-Christine's Point of View-

I remember when I was a small child.

Father always loved to surprise me, bringing home trinkets from his trips, beautiful shells from the sea shore, and once even a small duckling. Father surprised me often and always said he enjoyed seeing the expression on my face. But Father surprised me one last time.. less pleasant I should say... I never thought he would ever leave me.. I thought he would live forever.. But when he contracted illness he faded quickly, and painfully it seemed. So did I, while Father wilted so did I, my dreams died. I knew that the house by the sea wouldn't be here forever, and neither was Raoul. For he was already gone, moved away a friend of Father's said. I was learning at a young age that everything is temporary, even people.. situations.. and feelings.

Tonight was much the same. I was surprised once again. My eyes grew wide as if the world was in slow motion.

"Christine.." Was all he said compassionately.. Erik's face crumpled in pain at just that statement.

"Raoul." I said sadly with real tears in my eyes.

"I've come for you Christine.. This monster can no longer hold you captive as his songbird!" He shouted the last part.

"Raoul.." I said again. I was about to say something he was not soon to forget and it broke my heart..

"I suggest you not make a move Phantom." Raoul said angrily. "The building is surrounded. I've come for you Christine, my love. We can go and finally be married."

I felt something break inside me. I felt a part of me hibernate and hide. From this situation. I broke into tears. Raoul misinterpreted and I believe Erik may have too.

"How did you find us?" I said slowly.

"Tips." He said simply. "I knew you wouldn't be traveling on foot, so I checked with many,many,many carriage drivers.. and a few particular ones were able to give me some idea of where you might be at." He said. "Also when I arrived here to stay a night and continue my search I was merely was walking into the inn to arrange a night's stay and I heard a beautiful melody coming from a room here. When I entered the building I heard the words clearer to it.. The Phantom of the Opera? My Christine? You should have really been more careful Phantom.."

"You were right though.. she's soon to be lost and gone.. but she's my Christine." He said.

I heard someone yell to him from outside the inn. He walked from the room and his eyes bore into Erik's as if a warning not to move until he returned.

I looked into Erik's eyes painfully. "I knew you would want to go with him Christine.. go free love.. I've heard you sing and now I can go.." He said.

With that, my heart shattered into a million pieces. He seemed content on dying because he thought I wanted to leave him. Tears ran down my face and I nearly screamed. How could he think that after all this? He's too guarded for his own good, and thinks he's making the smart decisions. But he's not.. the moment of truth had finally come, and I didn't want to leave with Raoul. In the past few days something in my soul had awakened and finally called to the Phantom who was waiting all along, and now I was to be ripped away from this spot as quickly as I had gotten here.

"Erik.. I swear I don't want to leave you... I..I love you.." I said sobbing once more.

"Play along" He said almost fiercely in a whisper, while looking to the other side of the room. I was confused but decided it best to listen to him. His gaze wandered to the window and back to my eyes. They could hear us.

"Christine.. I won't harm you anymore.. You don't have to lie for me.. go with Raoul." I understood now. The man disappeared from the window and Erik seemed to survey the surrounding area for anymore eavesdropping shadows.

"Christine.. it's too late.. they are going to take me.. I know you want to be with me now.. So do this for me.. Play along like you cannot wait to return to the arms of Raoul.. think no more of me.. They will take you away too if they know your willing.. so save yourself angel.. I love you Christine.." He said and a tear slipped down his face. No plan formed in my head and I felt utterly useless and hopeless. My heart was breaking and pain was surging over me. I could hardly breathe. Maybe if I did as he said, he would come for me.

Before I had time to go over a plan Raoul and a dozen men entered the room. Two men on each arm of Erik and one behind him, drug him out of the room while Erik was in an absolute rage, trying to pry the men off of him and cursing Raoul in the process.

The drug him roughly out of the room and out of my sight. I couldn't contain a sob.

Death Penalty..

It echoed in my mind over and over. My teacher, my friend, my love.. He was gone.. and here I was with what I longed for so much before. This perfect life that seemed to be "looming beautifully over the horizon" was now looming over my head threatening to suffocate me and pry me away from what I know wanted most.

I could still hear his shouts of protests and they seemed to be tearing me apart. It was like I was outside of my body, watching my face and seeing my reactions but all the while feeling the pain. I was crumpled in the floor now, my legs awkwardly bent under my lavish white dress, my face was distorted and my sobs escalated more and more with each passing second. I was screaming now, sobbing and crying. All for Erik and Raoul thought it was because he was finally gone and because of the 'horrific mark' the Phantom had made on me.

But in Raoul's mind all that mattered was that we were together, it's like I could read his thoughts through his eyes, he truly did wear his heart on his sleeve, as kind as it was. But now it wasn't kind to me, it was cold and destroying, and I felt as if I could grab hold of it in the palm of my hand and squeeze it tightly till' it burst, then he would be feeling the pain and the misery he had inflicted on me so carelessly. But I had to play the part for Erik, as if I were back in Paris standing on the Grand stage acting a part that everyone so well believed, and maybe there would be just a glimmer of hope.

He ran to me and scooped me up into his arms and kissed me. I kissed him back with all that I could manage to put into it, but in the end failed. I cried into the kiss and held onto him tightly for the kind of comfort he wasn't giving,

"Are you okay Christine?" He said. Obviously not. I thought. But I merely nodded.

I was holding tightly to him for another reason than he thought. It seemed as if I was always misread..

"Oh Christine. I'm so sorry.." He said and held me close. "Where are they taking him" I said instantly with a extreme sickness appearing in my stomach.

"To jail I suppose then from there I believe they will sentence him, likely the death penalty.. well if I have a say in the punishment.." He said and looked me in the eyes.

"I don't think that right Raoul.." I said. "It was not that terrible." I said.

He looked at me as if I was lying. "It's okay Christine he can hear you no more. But maybe not the death penalty just a life sentence to prison I suppose."

"No!" I said. "Christine.. I'm aware of what he does to you.. it's okay.. I know your coming out of this trance.. but understand. I'm here. Everything is okay, I'm going to take you back to Paris. You can sing at the Opera house again, and we can be married." He said.

Back to Paris I thought..

Then I roughly stopped myself. Erik was all that mattered. Lie Christine..

I held him tighter to me. "I am so glad your here." I said. There was little emotion and real compassion in my voice, but he believed me.

"Lets go home.." Raoul said to me kissing the top of my head. "That monster will no longer cast his spell on you."

The next few days were a blur, It seemed like a lot of traveling, and sleeping. I always had a room alone, respectively I supposed. Which I was thankful for. Now that we were pulling into the wrought iron gates of De Changy mansion I realized that what had happened aside from Erik's capture, I was barley able recollect. When I started to remember my heart began aching once more and tears began to furiously run rampant down my face.

My own defense mechanism inside my mind I had supposed. But it had kept me safe for a few days. That's when I remember what I did. The medication. It was still in my dress pocket, and I had only taken a few. But it had kept me safe and the whole situation out of mind a few days. I felt a bit guilty, but it made it seem far away for just a little while.

Raoul sat next to me as we entered the drive and soon I was being helped out of the carriage and through the threshold of the lavish home. He stared adoringly at me as he opened the door. This was a place I thought I was never to return to.. yet here I was after all the pain and hell I had been through with my Phantom at the threshold of the De Changy door. I was ushered in and in the foyer there stood Raoul's aging Mother Elaina, his cousin who seemed to be a bit older than both of us, Elizabeth, and his polite yet arrogant Brother, Philippe.

"Oh Christine!" Elizabeth said with her odd accent. It was beautiful at the same time. A cross between French and British. I thought to myself What a lovely voice you have Elizabeth. I felt positively mad, nearly out of my mind. Lightweight, as if I was floating and I seemed to be noticing the simpler, amusing things.

"Elizabeth." I said slowly with tears in my eyes. They were all so welcoming. They thought I loved Raoul, they thought I wanted to be here.

"I'm so glad to see you.." She said and the others began following suit:

"Dear child, Christine. What you must have been through. Do come sit on the loveseat and relax. Bring her some hot tea Odette!" Elaina said.

"Christine, I'm very sorry about what's occurred. Is there anything I can do for you..?" Philippe said awkwardly.

"I'm fine, Thank you all though." I said sweetly and leaned against Raoul. He was a friend and I was taking support for an alternate reason and playing a part all at the same time.

It must have been believable because they all smiled sweetly and Raoul put his hand on mine.

"Christine, I cannot tell you how happy I am to have you back here. Everything can be right now. Everything is going to be okay. We can be married and you can sing all you want, and for everyone. Everyone in Paris. And I'll do all I can to make sure that you are the Prima Donna instead of that dreadful Carlotta." He said.

"You can't imagine how hard I've looked for you. I've searched near and far, and then on an off chance and when I wasn't even looking. There you were.. In the unlikeliest of places." He said.

"Where exactly where you dear?" Elizabeth said.

"Far southeast. In an Inn. I came upon the innocent building to arrange a night's stay when I heard music. It was rather odd and strange.. But then I heard Christine's voice.. beautiful and pure.. singing his death march.. When I heard you sing those lines I knew it was you.. and his unmistakable lull that lured you in from the start sounded in the air. I knew I had found you."

"I cannot believe you did.." I said honestly.

"All that matters is everything is going to be back to normal.. If it can be Christine.. How are you feeling?" He said.

"Fine really, just a little shaken.

"He didn't do any other.. things.." He almost finished his sentence when I interrupted.

"Most certainly not." I said and I took a sip of tea with my hand shaking. Raoul pulled the cup from my hands and sat it down holding them.

"I know what this has done to you Christine.. I'll be here whenever you need me.. forever.." He said. "Is there anything you want to tell me.. anything that happened that was specifically.." He didn't finish but went on to say. "Or is it too soon to talk?"

"I'd rather not elaborate on the whole event just yet.." Tears ran down my face.

"Oh Christine!" They all said. Raoul held me close.

"I'll take care of that monster..." Raoul said.

"Nothing terrible happened.. we were just fleeing.. and he kept telling me how I would have to stay with him.. in love or not and we would be married soon.. and I could sing for him all the time.." I cried.

"But then he said I wouldn't have to marry him until I 'learned to love him'" I said through my tears. I was crying for a different reason, but they seemed to take it another way and cooed at me and patted my shoulders. I did love Erik. I always did, I would have married him.. but Raoul..

I stopped the thought.. I had to go on..

"But I'm just so glad to be here.. I've missed you all so.. especially Raoul.. I just feel so exhausted and spent.. this whole event has taken everything out of me.." I was silent for the most part. Hoping they took the hint.

A few moments passed in silence. If I was not so upset I would have found it awkward but in this state of mind I hadn't a care.

"You may stay here with my Cousin and Mother.." Raoul said.

"Of course Philippe and I have some unfinished business in Strasbourg.. with Father's recent passing and all.." He said looking down.

"We'll be gone maybe a few weeks. I apologize that I have to depart at a time like this Christine.. I'll be leaving next week though.. if it's any consolation.. and maybe when I get back we can talk about the wedding.." He said. "I hope it's not too soon."

"Not at all." I smiled at him with a hint of sadness.

"Well.. let's get Christine into her room and get her cleaned up for dinner tonight." Elaina said.

"Very well." Raoul said. "I'll see you soon love." and he squeezed my hand.

I nodded to his family and thanked them and I was lead up the Grand staircase to a room. I was left alone and as I opened the door a lavish room appeared in front of my eyes.

A large four post bed sat in the center with a white silk comforter and lace overlay with a beautiful taffeta canopy. The furniture matched and I looked at the large bay window in the right corner of the room. A large bathroom was located to the left of the room and a closet right next to it. How elaborate I thought.

I was to be left alone for the nest few hours before dinner and I began thinking of Erik. Where was he now? What was he doing? was he okay? I was terrified for him. I ran a bath and soaked in it for a long while.. My dress seemed to hold a few more installments of medication which I gladly took and drifted off into a drugged delirium as I got out of the tub.

When they came to fetch me for dinner I was reserved and told them I did not feel like eating.. so my defense kicked in and blocked out everything that was painful and I drifted and drifted until I was in the house by the sea.. where Papa played his violin..

and things were simpler.. easier..

A/N: PLEASE tell me what you think. I feel like I'm working hard for nothing. So message me, tell me your ideas. Plus, I know I am TERRIBLE at spelling etc. so please ignore. Thank guys! If you like it, review PLEASE and story alert/fave. Thanks so much for your support. It makes my day.