I do not own any characters in Phantom of the Opera…I am simply borrowing them

So I am continuing! Thank you for the wonderful reviews! This chapter isn't as long as I wanted it to be, but some of the others will be longer. The clash between the two will be coming up soon, but ya gotta wait for them to think things out. I hope you like the chapter! And as always PLEASE REVIEW: )

Chapter 1

I was running down an endless dark hallway. I was running away from something, yet I did not know what it was.

The darkness threatened to completely consume me, and all I could do was sprint away from the great-unknown fear that threatened to consume me.

Though I tried my best to get away, I felt my feet suddenly came out from under me and I collapsed on the frigid stone floor. I tried to stand up once again but a cold bony hand latched down on mine and it began to pull me away farther and farther into the undying darkness.

I turned to see a dark figure that echoed an insane laugh as it pulled me. I tried to scream, but it was no use…I was drifting farther and farther into the undying darkness…

As my eyes flew open I sat up immediately and found that I was in darkness once again. I choked out a tortured sob as I remembered the horrifying dream. I frantically looked at my surroundings, but I could not concentrate for the room felt as though it were spinning. Could this be another nightmare? Sweat formed on the side of my forehead as I fearfully tried to remember how I had gotten here.

The worst was when realization began to slowly creep into my mind. Flashes of the night before began to run through my head. The water…a gate…a man with that deathly rope…. Raoul…my sweet childhood love. Could he be dead.. oh god…if he had killed him then I was finally alone.

"No!" I cried out as I grabbed the sides of my head.

It couldn't be. I had given into Erik. I had put my future into his hands. Raoul had to be alive. He had been through so much, and it was all because of me. He had to of let him go, I was still here. Giving into Erik was the last thing I could do to help Raoul. Hopefully Raoul was already far away from this dreaded place.

I however was completely lost. How had I even gotten here? All I could remember was those golden eyes bearing into me, and then what?

The water. That damn water…I had fallen as I heard Raoul's cries and now I has here.

I looked around the room slowly, in my delusion I did not notice that I was, in fact, in the Louis-Philippe room. I finally looked down to notice that I was still sitting on my bed. Questions, once again, began to flow into my mind.

Would he have really carried me here? Would he even show me that bit of kindness? My first thoughts told me no, but he had said he loved me. I laughed slightly; I was still so naïve and the worst was that I knew of it. There was no love left for me. He was set on his revenge and I knew nothing would stop him.

Was there any hope of standing up for myself left? I wanted so badly to march out of these horrid cellars and walk into the light of day. I was stubborn at times and not having my dignity and pride was only adding to my distress.

It was then that I looked down, and realized I was not fully dressed. My cheeks began to turn scarlet, and I grabbed the covers and wrapped them around myself as tightly as I could. I was only in my undergarments. Though I had some form of clothing on, I was still mortified at the thought of Erik seeing me like this. Surely nothing could have happened. Still, my dress had been removed. Was he really just being considerate by removing the soaking gown or was he trying to embarrass me? Of course removing the gown had been the sane thing to do. I'm sure he didn't me to die of Ammonia quite yet.

Still, there were more things to worry about than being embarrassed. What was
I to do now? How could I even talk to him after what had happened? I was soon to marry this man. Could I even force myself to go through with it? But then I remembered that I had no say in this matter. It was what I had agreed too. What would I do if I married him? What did he even expect me to do? Was I to fulfill my marital duties? I didn't even know if I could. Would he really force me into something like that?

No. All this thinking would easily lead to my insanity. Each day would be taken step by step. I knew that I was weak, and I knew that he was stronger, and he would never let go of the everlasting hold he had on my life. Still, I had to have some bit of power over myself. It was the only chance I had to hope. That minuscule portion of confidence was all I had left.

I moaned as I turned over on the soft cotton sheets to face the only light, which came from a small candle in the corner. As I slowly looked around, I wondered just how long I had been lying there. I had stayed on that bed and was left to my thoughts for what felt like hours.

It was then that I noticed the familiar door that led into the hallway. The door seemed to draw me in with curiosity…would he really leave it unlocked?

I knew that I had to at least try to open the door, no matter how much I didn't want to.

I carefully stepped forward and placed my hand lightly on the handle. With a quick push I realized that the door, was indeed, locked. In a way I was not surprised, he really did not think that highly of me. Would I have really tried to escape? Where would I go? To look for Raoul?

As the thought popped into my head I suddenly looked down at my hand, and saw that Erik's band was still on my finger. Raoul's ring would never be mine again…there would be no hope of escape once I was married. I would be bound to him completely then, and there would be nowhere I could run.

As I tore my gaze away from my shaking hand, tears began to from in my eyes. I will not cry…I will not cry… As much as I told myself those simple four words my effort was useless. I pressed a hand to my mouth as a sob threatened to escape. No…I would not let him see me like this.

I numbly walked into the bathroom to prepare my bath. As I sat in the rose scented waters I began to wonder, once more, about my new life. Would he always be so cruel to me? I had a feeling that it could get a lot worse. More tears began to slowly fall down my cheeks. No! I would not cry again. No one cares if I was in here blubbering like a child. I would not let my own thoughts get to me. I had to stay strong. I had a sense of dignity left, and no matter how hard he tried, he would not take that away from me. I was trying so hard not to be afraid anymore. Maybe I could become stronger, maybe I could accept whatever he could do to me, and maybe I could find peace in the end. Still, with so many maybes…I wondered if I was hoping on things that could never be.

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Utter silence was all that I heard. It was funny how the silence seemed to interact so efficiently with darkness. Perhaps this was a slow form of torture. I had been locked away with my own horrifying thoughts. How could I be so close to completely breaking down after only a few hours? How was I to last a lifetime of this slow torture?

I had taken more than enough time to prepare myself, and now I just stared at myself blankly in the mirror of my vanity. I had repaired some of the damage from the night before but it still had a lasting effect on me. I was very pale and I almost gave off a ghostly appearance. Dark circles hung under my eyes. I had several bruises over my entire body, yet I did not seem to care. I had chosen one of the simpler dresses from the variety. It was a dark navy blue, and only helped to make me look even more ghostly white. I had pined my long chocolate color curls in a tight bun, and I began to wonder if I would be left in this room forever. How long would it be before I was lost completely?

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He hurled the empty liquor bottle across the room, and it smashed into a thousand tiny pieces as it collided with the stone wall. He collapsed on the large leather chair in front of the fireplace, and stared numbly into the flames. How had it gotten this far?

Isn't this what he had always wanted? No…it couldn't be. He wanted to be accepted, loved…

"Damn Fool!" He shouted as he kicked the chair away from him.

Yes, he was a fool indeed. He believed that for once in his pitiful existence that someone might possibly want to be in his presence. Maybe want to just look at him without fear. And he was an idiot for thinking so. He was a monster; no one would ever love him. Well if no one would ever love him, then no one would ever love her either.

She belonged to him now. No matter how long she denied it, she would be left to stare into his wretched face for the rest of her life.

She would be his wife soon. The arrangements were already made. Only a week until the deal would be sealed. Still, could he watch her be forced into this?

No, he would not pity her. She had betrayed him with her precious Vicomte. She had carelessly thrown away her career that he had given her for that stupid boy. Well, now she would pay. If he could not have beauty then he would own it.

There was no way of the Vicomte getting to her now, for her lover was still in his possession.