The Point of No Return Chapter 9, a phantom of the opera fanfic

The Point of No Return, Chapter Nine

A/N: Oooo, the choice, what will happen? I guess you'll have to read to find out, no?

Thanks goes to: MadameAngel, CloudxInxCrimson, CoolGirlEmily, Erik'sTrueAngel, lady kathrin, erik'sangel527, Opera Ghost 1881, Cerri, Pickledishkiller, DarkSarcasm, true maurader by heart, The Maiden Amorisa, starnat, ho-sze, The Dark One Reborn, SonAnge, midnightangel38, inkie pinkie

The Point of No Return, Chapter Nine

The cemetery was nearly silent – you could hear nothing but the wind whistling through the trees and the small sobs coming from Christine.

Raoul waited expectantly, still standing on the large stone grave (which ironically happened to be an Angel's figure), his dagger held to Meg's throat.

Meg's eyes shone out in the night. They had a look of acceptance in them, as though she knew what was to be her fate.

Then Christine spoke, her voice filling the cemetery, disturbing the quiet, unsettling the night air.

"Raoul, why? Why did you have to jeopardize our friendship?"

Christine began to walk slowly towards the stone that held Raoul and Meg.

Raoul lowered the dagger from Meg's neck, confused. He jumped off the ledge and landed on his feet in the snow.

"This," she waved her hand at Meg's temporary prison, "this has accomplished nothing and ruined everything. I made my choice, and yet you could not be happy with it, you could not respect my wishes, which is why I'm not going to take it upon myself to respect yours, just know, though, I would have stayed your friend."

Christine embraced the astounded Raoul.

"I am sorry," she whispered, "but I am not the one for you. You will find a beautiful wife who will love you, but I am not her."

Christine let her arms fall to her sides.

Raoul stood, speechless before her. His eyes welled up with tears. She would never be his. Slowly, he lifted the dagger that he still held in his hand. He raised it above his head and brought it down, severing the rope that held Meg to the gravestone.

"Take her! Go!" He told them fiercely, although Christine knew that it was merely a façade – on the inside he was not angry – he was horrified with himself and the fact that he had to lose her.

Erik moved forward silently and helped Meg off of the gravestone.

"Leave me!" He said again.

Christine, Erik, and Meg ran – Meg supported between the two – she was very shaken.

"Go now – go now and leave me!" His voice carried itself on the wind – mentally stabbing all who heard it.

Raoul's words pierced Christine's heart as she forced her way blindly through the snow. She was no longer in love with him – true – but he had been her friend ever since he had saved her scarf from the sea, and to see him in such pain made her feel horrible. She paused.

"Go back to the carriage Erik. I will meet you there soon, there is something I must do first."

Erik didn't like the idea of her going back to Raoul alone, but he knew now that he wouldn't hurt her. Christine's eyes pleaded with him and he nodded at her.

"Be safe," he muttered, and continued on with Meg to the carriage.

When Christine reached the grave, Raoul was lying at the Angel's feet. Sobs wracked his shoulders. She walked slowly up behind him and he turned and sat up.

"Tell – tell Meg Giry – tell her I'm sorry – I never meant – never meant to…I'm sorry…"

Christine nodded, smiled sadly, and reached up to untie her scarf from around her neck – the scarf that had brought them together so many years ago was now to tear them apart. Slowly, she rested it across his shoulders.

"Christine I love you…"

Tears flowed freely down both of their faces.

"I am sorry Raoul," she whispered, "but there will be someone else for you."

Then she turned on her heel and left.

As the carriage, now with three occupants, drove away from the cemetery, a voice could be heard on the wind. The words were inaudible, but Christine knew that they were Raoul's.

Then a gunshot rang out through the air.

Raoul sobbed and pointed his pistol at the statue of the Angel above him. The shot sounded all around him as the stone Angel's head hit the ground.

"It's over now, the Angel ceases flight!"

A/N: Hmmm…two more chapters left. Sorry to anybody who didn't like the excessive usage of lyrics, and therefore thought that some parts lacked originality – which is true. I limited the amount of original (musical) lyrics used in this chapter, so hope you all liked it! Oh, and I was going to make Christine kiss Raoul (chastely of course!), but after reading your reviews, I figured that unless I wanted to end up Punjabed, I should probably change that part – so I did. Please review – I'll have the next chapter up soon!