Prologue: Christine with crystal tear streaming down her cheeks is faced with the decision of her life. There in front of her, her fiance strapped to
the cold metal bars with a noose around his neck. His eyes are filled with fear and love. He had risked his life for the one women that he loved
knowing that his life was at great risk. His heart was pounding in his chest with both fear and love because if Christine would deny her freedom
she would forever live in the cold, unending nightmare which she had been so frightened of. Just the thought made Raoul die slowly and
painfully but either that or his own life would be sacrificed for her freedom. Raoul was ready to give his life for Christine, his beautiful childhood
friend" and now fiancee. Tears began to fall from his own eyes now as they soaked the front of his shirt which all ready was drenched. As he
looked towards Christine again his heart almost stopped for she was crying even harder staring at her once "Angel of music". The phantom's
face was filled with all the emotions in the world. At the same time the Phantom felt so much sorrow for he knew that Christine would never want
to live with this "monster" that had murdered hundreds of lives just a few minutes ago. She would never love a man with such an abhorrent face,
so distorted that his mother didn't even dare touch him but only gave him a cloth to cover his hideous face. Never, love a man that wasn't rich
and had deceived her to be her "Angel of Music". The Phantom was disgusted with himself in how he was letting Christine choose between him
and Raoul-but he deserved it! He had deserved to end the rest of his days with the women that he so loved, after all the pain and suffering he
had already gone through! His face tiwiched on both sides of his face with rage. This was the point of no return! He turned to Raoul who was
crying, looking pathetic, over the love he had for Christine. The thought of him loving Christine and her love in return angered the Phantom and he
puller even harder on the rope. " You try my patience-make you choice" He impatiently asked pulling the noose making Raoul grunt. Christine
was now looking between the two men that she bothed love. " Raoul wants me to be free, but even if I did choose to leave I would never
live with myself! I love Raoul so much that the thought of him not being by my side to guide me, eats my soul! Then there is this
poor man who has lived in total solitude. Who had given me hope and light during the darkness times of my life. He who had gave
me lessons and soothed my tourtured soul. He was nothing more then "my angel" until I learned that he was nothing more than a
man, consumed in his love for me. When I had pulled of that mask which he had covered in hope that I would never see, I was filled
with both sorrow and passion for him and his distorted face. After time though I had thought dreams of love and passion with
unending music, but those dreams I dreamt I would now dread for if I were to live with this man I would never see my Raoul."
Christine thought to herself and finally made a decision. "Pitiful creature of darkness...what kind of life have you known...? God give
me courage to show you you are not alone" Christine sang this as she slowly walked towards the phantom. Her voice at first quiet then
growing with emotion. She then places the ring calmly on her wedding finger and pulls the Phantoms lips to hers as she slowly, passionately and
lovingly kissed him. The phantom was first surprised when she walked up to him with not fear in her eyes but of love. She wasn't digusited with
his face? But what caught him off guard was when she genteelly touched both sides of his face and placed her sweet lips on top of his and began
to passionately kiss him. Both of them were shy at first for this was the phantoms first kiss from anyone and Christine who was now adjusting to her
first kiss with this man that she had now to live till the end of her days. But when Christine pulled back to see his expression on his face she found
herself crying because not only was she now never to see the light of day but for some reason she felt a new wave of love like she never felt
before engulf her whole body. She again pulled his face to hers and now both were passionately kissing one another with such love that anyone
could have mistaken them for lovers. Raoul stood there with the noose pulled around his neck staring at his fiancce and the man he totally
loathed kissing one another. Raoul started to cry not only because he knew Christine had to live with this man who she feared but also because
she seemed to love this man more than he. Raoul forcefully reminded himself that he was her fiance and that they both loved one another, but that
wouldn't stop the tears from flowing down his cheeks. When Christine and the phantom fianally broke their kiss the phantom gave out a great
sob. He was devastated for he had never known human love and Christine's gesture- her sacrifice and at the same time love were to much for
him to bare. He drops the ropes suspending Raoul and turns to Raoul. He can hear the chants of the angry men and woman hunting for him. "
Take her-forget me-forget all of this...Leave me alone-forget all you've seen...Go now-don't let them find you" The phantom goes
to the lever and jerks it, releasing the portcullis. Christine at first shocked just stands there but then rushes towards Raoul un tieing the ropes and
kissing him. She looks up at the phantom who is still crying slowly walking towards the Black Swan bedroom. " Take the boat-swear to me
never to tell the secret you know of the angel in hell-go...go now...go now and leave me" The phantom bellows as he gives one last
glance to Christine and Raoul and runs to the bedroom. Christine and Raoul ran to the boat and untied it. Christine could hardly believe that she
would be able to leave with Raoul. But something was tugging at her heart. She knew something was wrong. She noticed when she kissed
Raoul. It was full of love, but there was something missing that made it incomplete. She noticed that it didn't have the same feeling as when she
kissed the phantom. She fearfully looked at Raoul who was preparing the boat for their departure. She knew right then and now that she did love
Raoul but it was not the love she thought it to be. Raoul's love was more of a deep friendship which was guiding and loving, but the love she has
for the phantom was a true love. She quickly turned to Raoul and looked into his deep chocolate brown eyes. She quickly kissed Raoul on the
lips and quietly said "Raoul...please forgive me." She quickly took his hand and now looked at his face which was in confusion. "Raoul I will
always love you, my dear friend. But as of now, I now know what true love really is." She took his shocked face into her hands. " Raoul...I do love
you like any husband or wife would...but the love and passion I feel for the phantom is much deeper. You now not fear for me always living in the
shadows for I have found what true love feels like." Raoul could hardly believe what she was saying. He thought that they would finally be free and
live the end of their days in love, but now she was speaking of how she loved another more then he. It was upsurge...how could she so
suddenly change her mind. "He must have her under some sort of spell" Raoul thought to himself. "Christine listen to me" Raoul said while
holding her arms." You do not know what you speak...you must have been so exciting knowing that we could live our lives together that your brain
is in balanced." Christine looked at Raoul with love in her eyes. "Raoul I want you to promise me..for what we once shared that you will
understand. The Phantom doesn't have me under any trances and I can assure you not to worry." She was now crying for these words were hard
to say to him. " Take the boat-leave quickly for they draw near. I will write to you as soon as I can." Raoul was now sobbing. " Please promise
me to find another whom you shall love more and not regret anything that has happened. Promise me to keep yourself safe and keep in touch for
I love you my dear friend." Christine kissed him on top of the forehead. Raoul looked at Christine with immense longing but nodded his head for
he only wanted for her to be happy. He quickly kissed her on the head and whispered " I promise Little Lotte." Christine then smiled and quickly
turned away and ran to the black swan bedroom. Raoul watched as the love of his life walked away. To him it seemed like forever but he knew
that she would be safe and happy. He quickly ran to the boat and started to push away from this nightmare, bawling he could not believe it.
Before he reached the end of the tunnel he looked back and started to have a stir of jealously currupt him. He then made a secret promise to
himself.
