The door slammed heavily behind him. He didn't look at her for the longest time, though she wished he had. He just rested his forehead upon the shut door, as if exhausted, tired from the events that just took place. Then, with one, swift movement he raised his head, and turned to face her. Tears streamed down his face, as well as a dry river behind them. He'd been crying. Been. How had she not noticed, in those small seconds she had witnessed his face before?

Suddenly, wild, crazy pounds came from the opposite side of the door. They were hard, furious. "Christine!" Came a voice from the other side. It was obviously Raoul, and Christine bowed her head in embarrassment. She silently slid her eyes shut, imagining her old life, her life before Erik. It had been bliss, perfect in every aspect. But as she looked back on it, she realized the lie she was living. The eventless days, the false emotions. They now teased her with there fiction. Erik showed her that. He made her glimpse back on all those days. The days when she lovingly rested in Raoul's arms, mistaking security for love.

"Christine!" The knocks dispersed. She heard Raoul's hands slid down the door, as well as his heavy body and collapse on the front porch. A sigh released itself from his chest, and she could almost feel his desperation. Erik just stood there, watching her go through this torture. He seemed stunned, unable to move in his disbelief. What was the next step? Would he take her in his arms? Tell her everything would be okay? It wouldn't, he knew that was true. Life would never be the same; it would never be the fairy tale ending most dreamed of.

"Christine, please. Open the door." His pleas were becoming pathetic. She was growing disgusted with them, but longed to hear them none-the-less. Christine raised her head, just as his desperate calls ended. She saw Erik standing before the door, silently looking at her. The tears had stopped, and a smile came in their place.

"My love, you have returned." His voice was no longer powerful; it was full of vurnability, of weakness. "You had decided." Christine found herself unwillingly walking into his arms. What power did he have over her? As he wrapped his arms around her, he felt his heart begin to speed, and his legs grow weak.

"Christine!" Raoul's last plea had surprising power. The pounding returned, and this time was accompanied by kicks. But as they dyed out, Christine remained in Erik's arms, not saying a word. She was unable to; love and confusion had muted her.

Next, a window shattered, glass spewing across the room. All Christine could do was scream. Wild, hysterical screams, piercing the fragile ears of Erik, who in fear ran to the window. Raoul was making his way in! Quickly, Erik grabbed the nearest chair and threw it at him. Raoul was sent backwards by the force, but continued to make his way through the window.

"Erik! Stop, don't hurt him!" Christine was surprised by these words, and so was Erik, who stopped immediately in his footsteps. Raoul hastily continued through the window and scurried over to his wife, compassionately wrapping his arms around her.

"Christine-" Erik began, whispering silently to himself. He lovingly reached out his hand, as if beckoning her. She, confused, looked down. It had never been like this, so complicated and strange. Life had never presented such challenge, such decision. Marry Raoul; be happy, live with pleasure. That is how it had always been. Now, it had taken a turn, she had reached a fork in the road. Erik, the man who made her feel worth living. He made her feel real, made her feel important, like the only thing that mattered. He opened up a world of music and layed it at her feet, motioning to her to take it forever. If you take the music, you take me. We could live together for an eternity. And there was Raoul, doing anything and everything so she would feel happy. He treated her like a queen, giving her everything her heart desired. Everyone would approve of Raoul, but not of Erik. Yes, life had taken an unusual turn, indeed.

"Erik, I am sorry." Her voice drifted away, tears filling them in an instant. "We cannot go on living like this. Hiding in the shadows." These words hit Erik with a strange force, and he was drove back into a nearby chair. She inched over to him and placed her thin, fragile hand upon his face.

"Our love is real, I know, but I must do what is right." She wiped a lone tear that streamed down the edge of his mask. "And what is right, is to stay with my husband, through better or for worse. You must understand."

"Yes, Christine, I understand." He choked, standing up harshly. He traveled over to Raoul, took him in his grasp and pulled him into the kitchen. When there, he grabbed a nearby knife and placed it savagely against his throat.

"I understand that this man is keeping you from me. And believe me, Christine, I will do whatever I can to have you. I love you. And if that means killing the one man standing in my way of betrothing you, so be it!" Christine let out a whimper and inched closer to them. Erik's voice had returned to normal, power consuming every word.

"No. Erik you don't understand. He is not what is standing in the way of us. It is me, would you kill me? I am the one who doesn't want to be with you." Her words were harsh, but necessary. Tears now flowed freely down Erik's face, but he made no attempt to wipe them.

"I would never hurt you, Christine. But it seems you would hurt me. You said you loved me, why have you lied!" His voice toned down, the same vurnabity returning once more. "I have been hurt too many times, Christine, why must you continue the deed!"

Christine's heart ached for him. She loved him, but must cut him away. She must let him go to save him from all that is horrible. People would talk about them, claiming him a monster for driving her away from her husband. Christine knew this was true and decided to let him leave her, or rather her leave him. Also, she knew Raoul would never give up. Day after day, he would return to the porch, pounding and screaming upon the door. Hope would drive him to insanity, and they would never be happy. All would be lost because of her silly love.

"Erik, I love you, you know I do. Just leave! Or rather we will leave. I cannot betray Raoul, it is morally wrong. And I am the one standing in the way of our love, not him. Let him go." With that Erik dropped the knife as well as Raoul and both tumbled to the floor. Christine immediately scurried over to her collapsed husband and embraced him.

Life was different after that night. Erik had left town, said to have gone back to Paris were he had become a famous composer. He had never married, nor fallen in love again. He had become most famous for his published work called, "Think of Me". One that he had sent to Christine's mailbox. Upon the day she received it, all past memories flooded to her, just as her emotional dam had broken. It caused her to fall deep into a whole of despair that she never, truly was able to dig herself out of.

The story is over, my friends, and I thank you for reading it. I would love for you to read some of my more recent works, them including:

A Diary of a Vampire Twisted every way Life of Luciana and the Love of a Vampire

And also, coming soon:

The Magician's Labyrinth

A sequel to, 'Till Death do we Part