Author's Notes: Life has been keeping me busy yet again. I got a break today though and managed to write some. Not only that, but I had to rewrite this chapter a few times because I didn't like where it was going. All is fixed and I finally give you: chapter ten!

Chapter Ten: Past The Point Of No Return:

The day of the production had finally arrived. Madame Giry rushed to find Catherin. She was working on her vocal cords. Catherin stopped when she saw her teacher out of the corner of her eye. She turned and Giry gave her a swift nodd of her head. Catherin knew that was her cue to get Meg. Madame Giry smiled as Catherin vanished from her sight. This would begin a string of events that would lead to the Phantom's downfall...

"Meg, may I speak with you?" Catherin asked.

The younger Giry was getting herself ready for the first act. She turned and glared at the Ms. Beaucater. "What do you want?"

"Your mother wishes to see you."

"Now! The show is about to begin!"

"I am sorry. Are you coming or not?"

Meg sighed. Then she agreed. She cursed to herself as she followed Catherin. The younger Giry stopped suddenly when she realized that Meg was leading her to the far end of the stage. She did not see her mother, nor anyone else for that matter. A cold shiver ran down her spine. A feeling of dread came over her.

I should not be here... Meg thought but before she could go to run, she was too late. Catherin grabbed her and tossed her into a nearby broom closet. Catherin withdrew a key and locked Meg inside.

Meg was surrounded by darkness. She had no idea why Catherin was doing this. Ms. Beaucater soon gave her her answer:

"The Phantom's reign of terror will end tonight!" Catherin cried out to her. "When the curtain falls upon the last scene, so shall the Phantom!"

"NO!" cried Meg as she began to pound of the door. "PLEASE DEAR GOD, NO!"

"No one can hear you my dear." Catherin taunted. "I bid you adu, the show is about to start!"

Inside, Meg heard Catherin walking away. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn't belive what was happening. Someone was going after Erik, and she couldn't help him. The younger Giry wiped away her tears and shook her head.

"No, no..." she told herself. She would not let them win. Meg pounded on the door. She prayed to the Angels that she would get out in time...

Erik stood within the shadows of Box Five. The was starting. As the curtain rose, a cold shiver went through him. Something was wrong, he could feel it. He let his eyes danced across the players upon the stage. Meg was no where to be seen.

"Meg..." he said softly.

The Phantom let his eyes dart around. He also saw no signs of her mother. "Damn you..." Erik cursed to himself. He had a terrible feeling that Madame Giry had Meg within her evil grasp.

Erik left Box Five and crept through the secret passages of the Opera House. He checked to see if she was in her office. She was not there. The Phantom slipped away yet again in the shadows, there was only one place left. He knew he would find Madame Giry with Meg in the catacombs...

"Raoul, I am frightened." Christine confessed to her love. "I can not do this! I can not face that monster again!"

Raoul took her into his arms. "Yes, you can." he assured her. "You have done this once. You can do again. This will be the last time you will ever, ever have to face him."

"My dears, we must make haste. The Phantom draws near!" Madame Giry urged the two along.

"I am sorry." Christine replied as she and Raoul parted.

"Remember, Madame Giry and I will be here with you. Once shock comes over him, so will death." said Raoul. He gave Christine one last assuring glance before he and Giry hid within the shadows...

"Meg!" cried out Erik. The Phantom thought he would come face to face with his beloved. Instead, he faced one of his demons...

"...Christine..."

Christine's heart beat a mile a minute. She could not believe the Phantom was finally before her, the monster that took over her. Christine took a breath as she reached to him. She thought he would welcome her touch, but he backed away, and turned his head.

Christine tried again. She took a step closer, and placed a warm hand upon his cheek. She turned his face so he could look at her. Christine could see tears form in the monter's eyes.

"Why? Why did you come back here?" Erik asked her.

"I came to see you..." lied Christine. She looked beyound the Phantom to see Raoul.

Christine was taken aback as the Phantom took her hand within hers, and took it away from his face. "I do not wish to see you any longer!" Erik yelled at her. "You betrayed me when you ran off with that boy!"

"I was mistaken." Christine lied again. "My heart belongs to you, and you alone..."

Erik could feel the rage build up within him. He could see that she was lying. He could see it in her eyes. "Do not mock me madame." Erik said to her, grabbing her arm. "The one I love is not here, but I have a feeling you know where she is."

When the Phantom saw the fear in Christine's eyes, he let her go. "Forgive me," he said. "Please, if you know where she is, tell me."

Christine could not believe what she was hearing. She could hear in his voice how much he cared for her. When she looked into his eyes, she did not see the darkness that once lingured there. Instead, she saw a small fixture of light.

"You really care for her that much?"

"More then you will ever know." Erik answered. "Do you know where she is?"

Christine knew that Meg was locked away in a closet. At the start of this she knew that she had to help with the murder of the Opera Ghost, but as she stood before him now, she could not. The company had all been wrong. He was no longer the monster he once was.

In the shadows, Raoul grew angry. The Phantom was working his dark spell over his love once again. The monster did not love the young Giry. He used her as an excuse for his dark obession. Raoul could not take the Phantom's presence any longer. He withderw his sword and made his attack upon the Ghost.

"RAOUL! NO!" cried Christine when she saw Raoul charge from the shadows.

Erik's eyes grew dark. The boy was here! He knew he was after him. He went to turn to escape Raoul, but he did not see blade. Raoul's sword pierced the Phantom through his chest. The Phantom had been betrayed again.

Christine watched in horror as all the light in the Phantom's eyes went out. She could also see the disappointment that dwelled within them. She turned away, tears feeling her eyes. Christine could not look at him any longer.

Raoul rushed to his love's side. "Are you all right?"

Christine shook her head. "No."

"But why? Can you not see that we have won?"

"No. We have mistaken."

As Erik layed upon the floor of his home, the happy memories he shared with Meg flashed before him. He knew he would never share another memory with her. His soul was leaving him. He prayed to the angels that he could at least see his angel one finale time before joining them in the Heavens...

Inside the closet, Meg continued to pound upon the door. Her pleas went unheard. The music from the production was too loud and the stage hands were no where this place.

"Meg..."

The younger Giry stopped for a moment when she heard a familiar voice call out to her. "Erik!" she cried out.

Meg could feel his presence all around her, but it was fading, fast. She returned to pounding on the door. She knew Catherin's friends had gone after Erik. Meg hoped that she would get out of here, before it was too late...

The production ended, and appalause ran through the air. Catherin Beaucater smiled at her audience, bowed to them, and took her leave from the stage. She ran back to the closet where Meg was held.

Catherin had a feeling that Raoul had taken care of the Phantom by now. She could not help but spread a wicked smile across her face. She would gladly share this news with the younger Giry. Catherin removed the key and unlocked the door.

Meg stopped pounding when she heard the door being unlocked. Catherin had returned. She could not wait to come face to face with her. Ms. Beaucater would pay for what she has done.

As Catherin opened the door to taunt Meg, the younger Giry flew at her, causing them both to fall upon the floor and begun to pound her. "GET OFF ME!" Catherin demanded. "Or do you want to know the where abouts of your Ghost?"

Meg got off her quickly. Catherin was right. She did not have time to mess with this fool. Once she was off her, she dashed to find Erik.

"YOU ARE TOO LATE! THE PHANTOM IS NO MORE!"

The younger Giry did not pay no attention to Ms. Beaucater. All she cared about was reaching her beloved. She prayed that she would make it to the catacombs just in time...

"Erik!" Meg called as she reached his home. She hoped to find him there. However, Erik was not the first she lay eyes upon.

"Raoul! Christine!"

Meg was in shock. She had no idea that her friends were back in Pairs. "What are you doing here?" she asked them. Then a dark thought crossed her mind: Where they the betrayers?

Christine could not speak to her friend, nor could Raoul. They turned their heads away, and stepped aside. Meg let out a gasp at the horror she saw before her. Right before her eyes, she saw her beloved, lying in his own blood.

TBC...

Author's Notes: (continued): You guys are reallying hating me now aren't you? Don't worry the story isn't over yet, and I have a few surprises up my sleeve. What are they? I'm not going to say! It would ruin it! Chapter eleven coming soon.

Review Shout-Outs: GerrysISUChick04- Okay, I finally got to the website and I love it! I added it to favs and I can't stay away. All the pics are awsome and along with the interviews and such. I can't belive Gerry smokes though! That's such a disappointment! Oh well, I still love him anyway. And I sent you another email btw.

Darth Phantom- As stated sorry it took so long. Chapter eleven shouldn't take too long. I'll probably update that tonight. (June 22, 2005)

ComputerFreak101 and others- I'm guessing you really want to kill Raoul now don't you? LOL! I've got an idea, lets all kill the bastard! Who's with me! LOL! Or next best thing: write a Raoul death fic. evil phantom laugh Oh the fun... Ahem Anywhoo: I'm trying my best with the length of the chapters. Chapter 11 will probably be a longer.