Christine

I open my eyes to find myself in a strange room. I can't move and I'm still so groggy it takes me several minutes to realize why. I'm bound hand and foot to a chair!

Raoul is standing over me smirking like a cat. "Finally awake I see."

I take in my surroundings as best I can. I'm in a bedroom. A four-poster bed made of dark wood sits behind me, I can just see it out of the corner of my eye if I turn my head. There's a matching chest of drawers and armoire. Several tall bookshelves line one wall. A fire crackles in a fireplace with an elaborately carved mantle. A plush, light blue rug covers the floor. There's a door and two tall windows that open onto a balcony. Though the curtains are all drawn, the windows are open and a slight breeze is stirring. I can see the balcony through the fluttering curtains.

I could scream. Surely there must be people on the street.

Raoul seems to read my thoughts. "One little scream and I'll have your darling husband hunted down like the rabid animal he is.

Light filters in through the curtains. I find a clock on the wall, and I'm stunned to see it's morning. Have I been here unconscious all night? Erik must be frantic. "What are you going to do to me?"

"There's a ship sailing for England tomorrow evening. The two of us will be on it. I'm going to take you where he'll never find you. Then you will marry me."

"I'll never comply! I'll never stop trying to escape from you. Even if you do take me to England, I'll spend my life trying to get away from you."

He frowns at me. "Oh, perhaps at first, but once you see what it's like being with a real man, you'll change your mind."

This makes me too furious to be afraid. How can I get away from him though? "I won't get on the ship, Raoul. You can't force me."

Raoul grins and pulls a thin dagger from his boot. He runs the flat of the blade down my cheek. "Oh, I can, and I will. You'll board the ship or I'll slip this right between your ribs. Then I'll go to the police and tell them where to find your husband, and I'll tell them that he's the one who killed you. Jealousy, you see, because he caught you trying to run away with me."

I'm shocked and disgusted. "You claim to love me, but you'll kill me if I refuse to yield?"

"I'll kill you if I must. I would much rather see you dead than with that animal."

There's a roar of fury from outside. Erik leaps through the balcony window with his sword out and pointed at Raoul. He advances on Raoul looking just as menacing as if he were the Angel of Death himself.

"Erik!" I scream.

He continues to stalk towards Raoul and his eyes promise death. "If you have hurt her, if you have harmed one hair on her head…"

Now I am afraid. I'm terrified of what Erik might do, and what will happen to him if he does. "I'm fine, Erik! Look at me, I'm fine. Please, just untie me and let's go."

"All in good time, my dear. First I need to have a little chat with the Vicomte here about the abominable rudeness of abducting another man's wife."

Raoul has freed his own sword and now he and Erik stand sizing each other up.

"Please, Erik, don't! Please, let's just go!" I'm writhing against the ropes now.

Erik lunges at Raoul, swinging his sword. Raoul parries and Erik steps back.

"I warn you, if you harm me you will hang for it. However, if you put your sword away and leave us be, I won't go to the police and tell them just where to find the Opera Ghost."

There's a pounding on the door. "Raoul de Chagny, open in the name of the law!"

Erik smiles triumphantly. "My dear Vicomte, the police are already here." Erik sheaths his sword and twitches his cloak to hide the scabbard.

The pounding resumes. "Open this door or we'll break it down!"

Raoul has gone white as a sheet. He unlocks the door and three officers swarm into the room. I can see several more in the hall behind them.

One of them gives Erik a confused look, "Monsieur, how did you get in here?" Then his gaze drifts to the open balcony windows and he sighs. "Not the best idea, but I understand why you did it. I'll let it go...this time."

"Thank you, Inspector. Worry for my wife quite overwhelmed my reason. Can you believe it? The Vicomte here had this wonderful story all cooked up for you about how I'm the Opera Ghost at the Opera Populaire."

The man scoffs and shakes his head. "Hmm, I've always believed the so-called Opera Ghost was simply different members of the cast playing pranks on one another."

Erik appears thoughtful. "You know, Inspector, you're probably right."

"Erik! Erik, is she in there? Is she alright?" I hear Madame Giry's voice from the hallway.

"She's here and she's fine." Erik calls back as he finally unties me. He pulls me up out of the chair and into his arms.

Raoul has not had the good sense to put his sword away and the inspector wrenches it from his hand. "Raoul de Chagny," he declares, "you are under arrest for the abduction of Christine Daae." He shackles Raoul's wrists. He pats Raoul down and removes my dressing room key from his pocket.

"Do you recognize this?" He asks, holding it out to Erik and me.

"That is the key to my wife's dressing room at the opera."

The inspector speaks gently to me. "I'm sorry, Madame, I'm afraid we must keep this as evidence." He then motions at the other two officers and they lead Raoul away.

The inspector turns to Erik. "Take care of your wife, Monsieur, but when she is ready we will need her to come down to the station and make a full report."

Erik nods his understanding. "Thank you very much for your help, Inspector." He releases me to shake the man's hand. Then he slips an arm around my waist. "Come on, my love, let's get you home."