"Phantom of the Opera" Phan Phiction by Lauren (aka laurenbooks125)

Chapter 2

It's in your soul, that the true distortion lies. Christine sings out to the Phantom. And then in that moment, Erik remembers that day, when he died. That little brunette girl asked him why he was wearing that mask. Erik had told her it was because he was born ugly. Then the little brunette girl told him that ugliness is in the soul. That little brunette girl was Christine Daee. She had always told him that ugliness was in the soul, but he had never followed the philosophy. Erik, now Phantom, had snapped back to reality, and at the situation. He needed to find a way to get the girl. Christine needed to stay with him, he needed her to make music throughout the night.

The Phantom grasps onto Christine's forearms and looks over her head. Wait. I think, my dear, we have a guest. Raoul was standing on the stairs leading into the lair. The Phantom lets go of Christine and pushes her behind him. He walks closer to the stairs and smiles wickedly. Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight. I had rather hoped that you would come. Raoul tries to run down the stairs towards Christine, but the Phantom grabs a hold of Christine's neck. No! And now, my wish comes true. You have truly made my night. Raoul brings his hand out, begging. Free her! The Phantom's wicked laugh echoes through the lair. Do what you will, only free her! Have you no pity? The Phantom keeps smiling, so evilly. He looks at Christine, in amusement. Your lover makes a passionate plea. Christine is holding onto his wrist around her neck. She yells to Raoul, "Please, Raoul, it's useless." But he does not give up, he must get his lover back. I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion! The Phantom becomes enraged. "The world showed no compassion to me!" Christine, Christine! Let me see her! Raoul is begging and the Phantom find this quite amusing. But deep down in his soul, he is devastated. This is the girl he loves. But, it was no use. He knew Christine would never love him, no matter how much he gave her? I mean, who could love that face?

Christine starts sinking down to the floor, dying for air. The Phantom yells in response, "Be my guest!" and he release his hold on her neck. Raoul runs over. The Phantom backs away, staring at his hand and at Christine. What had he done? He could've just killed his lover. He was just making matters worse for himself. Choking the girl he loved, wasn't going to make her love him in return. The Phantom then looks up the opposing staircase. I still must get Raoul out of the way. The Phantom thinks. He looks back at Raoul comforting Christine, and he cannot bear it much longer. Mousier, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her? Raoul gets up and backs way from Christine as he hears the Phantom. But, he did not realize that he was backing towards the stairs where the Phantom was waiting. Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?! The Phantom brings a noose around Raoul's neck and just tightens it enough so that one pull, would instantly kill him. "RAOUL! NO!" Christine screams as she pulls herself off the floor. Raoul keeps groaning in pain as the Phantom laughs once more. Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your eye! Nothing can save you now except, perhaps Christine! He lets the noose go, and Raoul is now standing there, just one slip away from hanging himself.

The Phantom runs down the stairs and over to Christine. She tries to back away and the Phantom just keeps yelling at her. Start a new life with me! Buy his freedom with your love! He grabs her and holds her close to his face. Refuse me and you send your lover to his death! This is the choice! He throws Christine down on the ground and glares at her. The Phantom runs over to his organ to play a chord. THIS IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN!

Angel of Music! You deceived me! I gave my mind, blindly. Christine stares at him, begging. They kneel on the ground. Christine is staring at him, and he is staring at the ground. The Phantom has no other ideas. He has begged and threatened, and he gave her his life! What more could he do? He loved this girl, and he had no better way for her to marry him. The Phantom moves his head slowly and glares over at Christine. He first has sympathy in his eyes, but he just becomes more infuriated at this whole ordeal. "You try my patience." He whispers to her in a low grumble. He gets up off of the floor, holding the veil that Christine threw off earlier. "Make your choice." She looks up at him, with deep sadness in her eyes. He drops the veil, and it falls slowly to her feet. He backs away from her. Beautiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone! Christine has walked over to him by now, and she grabs his shoulder and turns him around. She grabs his shoulder and then his neck and presses her lips against his. His eyes bulge out and he stares at her. He cannot believe this is happening! His first kiss! She releases then hugs him tight, his arms straight, not knowing how to respond to this. He starts to tear up and bring his arms closer to her body. Christine comes out of the hugs and grabs his arms. They look at each other and she kisses him again. He puts his hands on his upper arms and keeps looking at her. He is surprised that she is putting her hand on his rippled and shattered cheek. He brings his hand up and puts his hand on hers. He closes his eyes and enjoys this wonderful moment of love, that he know won't last.

As the Phantom is crying on the stairs, he starts to hear that familiar tune of "Masquerade" from the monkey. He looks over and crawls over to it. Masquerade…paper faces on parade. Masquerade…hide you face so the world…will never find you. His brings his hand up and covers the monkey's face as the tune stops playing. He looks over to his right and sees the beautiful Christine standing there. He gets up and walks over to her. She looks in her hands and then hands him the ring he had given her. The Phantom looks at the ring in her hand, but he does not take it quite yet. Christine, I love you. She starts to cry and he puts his hand over her hand. Christine goes down to his hand and kisses it. Christine pick up her head and leave the ring in his hand. As she walks away, the Phantom watches walk to Raoul, her true lover. He looks at the ring in his hand, in sadness. As she is walking with Raoul away from the lair, they start singing "All I Ask of You". This makes the Phantom's heart ache even more than it already is.

He kneels down in front of the white veil that should be on Christine's head. He keeps staring at the ring laying in his hand. As the lovers keep singing, he clenches onto the veil. He brings it up to his lips and kisses it. Their voices trail away and he brings the veil tighter. Once they are gone and he is now alone in the darkness, he raises the veil in front of him. You alone can make my song take flight! He gets up off of the floor. It's over now! The music of the night! He drops the veil and lets it fall slowly. The Phantom then walks over to the chairs next to his organ. He knows he needs to get away from this place. They will come searching for him all over town. He sits in the chair and takes one good look at the lair around him. He should go to hell where he belongs. The Phantom sits in the chair and puts a black cloth over his body. He whispers, "Satan, take me home." He then hears a low, grumbly voice that says, "As you wish…"

The Phantom closes his eyes, not expecting what will happen on his trip to hell. A few moments later he feels a huge gust of heat, and he screams really loud as it gets hotter. He opens his eyes slowly and finds himself in hell. He sees monstrous mountain covered in hot ash and smoke. A few hundred feet from him are multiple ditches filled with fire. This all reminded the Phantom of a lovely bonfire. But this was not lovely, this was hell. This is where the Phantom belonged.

He steps forward a few steps. The Phantom bows and says, "Hello, Satan. I am the Phantom of the Opera." He knew he was not Erik Destler anymore. He was the Phantom of the Opera. He did not wipe away a tear. But he accepts this and he knows that. But he did not his life in hell. Music.