Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, but alas, I do own this story. So
sue me if you must, I have nothing of value but my computer and CD
collection.
***Authors note**** Hey all!!!!! I'm delighted that you're taking the time to read my story! This is my first attempt at fanfic, so please be kind. This story will combine elements from the Susan Kay version, and from the musical. If there are any elements of the original in this story, it was probably not intentional. With that said, enjoy!
Chapter One- Christine's POV
Two years have passed since that fateful day at the opera; the day in which I was forced to choose between the man whom had captured my girlhood fancy, and the man who I now know still sings to my soul. Two years.. much too long to at last come to this disquieting conclusion, but even then I think I may have known. I was ready that night, ready to stay with him forever, but he forced me to leave, and I have never been very strong willed. Particularly when it came to his wishes.
"Go now and leave me!" He had cried, his pain mirroring my own. And so I had left reluctantly with Raoul, dear, sweet Raoul, my favorite companion from my childhood. The rest, I must confess, is somewhat of a blur. Somehow, I ended up later that day with a blanket drawn around me at the De Chagny estate.
"We're free at last, my darling." Raoul murmured happily. "Never again will that monster trouble us."
Free. Didn't he realize I could never be free?
"Raoul," I began tentatively, fearing the worst answer, "Do you know if Erik got away from the mob?"
He looked at me as if I were insane. "Why in God's name would you concern yourself with what happened to that creature?" He demanded harshly. "Mon dieu, Christine, he almost killed me!" He paused momentarily; studying my face for a moment, then continued more gently, " Christine, the mob was intent on destroying ALL that lay in its path. Everything.and everyone."
I shook my head fiercely, tears brimming in my eyes. "No, not Erik. He's much too clever for them. I'm certain he got away, he must have," I said desperately, choking back a sob.
"Dear Christine, I've forgotten what an ordeal you've been through today. You're just confused right now, and you need your rest." He kissed me gently on the forehead. "Now don't concern yourself any longer with such troublesome thoughts." He had then bid me good night, and left me alone with my reverie.
I knew then some of what I know now. Why hadn't I realized it sooner? Perhaps had I not been so fickle, I could have prevented the entire ordeal from happening. Yes, I blame myself for the entire affair. I had relentlessly toyed with a man's emotions, letting him believe that perhaps one day I might begin to reciprocate the intense love and devotion he felt for me, when all the while I let myself become engaged to another. Funny, at the time I hadn't really thought of it that way. I more or less took them both for granted back then; too frightened at my own tumultuous feelings, feelings that made my childish affection for Raoul easier to handle than the firestorm of emotions that were surging through me. At first I had held nothing for Erik but adoration, back when I believed him to be my Angel of Music. Upon learning the truth, I had feared him for a time, particularly after I had removed his mask and looked upon his ravaged face. But that fear had quickly dissipated after a time, and I began to feel that which I could not admit even to myself.
I resolved at that moment to right all the wrongs that had befallen at my hand. First thing in the morning I would go back to the opera house, and back to Erik's house of eternal night. Provided he was still there (a belief I stubbornly clung to) then I could rectify the entire situation. There was still time, there simply MUST be time to undo everything.
That next morning I set out early on my quest. I told Raoul that I was going to the opera house to see Meg, an excuse which he readily accepted. Somehow I managed to slip away unnoticed to my dressing room, and once more went through my mirror to the labyrinth below. To this day I'm not entirely sure how I managed to row that boat across the lake by myself, but I can accredit it to my newfound resolve and determination.
Stepping shakily inside, I was appalled at the destruction and utter misery of the place. It appeared to have been ransacked through and through. Nothing was left unscathed. Even Erik's precious sheets of music that he no doubt had spent painstaking hours composing were trashed on the wrecked floor. Sobbing bitterly, I attempted as best I could to gather the sheets into my arms, and then continued to explore the house.
"Erik?" I called timidly, not truly expecting a reply, but yet hoping against hope to once again hear that unearthly beautiful voice in reply.
"Erik, please answer me. I have to tell you something, something I was too scared to tell you before. I love you," I said weakly, sinking to the floor in my grief. I was too late after all. Erik was gone, whether in death, or simply because he had left. And how could I blame him if he had left this place? Did I truly expect him to stay and face the mob, or to come back to this desolate tomb, which now held nothing for him but painful memories of my rejection? I could only pray that he had somehow managed to evade the mob, and that someday our paths would cross once more.
I also knew that I could no longer marry Raoul, dear though he was to me at times. In a way I suppose I loved him, perhaps I still do, but in a simplistic childish manner. Indeed, he had been a treasured friend of childhood, my first real crush. But he was not Erik, and I could not continue to feign love for him, not when my heart continued to long for another. Surely my contract with the opera was still open. I had merely to talk to the managers and inform them that I had chosen to stay. This would not prove to be an especially difficult task. It was the other task that daunted me. I would have to break the engagement off with Raoul, as much as I knew it would pain him.
And pain him it did. I must admit, I felt his pain poignantly, but as I told him, I could no longer continue to live a lie. He deserved someone who could return his love, and I told him as much.
"It's him, isn't it Christine," He said forlornly, strangely resigned to the painful truth.
I nodded sadly. "Yes," I replied softly. "I know what you think of him, Raoul, but you must never believe what you have been told of him. He is not a monster, he is only a man; a man who feels the same emotions as any other man, but magnified by ten. He has been waiting his entire life for someone to see past his miserable face, and to love him. I honestly didn't realize how I truly felt until that last moment."
"The kiss," He said bitterly, " I could see it in your eyes, that wondrous look that came into them, even as you gazed upon that wretched face. It was a look you had never given me. I saw it, but I refused to believe."
"I'm so sorry," I continued. "You must know that. I still care for you, like the dear friend that you are."
We had parted amiably, all things considered. I had then left, taking up where I had left off at the opera. I quickly rose in stature, my fame increasing performance after performance. Erik's training had shaped my voice into an almost perfect instrument, and it was him I sang for each night. Before I knew it, two years had passed, two years with no word from Erik. I feared the worst, but still clung to my persistent hope that he would return.
If only I had told you then what I know now, Erik. Please come back and give me the chance to tell you.
********What do you think so far? Please R&R!***********
***Authors note**** Hey all!!!!! I'm delighted that you're taking the time to read my story! This is my first attempt at fanfic, so please be kind. This story will combine elements from the Susan Kay version, and from the musical. If there are any elements of the original in this story, it was probably not intentional. With that said, enjoy!
Chapter One- Christine's POV
Two years have passed since that fateful day at the opera; the day in which I was forced to choose between the man whom had captured my girlhood fancy, and the man who I now know still sings to my soul. Two years.. much too long to at last come to this disquieting conclusion, but even then I think I may have known. I was ready that night, ready to stay with him forever, but he forced me to leave, and I have never been very strong willed. Particularly when it came to his wishes.
"Go now and leave me!" He had cried, his pain mirroring my own. And so I had left reluctantly with Raoul, dear, sweet Raoul, my favorite companion from my childhood. The rest, I must confess, is somewhat of a blur. Somehow, I ended up later that day with a blanket drawn around me at the De Chagny estate.
"We're free at last, my darling." Raoul murmured happily. "Never again will that monster trouble us."
Free. Didn't he realize I could never be free?
"Raoul," I began tentatively, fearing the worst answer, "Do you know if Erik got away from the mob?"
He looked at me as if I were insane. "Why in God's name would you concern yourself with what happened to that creature?" He demanded harshly. "Mon dieu, Christine, he almost killed me!" He paused momentarily; studying my face for a moment, then continued more gently, " Christine, the mob was intent on destroying ALL that lay in its path. Everything.and everyone."
I shook my head fiercely, tears brimming in my eyes. "No, not Erik. He's much too clever for them. I'm certain he got away, he must have," I said desperately, choking back a sob.
"Dear Christine, I've forgotten what an ordeal you've been through today. You're just confused right now, and you need your rest." He kissed me gently on the forehead. "Now don't concern yourself any longer with such troublesome thoughts." He had then bid me good night, and left me alone with my reverie.
I knew then some of what I know now. Why hadn't I realized it sooner? Perhaps had I not been so fickle, I could have prevented the entire ordeal from happening. Yes, I blame myself for the entire affair. I had relentlessly toyed with a man's emotions, letting him believe that perhaps one day I might begin to reciprocate the intense love and devotion he felt for me, when all the while I let myself become engaged to another. Funny, at the time I hadn't really thought of it that way. I more or less took them both for granted back then; too frightened at my own tumultuous feelings, feelings that made my childish affection for Raoul easier to handle than the firestorm of emotions that were surging through me. At first I had held nothing for Erik but adoration, back when I believed him to be my Angel of Music. Upon learning the truth, I had feared him for a time, particularly after I had removed his mask and looked upon his ravaged face. But that fear had quickly dissipated after a time, and I began to feel that which I could not admit even to myself.
I resolved at that moment to right all the wrongs that had befallen at my hand. First thing in the morning I would go back to the opera house, and back to Erik's house of eternal night. Provided he was still there (a belief I stubbornly clung to) then I could rectify the entire situation. There was still time, there simply MUST be time to undo everything.
That next morning I set out early on my quest. I told Raoul that I was going to the opera house to see Meg, an excuse which he readily accepted. Somehow I managed to slip away unnoticed to my dressing room, and once more went through my mirror to the labyrinth below. To this day I'm not entirely sure how I managed to row that boat across the lake by myself, but I can accredit it to my newfound resolve and determination.
Stepping shakily inside, I was appalled at the destruction and utter misery of the place. It appeared to have been ransacked through and through. Nothing was left unscathed. Even Erik's precious sheets of music that he no doubt had spent painstaking hours composing were trashed on the wrecked floor. Sobbing bitterly, I attempted as best I could to gather the sheets into my arms, and then continued to explore the house.
"Erik?" I called timidly, not truly expecting a reply, but yet hoping against hope to once again hear that unearthly beautiful voice in reply.
"Erik, please answer me. I have to tell you something, something I was too scared to tell you before. I love you," I said weakly, sinking to the floor in my grief. I was too late after all. Erik was gone, whether in death, or simply because he had left. And how could I blame him if he had left this place? Did I truly expect him to stay and face the mob, or to come back to this desolate tomb, which now held nothing for him but painful memories of my rejection? I could only pray that he had somehow managed to evade the mob, and that someday our paths would cross once more.
I also knew that I could no longer marry Raoul, dear though he was to me at times. In a way I suppose I loved him, perhaps I still do, but in a simplistic childish manner. Indeed, he had been a treasured friend of childhood, my first real crush. But he was not Erik, and I could not continue to feign love for him, not when my heart continued to long for another. Surely my contract with the opera was still open. I had merely to talk to the managers and inform them that I had chosen to stay. This would not prove to be an especially difficult task. It was the other task that daunted me. I would have to break the engagement off with Raoul, as much as I knew it would pain him.
And pain him it did. I must admit, I felt his pain poignantly, but as I told him, I could no longer continue to live a lie. He deserved someone who could return his love, and I told him as much.
"It's him, isn't it Christine," He said forlornly, strangely resigned to the painful truth.
I nodded sadly. "Yes," I replied softly. "I know what you think of him, Raoul, but you must never believe what you have been told of him. He is not a monster, he is only a man; a man who feels the same emotions as any other man, but magnified by ten. He has been waiting his entire life for someone to see past his miserable face, and to love him. I honestly didn't realize how I truly felt until that last moment."
"The kiss," He said bitterly, " I could see it in your eyes, that wondrous look that came into them, even as you gazed upon that wretched face. It was a look you had never given me. I saw it, but I refused to believe."
"I'm so sorry," I continued. "You must know that. I still care for you, like the dear friend that you are."
We had parted amiably, all things considered. I had then left, taking up where I had left off at the opera. I quickly rose in stature, my fame increasing performance after performance. Erik's training had shaped my voice into an almost perfect instrument, and it was him I sang for each night. Before I knew it, two years had passed, two years with no word from Erik. I feared the worst, but still clung to my persistent hope that he would return.
If only I had told you then what I know now, Erik. Please come back and give me the chance to tell you.
********What do you think so far? Please R&R!***********