As promised… chapter 13. I'm sorry it's so short, but you'll see, once you read it, why I had to leave it off where I did… :grins evilly:
-One minute you're on top,
The next you're not,
Watch it drop.
Making your heart stop,
Just before you hit the floor.
One minute you're on top,
The next you're not,
Missed your shot,
Making your heart stop.
You think you won,
And then it's all gone.
-Linkin Park
-Upon recovering from the nasty shock of discovering that her abusive husband, who she had loved faithfully until two days ago, was dead, Christine discovered that she was rather hungry.
Erik had insisted upon making her breakfast, but since she did not wish to be alone, she had accompanied him to the kitchen, where they engaged in light conversation.
When the knock at the door came, Christine insisted upon answering it herself.
When it opened, she received the shock of her life. Raoul was standing there, wearing a foppish looking outfit and an evil grin.
"You! But you're supposed to be dead!" she exclaimed.
"Yes, I know.' He said. "It was rather ingenious of me, wasn't it? Although, it was really rather simple to carry out. Bribe the editor of he local paper to run an article about my death in place of an advertisement. Throw in just enough details so that you would believe it- and then sit back and watch events unfold." As he spoke, he walked lazily forward. Christine backed away from him. "Now look where we've gotten ourselves. You and I, all alone in this house. My, my, my. How very… unfortunate for you, my dear."
Her eyes widened. Raoul didn't know that Erik was in the house with her! Thank you, God. She thought. Thank you, thank you.
"Now," Raoul continued. "Why don't we-"
"Christine?" It was Erik. "What-" He saw Raoul. "I thought you were dead." He said.
"Sorry to disappoint." Raoul replied.
"You don't seem afraid of me." Erik observed, stepping between Raoul and Christine.
"You, monsieur, are a hideous monster." Raoul drawled. "And I haven't been afraid of one of those since I was seven."
Erik balked at the 'monster' comment, but managed to recover rather quickly. "You underestimate me, M. le Vicomte." He said casually. "That is a mistake." He took a step towards Raoul, but Raoul suddenly pulled a pistol out of his belt.
"Don't come any closer!" he said.
Erik looked straight down the barrel of Raoul's gun- and laughed.
"You fool." He said quietly. "Do you think I value my life?"
Raoul, for a moment, did not know what to do. Then his eyes rested on Christine, who was halfway behind Erik. He shot his arm out, and, before Erik could stop him, pulled Christine towards him, pointing the gun at her head.
"Stay where you are, or I shoot!" Raoul cried.
Erik froze.
Christine found herself incapable of thought. Well, not entirely. But she didn't think that a perpetual mental cry of please, God no! really counted.
"Now," said Raoul, backing towards the door. "We'll just be going now."
Here Raoul de Chagny made a grave error. He turned around.
Before anyone could blink, Erik had reached into his cloak, grabbed his lasso, thrown in around Raoul's neck, and pulled. A moment later, Raoul's gun went off, and both he and Christine fell to the floor.
-This is by far the evilest cliffie I've given you yet, no? I just have one thing to say- review, and I shall deliver chapter 14!
