I am so sorry my fellow readers! I have had a lot of homework, (edges away from essay) hardly any time, for I had to read a boring book for class, my dad lost the phone so I couldn't go on the Internet and update. In addition, I was under attack by my little brother when I tried to update. I hope you will still read and review. And although this is very late, I hope everyone had a good thanksgiving.
I realized I had no claimer on the first two chapters but here it is:" I DON'T OWN The Phantom of the Opera! If I did, things would be quite different glares at Raoul. So please read and review!
'Thought'
Italicized is singingChapter 3: Found
"Lo and behold, do my eyes betray me or is that Christine Daae?" Christine looked up only to see a pair of familiar blue eyes looking at her with disdain and something else…
Erik's POV (a/n: POV stands for point of view, FYI)
Death was coming for me closer and closer each day. I had tried to live my life without my angel of music. However, the thought of Christine with Raoul tortured me. I loved her so much it was slowly killing me. The final strike came several months after Christine left me. The dammed newspaper, announced the marriage between the two. Afterwards, I slowly began to die. Even my favorite wine lost its flavor. Yet, here she was in front of me again, at my mercy one more.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to marry that idiot…." However, I received no response, as the next thing I know, Christine was hugging me, dampening my shirt with her tears.
"I'm glad you're alive! I thought you were dead!"
'What! Dare I hope my angel truly cared about me the way I cared about her? My wondering stopped when Christine almost fainted in my arms. Did she remember the monster I truly am?'
End POV
"Please Erik, its not you I faint at. I took longer than I expected to, and I ran out of food and money as a result" Christine spoke quickly, afraid Erik would vanish again, a fragment of her unstable imagination.
"Where are you staying?"
" The old opera house." Lacking enough energy to keep standing still, Christine leaned into him, wrapping her arms around him, inhaling his scent. It was not a scent of death, but a scent she was most familiar with, thanks to her childhood. Erik surprisingly smelled of music sheets and ink, as if he had laid on top of many of them. His smell was so comforting, she felt asleep in his arms.
"Why did you back angel? Did Raoul treat you badly?" he whispered gently into her hair, his strong chin resting on top of her head. When he received no response, he looked at her, only to find her asleep. Forgetting the past shortly, he looked at her with a loving look, stroking her cheek while whispering, "No matter, you're safe now."
Lifting her into a position in which he could easily carry her, he began to walk away without looking back at his victims.
Christine curled up in the bed, and drew the cover up to her chin.
'So warm, Erik's bed is so soft…wait a moment, Erik!" Christen sat up, where was she? Looking around, she realized she was in Erik's room, for the music box with the monkey on top of it was there.
'That's right,' she thought with delight 'Erik is here too! Isn't he?' Her doubts found themselves diminished when she smelled a delightful smell wafting into the room. Walking outside of the room, she found Erik placing two plates on top of an extraordinary table. It was such a table; Christine felt she could not eat at it. Placing the plates and sliver wear on the table (although she did not see where he got the plates), Erik lifted his head, only to see Christine standing there.
"Good evening. I was going to wake you. Dinner is served." Looking at him, Christine felt her heart skip a beat, blood rushing to her face.
"Are you coming?" His curtly comment woke her from her trance, allowing her to see Erik looking at her, his head slightly turned sideways, eyes narrowed. Christine wondered if he thought bringing her back was a mistake.
"Yes". Sitting down, she pulled the dish towards her, and taking a forkful, bit into it.
"This is delicious, what is it?"
"Crepes" His short answer scared her, sending her heart into her stomach. So, he still didn't trust her. But she wasn't going to give up. She had done the impossible, give up Raoul for the man she really loved…
"Where did you learn to cook so well?"
"The need made me learn." His tone suggested a closed conversation, allowing dinner to become a silent affair. Swallowing became harder for Christine as she swallowed her unshed tears with the crepe, did Erik not understand she had left Raoul for his sake? Erik's sudden movements startled her thoughts as he got up and left the table for his organ.
'Erik, do you hate me?' Christine wondered sadly as she turned around to watch Erik walk to his organ. Seeing his profile, his beautiful face, made her heart throb; what was she going to do if he never forgave her? Suddenly the air was filled with sweet, heavenly music. Drawn to it, and its composer, Christine found herself hypnotized by both. She walked towards him, slightly scared, but her desire to be held by his strong arms overcame her fear. The sweet, heavenly music abruptly changed to dark and angry music, reminding Christine of Erik's wrath, when unleashed. Comforted by his organ, Erik had flashbacks as he played. How Christine betrayed him by taking his mask off, leaving him behind with a broken heart while she left with Raoul. His anger began to ebb away when he felt two warm, small hands on his shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Christine asked as she rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She immediately felt him melt under her arms. Beginning to close her eyes, she opened them when her hand brushed against something cold, her ring on a silver chain.
"You still have this?" she asked softly, not daring to look at him.
"I could not get rid of it so quickly for the trouble its owner caused me." Christine looked from the ring directly into his blue eyes.
Erik's POV
Looking into her beautiful eyes I recalled my actions before I found Christine again-my miserable attempt at suicide. My Christine, in the arms of another was too much to bear. Holding the pistol to my temple, my world was suddenly blurry. If only my Christine had stayed by my side. All I have ever truly wanted was her love, and nothing else.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime." And then, as if God was not done torturing me, I heard my Christine sing back.
"Say the word and I will follow you, share each day with me each night, each morning. Say you'll love me." How could my angel ask that? I was dying for her!
"You know I do." Before I could pull the trigger, I heard Christine's strong, sad voice fill the air.
"Anywhere you go, let me go too. Love me, that's all I ask of you!" Hearing the disappear in her lovely voice, I quickly dropped the gun, and grabbing a sword, ran outside. But I did not need to run too far, for the horrible scene soon filled my eyes-Christine, about to be taken advantage of by those idiots next door. When I heard Christine's declaration, I lost my mind. Blinded by fury, I did not realize I had killed all the men; until I saw Christine lying there in the snow, fear overwhelming her. Hugging me the way she did, my anger towards her began to disappear, only to let doubt fill my mind. What if she was tiered of me soon, and attempted to return to Raoul? I, the idiot, blinded by my love for her, brought her back here, where it had all started. What if she changed her mind and realized she did not love me? I, the phantom of the opera was not got to be tricked so easily again! I would not take her back and risk a broken heart or the pain accompanying it.
End of POV
"Tell me why I should not report you to the police. Why did you ever come back?" He glared at her, his blue eyes transforming into blue diamonds. His pride told him to not believe her, yet he dared hope she came back for his sake. Shocked at his reaction, and failing to meet his burning eyes (filled with distrust and perhaps hate), Christine looked down at the floor. Not receiving an answer, Erik stood up.
"Grab your belongings. I'll take you back to Changy castle." Christine watched Erik walk away, tears pooling in her eyes.
'Her struggle' she thought, was not going to end in vain!'
"I came back, because I love you Erik!" Christine cried with despair in her voice, hoping he would stop.
"Surely you jest madam. You cannot love a monster like me, else you would have chosen me over Raoul. Besides, who told you my name?" He dared not turn his whole face, only a shadow, for he did not know his reaction if he actually paid heed to her. Slightly afraid of his anger, Christine continued.
"I tried to live a life with Raoul, for you're right, I did choose him over you. But anywhere I went, your presence followed me." Seeing Erik raise an eyebrow in skepticism she continued.
"Whenever I walked, it was as if you were following me. If I turned around, I saw a black cloak disappear out of the corner of my eyes. The nights were even worse. I heard you sing clearly, as if you were in the room, standing besides me. I tried to convince myself it was my fear towards you, not love," she whispered the last bit, surprising Erik with her blushing.
"But as the months went by, it got worse. Sometimes I saw you staring at me, yet never approaching me. However, if I got too close, you would disappear into thin air. Then a couple of days ago, you appeared before me, telling me you loved me. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner, and I'm so sorry!" Lifting her gaze from the floor, Erik saw tears falling from her eyes. Sighing while hating himself for the fool he was, he walked over until he found himself wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she cried into his shirt.
"It's okay. I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you. Let me be your freedom, let starlight dry your tears. I'm here, with you beside you, to guard you and to guide you." Lifting her head, Christine had never felt so much relief. He was not going to ask her to leave! Looking into his face, Christine realized she loved him from the first moment she heard him sing.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime, say the word and I will follow you. Share each day with me, each night, each morning. Say you'll love me."
Looking at her with such a soft look, it made Christine cry, Erik kissed her hand gently before singing, his beautiful voice filled with love.
"You know I do" Content with his response, Christine gently grabbed his hand, and closing her eyes, rubbed her face with it, as if she could contain all her happiness and grief and forget all her suffering. His hand felt warm and comforting, just like his half hidden face.
"Christine" Erik murmured before he found tears falling from his eyes. To his surprise, Christine began to kiss them away. Gently, to not scare him away, she lifted his mask and kissed his mangled face. Relaxing at the touch of her soft lips on his face, Erik wrapped his arms around her. Once she finished, he rested his head on top of her curly hair, while she snuggled on his chest.
"I should hand you over to the police, yet I can not do it, for I fear I want you for myself. How selfish of me."
"I don't mind," Christine murmured. How could she have dreamed of living her life without her angel? He, who understood her better than anyone else?
" I love you,' Christine murmured, glad she was back with her angel, where she belonged.
Thank you for reading! It's quite a lengthy chapter to hopefully satisfy some of my readers. I have heard a rumor that they can delete your story if you respond to your reviewers-but I will do it one more time. (Next time I will personally email you) Quick note: crepes were made with flour, something not everyone could afford, so not many ate them…
Rays Neko Angelgirl: Thank you for adding me to story alert, favorite alert, and so on. Yes, I too was hooked the first time I saw it. I agree, the ending was blah indeed! You find out the phantom's name if you read the book sniff It is quite sadder than the film. Yes, it would have been better if Christine had stayed with Raoul. Thank you! Sniff I am so glad you think my story is good! Please keep reading!
Kaome: Thanks for adding me to story alert! I hope you review and let me know what you think of this chapter!
Teke queen: I am here to serve readers like you! I am glad you like it. Your reviews motivate me to keep writing!
Phanphicphantastic: I can't say much, only it gets better, starting next chapter! Also, thank you for adding me to story alert!
Adi sagestar: It was not really a trap, more like her mind playing tricks on her. Yes, I will try to make her smarter. I update as fast as possible, so please spare me from the WSA!:o
Liane: I can actually picture that, the phantom dressed in all black, becoming the hero after all. I am truly flattered you think my story is lovely. There you go, I updated. So what do you think? Thanks for adding me to story alert and author alert!
