34. Final Stand

Brent managed to find them food and a source of fresh water that was safe to drink. Where he got all of the food, Christine didn't know. She wondered if there was a cabin nearby, and if he had stolen it, but she didn't mind that at the moment. Wherever he got the food, she was grateful they had it. The trio ate in silence. Christine spent the time thinking over her conversation with Erik and Brent earlier; she had nearly lost Brent in his sadness and anger, but Erik had been able to bring him back. Christine had known for a while now that the fabled Phantom had the capability to be so compassionate. In fact, she had experienced it first hand. But she had never seen him be so gentle before. She was so thankful she had them both. Christine had no idea what she would do without them.

After they had eaten, they found the softest spot on the ground and curled up together. The canopy of leaves above them might have kept the rain and most of the wind out, but it didn't keep out the cold. Christine had no idea how any of them would sleep; she could just barely feel Brent shivering against her through her own shivers. Only Erik seemed impervious to it.

When Brent had finally fallen asleep, Christine turned to face Erik who was lying behind her. He was looking up at the canopy above them, a sad light glowing in his eyes. "I wish I could see the stars," he whispered to her. "I miss the stars…"

Christine nodded, knowing that Erik had been kept in Raoul's basement for weeks. He hadn't seen the sky in ages, and now, even though they were sleeping out in the wilderness, it was still impossible for him to see the sky. He must have felt so trapped. "When we get to America," Christine said, rolling against him, "we can stargaze for hours on end."

"That would be nice," he told her. He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her in his warmth. "Are we sure going to America is the right decision? It'll be very different from Paris. From what I've heard, there are no opera houses there. We wouldn't be able to do what we're used to."

"We'll both have to adjust, that's true," Christine nodded. "But we can't stay here. Even if Raoul did give up on us, which he won't, the police would still hunt you down until you were caught or killed. You're in danger here, even without Raoul looking for us."

"But America seems a bit…extreme," Erik protested. "Do you really have to leave Europe? We could go somewhere that's still in the same part of the world."

Christine realized with a start that Erik was scared. He had known nothing of life outside of the opera house and the cages he had been forced into as a child and, now, as an adult. Having to leave behind the world he knew for one that was completely strange and distant was scaring him.

"Everything will be alright, Erik," she promised, moving back so she could look him in the eye. "We'll be fine as long as we stay together. We've been through so much worse than this; compared to everything else, this will be a cakewalk."

Erik didn't even seem slightly comforted by her words, but sighed with resignation. "I would follow you anywhere, Christine," he told her. He hesitated before adding: "Even if it means leaving behind everything I once knew."

Soon after their conversation, Erik's breathing slowed and he fell into a restful sleep. Christine wished more than anything she could fall asleep as easily, but despite her exhaustion, fear kept her eyes wide open. She knew Raoul would be after them soon, but she didn't know how long he would be. There were a number of reasons he could already have returned to the mansion and found them gone. From there, it would probably only take him a few hours to find out where they were headed and come after them. And when he finally found them…

Christine closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wished Raoul had never come back in her life. She wished he had stayed a part of her past, and not become a part of her future. His threat was hanging over their heads like a guillotine, and it was only a matter of time before it came down. For the rest of the night, every sound she heard - every creak of the branches overhead, every snap of a twig echoing through the woods - was Raoul coming closer and closer…

The next thing she knew, Erik was shaking her awake. Christine rubbed her eyes and sat up stiffly. She hadn't realized she'd fallen asleep, but even though she eventually had, it hadn't been restful. Christine was more tired now than she had been the night before. Erik helped her climb to her feet, and she saw Brent returning with more food. He came from a different direction he had the night before, which meant he had found more than one food source.

"I think the horse is will be ready to move," he told her, giving her a handful of round blueberries. "I'll just have to take a quick look at it, but I think it can take us the rest of the way to the ferry station today."

"Good," Christine smiled down at him. "It'll be good to get back on the move."

After a quick breakfast, Erik led them to where he had hidden the horse and carriage the day before. Brent quickly ran over to the horse and checked on it, nodding happily back at them when he was done. He began to hitch up house, and the old animal whinnied excitedly. It wanted to get back on the road as badly as the rest of them did.

Christine and Erik watched him carefully as Brent get the horse hooked up. "We won't have to run him so hard today," Erik called over to him as he tightened the last of the straps. "As long as everything goes smoothly, we should be able to set a nice, steady pace."

"I know," Brent responded brightly.

He was happier today than he had been the night before. The news of his father's impending death must have been difficult for him, and he must've still been struggling, but he seemed to have taken great strength and comfort from the fact that he still had Christine and Erik to look after him.

"I have to take care of something before we go," Erik whispered to her as Brent finished up. "Help him collect some food for the trip, and I'll be along shortly."

"Can't I go with you?"

Erik smiled and shook his head. "You wouldn't want to watch."

Reluctantly, Christine let go of Erik's hand and watched him go into the forest back towards their hiding spot. Apprehension budded in her chest as she and Brent collected berries and other snacks from the bushes around the clearing. When they finished and Erik still wasn't back, Christine told Brent to stay with the horse and went after him.

Apprehension turned to fear as she got closer and closer to the ring of trees. Something was wrong; she could feel it. When she reached the place they had spent the night, her heart began to race when she realized Erik wasn't there. Spinning in tight circles, she tried to think of where he could have gotten to. By what he had said, Christine figured he had to use the bathroom, but if that was really where he had gone, he should've been back a while ago.

"Erik?" she called out.

She started towards the edge of the ring of trees. Where was he? Christine broke into a run, calling frantically, hoping for some sign that Erik was nearby. There were no responses to any of her cries. She stopped breathless in a clearing, and nearly fainted when she saw who was standing there waiting for her. Raoul had found them.

"How did you get to us so quickly?" she whispered, watching Raoul with wide, fearful eyes.

"I forgot something important that I needed at home, so I went back for it. When I found you were gone, I asked Mitchell where you went. He lied to me, so I did what I had to. He wasn't very strong. It only took a few hours for him to tell me everything. After that, well…traitors must be punished," Raoul said with an evil smile, walking towards her. "I'm glad you finally came looking for him, Christine. I thought there for a moment you two had fought and gone separate ways, but, I suppose not. Nothing keeps you two apart for long."

"What do you want, Raoul?"

"Justice for those Erik's killed…and you, of course, but I'll take justice first."

"Where is he?"

"All these questions, Christine, and none of them are about me. Didn't you stop to think about how your actions would hurt me? Didn't you think about how worried I would be when I found you gone?"

"Did you ever stop to think about how your actions would hurt me? Did you ever think about how afraid I was of you?" Christine shot back, glaring at Raoul. "Where is he?"

"Still alive, if that's what you're wondering. I've decided that there's only one true way for me to show you that this man is meant to die. Trial by combat hasn't been used in years, but I was thinking of bringing it back, just this once. If he is killed, you'll see that it was ordained by God for him to die for his crimes." Raoul stalked ever closer, and Christine moved back towards the woods, trying to stay out of his grasp. "Come now, Christine, don't you want to watch?"

"Why are you risking everything on this? For your pride?" she hissed, watching him closely.

"That's part of it, yes, but I also know how religious you are. You believe in God and His will, so come see it done." Raoul held a hand out to her. "Come see your love die for his crimes."

Christine didn't trust Raoul at all, but she had to know Erik was alright. If he was still alive, then they still had a chance to get away. They had done it before, so why not now? Cautiously, Christine took Raoul's hand and let him lead her through the woods. They stopped in a new clearing where she saw Erik sitting tied to a tree, his head bowed and eyes closed. Raoul dropped her hand and let her go to him.

His eyes opened as she kneeled in front of him. He was still alive, but he looked defeated. "This is the third time he's overpowered me," Erik said, looking at Christine sadly. "And it will be the last. I'm sorry this keeps happening, Christine. Every time, we're so close to getting away, and every time I've been captured…"

"Stop talking like that, Erik. You're going to get out of this, just like you have before," Christine told him angrily.

"He's told me his plan; trial by combat. He told me he wants God to judge whether I am meant to live or die this day, but I believe that he wants to finish what he started that day in the lair. Raoul couldn't kill me then, so he will now."

"No he won't. You'll win this; you're stronger, smarter, and faster."

"You were saying yourself, Christine, just yesterday. I'm not back to my full strength yet."

"If you two are quite finished, I have a trial to begin," Raoul called to them. He crossed the clearing with two swords in his hands. He pushed Christine to the side cut Erik loose before handing him one of the swords. "Stay out of the way, Christine, you don't want to get hurt."

She watched in horror as Raoul lunged for Erik. Swiftly, Erik dodged the blow and brought his sword around to meet with Raoul's neck. Instead, Raoul was able to deflect the blow, though the strength behind it caused him to stagger. Christine could only watch as they fought, trying to figure out what made Raoul decide to do this. He could have easily killed Erik while he had been tied to the tree and made Christine watch, but he didn't. He was giving Erik a chance to defend himself. The seeming kindness confused Christine; Raoul wanted nothing more than to see Erik in a shallow grave, and have Christine for himself. Why would he risk throwing away everything, his own life included, to give Erik a fighting chance?

Because he knows he can win. A small part of her whispered. He tortured Erik for weeks, and they both know that Erik doesn't have the strength to fight for long. Raoul's doing this for your benefit; he wants you to watch as the man you love fights for your freedom…and loses. Christine bit back a cry as the reality sank in. Raoul wanted her to watch her future of freedom die fighting, with a sword in his hand. Even now, she could see Erik was struggling under the weight of Raoul's attack. Everything was happening in the opposite of that day at the lair, when Raoul had been forced to go on the defensive. Now, it was Erik that was losing ground.

Christine had to do something. She couldn't stand by and watch Erik die. She had decided yesterday that no one would hurt Brent or Erik, and she meant to stand by that. If the need arose, she would throw herself in front of Raoul's sword, give her own life in exchange for Erik's. She loved him, and she wasn't going to watch him die. Not at Raoul's hand.

Horror and fear flooded through her as she watched Erik sink to the ground, breathing heavily, trying to catch his breath and keep Raoul at bay at the same time. Raoul feigned an attack to Erik's left side, and when Erik went to block it, Raoul moved the sword to the other side and sliced at his right hand. Erik's sword fell from his wounded hand, leaving him defenseless. He began to back away from Raoul slowly, holding his wounded hand to his chest. Raoul turned his back on Erik's discarded sword.

He soon closed the distance between him and Erik. He didn't bring his sword down for a killing blow. Instead, he looked down on Erik in satisfaction, and kicked him in the ribs. He laughed maniacally when Erik cried out. Unable to bare it any longer, Christine started for Erik's sword.

Neither of the men saw her inching closer to the blade; neither of them saw her pick it up. Raoul kicked Erik a few more times before saying, "Now, you die." He raised his sword above his head, poised over Erik's heart.

"I'm sorry, Christine," she heard him whisper. "I'm not strong enough..."

Raoul brought the sword down...but it stopped, just a few inches away from Erik's chest. He made a sound of surprise and pain, and dropped his blade. Looking down, he saw the sword that had been pushed through his back protruding from his chest, covered in his blood. Raoul turned slowly, gripping at the sword, and looked at the woman standing behind him, her hands over her mouth, her eyes filled with tears.

Slowly, he fell to his knees, his eyes wide with pain and rage. Glaring up at her he said, "Now…you're one of him…" Raoul gestured back to Erik as he coughed up blood. "Now…you're a murderer…too." He gave one final breath before slumping over, dead.

Christine collapsed next to his body and screamed, the horror at what she had done washing over her for the first time. She hadn't been thinking about what would happen when she did it; she had only wanted to protect Erik. Heaving sobs wracked her body, and she lie down on the grass next to Raoul's body, rolling onto her side.

Erik had crawled over to her. He pulled her into his arms and rocked her back and forth, whispering comforts into her ear. "I didn't…I didn't mean to…" she screamed, burying her face in Erik's chest.

"I know, Christine," Erik said. "I know you didn't."

"He killed Mitchell…he was going to kill you…I couldn't lose you! But I didn't want to kill him! I just wanted to stop him! Erik!" Christine clung to the front of his shirt, and sobbed against him. Gently, Erik lifted her from the ground.

"We can't stay here; we have to leave."

Despite how exhausted he had to feel and how much pain he had to be in, Erik carried her the whole way back to the carriage. Christine could hear Brent asking what happened, why they had been gone so long and why they were both covered in blood, but Erik just told him to get up on the carriage and get them to the ferry station as fast as he could.

Inside the carriage, Christine sat slumped against Erik, who was holding her tightly and telling her everything would be alright now. But she knew it would never be alright. Raoul had been evil, and he had been trying to kill Erik, but he had still been human. He had still been her closest childhood friend. He had still been her childhood crush. And she had killed him. Without a second thought, she had driven the sword through his heart, knowing full well the consequences.

No, she would never be fully alright. A part of her had died in that clearing along with Raoul. A part of Christine Daaé had been lost, and it would never be coming back.