Christine ran up the stairs. Well, Raoul pulled her up the stairs. She hadn't wanted to leave her angel. After the two kisses they'd shared, she had realized that she loved him. But before she could tell her angel that she chose him, he made them leave. Now Christine was heartbroken and lost. She thought of nothing but her angel as Raoul pulled her back above the surface. He brought her quickly out of the burning Opera Populaire and flagged down a carriage. Once inside, Raoul took both of Christine's hands in his.

"Christine, dear Christine, I am so sorry for the torture that man has put you through. I assure you that I will never let him hurt you again. Now that he is gone, we shall be married and we will never have to stop loving each other!"

Raoul's words made Christine's heart hurt. She loved Raoul, but she was not in love with Raoul. He was her friend and she could no longer imagine marrying him. She dreamed now of marrying her angel, but Christine knew she could never let Raoul know that. She simply nodded and closed her eyes. Raoul continued to speak.

"We will be married two days' time, my love. I promise you it will be the happiest day of your life."

Though it would not be the happiest. It wouldn't even be close. Christine nodded again. She could not tell Raoul that she did not want to marry him, that would anger him and break his heart. She couldn't do that to him when he had gone through so much to try and save her, though she needed no saving. Christine looked out the carriage window and stayed silent the rest of the way to the de Changy mansion. Raoul took Christine's hand and helped her out of the carriage. "Welcome home, Christine," he said, smiling at his giant home. Christine put on a fake smile. This was not home for her, nor did she want it to be. But she had to pretend, at least for a little while. Raoul led her up to the second floor of the house. He entered a bedroom that was obviously not his. Christine gazed around at the frilly curtains and light pink covers on the huge bed. Raoul opened a rather large armoire and pulled out a lacey nightgown.

"You will have to borrow a dress or two of my mother's until we got out tomorrow to get you more clothes. Now, let's get you out of that hideous gown he has forced you into. This will be much more flattering and comfortable for sleep," he said, holding the gown out for her to take. Christine took it hesitantly. "W-Where shall I change?" she asked, biting her lip.

Raoul smiled at her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Why, you can change wherever you'd choose. You can come with me to my room and change there, if you'd like." Christine looked down and slowly shook her head.

"I... I would rather change in private," she said.

She did not want Raoul to see her undressing. That might give him ideas for something she did not want and was not ready for. She saw the hope in Raoul's eyes fade as he escorted her to his private bathroom. Christine knew he wanted to see her undress. He wouldn't be the first man. The ballerinas were always catching rich patrons trying to sneak a peek at them. But Christine would not let Raoul see her. She thanked him softly and disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door tightly behind her. She slowly took off the wedding gown. She caught a glimpse of herself in the rather large mirror on the wall. Christine thought the wedding gown was gorgeous. It was perfect for her, highlighting every dip and curve of her body. She did not want to take it off, but she knew that if she didn't, Raoul would be very angry. She reluctantly took it off and slipped into the nightgown. It was not meant for Christine at all. It was very loose fitting on her, though it was meant to be extremely tight. It hung very low and was very revealing; the gown barely covered her breasts and didn't even reach her knees. She couldn't imagine what this dress looked like on Raoul's taller, bigger mother. She adjusted the gown as much as she could and finally gave up. Grabbing the wedding gown and cradling it in her arms, she emerged from the bathroom.

Her cheeks burned as she saw Raoul in just his breeches. God, why this? Why now? She tried to ignore him. "Where shall I store this?" she asked, looking down at the wedding gown. "Oh, that. I'll have that removed immediately," Raoul stepped closer to her and tried to grab the gown. "No!" Christine squealed, turning away and clutching the dress in her fingers.

"I... I don't want you to throw it out, Raoul. Please."

Raoul grumbled something and took the dress, shoving it on the divan in the corner. He turned and looked at Christine, his smirk returning to his face.

"Why Christine, who knew you could be so breathtaking?"

Christine blushed again, seeing the obvious arousion building in his breeches. Raoul moved closer to Christine and kissed her. Christine froze, but returned the kiss soon after. She did not want Raoul to think she wouldn't let him kiss her, for then he would be furious. She soon felt Raoul's hands on her waist, caressing her curves. Christine's hands stayed at her side, but Raoul seemed not to notice. He brought her to his bed and climbed on top of her, kissing her more intensely. His hand travelled to her breast and squeezed it a little too tight.

"Raoul," Christine said, the most uncomfortable she'd ever been in her life. "Raoul, please, stop."

Raoul removed his lips from hers and stared at her. "What is it, Christine?" he asked, furrowing his brows.

"I... We can't do this. Not tonight. I want to wait until our wedding night," she said, looking away from his stare.

Raoul's expression turned into one of disappointment. "As you wish, Christine," he muttered, climbing off of her and flopping beside her on the bed. He turned his back from her and said not a word after. Christine slowly climbed into his bed and tried to sleep.

When she awoke in the morning, Raoul was not beside her. Christine slowly got up, wondering where Raoul could have gone. She saw that a dressing gown had been placed on the divan. But where was the wedding dress? Christine quickly put on the dressing gown and ran downstairs.

"Raoul!" she called, looking around.

The house was so big, he could be anywhere. Suddenly, she heard a groggy voice coming from down the hall.

"What do you need, Christine?"

Christine ran down the hall, following the voice into the dining hall. She examined the room quickly. There were gorgeous lace curtains over each window, a lace tablecloth over the ten foot long table, and a chandelier above the table. She looked over at Raoul, who had a glass of an amber colored drink in his hand.

"Raoul... where is the wedding gown?" she asked, catching her breath.

Raoul swirled the drink around a bit before taking a sip.

"I had it sent out, Christine. I sent it back to that damned Opera House," he spat.

Christine's heart lurched in her chest and a lump formed in her throat. That was the only thing she'd had to remember her angel by and now it was gone. Raoul pulled out the chair next to him.

"Come sit, Christine. Henry will get you a brandy."

So that's what Raoul was drinking. She'd never seen him drink before.

"No, that won't be necessary," she said, sitting down.

Raoul set his glass on the table and looked at her. "I will be out most of the day. I need to get the grand cathedral booked, your wedding dress bought, and the guest list made. You may do as you please today," he said.

Christine looked at him oddly. "I don't get to pick out my dress?"

Raoul laughed a little. "Of course not. I must pick you a dress to show you off as the new Vicomtesse!"

Christine looked down. She already had no say in their marriage and they weren't even married yet. She just nodded and stood. "Then… I shall find Madame Giry and collect the few things I have left while you are gone," she said. "I am going to bathe." Raoul nodded and returned to his brandy.

Christine locked the bathroom door while she bathed. She sat in the bathe and thought for a whole hour. She would not go to Madame Giry today. She knew what she had to do. She needed to find the wedding gown that her angel had given her. Christine scrubbed with the rose scented soap that had been left for her, making sure to clean every last inch of her body. When she finished, she stepped out and wrapped herself in a towel. She had no idea what she would wear. There were no clothes in the house that would fit her.

She sighed and put on the dressing gown, padding down the hall to Raoul's mother's room. She slowly opened the armoire and pulled out the smallest dress she could find. Hurrying back to Raoul's room, she heard the front door open. Christine stopped to peek out the window just in time to see Raoul get in a carriage. She smiled to herself and quickly went into Raoul's room. She changed into the dress, which was still very big on her. Christine adjusted it as much as she could, then left Raoul's room and ran down the stairs. She opened the grand front doors and went out into the afternoon light.

Christine had woken late that morning since she had not fallen asleep until past midnight, and by the time she had eaten a light meal, bathed, gotten dressed, done her hair, and walked to the Opera Populaire, it was nearly suppertime. The Opera Populaire was empty and you could still smell the lingering smoke from the fire, even though all the flames were now gone. Christine entered the Opera House unseen, travelling to where her dressing room had been. Everything was left untouched.

Christine grabbed a satchel from her vanity and filled it with only the things she could not bear to part with. She took a picture of her father, a necklace her father had given her, and the red rose that her angel had left her a few days ago. She looked towards the mirror on the wall, remembering when she'd first seen her angel and travelled to his lair. She went to the mirror, gently touching it with her delicate fingers. Her eyes suddenly caught something behind the mirror. She slowly pushed the mirror aside and found and opening behind it. She looked at the back of the mirror and saw her dressing room. So that's how he'd seen her! He could have looked at her whenever he pleased and she wouldn't have known! She shook the thoughts from her mind and looked the other way. She recognized the hall. It was the same one her angel had led her down all those months ago. Christine slowly began to walk down the dark hall. She didn't know why, but she had to see his lair one last time.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! This is my first fanfic, so unfortunately it won't be perfect. But I promise that I will do my best to make it amazing!