The water made shapes dance across the cavern as he sat, note in hand, at the organ. He had been shocked to receive a note from Christine as, after he had learnt that she had fled to the country, he had thought that he had lost her for a second time. If he had, he thought to himself before reading the note, he only had himself to blame. Why did he lack the courage to execute the final stages of his plans? He would look at her…so much admiration in her eyes and he would stumble…he could not betray her so entirely. He could not allow her to betray her true self; the Christine that feared him and lead her to Raoul. He could push her; that was true enough. He could make her forget herself completely…but that would destroy the very thing that he so loved. He had to let her live…she didn't deserve to be tainted by such darkness. He had to let her go.

Looking up from the letter, his eyes surveyed the room, which he had quickly repaired after the night of the disaster. Everything was in its place…papers, candles, drapes all correct. And for the first time in months he smiled; and as he read the letter for a second time this smile turned into a deep throated laugh.

She had not told Raoul…she did this for herself and herself alone. Christine felt guilty for what had happened which could only mean…could he dare?

"If you love me as you say you do," the letter read. She had remembered his love for her and, in the name of this love, had begged him to stay away. She was no longer afraid of him; of his action…but her own…

Not allowing himself to be swept along by the unwritten messages in her note, he calmed himself. She would never leave Raoul, he knew this. She would never join him here, he knew that too. But she could not keep away. After everything that had happened she was still drawn to her angel and his music.

"Wildly your mind beats against me, yet your soul obeys!"

Oh no, he thought, placing the note back into its envelope; I will not come to you again Christine…For it will be you who returns to me…your teacher.

All night Christine had waited; all night she had stayed awake waiting for her angel to take her; waiting for her phantom to come. But as she pulled her shawl more tightly around her, tucking her knees underneath her chin as she shifted on her perch in the window she sighed, the glass of the window chilling her skin. She had written to him telling him to stay away and yet she was waiting for him; watching him and willing him to return.

By the time that Christine could see the thin morning light piercing through the clouds she realised that he wasn't coming. He had done as she'd asked…for his love of her. He had stayed away as she had instructed. She couldn't believe that it would be this easy to rid her of him. All she had to do was to ask.

Christine started at the knock on her door, and Raoul entered, dressed as if he had never been to bed.

"What is it?" she asked, moving to light the oil lamp. As the dim light radiated around the room, Raoul's face was illuminated and Christine grasped her mouth in horror. There was blood…blood splattered across his face, and on his shirt, and over his hands. An unearthly sob escaped her lips as she collapsed on the floor, burying her head in her hands.

"I knew that you would be awake," Raoul's voice came as he paced about the room frantically. "I knew that you would be awake, waiting for him."

Christine raised her face to his, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gasped, "Oh Raoul…what have you done?"

"I kept telling myself that you would get better; that it was like a fever that was yet to break. Yet every day you grew more distant. I saw you pushing me away and I couldn't…I wouldn't let it happen. Do you hear me Christine?" He implored, crouching down and taking her hands in his. "I wouldn't loose you to a monster like him!"

She watched his face crumble as he struggled to remain composed; smearing blood with the tears as he brushed them away. He choked on the words as he said them, "I was so angry Christine, so angry and afraid…"

He paused, noticing for the first time that she was crying; uncontrollable sobs of pain. She was paralysed; rooted to the spot until she knew what had happened. What had Raoul done?

"What's this?" Raoul snapped, twisting Christine round to face him. She yelped in pain as he pinched her cheeks, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Tears…tears for such a man? You weep for him still Christine? You love him still?"

"Raoul I…" she began, struggling to free herself from him. But he was on her at once, dragging her to her feet, forcing her to stand up though she shook with despair.

"What have you done?" she shrieked.

As if this brought him back to his senses, Raoul's face flooded with disbelief as he retreated, gazing at his hands as if they were not his own. Once…twice he shook his head and mumbled, half to himself, "What have I done? I am just like him now…just like him!"

Seized by panic Christine charged forward and Raoul, who caught her in his arms, struggled to remain still as she thrashed against him, screaming violently, "What have you done to him Raoul? What have you done?"