Christine could no longer hold back her tears when Erik laid a hand on her cheek.
"Why good-bye, Erik? You have three letters of transit. Come with us to Lisbon."
"No, Christine."
"Then let me stay here with you," she said, her hands clasping at the collar of his coat.
"Christine, Christine…I'd move heaven and earth to have you beside me forever. You were the one beautiful dream I could hold on to."
With one finger, he traced the path of a tear. He remembered the ill-concealed revulsion in Henri and Jacques' eyes at the sight of his exposed face. He couldn't force her to live with that horror.
"But this war won't last forever, love. And there is nothing I can offer you now."
"Erik, don't make me do this. I can't lose you again."
He smiled, stroking her face gently.
"You'll never lose me, Christine. And you will always be a part of my soul."
She kissed him then, her lips hungry and desperate on his.
Erik spread his hands across her back, feeling the sobs within her body. He returned her kiss with equal urgency, knowing that this would be the last time…
The last time he would feel the softest of her, the last time he would taste her sweetness.
"If you love me, Christine, you'll go now."
She no longer held back her grief as she released herself from his arms.
For the second time in her life, she felt as if her heart was being torn from her.
She saw Raoul standing by the steps of the small plane. Over the hum of the engines, she heard him calling for her.
"Hurry, Christine."
When she reached the plane, she looked back. But Erik was not there.
He found he did not have the strength to watch her leave.
He walked back the little office and saw Jacques in the doorway.
"An old flame, eh," the policman said with a little snicker.
Erik did not answer him. He was listening to the low roar of the plane as it began to taxi.
"Of course, that must've been before all this. I guess with a face like that, you can't even find a whore who take you."
He glanced without interest at Jacques who'd gestured to the right side of his own squirrel-like features before picking up the telephone.
"I think Inspector Giry would be very interested to know the role you just played in de Chagny's escape."