The Twist
By this time, tears streamed like waterfalls down Christine's fair cheeks. She glanced at Raoul, and their eyes met. She saw a plea in those eyes that tore her heart in two.
A few moments later, an awkward sob met the silence that the three so desperately held. It was forever interrupted by the cries and accusations of a band of people storming through the sewers; they had found the Phantom's liar, his once wondrous abode that used to be filled with the purest music that all of France, no, all the world had ever heard.
Erik detected the noise before the others, and pulled on the noose around Raoul's neck. By this time, our hero had no room to breathe. He gasped for air.
"No!" Christine screamed, her voice cracking from her tears. "Let him go! Leave him be!" She collapsed onto the ground, covering her eyes. Chestnut brown curls found their way into the water just below her face. She looked down at her reflection; a tear fell and rippled the water, disfiguring the beautiful picture. She pulled that mass of tresses wildly from her face and stared up at the actual disfigurement that was the Phantom, and yelled over the ever-loudening echoes of his angry pursuers.
"I shall stay!"
"Christine—" Her lover tried to interrupt, but it was no use.
"I shall stay…" She repeated, "…until the end of time…"
An approving smile curled across the Phantom's lips. "Very well." He said flatly, and loosened his grip on the rope. He shuffled through the sewage waters towards Raoul, who turned his face away. The hideous features that adorned our villain forced the man to shut his eyes. He winced at the breath of the Phantom's whispers on his cheek:
"You found nothing here; you know nothing of where we have hidden. Do you understand, monsieur?"
Raoul longed to glance at Christine one more time, but he could not. He nodded his head, and bent over to catch his breath after his neck was freed of the Phantom's noose. The gate rose, and he fled.
The Phantom walked proudly through the water, a gloved hand resting on the small of Christine's back as she stared into the water, still crouching. She jumped and looked up at him.
"There, there, my sweet. Tonight has been rather stressful. Let me lead you to a calm place."
Christine stood reluctantly, but that familiar spell of belonging met her as he pulled her to him, warming her from the cold underground. Her face turned towards the egress, her gaze passing the lowering gate and searching along the deep corridor that led to where she stood, wrapped in what should have felt like complete luxury.
Raoul was gone, and the echoes of angry cries drew ever nearer…
