Author's Note: Thanks for the follows and the review, it is greatly appreciated. I would really love input and feelings on the story and what you think of it. So the previous chapter was a set-up for what is to come, and this chapter is the start of what is to be the "real" story. So now, here is the second chapter to The Voice:

The rain began to calm as Raoul and Christine's heavy eyes began to sink. It fell lightly with each hour as their sleep grew deeper and deeper until the rain finally seized before the sun would rise again. Everybody was away for the night and even the birds dared to begin singing their songs after the passing storm. Raoul was breathing heavily beside his wife, his lips lightly parted and his chest lifting and falling steadily.

Christine on the other hand had her eyes clenched tightly as her head turned back and forth on the pillow. She bit her lip and rubbed her face into the cloth of her linens while fighting to break the spells of her sleep's mind. Shifting underneath the covers, her mind raced as she could see under closed eyes a darkness much blacker than night. In the shadow of her thoughts, a figure loomed, tall and broad, yet gentle and silent. A hand stretched out for her, yet she struggled in thought whether to accept the figure's welcome or to flee.

She could not see the eyes, just a pale yellow glow watching her intently. Her hand trembled, both in her dream and in her sleep and she watched as the hand beckoned to her, elbow turning out to extend for her and fingers coiling in over the palm. She shook her head, denying the figure's request, yet took a small step forward.

"Christine…Christine…" the voice seemed to sing.

"It's over," Christine replied to the voice. "You are not what you once were."

She turned in her sleep, trying to turn away from the image in her mind, yet the figure wielding the voice turned around with her, denying her refusal.

"Please," Christine begged, turning all around in the darkness, yet seeing the eyes of amber following her everywhere. "I've decided, please go."

"Christine…"

"No– Please," Christine pleaded.

She mumbled in her sleep, turning back and forth on the pillow, burying her head into the pillow of her bed, trying desperately to close her ears to the voice.

"I'm here," the voice called from her right.

Christine turned to find nobody there, not even the glow of his eyes.

"I'm here," now on the left, the voice called to her.

"Please, stop," Christine cried, now speaking in both her dream and outside of it.

"I'm here;" behind her.

"I'm here;" loudly right into her ear

"Leave me alone!" Christine yelled, kicking her covers and swinging her arms in the direction she last heard him.

She began crying as a pair of arms wrapped around her and scooped her up into a strong chest. Christine struggled against it, pushing away and swinging her fists into it. Her eyes remained tight, yet she could still feel the voice was all around her, now engulfing her body and soul.

"Christine!" cried the body holding her against his, "Christine, please, it's alright!"

"Let go of me!" Christine cried, still beating the chest of the figure.

"Christine, it's me!" Raoul cried, holding her back with his arms and shaking her lightly.

Her eyes shot open and found her Raoul, staring at her with concern and passion. She shook her head and ran her fingers across her eyes, testing to see if she were really awake or still dreaming. A droplet of perspiration formed over her temples, sliding down her cheek and down into her hair as she steadied her breathing.

"Oh, Raoul," she said, throwing herself back into his arms and embracing him tightly.

"You're alright," he cooed. "Nothing will harm you anymore."

"No, Raoul," she said, turning her gaze around the room. "It's everywhere."

Her lips trembled as she looked around her, searching for the yellow eyes and listening for the melodic voice. Her body was tense and fragile as Raoul lifted her up and held her in front of him, pushing her hair back behind her ear.

"What's everywhere, dear?"

"The voice," she whispered, so perhaps it wouldn't hear her.

"Voice?" Raoul questioned.

"His voice," Christine said, looking up dangerously into Raoul's eyes.

Raoul smiled wearily down to his wife and shook his head. A soft sigh pushed past his lips as he pitied his poor Christine and all of the things she had been through.

"He is gone, Christine. You will never have to worry about him again."

"But I heard him," Christine tried.

"Only in your nightmares," Raoul said.

"But Raoul, I know I heard him," Christine begged.

"Hush, my love," Raoul said, pulling Christine in for another embrace. "He is out of our lives and you must now learn to push him out of your mind."

Christine was silent. She could feel Raoul squeeze her tighter, holding on protectively to what he once won over the phantom. His lips pressed tightly on her head and his eyes batted with pain. How he despised the man who once called himself an angel. He was nothing but a demon and now, even in death, preyed on the innocence of her mind. Raoul had been fighting the man ever since they had fled almost three years ago. Her nightmares occurred regularly and her wandering mind often occupied the spirit of the former Phantom of the Opera. To this day, she proceeded cautiously through the city when out of the home and in sleep she was just as cautious.

"Raoul," Christine whispered.

"Yes, love?"

A long pause spread through the air, filling the space with tension as Raoul felt anxiety for what it was that was on Christine's mind.

"He's still here, even now…"

"No, Christine –"

"Raoul."

Raoul pushed her out at his arm's distance and looked lovingly into her eyes. He could see she was trying her hardest not to cry.

"Then he will have to get past me again to get to you," he said bravely.

He pulled her back into an embrace and fell with her slowly onto the sheets of their bed. He wrapped his arms around her once more and pulled her in tightly.

"Nobody will get to you," Raoul said into her ear. "Now get some rest, and sleep soundly."

Christine whimpered to herself and snuggled within her husband's protective embrace and rested her head against the pillow. Fighting back the tears she'd been holding inside of her, she pushed them aside and tried to focus on his deep breathing that took over quickly in his slumber. She pushed all thoughts of the past out of her mind and longed for the future, where there would be no hauntings of ghosts past and felt comfort in knowing she would always have Raoul's love to guide her.

Just as the consoling thoughts of peace were lulling her back to sleep, Christine swore she could hear the breathing sigh of an angel.

"Christine… Christine…"

Christine would not fall back asleep that night. The night around her taunted her weary eyes, yet she could not find the courage to let the darkness take over her mind again. As Raoul began to wake, she pretended to do the same. She knew he'd feel better thinking that she was rested and recovered from the events so early that morning.