Chapter 3

What dreams we have we must create

The window was approached by his chestnut haired angel about 10 minutes later. He was beginning to worry about her, it just seemed to be so long apart at this dangerous time, he always had a touch of doubt when time dragged on as it had. His heart began to beat in anxious anticipation of the next move. He had to gain access to the third floor of the Pension Au Derlie without being noticed.True enough, it was overcast butat mid day itby no meansheld the level ofsecurity for him thatacover of darkness did. While there were some trees hecould surely navigate, he wouldhave to try to get to them and crawl up them without being noticed. His black cloak was perfectcover for night time however, this was going to be precarious at best. As it was still winter onthe calendars, there was no foliage to hide him and it was rather cold. Hopefully he would not meet with ice along the way up the tree trunk.

As Erik approached the knotted, towering tree, he saw his salvation, they were working on the soffits on the side of the Pension, he couldeasily gain access to the desired windowthrough the catwalks they placed on the side of the building. When heapproached them, he further noticed the workers were returning from their lunch, so he hid in the bushes near the catwalks. Seeing the workers reluctantly approaching, deep in pointless chatter, he decided that if he didn't make his move now, he may wellwaita long time for another chance to return to his beloved's side. With that, he began his swift, sure footedclimb up the catwalks. Reaching the third floor roofing with ease,he stealthlybounded the four windows length toChristine's unlatched window.

"Erik, I was so frightened when they gave me the third floor, I tried to protest, claiming that I was too weary to travel the stairs, but they had an elevator, somy protests were moot, to persistwould have drawn suspicion. How did you manage to get up here without being seen?"

"They are repairing the soffits on the side of the building, I merely climbed the catwalk they had erected to work on them. It was a bit of good luck on our side for a change."

Erik looked around the room, he approved of the comfort the room afforded, there was even water in the basin already. He wanted so to cool his face, for it was burning with thoughts of where he was now and with whom he was in the company of. Suddenly the reality of what was the here and now hit him like a blow to the gut. He fairly doubled over before he shook himself from his thoughts. Once more feeling out of control of the situation at hand, the thrill of what could lie ahead had his head spinning. One cannot dream of this for as long as he had without having it hit hard when it was within your grasp and very probably to happen soon. Never did he think that this situation would seriously approach him, he longed and hoped, though never dared dream it could come true.

He looked away from his Christine. This was definitely awkward for them both, he hadn't thought of this, he had to think, but thought was not coming easily. So close to her, there was no thought other than her, he had to go to her, she looked so small and alone, relief on her face that they had made it that far, worry that something may still happen, he had to relieve her fears. He moved to her, as if in a dream. "Christine, you are the most brave and beautiful person in the world, I am so glad you are my angel for surely you have saved me from my hell. Thank you for your love, I will always cherish you." Erik reached her and took her in his arms thenbacking up,he felt her face, her hair, slid his hands down to her shoulders and pulled her to him. He kissed her long and slow, the first shared kiss in the world outside his prison home below the opera. He pulled away andshe looked at him with a questioning look on her face.Picking her up, heplaced her on the bed gently, sitting beside her. She never looked away, he pierced her with his eyes, while he slowly began to take his mask off for her. He was trembling with fear that she would cower away when she saw him in the light of day with his mask off. He stopped, losing courage, trying to decide if he could actually succeed in living the rest of his life without taking his mask off.

Christine saw the myriad of emotions travel across his beloved face and she decided then and there to end his torment, so she reached for his mask slowly, one hand on the mask, one hand on the other side of his face, looking deeply into his eyes the entire time, nodding slowly that it was alright, he placed his hand on hers pleadingly, icy fingers of fear creeping into him at the thought of her revulsion. He could not take it from her, oh God, what did he start, why did he start this, what was he thinking! She lifted the mask off, and placed it slowly on the table beside the bed ashe tried to look down, away, anywhere but at her. Feeling that somehow if he didn't see it she could not be coweringin fear, orworse yet, showing her revulsionupon her face,however she would not let loose his head. Christine continued, never looking away, fearbriefly twistingthrough her as she thought of the two previous times she had removed his mask, she forced herself not to flinch, despite her fear of his fury. This was different, it was for the right reason, and all he felt was growing helplessness at her power over him now. He was lost in a torrent of emotion and he could not move at all for any reason at this moment as therealization thatshe was not repulsed by his appearance flowed through him. Christine proceeded to place her hands on either side of his face then, and she drew her hands back through his real hair, slowly caressing the side of his face no human had ever deliberately, much less lovingly touched before. Slowly moving towards him, watching him intently as she approached him,she then kissed his damaged cheek, and slowly kissed him in a trail to his lips. He was totally destroyed by her at this moment, letting out a gutteral moan,his eyes became teary and hehungrily looked at her, pleading for her to stay by his side, never betray him, for surely it would be his utter destruction.

"Christine, I don't know what to do,I fear every step now never having been down this path before in my life,part of medoes notwant to allow myself to feel this way and yet the sweet torment is what I have longed for all my life. God, what will become of me ifthat twit of aVicomte' shouldwin and you leave me again? I will never be able to escape myself. God Christine, I beg of you, either leave now, and end this torment or stay forever by my side, do not play games with my heart."

"Erik, I will stay with you have I not told you, I made my mind up. Have I notbeen trying to proveit to you already. Please, don't be so tormented, it shall surely kill us both if you continue to behave this way. Trust me. You once asked me to trust you, and I did, now you must trust me. I will always be beside you. You are my choice made freely, without pressure. You tried to pressure me and I left, when Ileft you I realized that it was anger and fear that drove me away, with that gone, the ache began before I even entered your boat. I knew then that I had always chosen you and that mytempercould be as destructive as yours. It almost ruined us.I love you Erik." Christine kissed Erik and they looked at each other, both wanting more, desire etched in theirtentative touches andpassion drenched eyes thoughthey bothknew that it was nottime, yet.Just then the food arrivedat their door. With a knock, the spell was broken. Both realized then, just how hungry they were.

There was much to think about and they both set about eating something to defuse the well of emotions threatening to drown them in its insistence, permeating the atmosphere. They had to keep a clear head for to lose their head could be there demise. They were as hunted beasts for now, and lust and longing had to be put aside for now, there were serious days ahead of them before their escape was to be complete.

Erik placed his hand on the mask, preparing to place it back on his face, when Christine stopped him, "No, there is no reason for you to wear that here, I am not going to cringe or cower, you are beautiful and I see only beauty in you, I am lost whenever I gaze into your eyes, you have such intelligence, there is so much there beyond a face, I could never just see your flesh. I hope you understand that, and can believe that. What kind of a life could you live if you had to live it with the mask on for the rest of your time on earth? That mask is not humane, and I will not require that of you. I love you."

Smiling at her, Erik took a bite of his food, not caring if it was cardboard, the taste was so dull compared to that of Christine's lips. He felt that it was futile to even eat for taste any longer, it could never satisfy him the way her kisses could. God, he was damned if he didn't succumb to his desire soon, it was unbearable to be here and know there were still more important things than her to accomplish first.

Meanwhile; Raoul has done nothing but try to figure out where they could have gone. He has gone damn near door to door, looking, searching for her. Where had Christine gone, how could she betray him so, he was sure of it now, she had not left against her wishes, he would have gotten word somehow by now. How could she, when they were fighting for their lives, or so he thought, he thought that she mouthed "I love you" to him, now he wondered of the true meaning any of it held. His heart was breaking, but he was damned if he would just go away and let all end this way. He also wondered if the white mask was left there on the opera steps to haunt him, or if the Phantom had indeed lost the mask. He felt his anger rise each time he thought back to the last moments he spent at the Opera Populaire. The hatred which fuelled his fury and drive to find Christine was akin only to the fury previously associated exclusivelywith the phantom. My, how when the roles are reversed there is little difference in them after all. Now, he felt that he was walking the fine line between sanity and insanity. What power Christine had over not one but two very powerful men in their own right. What would she do if she realized she was the owner of such extraordinary power.

"Raoul, really, you must stop this, you have to rest and eat something. Mother and I have some soup, please share it with us. Maybe Mother has some ideas for you, where to take the search back up in the morning. You are looking so haggard. Come in now."

"Meg, I must keep going until I find her, I know that eventually she will find herself in danger over her head, and be unable to protect herself. She has to know that I am out there looking for her." He had told no one of his suspicion that she had gone willingly with the opera ghost. Indeed, he was a mere man, what did Christine call him, Erik? He must remember to keep calling him Erik, then he would be diminishedin his power over them that much more. God, he could feel his anger as a palpable presence, it was surely driving him mad. He must find his Christine. He wept bitter tearsas the frustration could not be denied any longer. He abruptly turned and left Mme Giry and Meg,mounted his white stallion, and rode off to continue the search. The Gendarme were not taking this seriously, they were sure that they had perished in the fire, so they were not really searching. He demanded that they did something, so they assigned a small group to search all transportation out of Paris. They did not take the assignment seriously, though, they were sure that the fire had sent the Vicomte de Chagny over the edge, losing his Christine in such a way, so they were merely humoring him at this juncture, until the bodies could be found. Better to humor the rich ones, other wise you would lose your job and position mighty quick. It could be several weeks before the dead were all found and identified, surely someone hiding in the catacombs of the Opera Populaire was killed by smoke if not by fire. Thus they only did cursory work for this cause. Raoul headed towards the edge of Paris, he would find a place to stay as he traveled to nearby towns searching. Time was all he had on his side, the more area he could cover, the more likely he was to catch them escaping. Surely they had to escape on foot whilehe had his horse, thus he had the power of speed over them.