Hey there! You must be really cool because you're reading this! Our names are Holli and Vicki from the Yahoo! Group, Red Death Productions and this is our RP. We made some adjustments and ran the spell checker and we present this, our gift to the world. Thanks for reading and please R/R!

Chapter 1-Escape

----------------------

Christine and Raoul jumped off the boat Erik had given them and dashed up the steps to the staircase. Christine stopped short.

"Christine, we need to get out of here before he changes his mind and comes back for you!"

"Don't you think I know that? Something is telling me I forgot...I need to go back," Christine's voice drifted off.

Raoul took her hand. "Come on, Christine, we need to go now!"

Christine did not move. "I need to go back..." she repeated. She began to walk as if in a trance back to the boat. Raoul stepped forward to stop her. Turning, she looked at him and continued to walk forward, over the small steps and into the boat.

The boat seemed to have a life of its own and sprang into action, pulling a entranced Christine back to Erik's lair.

"Christine! Don't go, Christine!" he cried. She never turned around.

-------------------------

The boat carrying Christine rudely bumped into the stone ledge of Erik's home.

Still entranced, she stepped out.

Loud sounds of breaking class filled the space as Erik broke the large full length mirrors with a cry of despair. He had the demeanor of someone that had been totally defeated...and now he was alone once more. He had heard the echo of Raoul and Christine proclaiming their feelings for each other through the caverns across the lake....and even though he knew that Christine couldn't stay, that didn't stop his soul from wrenching in jealous agony.

No matter how much he wanted her - no matter how much he thought that she was his alone...he also knew that if the mob on their way down below found her with him that it was likely that she would get harmed. He would rather die than see her hurt because of him...

So he had let her go....when everything within him was screaming to take her and keep her forever.

With a final crash - the last mirror shattered and the glass shards tinkled at his feet. The darkness of a concealed passage beckoned from within and Erik had just stepped a booted foot within the space when he heard the slight splash of the boat as it met the shore. Tensing automatically, Erik whirled around brandishing the heavy candelabra like a weapon while sweeping the tapestry back over the mirror's frame. He was angry and disheveled clothing still clinging wet from wading in the lake before. The candlelight highlighting his angry unmasked face made it seem more fearsome as he glared and snarled like a cornered animal in the dark.

Then he saw who it was in the boat - and all thoughts of murderous rage dissipated to be replaced by disbelief and shock. The candelabra slipped from his fingers and fell to the stone floor with a clang as he slowly made his way down the steps to the boat. He stopped two meters away - staring. His body language clearly said to leave...to make haste before it was too late - but his eyes...the painful longing in his eyes told a much different tale.

"Christine..." he whispered.

Christine smiled. "I had to come back," she replied. She walked slowly over to Erik. "I couldn't leave you." She wrapped her arms around the trembling Phantom and kissed him passionately.

Erik had been staring at Christine standing by the boat, wondering if this was a hallucination precipitated by his overwhelming grief - when she suddenly started to walk towards him slowly. He froze instinctively as she approached him and wrapped her arms around him - revealing that this was indeed real. His whole body shuddered in both pleasure and timidity when she brought his face down to meet hers in a gentle kiss filled with passion - not unlike the one she gave him in the waters of the lake during the confrontation with Raoul a short time ago.

His shaking hands entwined into the soft brown curls tumbling down her back as the kiss ended and he buried his face into her shoulder making sure for it to be the normal side of his head. He didn't want his mangled flesh to touch such soft pure beauty. His hot tears trickled onto her skin as he trembled in her arms. Her words and actions just told him the fact that he knew to be true - that she would always be his and his alone

Christine's face was wet with tears as she pulled the Phantom's face to hers. She looked him deeply in his eyes. "We need to go; they'll be here soon..." she whispered.

The Phantom nodded - his turbulent dark eyes boring deeply into hers. His eyes roiled with multiple emotions; disbelief, wonder and joy - but at the same time pain, sadness and mistrusting doubt. Would this end happily with her in his arms...or would history repeat itself? He knew he couldn't remain here in the opera house - the only real home and solitude he had ever known.

Even now - he could hear shouts of people eerily echoing along the caverns and passageways as the angry mob descended deeper into the cellars. The idea of going aboveground to escape was a terrifying prospect, for Erik would rather die than be captured and put on display again....but now was not the time for hesitation.

"Come...this way." The Phantom's voice was low and urgent as he grasped Christine's wrist in a firm but gentle grip. There was no time for second thoughts now...

He quickly led her to the tapestry covered mirror, and swept it aside long enough to dart into the extremely narrow and dark passage - tugging the beautiful singer in with him. No sooner had the tapestry draped back over the frame to the floor than Erik heard voices approach inside his lair. One was male and distressed - and the Phantom sneered unseen in the pitch darkness as he recognized the boy, Raoul. The other was a woman and the sneer faded as he recognized Madame Giry. The lady was the only one in this world that had helped him and showed him an ounce of kindness. If it wasn't for her, he would have been probably still in a filthy cage.

No matter, by the time they would ever find this passage, Erik and Christine would be gone. The Phantom shoved back painful memories and quickly led Christine into the deeper darkness of the narrow passageway and away from the voices. He didn't need a lantern to guide his way but he kept a hand on Christine's wrist and his free hand hovering by her waist to guide her unsure steps.

Reaching out, Erik's hand touched a well hidden switch in the stones, and a wall slid aside revealing a small hole blacker than the one they were currently in. Ducking in, the Phantom pulled Christine inside and the wall slid shut - enclosing them in complete darkness. It was as quiet as a tomb in the small space, and the sound of their breaths mingled in the darkness. Erik knew this place like the back of his hand - for he had created it. He used it as an emergency refuge in case something like this would ever happen. He always kept a large satchel packed and ready to go in case he would ever need to leave in a hurry as well as various items that would be needed in travel. Another hidden passage on the other side of the small chamber eventually led above ground.

He was reluctant to release Christine - but he had to if they were to get out of here alive and undiscovered. "Christine - don't move away from the wall in this darkness - don't worry for I won't leave you." He made sure she was touching a wall and stepped away to busy himself with gathering his things. He swept a large black cloak about himself and pulled the hood over his head and face. He grabbed another for Christine and approached her – feeling out for her in the darkness so that he could place the hooded cloak around her shoulders.

Christine heard the rustle of fabric. The Phantom thrust something into her arms, followed with instructions to put it on. She quickly donned on the garment, quickly realizing it was a thick velvet cape. She felt for his hand, finding it quickly.

The Phantom felt her take his hand of her own accord - and his heart hammered against his ribs. He quickly shouldered the heavy satchel over his shoulder and took her to the other side of the small chamber. If anyone was lucky enough to find this room - they would find nothing but a small wooden table.

Making sure his large hood was draped over his head enough to cover his face - Erik led Christine through the concealed door and then up an extremely narrow stone stair that spiraled up to the world above. Their surroundings remained in pitch darkness. The Phantom noted Christine's silence and he hoped that she wasn't frightened.

He was silent for the whole journey to the surface as well – not wanting to waste any more time than was necessary. There was time for talk after they got to a safe place to hide. Erik wasn't very sure on where to go - but he knew that he had to get away from the Paris Opera. There was too many people and armed police here.

The stairway ended abruptly at a wall, and Erik's nimble fingers slid along until the hit a switch. The panel slid aside and moonlight flooded onto them from a high window. Because of being in the pitch black for the past several minutes - Erik's eyes squinted and he ducked his head further under the hood until he got used to the light change. They had emerged behind a large pile of hay in the opera stables. Thankfully the fire from the crashing chandelier hadn't gotten this far yet.

He could hear shouts of people on the streets and moving through the area nearby as they escaped from the burning theatre. Turning to Christine, the Phantom reached out to tug the hood over her head. No one would pay any notice to two hooded figures trying to get away from the burning opera house. Gripping her hand - he led her to the back of the stables - and was relieved to hear soft whickering.

Approaching the black horse and calming it, Erik slung the satchel over the horses back. There wasn't any time to saddle or bridle the horse - but Erik knew how to ride a horse without such things. He didn't like the idea of restraining and tying down such a graceful creature. Lifting Christine in his strong arms, he helped her onto the horse. Once she was comfortable he mounted the horse behind her and reached around her waist to gently grasp the horse's mane.

He guided the animal outside of the stables and into the courtyard. He couldn't break out into a gallop with all the people and wagons crowding the area all around. No one paid any attention to the two riders on a black horse as they slowly made their way to the crowded street.