Chapter 11: The Day When Dreaming Ends

Christine gasped and fell to her knees. She was in a state between awake and faint.

"R-Raoul…I thought you were dead!" She was angry now, angry that he had returned to destroy the love that she had worked so hard to bring back from the dead.

Raoul chuckled his prissy "charming" chuckle. "No Christine, I' am not dead. But that is what I wanted you to believe." He calmly poured a glass of wine.

Christine stood using all her strength to do so. "Why?" She resisted the urge to spit on him.

"Why Christine, are you truly that childish?" He sipped his wine and Christine prayed that it was poisoned.

"No Raoul, I just didn't think that my husband would fake his own death when I got an important letter saying that he was dead." She wanted to strangle him, but knew he could easily overpower her.

Raoul ignored the comment and continued. " There was an American woman here, visiting Paris, just before the performance of Hannibal. Very pretty young thing she was too. Well we met in a nightclub, this nightclub actually. She was a lonely whore, and I was a wealthy viscount looking for a little bit of fun." He paused watching Christine's features; they held no love or relief to see him again. He continued. "We were intimate with each other until I met you. She was heartbroken and left for America. I was glad she did so there would be no mix up. Now it was just you and I. My mistake with you was I thought you would bring me more money because of you're fame, that was the only reason I fought for you. I can't believe you bought the story of me still being in love with you." Hatred flashed through Christine's eyes and Raoul again ignored it. "Well I knew I wasn't going to get anything unless I married you, so that's what I did. Then I found out that the wench in America was due to give birth to my child. I knew exactly what to do I would take your money and give it to her. You would imagine my shock when I found no money. To relieve my anger, I went to America; taking the money I had given you with me. Then I faked my death so there was no suspicion, I didn't need you any longer, and you were only good if you produced money. The child died however, while the mother was in labor, and I heard that you had taken her job as a whore, really Christine, you couldn't do any better?" He was advancing towards her; she backed up onto a bed. " Now I' am again in need of, well, excitement, and I heard you were the girl to see. I've heard so much about you in the paper. So tell me, how is the little bastard anyway?" He crawled up onto the bed.

Christine was not about to tell him about Erik, God knows what he could do if he found him. He was upon her now and he grabbed her wrist forcefully. He yanked her off the bed and turned her around so he could unlace the dress. He practically tore it off and then threw her on the bed, she was crying now. "Please Raoul, don't!" She could feel him pulling off the stockings. She felt pain at her neck as he squeezed hard daring her to scream again. Erik's song ran through her head, she remembered how happy she had been only a few hours ago.

I hope you don't mind,

I hope you don't mind,

That I put down in words:

How wonderful life is,

Now you're in the world.

Tears fell and she let out a sob.

There was a flash of white and Raoul was flung from the bed, unconscious. Christine felt those familiar, strong arms lift her off the bed.

"Erik." She huddled as close as she could to him.

"Hush my angel, you are safe now." Erik held her protectively against him as he made his way through one of the many mirrors in the Gothic Tower."

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Christine awoke in Erik's arms; he was looking down at her with concern. She was wearing a clean, green slip. They were in his bed, and Christine realized that Erik must not have left her side since all of their clothes were still all over the place. She smiled, remembering their time in bed together, then she remembered the events that took place afterwards. She started to sob. Erik just held her close wanting to make it go away. He pressed his lips to hers trying very hard to comfort her.

The hills are alive with the sound of music,

Christine's sobs started to fade as Erik began to sing to her.

With songs they have sung,

For a thousand years!

He wasn't about to stop now, she was just beginning to smile again.

Seasons may change,

Winter to Spring

But I'll love you

Until my dying day

Christine had completely ceased her sobbing, she would much rather listen to Erik sing.

Come what may,

Come what may,

I'll love you,

Until the end of time

He kissed her forehead and she wrapped her arms around him. He laid his head down upon hers and was about to fall asleep when a question tickled his ears.

"Erik, why didn't you kill him?" Christine wondered if he had even meant to kill him.

"My dear, if I had killed him, you would have been blamed and I would never see you again." He pulled her closer to him, then a realization hit him.

Raoul knew where his home was.

"Christine, we must leave." He sprang up from the bed and began to gather things and throw them in a bag. "Quickly my dear, where are your things?"

Christine sat up suddenly, not knowing why they had to leave so quickly but cooperated immeadatly not wanting to cause trouble.

"In my room, why?" She got out of bed and pulled a long, silk robe over her short, green, lace trimmed slip.

"Raoul knows where you are, where we are." Erik answered, still throwing things in to a carpetbag, including large amounts of music sheets. "Christine, stay here." He handed her the bag and sprinted up to her room.

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Erik helped Christine into the carriage. He looked up to the Gothic Tower and saw the face of the man that almost destroyed his angel. With a last menacing glance, Erik got into the carriage after Christine.

"To the Opera House please." He settled across from Christine, but she came and sat beside him any way. He smiled as she snuggled up to him and fell asleep. She was still wearing the robe, her curls were still dangling from the bun that she had twirled them into. He kissed the top of her head and waited, waited to arrive and walk back into their old lives.

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A/N: Again, this is NOT the end, much more where that came from.