It took a while for Christine to end her tears. She rose from Raoul's showing, finally remembering the man she fell in love with once.
"Raoul, it's not fair that I hurt you anymore…" she whispered, and, trembling, took the beautiful, diamond ring from her finger.
Instead of becoming calm, Raoul's temper rose. His eyes grew fiery and heat radiated from his body.
"Put that on your finger," he murmured, in a dangerously soft voice.
Christine began to hand it to him, but he stopped her with a slap.
"Put the ring on your finger, damn it!" he roared.
Christine sat up from where she had fallen. Tears of hate burned her sore eyes and her cheek stung madly. Before she could get away, Raoul grabbed her and threw her upon his bed. He pounced, slapping her once more and tugging at her skirts. Screaming, Christine kicked him, unsuccessfully, and tried to leap away. Raoul grabbed her leg and crawled on top of her. Fearing for the worst, Christine pleaded for him to stop.
"Raoul, don't touch me! Leave me be!"
Unexpectedly, the sound of a gun shot stirred Raoul from his shameful act. Christine looked around and saw Erik in the doorway, a gun at hand, pointing the weapon at Raoul. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing the wound that had started bleeding once more. Yet, his eyes, so hauntingly gray, were blazing with hated.
"Get away from her, monsieur!" he bellowed, every inch of his tone threatening.
Raoul fell off the bed from fear, giving Christine time to run to Erik. He swept her into his arms and raced through the halls. Upon finding a window, he set Christine down and kicked the glass out. The panel fell to the ground below and shattered. Erik threw the gun down and took Christine's hand.
"One, two, three!" he roared, leaping out of the hall, Christine after him.
They hit the ground, atop their feet, and staggered forward, about to fall over.
"Wait here!" Erik commanded.
Only moments after he'd run into the stables, Erik greeted Christine with two horses. He climbed upon a gorgeous black stallion. Christine climbed upon a lovely chestnut colored.
"Come, my love! We will ride from this hell!"
Christine laughed and followed her love, into the blackening forest, with thoughts of happiness coursing through her veins.
At the Manor
Scowling, Raoul slammed a china vase to the ground. His fury still raged.
"Damn them both."
How dare that little wretch of a woman humiliate him and leave him for a tyrant! She was his claim and his fiancé. He couldn't let them get away.
Grabbing his cloak, Raoul headed down to the stables. It was deathly cold, for spring seemed reluctant to bring warmth. Raoul found he could barely stand the breeze that blew through his unbuttoned shirt.
"Patient, come boy!" he called to his favorite steed.
There was no answering neigh or the trotting of hooves. To his dismay and rage, Raoul found two horses gone, his beloved Patient and a mare called Bane. Raoul roared with fury and climbed upon another horse, black as the night, named Armageddon. The horse reared once and shrieked, as Raoul spurred him on into the gathering mists.
They'd not gone far into the wooden land beside the home, when Raoul came upon tracks. First, there was a pair of large horse hooves, imprinted in the softening snow. A little ways a head, he found a pair of human tracks, one from a man and one from a lighted footed lady. It was surely Christine and her lover.
"Hush now, Armageddon, and go home," Raoul told his animal as he slid from its back.
To make himself feel safer, he grabbed the dagger hidden in the horse's saddle. Raoul grinned with pleasure at the knife, thinking of how he'd love to rip it through Erik. The thought stimulated dark thoughts into his maddening mind. Oh, how he would cut the man who took his lady away! How he wanted to watch the blood ooze from every part of the monsters damned body.
"You'll be mine," he whispered, sneering to himself.
At Camp
I gazed at Christine. There were no more tears staining her face, nor were there crinkled lines on her brow. It was so satisfying to see her calm and pleased. Her fingers played at my hair fondly as she sang. She sang the song I'd taught her long ago when she'd been under my instruction. Now I saw she'd gone past what I could have ever hoped for.
"Erik, what is to become of us?" she inquired, stopping her enchanting melody, "I doubt we can live off what the saddlebags provided."
This was worrying me, too. The bags had some dried food and a bit of water, but what would happen if we lost our way here? My mind pushed the thought of death away. I smiled and shook my head.
"Not to night, my darling. I am so weary…"
Apart from the pains from the bullet wound, my head was also bursting with aches. I supposed I should not have taken such sudden actions, but at least I had Christine once more. She rested her delicate body against my own and fell asleep almost instantly. To ease my mind, I listened to her breathe and watched the coals gleam from the pit I'd dug. Words couldn't describe my happiness.
Morning
Christine awoke with a start, finding herself chilled to the bone. She was lying beside Erik and an ash-filled fire pit. Her hands trembled as she found the matches. It was still quite dark though reddish rays of sun peeked through the tall pines. The air was extremely fresh and one deep breath eased the mind.
"Erik, wake up," Christine whispered, gently shaking him.
He stirred, lifting his head to replace his mask. Though she'd already confessed she loved him, disfiguration and all, Erik still found comfort in the mask. It had been somewhat of a friend in his past, hiding what the world scorned.
"There is no time for that. We must pack up and leave now! We have given him plenty of time to catch up," Erik explained, button his soiled shirt.
The two of them spread snow over the pit and mounted the horse with hast. If Erik was right, Raoul would be on their trail in no time. It seemed essential to get a few hours head start.
"I think we should take the northern route, Erik. He will most likely take the southern. If not, we should take the traveled roads as least as possible," Christine said, slowing her horse to a trot.
"I'm not so sure, my dear. Raoul is clever, there's no denying that. He may realize our intentions."
Erik's brow was furrowed with deep thought. Christine kept herself vigilant, trying to keep away the aching feeling of being watched. It was still extremely dark, since they were shrouded by trees, and the noises didn't help her suspicions.
After more than an hour of riding, Christine managed to convince Erik they were out of Raoul's reach.
"He must have stopped at some point," she explained brushing twigs from her wind swept hair.
Erik rested himself upon a small stump. Christine patted her horse fondly.
All of a sudden, a man emerged from the trees, a few feet from where the couple rested. There was no doubt who it was.
"Erik, it's Raoul! Run!" Christine cried, her eyes widening with terror as Raoul raised a gun toward them.
He tried to shoot Erik, but missed dismally. Erik rushed toward his horse, but a second shot from Raoul grazed the top of his arm, making him falter with pain.
"Get up!" Christine exclaimed, rushing over to Erik, just as Raoul fired his third shots.
The bullet hit Christine in the leg. Pain shot through her, rapidly and unexpectedly. She stumbled and fell into Erik's arms. He collected her tenderly in his arms and climbed upon the black stallion. Christine heard the pounding of hooves and then nothing.
At the Inn
I watched her sleep, as she must have watched me. Her face was full of pain and agony. The bullet had stung her leg quite badly, but it was shallower than my wound. Kneeling beside her bed, I prayed to God that she would walk again. I told him how I would never kill again, and that I would never again harm someone unless in defense. It was a while until I stood. Stars gleamed upon the expanse of blue outside. A maid came in to aid Christine when she was shivering from a small fever.
"It'll all be well in the morning," she told me, glancing into the bandages on Christine's leg.
Thanking her, I sat back down upon the lumpy chair and shut my aching eyes for a moment.