Epilogue
Three years had passed since that night beneath the Paris Opera House. Christine's dreams were
plagued with the memories every night. Raoul had taken her away to London, where the two were married
and lived in a château that he owned there. His family wasn't happy, at first, with the marriage but soon
grew to love Christine. Upon Raoul's death his will gave Christine everything he owned. She was
heartbroken, but kept her head high. She sold the château in London and planned to move back to Paris,
along with her three year old son, Delano.
Christine stood before the Paris Opera House, gazing up at the familiar structure. She smiled to
herself and a few memories began to show themselves. She held Delano at her hip. He was a beautiful child
with fair skin and dark hair. His eyes were a soft brown and followed his mother's gaze upon the opera
house. The young boy was amazed by the sheer look of the building. His arms were wrapped around his
mother's neck and he nuzzled her closely.
"Mother, where are we?" Delano asked, his voice hushed and whispered into Christine's ear. His
vocabulary was immense for a child of three. Raoul was proud of him as was Christine. Delano was
guaranteed the best education the city had to offer. In Paris he would have no less.
"We are in Paris, dear." Christine replied with a soft smile. A feeling of joy washed over her when
she uttered those words. She looked into Delano's eyes and smiled. "This is the Paris Opera House. I sang
and danced in the operas here."
Delano's eyes glistened as he heard this. "Father used to tell me about this opera house. He said I
would never see it because it was too far. Thank you!" Delano hugged Christine's neck happily. After the
embrace he turned his eyes back to the structure. "Is the inside as nice as the outside?"
"Even better, Delano!" Christine cooed. She kissed his cheek and slowly began to walk to the
doors. "You'll never see another building like this. If we're lucky we might be able to see and opera as
well! All I must do is talk to the managers."
"That would be nice." Delano said.
"Christine!"
Christine turned around and smiled happily. A petite girl came running towards her. Much to her
delight it was Meg. The chorus girl hadn't change much. She had grown a little and her hair was longer
than before. Her eyes, though, sparkled with joy as she looked at Christine. They embraced, minding the
fact the Delano was on Christine's hip.
"I'm so happy to see you!" Meg cried with tears of joy forming in her eyes. She looked at
Christine lovingly. "Things haven't been the same since you left."
Christine smiled softly. Her mind wandered to Erik. He was the main reason she returned. There
was something she had to do. "My life hasn't been the same since I left Paris."
Meg looked at Delano and smiled sweetly. "And who might this handsome boy be?" Delano
blushed slightly and hid his face against Christine's arm. "Come now! There is no need to be shy!" Meg
giggled happily.
"This is Delano." Christine said with a laugh. She adjusted the boy so Meg could see him. "He is
nearly three. Delano, this is Meg Giry. She is my best friend and your godmother."
"Hello." Delano said shyly.
Meg giggled and held out her arms. Christine obliged and handed the boy over. Meg placed like
Christine had done and studied the young boy. Her smile faded slightly but remained on her face. She
looked at Christine. "He doesn't look much like Monsieur le Vicomte."
Christine felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at Delano who looked back at her. "Raoul looked
much like Delano when he was three. I suppose age changes the way one looks."
"I guess you're right." Meg said with a smile. She looked at Delano. "Would you like to see the
inside of the opera house?"
Delano looked at his mother. "May I?"
"Of course!" Christine laughed. "Meg, take your time and watch him closely. There is some
business I must tend to."
Meg nodded. She carried Delano into the opera house, speaking to the young boy in terms he
could understand. Christine smiled to herself, happy that Meg was taking a liking to the child. As she said,
though, Christine had some business to do. There was something that had haunted her dreams for nearly
two years.
Christine began her slow journey around the outside of the opera house. She walked with one hand
against the stone wall and listened to the memories return. The nights spent with Erik came back to her.
The times the two sang together and just spoke to each other echoed in her mind. Erik told her to forget
about him, but she couldn't. She loved him dearly and she couldn't forget that. Every time she looked at
Delano she saw Erik's eyes and smile.
The wall slowly turned and stopped at an old door. Christine paused and looked at it. This was
what she was looking for. She reached into her purse, hoping to find the key still tucked away in there. Her
hand brushed up against a piece of paper and Christine shuddered. The paper was a newspaper clipping,
sent to her from Akil, who she had nearly forgotten. It was an obituary. Erik was dead. The obituary was
short stating the fact as blunt as could be. It felt like neither Erik nor Akil wanted her to return.
Christine let out a relieved sigh as she found the small key. She pulled it out and closed her purse.
She paused and glanced around. There was no one in sight and if anyone passed by they would just keep
walking. It was now or never and Christine took those first steps back into the darkness of the world
beneath the opera house.
Candles were lit down the walk way, tossing eerie shadows against the stone walls. The sound of
the river echoed off the walls and, soon, into nothing. Christine's foot steps made little noise, if any. She
had placed the key back into her purse, which she now clutched. Her heart raced in her chest as she walked
through her memories.
Suddenly the house was before her. Christine's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the
building she had called home for over a year. A few candles were lit in the windows, which Christine found
odd. She had the urge to run to the door and open it, calling out for Erik in hopes that he was there and it
had all been a dream. She couldn't do it, though. She couldn't force herself to take those steps to the door.
Instead she turned and went to the dock.
The boat was still tied to the dock, floating in the churning water. She smiled to herself. She had
taken the boat with Erik, following him through his endless labyrinth. He had returned her to her room and
once, kept her behind the glass for nearly an hour. The two stood there, embracing as if the world would
end if they let go. Erik did, though.
"Meow."
Christine jumped at the sound and the sudden feeling of something rubbing against her leg. She
looked down and nearly fainted at the sight. A Siamese kitten was rubbing it's body against her leg. A
small, silver bell was attached to a red collar around it's neck. The kitten purred loudly and happily as it
continued to rub itself against the new leg.
"You scared me, little one." Christine said, laughing nervously. She picked the kitten up and
laughed softly when it made a grunt. She cradled the creature in her arms, scratching it beneath it's chin.
She turned and looked back at the river. "You're too young to be Ayesha. Are you a stray? If you are you
can live with me."
"I think it would be best to let the cat go. Adora, come to me."
Christine's heart nearly stopped as she heard another voice. She turned around sharply, half
expecting to see Akil looming before her. What she saw took away her breath instantly. The cat wriggled
it's way from her grasp and trotted to the owner of the voice.
"Erik?" Christine whispered.
Adora meowed, as if it were answering Christine's question. The kitten was lifted into the arms of
it's owner, who could only be Erik. He had a different air about him. His hair had grown and his skin was
lighter than before. Erik's eyes had lost their sparkle and the black mask had a new ornament to it; a small
red tear next to the left eye.
"I thought I told you never to return." Erik said harshly. He turned his eyes to the kitten in his
arms. He stroked it slowly. "I told you to forget about me."
Christine reached into her purse and pulled out the clipping. "Akil sent this obituary to my London
home. It claimed you were dead. I had to see if it was true."
Erik looked at Christine without much emotion. "And where is your dear Vicomte? Is he near by?
I didn't think he'd let you down here alone."
"He died." Christine replied softly.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Christine. I didn't know." Erik said. He let out a soft sigh. "How did it happen?"
Christine lowered her eyes to her hands, looking at the obituary that she held. "A riding accident.
The horse was startled by something and knocked him off it's back. The horse trampled him, crushing his
ribs. Raoul was pulled away and the horse was shot through the heart. Raoul died two hours later. He
wouldn't have survived."
"Why did you return to Paris?" Erik asked, looking at Christine. "Were kicked out of the Vicomte
family after Raoul's death?"
"No." Christine replied, shaking her head. She raised her eyes to Erik. He was looking at her, his
eyes slowly gaining a sense of emotion. "Raoul left me everything to his name. I sold our château and had
the money transferred here. I plan living the rest of my life here. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to get a good job
some where. If not, we have enough money to live off of for a few years."
Erik blinked. "We? You and Raoul had a child?"
Christine shook her head. "No."
"Than who else is with you?" Erik asked. He put Adora down. The Siamese cat sat at his side,
looking at Christine with it's crystal blue eyes.
"Our son." Christine replied softly.
Erik's widened. He raised a hand to his face. His eyes shut quickly and he shook his head. "It
isn't possible."
Christine let out a long breath. "Every time I look at him, Erik, I see you. He has no resemblance
to Raoul He has your eyes and smile. He plays the piano like you and has your voice." Tears began to
trickle down Christine's cheeks. "I think Raoul knew that Delano wasn't his, but he didn't show it. Night
after night I would watch him sleep. Ever since he was born I thought of you night and day. I wanted to
see you one more time, just to see if I was right. As I look at you now, I know that Delano is your son."
Without a word Erik seized Christine and held her close. She let out a sob and let the tears run
free. Erik kissed her forehead and listened to her tears. Christine held him and begged him never to let her
go. She didn't want him to leave her again.
"Hush." Erik whispered. He pulled away slightly and lifted Christine's face. He looked into her
eyes. Erik lowered his face to hers and kissed Christine softly. "I'll never leave you again. My heart has
been broken since the moment you left me."
"Than why did you let me go?" Christine asked. She blinked and a few tears fell.
"I had to. You seemed happy with Raoul and all I wanted was for you to be happy." Erik replied.
He wiped away her tears slowly. "You were sacrificing your freedom to let Raoul live. All I wanted was
for you to be happy, even if it meant you being happy with another man."
Christine smiled softly. "I never knew you loved me so much." She kissed Erik. "I want you to be
part of Delano's life, and mine. There is a château in the country side that Raoul had given me, away from
the prying eyes of the city. Come and live with us. Delano needs a father and I need your love."
Erik slowly let a smile cross his face. He kissed Christine passionately. He broke the kiss and
looked into her eyes. "There is nothing I wouldn't give than to be with you." Erik pushed a lock of
Christine's hair behind her ear. "I want to see our son."
Fin
Three years had passed since that night beneath the Paris Opera House. Christine's dreams were
plagued with the memories every night. Raoul had taken her away to London, where the two were married
and lived in a château that he owned there. His family wasn't happy, at first, with the marriage but soon
grew to love Christine. Upon Raoul's death his will gave Christine everything he owned. She was
heartbroken, but kept her head high. She sold the château in London and planned to move back to Paris,
along with her three year old son, Delano.
Christine stood before the Paris Opera House, gazing up at the familiar structure. She smiled to
herself and a few memories began to show themselves. She held Delano at her hip. He was a beautiful child
with fair skin and dark hair. His eyes were a soft brown and followed his mother's gaze upon the opera
house. The young boy was amazed by the sheer look of the building. His arms were wrapped around his
mother's neck and he nuzzled her closely.
"Mother, where are we?" Delano asked, his voice hushed and whispered into Christine's ear. His
vocabulary was immense for a child of three. Raoul was proud of him as was Christine. Delano was
guaranteed the best education the city had to offer. In Paris he would have no less.
"We are in Paris, dear." Christine replied with a soft smile. A feeling of joy washed over her when
she uttered those words. She looked into Delano's eyes and smiled. "This is the Paris Opera House. I sang
and danced in the operas here."
Delano's eyes glistened as he heard this. "Father used to tell me about this opera house. He said I
would never see it because it was too far. Thank you!" Delano hugged Christine's neck happily. After the
embrace he turned his eyes back to the structure. "Is the inside as nice as the outside?"
"Even better, Delano!" Christine cooed. She kissed his cheek and slowly began to walk to the
doors. "You'll never see another building like this. If we're lucky we might be able to see and opera as
well! All I must do is talk to the managers."
"That would be nice." Delano said.
"Christine!"
Christine turned around and smiled happily. A petite girl came running towards her. Much to her
delight it was Meg. The chorus girl hadn't change much. She had grown a little and her hair was longer
than before. Her eyes, though, sparkled with joy as she looked at Christine. They embraced, minding the
fact the Delano was on Christine's hip.
"I'm so happy to see you!" Meg cried with tears of joy forming in her eyes. She looked at
Christine lovingly. "Things haven't been the same since you left."
Christine smiled softly. Her mind wandered to Erik. He was the main reason she returned. There
was something she had to do. "My life hasn't been the same since I left Paris."
Meg looked at Delano and smiled sweetly. "And who might this handsome boy be?" Delano
blushed slightly and hid his face against Christine's arm. "Come now! There is no need to be shy!" Meg
giggled happily.
"This is Delano." Christine said with a laugh. She adjusted the boy so Meg could see him. "He is
nearly three. Delano, this is Meg Giry. She is my best friend and your godmother."
"Hello." Delano said shyly.
Meg giggled and held out her arms. Christine obliged and handed the boy over. Meg placed like
Christine had done and studied the young boy. Her smile faded slightly but remained on her face. She
looked at Christine. "He doesn't look much like Monsieur le Vicomte."
Christine felt her heart skip a beat. She looked at Delano who looked back at her. "Raoul looked
much like Delano when he was three. I suppose age changes the way one looks."
"I guess you're right." Meg said with a smile. She looked at Delano. "Would you like to see the
inside of the opera house?"
Delano looked at his mother. "May I?"
"Of course!" Christine laughed. "Meg, take your time and watch him closely. There is some
business I must tend to."
Meg nodded. She carried Delano into the opera house, speaking to the young boy in terms he
could understand. Christine smiled to herself, happy that Meg was taking a liking to the child. As she said,
though, Christine had some business to do. There was something that had haunted her dreams for nearly
two years.
Christine began her slow journey around the outside of the opera house. She walked with one hand
against the stone wall and listened to the memories return. The nights spent with Erik came back to her.
The times the two sang together and just spoke to each other echoed in her mind. Erik told her to forget
about him, but she couldn't. She loved him dearly and she couldn't forget that. Every time she looked at
Delano she saw Erik's eyes and smile.
The wall slowly turned and stopped at an old door. Christine paused and looked at it. This was
what she was looking for. She reached into her purse, hoping to find the key still tucked away in there. Her
hand brushed up against a piece of paper and Christine shuddered. The paper was a newspaper clipping,
sent to her from Akil, who she had nearly forgotten. It was an obituary. Erik was dead. The obituary was
short stating the fact as blunt as could be. It felt like neither Erik nor Akil wanted her to return.
Christine let out a relieved sigh as she found the small key. She pulled it out and closed her purse.
She paused and glanced around. There was no one in sight and if anyone passed by they would just keep
walking. It was now or never and Christine took those first steps back into the darkness of the world
beneath the opera house.
Candles were lit down the walk way, tossing eerie shadows against the stone walls. The sound of
the river echoed off the walls and, soon, into nothing. Christine's foot steps made little noise, if any. She
had placed the key back into her purse, which she now clutched. Her heart raced in her chest as she walked
through her memories.
Suddenly the house was before her. Christine's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the
building she had called home for over a year. A few candles were lit in the windows, which Christine found
odd. She had the urge to run to the door and open it, calling out for Erik in hopes that he was there and it
had all been a dream. She couldn't do it, though. She couldn't force herself to take those steps to the door.
Instead she turned and went to the dock.
The boat was still tied to the dock, floating in the churning water. She smiled to herself. She had
taken the boat with Erik, following him through his endless labyrinth. He had returned her to her room and
once, kept her behind the glass for nearly an hour. The two stood there, embracing as if the world would
end if they let go. Erik did, though.
"Meow."
Christine jumped at the sound and the sudden feeling of something rubbing against her leg. She
looked down and nearly fainted at the sight. A Siamese kitten was rubbing it's body against her leg. A
small, silver bell was attached to a red collar around it's neck. The kitten purred loudly and happily as it
continued to rub itself against the new leg.
"You scared me, little one." Christine said, laughing nervously. She picked the kitten up and
laughed softly when it made a grunt. She cradled the creature in her arms, scratching it beneath it's chin.
She turned and looked back at the river. "You're too young to be Ayesha. Are you a stray? If you are you
can live with me."
"I think it would be best to let the cat go. Adora, come to me."
Christine's heart nearly stopped as she heard another voice. She turned around sharply, half
expecting to see Akil looming before her. What she saw took away her breath instantly. The cat wriggled
it's way from her grasp and trotted to the owner of the voice.
"Erik?" Christine whispered.
Adora meowed, as if it were answering Christine's question. The kitten was lifted into the arms of
it's owner, who could only be Erik. He had a different air about him. His hair had grown and his skin was
lighter than before. Erik's eyes had lost their sparkle and the black mask had a new ornament to it; a small
red tear next to the left eye.
"I thought I told you never to return." Erik said harshly. He turned his eyes to the kitten in his
arms. He stroked it slowly. "I told you to forget about me."
Christine reached into her purse and pulled out the clipping. "Akil sent this obituary to my London
home. It claimed you were dead. I had to see if it was true."
Erik looked at Christine without much emotion. "And where is your dear Vicomte? Is he near by?
I didn't think he'd let you down here alone."
"He died." Christine replied softly.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Christine. I didn't know." Erik said. He let out a soft sigh. "How did it happen?"
Christine lowered her eyes to her hands, looking at the obituary that she held. "A riding accident.
The horse was startled by something and knocked him off it's back. The horse trampled him, crushing his
ribs. Raoul was pulled away and the horse was shot through the heart. Raoul died two hours later. He
wouldn't have survived."
"Why did you return to Paris?" Erik asked, looking at Christine. "Were kicked out of the Vicomte
family after Raoul's death?"
"No." Christine replied, shaking her head. She raised her eyes to Erik. He was looking at her, his
eyes slowly gaining a sense of emotion. "Raoul left me everything to his name. I sold our château and had
the money transferred here. I plan living the rest of my life here. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to get a good job
some where. If not, we have enough money to live off of for a few years."
Erik blinked. "We? You and Raoul had a child?"
Christine shook her head. "No."
"Than who else is with you?" Erik asked. He put Adora down. The Siamese cat sat at his side,
looking at Christine with it's crystal blue eyes.
"Our son." Christine replied softly.
Erik's widened. He raised a hand to his face. His eyes shut quickly and he shook his head. "It
isn't possible."
Christine let out a long breath. "Every time I look at him, Erik, I see you. He has no resemblance
to Raoul He has your eyes and smile. He plays the piano like you and has your voice." Tears began to
trickle down Christine's cheeks. "I think Raoul knew that Delano wasn't his, but he didn't show it. Night
after night I would watch him sleep. Ever since he was born I thought of you night and day. I wanted to
see you one more time, just to see if I was right. As I look at you now, I know that Delano is your son."
Without a word Erik seized Christine and held her close. She let out a sob and let the tears run
free. Erik kissed her forehead and listened to her tears. Christine held him and begged him never to let her
go. She didn't want him to leave her again.
"Hush." Erik whispered. He pulled away slightly and lifted Christine's face. He looked into her
eyes. Erik lowered his face to hers and kissed Christine softly. "I'll never leave you again. My heart has
been broken since the moment you left me."
"Than why did you let me go?" Christine asked. She blinked and a few tears fell.
"I had to. You seemed happy with Raoul and all I wanted was for you to be happy." Erik replied.
He wiped away her tears slowly. "You were sacrificing your freedom to let Raoul live. All I wanted was
for you to be happy, even if it meant you being happy with another man."
Christine smiled softly. "I never knew you loved me so much." She kissed Erik. "I want you to be
part of Delano's life, and mine. There is a château in the country side that Raoul had given me, away from
the prying eyes of the city. Come and live with us. Delano needs a father and I need your love."
Erik slowly let a smile cross his face. He kissed Christine passionately. He broke the kiss and
looked into her eyes. "There is nothing I wouldn't give than to be with you." Erik pushed a lock of
Christine's hair behind her ear. "I want to see our son."
Fin
