TITLE: The Angel's Second Chance: Chapter 8

AUTHOR: EriksSylvia

DISTRIBUTION: If you want to put this somewhere else email me first.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters.

RATING: R

SUMMARY: Erik is sent back in time for one last chance. Can he make Christine fall in love with him?

COUPLES: Erik/Christine (Wouldn't have it any other way.)

Here it is. Raoul's comeuppance. Thanks to Kat, Nina and of course Sweet-Intoxication. This is obviously not the last chapter but, the phans have spoken.

Chapter 8

Down Once More

Christine's body went rigid. What in the hell did Raoul mean by that? Was he effected by the spell too? She tried to force her heart to stop beating so fast, but it was useless. Oh god she wanted to warn Erik. It was no use. Raoul was a great deal stronger then she.

"Christine? Are you alright, my love?"

Erik's gentle voice made Raoul laugh quietly in her ear.

"I could kill him right now, you know. He wouldn't even see it coming. Do you think you'd be the last thing he'd think of, my dear?"

Christine began to shake uncontrollably. She was hysterical but strangely silent. There was no way to warn him. Raoul was right, he could kill Erik right now and there was nothing she could do about it. She tried to make a sound but it came out a hoarse whisper. Raoul's hand tightened it's grip on her mouth and, his hand being so big, it nearly cut off her oxygen. Erik's voice came through again.

"Christine, darling, what's wrong?"

"Tell him you're fine. Christine, anything funny and I'll kill you both. Him first."

She felt his pistol press into her neck and she whimpered. What could she do? Christine couldn't refuse. She nodded stiffly. Raoul's hand left her mouth and came to rest on her neck.

"I-I'm fine, Erik. I-I just…hit my arm on the corner of…of your dresser. I'm fine though, I'll be right out…"

She tried her best not to let her fear show through. Raoul's cold hand came back over her mouth.

"Good, now, do you know any other exit out of here? Other then the lake and the one you came by?"

Christine thought hard, she didn't. She shook her head, no. Raoul was angry at this reaction and he pressed the gun harder into her neck.

"Damn you girl. I guess we'll have to do this the hard way.Now, go, don't keep your precious Phantom waiting."

Christine felt her eyes tear up as she realized the only thing that could have meant. He was going to hurt Erik. She knew it, there was no stopping it. Raoul urged her foreword and she stepped out of the darkness of his room. Erik was there, standing by his organ, his back turned towards them.

"This is almost too simple."

Raoul whispered in her ear. She let out a whimper.

Erik knew something was wrong in her voice, it was more then hurting her wounded arm. It was pure fear. Something was wrong with Christine and he had a hunch. He still had his rapier at his side. Whatever was wrong with her, he'd deal with. He remained as quiet as he could, keeping his back turned to his room. He knew someone was coming out, he could hear them. There were definitely two people and he instantly knew what was wrong. He heard the faint sounds of Christine's whimper.

"Restrain yourself, Erik."

He said under his breath. He had to wait until they were close, close enough for him to do some damage to the Viscount. He heard it then, the cocking of a pistol. He hadn't exactly counted on that. He flinched as he thought of where that pistol might be pointing. He prayed at himself, rather then at Christine.

Raoul pushed her a little farther, if she reached out she could touch him, but her husband would not allow that. Raoul held the gun in front of him and pointed it at the back of Erik's head. No, Christine could not let this happen. They'd come so far! She would not let him do this. She thought of the only thing she could think of doing. She bit Raoul's hand, hard. He cried out in pain and lowered the gun slightly.

Erik reacted fast, he drew his rapier and turned, slashing at the Viscount and just nicking his shoulder. Raoul dropped the gun and Christine kicked it, running into Erik's arms. The Viscount clutched his arm and Erik thrust the sword point to his neck.

"Get up."

The Phantom said with an eerie calmness. Slowly, Raoul got to his feet, breathing quickly. He shot a viscous look at Christine.

"You vile whore. So you've come back her to become his little slut have you? Does he know you're married?"

Erik felt his blood come to a boil. Was the Viscount that stupid? He pressed the blade into his neck enough to draw blood.

"Hold your tongue if you wish to keep it, Monsieur de Chagny."

He growled at the younger boy. Erik had never hated someone so deeply in his life.

"Christine, did he hurt you?"

"No, he didn't."

Christine choked out through her tears. She pressed her body as close as she could get to Erik. She closed her eyes, desperate not to look upon the face of her husband.

"Raoul, how did you come back? How are you here?"

The Viscount laughed, wickedly.

"You thought you were alone in your dressing room when Giry performed that witchcraft?"

Christine gasped. She had felt she was being watched, she thought it was just old memories resurfacing. She let out a cry, she should have checked the room. This was all her fault. Mme. Giry had told her to make sure she was alone, she was too exhilarated with the thought of making things the way they were meant to be!

"Erik this is all my fault."

"No, do not blame yourself Christine. I was caught off-guard, that's all."

"God, you've gotten uglier since last I saw you, Phantom."

Raoul looked at Erik with such disgust and hate that if looks could kill Erik would be eviscerated on the spot. It was true, though. There were new marks and scars on his face then before. He'd done them to himself. It had been, once, the only way to deal with his torment. The Opera Ghost smirked and pushed the point of his rapier slightly deeper. To his surprise it was Christine who spoke then. Her voice trembled with hatred and fear. It surprised Erik.

"Shut your mouth you disgusting creature."

She wanted Erik to end it. Her feelings surprised even herself. She thought about telling her love to end it there, to slit her husband's throat. Raoul glared at her.

"Is that anyway to speak to your husband, Christine?"

She felt new tears forming in her eyes and tightened her grip around Erik.

"Let it be quick, my love."

She felt his body twitch.

What on earth could that possibly mean? Did she want him to kill Raoul, her husband, her childhood lover whom she'd left him for?

"Christine, what are you saying?"

Came Raoul's frightened reply.

Erik was too stunned to speak.

"I'm saying I want you gone! I want your face never to haunt my dreams again! I still have scars on my back from you Raoul! I can still feel the bruises you gave me. Your very presence terrifies every fiber in my body and I hate you for that! I want my childhood friend back! That's all we were, Raoul. We were only meant to be friends, you and I! This is where I was meant to be! Here, with Erik. Surrounded by the comforting, welcoming darkness and music! He is my Angel of Music and I am his proud student and lover!"

She moved from Erik's grasp, then and walked to the organ. The wedding ring that Raoul had given her lay there. It was still connected to the chain she had worn around her neck and dangled it in front of her.

"I denied him once to save your pitiful life. I will not be that foolish again."

She let the chain fall to the floor and slipped the ring on her finger, she brought it to her lips and she kissed it, letting her tears drip onto the ring.

"I love you my Angel, my Erik."

Erik's mouth dropped slightly open as he heard Christine speak. When had she become such a forceful, strong woman. He loved it so much. As everything she had said sunk in something made bile rise up into his stomach. 'I still have scars on my back from you Raoul! I can still feel the bruises you gave me.' He had abused her. Raoul had hurt his precious Angel. His heart sped up, he should do it. He knew he should, Christine had told him to end it. He was still in shock, too stunned to move. Raoul broke the silence.

"Christine, how can you love this monster? Why in the hell do you choose him over me? It sickens me!"

Erik hadn't been paying attention to Raoul, he had noticed the Viscount moving his hand slowly behind his back. He had failed to notice Raoul take the spare pistol out of his belt and raise it to Christine. The look of horror on her face then slammed him back down to reality.

"Viscount, if you so much as cock that gun I will remove your head from your neck."

Raoul smiled.

"I'm a good marksman, Phantom. She'd be dead before I hit the ground."

Christine couldn't take her eyes off the gun, it terrified her. She didn't know Raoul was capable of this. Raoul seemed so innocent, how was he capable of murder? Had he been the one who killed Buquet?

"Drop your rapier, creature."

With a clanging sound the sword hit the floor.

"Christine, come here."

Raoul held out his free arm to her.

"Oh my god…"

She whispered to herself. What was she going to do? She really didn't want to die but she'd rather die then return to him.

"No."

She said, her voice barely more then a whisper.

"Christine, now!"

"No Raoul! I wont! I'd rather die!"

Raoul's face fell. He didn't want to, but if he didn't have her no one would. He would not loose Christine to this monster.

"So be it then."

He pulled the trigger.

She was screaming. Raoul was going to kill her.

"No."

It wouldn't happen. Erik moved in front of her, throwing her body to the ground. He felt the bullet tear through his shoulder.

Christine watched in absolute horror as Erik fell, bleeding, to the ground.

"Erik!"

Raoul was walking to him, her Angel, laying there bleeding on the floor. The bastard Viscount who had once been her closest friend and at one point her devoted husband. She wanted him dead now. Christine wanted Raoul to die for what he'd done. Without thinking Christine pulled up the skirt of her costume and withdrew a dagger from her garter.

'Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known…'

She sang and walked to him. Raoul turned at the sound of Christine's voice.

'God give me courage to show you, you are all alone.'

She spat these words at him but the boy threw his arms around her neck. She ran the dagger through his stomach.

Erik's body was going numb and his vision was blurry. He could hear Christine's voice ringing out in the cavern that was his home. He blinked once, trying to clear his vision and saw Raoul's arms around her.

"Christine…no…."

The boy fell forward and his Angel stepped aside. Erik watched the Viscount fall into the water and he heard a splash. The last thing he remembered was seeing Christine's tear-streaked face and her blood-stained hands and then, darkness.

Christine stood there for a moment, completely in shock at what she'd just done. She killed him. Raoul was dead and it was her doing.

"What did I just do…"

She whispered to herself. Her eyes fell on Erik's body, he was lying in his own blood. She came back down to reality hard and ran to him, kneeling at his side.

"Erik! Erik please, can you hear me? Erik it's me, it's Christine!"

His eyes remained closed and she thought of only one thing she could do. She ran to his room and got the blanket off of his bed, she placed it over him in hopes to keep his body warm. She ripped the bottom of her shirt and tied it around his shoulder to stop the blood flow.

"Erik, I'll be right back my love. I'm going to get Madam Giry. She can help. Please, don't die."

She kissed his cold lips and ran, through the water, up the passageway and slid back the mirror. The building was on fire. The chandelier had lit the place up in flames. She opened the door to the hallway and smoke came into the dressing room. She called out.

"Madam Giry!"

She didn't want to go out into the hallway but it was the only way she could save Erik.

"Madam Giry! Where are you?"

She began to cough and she couldn't see anymore, she was freezing cold from her waist down. She felt a strong hand grasp her shoulder.

"Christine, is that you?"

It was Mme Giry's voice, Christine grabbed her hand.

"It's….Erik…..Raoul…shot…him…"

She said between coughing. The woman pulled her hard back into the dressing room.

"What! Tell me, is he alright?"

Christine shook her head.

"He needs help, now!"

Mme Giry nodded.

"Go, I shall be there shortly."

"But…"

"Go! Go now!"

Christine ran back through the open mirror and down the dark passageway.

"Please, Madam Giry, hurry."