Sweet Intoxication
Chapter 14: Christine's Choice
Author's Note: Hey guys! I am So HAPPY! I got 100 reviews! Actually, 111 REVIEWS! YESSS! Thank you guys SO MUCH for reviewing. Okay, now I'm done being hyper. Anyway, sorry, I'm not doing a sequel to this story, but I have at least two other Phantom stories in mind: one will be funny, and the other may be an Erik/Meg romance, I'm still planning things out. Sorry for not updating sooner, but I was helping a bunch of preschoolers in a music class at my church's bible camp everyday this week. Okay, done ranting. Anyway, enjoy this chap! And PLEASE, the end of this story is drawingvery near, so don't miss out on your chance to REVIEW!
And, here is the special shout out I promised. Congratulations to my 100th reviewer, who was NightDemoness! Thanks for reviewing NightDemoness!
Disclamer: I own nothing related to the Phantom book, play, or movie. Not even a prop from the Masquerade Ball, or Christine's PONR dress ( Which I would LOVE to own) or even a piece of fabric from Raoul's tuxedo (then again, why would I WANT to own that?)
Raoul couldn't believe the scene that was unfolding before his eyes. Christine had actually, willingly kissed that horrid monster on stage! He debated in his mind whether on not to get himself and the police onto that stage and get Christine out of this horrible situation he shouldn't have put her in in the first place. The minute Christine unmasked that man, Raoul knew he had to go to Christine. He ran to the edge of the box, preparing himself to jump, when a loud clinking sound made him look up. Oh god, no! That monster had crashed the chandelier, and the place was now on fire! Raoul grabbed a rope near him and jumped from the box. As he landed, he looked up just in time to see that man force Christine against him and take her down with him as he fell from the bridge down to underneath the stage. Raoul ran onto the stage, but he was too late. They were gone.
A panic had formed and there were now mobs of people fighting to get to the exit, but Raoul pushed himself upstream through the crowd until he reached backstage. He caught a glimpse of Madame Giry running backstage, dragging Meg along with her. He ran untill he finally caught up with them
"Where did he take her?" Raoul demanded
Madame Giry looked at him worridly. "Come with me monsieur. I will take you to him. But remember: Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" she all but screamed at him, demonstrating where his hand should be
"I'll come with you!" Meg called from behind them determinidly
Madame Giry, still running, looked back to face her daughter "NO Meg, no! You must stay here!" she said, pushing her back. She led Raoul around a turn, grasped his hand and began to run faster "Come with me monsieur! Do as I say!"
Down below, Erik was dragging an unwilling Christine down to his lair. She struggled against him every chance she got, but he was stronger than her, and forced her along. She practically ran to keep up with his long strides, trying to free her wrist from his grasp as he furiously sang:
Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as hell!
Christine tried grabbing on to every possible corner and wall she could reach, desperatly trying to free herself from Erik's grasp while he was singing. He grasped her wrist harder, pulling her to him. She ran behind him, trying to keep up, and still kicking and struggling against him, to no avail. They ran a bit more, and Christine, still fighting, was studying the right side of Erik's face intently. He noticed her starring at his deformed face. He stopped, and turned to face her, singing bitterly
Why, you ask,
was I bound and chained
in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any
mortal sin, but the
wickedness of
my abhorrent face!
He practically shouted the last few words at her, causing her to gasp frighteningly. He smirked coldly, sarcastically asking her
"Oh, I'm sorry my dear, did I frighten you, or was it my hideous FACE?"he asked.
Christine felt her anger over come her, and she slapped Erik's cheek with her free hand. "I've had it with you! Stop pitying yourself like this, Erik! You may find some people actually love you if you'd give them a chance! But, the longer you continue this, the more I see how much you really can be a MONSTER!" she screamed at him, leaving him shocked for a moment, pondering on what to say back to her. She took the oppurtunity, and kicked his ankle, hard, making his hand instinctivly loosen on hers for a moment. A moment was all Christine needed to break free of his grasp, and blindly run the other way. Erik instantly began chasing after her, and caught up with her quickly. Christine was running so hard, she forget all about her skirts, and tripped over them, giving Erik a moment to scoop her up in his arms and continue going back down to his lair, with Christine still struggling against him. This is going to get very old, very fast thought Erik dryly. He placed Christine in the boat, and rowed his way furiously to shore.
When they finally got there, Erik couldn't control himself any longer. Christine had given him an extremley cold shoulder the whole way there, for which Erik showed a little understanding, considering all he had put her through in the past few hours, but when she silently refused his offer to help her out of the boat, he lost it. He picked her up, and she lightly tried to push her body away from his. He forced her out of the boat while he screamed/sang at her
Hounded out by everyone!
Met with hatred everywhere!
No kind words from anywhere!
No compassion anywhere!
Christine...why?
She didn't know what to say as she gazed upon him. He sang again, grasping her throat lightly:
Why?
His voice weakened and slightly shook with emotion and sadness. Christine saw him in a new light for the first time, not as an angel, or a demon, but simply as a man. A man who had obviuosly been through more horrors than she could ever imagine, and who truly loved her, and desperatly wanted her love. She looked at him untill finally he brought his hands down and cleared his throat
" There's a dress behind that screen." he said, gesturing to it. "Change into it and come back out here. " he said. Christine glanced at the screen, and saw a portion of the dress hanging over the screen. She could see it was an expensive colored, cream, silk dress. That type of expensive fabric was always used in, oh no. Christine drew in her breath sharply: wedding dresses. Erik couldn't possibly be thinking what Christine thought he was thinking, could he?
Apparently, he was. He looked at her sharply "Go! Now!" he barked. Christine didn't need telling twice. She scurried over to the screen, and drew it completley around herself. She took off her Don Juan costume, folded it neatly, and placed it on the ground. She unfolded the dress. It was custom fit, designed to fit her every curve, every groove exactly. She pulled it on and smoothed out a few wrinkles. She couldn't believe what Erik was thinking, making her do this! Was he actually serious about marriage. Christine had another horrible thought. What if, he didn't want to marry her, he just wanted to have her! He'd been away from everyone, especially women, for so long, she knew he'd probably luunge at the first woman he saw. What if he was planning to rape her? The very thought made her shudder.She hoped he wouldn't take advantage of her like that, and the longer she thought about it, the more angry she became. How dare he do this to her! She walked out from behind the screen.
Erik was standing near the dressing screen. He was intently studying the ring he was planning to give to Christine, and having second thoughts. What if she didn't want to do this? He knew of course, with his physical strength and size, he could force her to do anything he wanted her too, but he couldn't force her to love him. And, he didn't want her to be trapped in a loveless marriage. But, if she didn't marry him, he knew the minute he set her free, she'd just go running off to the Vicomte, like she always did, and leave him, alone and heartbroken. Set her free. God, he hated how that sounded, like he was some horrible kidnapper or monster, keeping her a prisoner to his will. The longer he thought, he realized: Maybe he really was a monster, not only having the face of a demon, but the soul of one too.
He pushed all his second thoughts aside the moment he saw Christine appear, wearing her wedding dress. She looked so beautiful in it, as he always dreamed she would when she wore it. He started to smile at her, but stopped when he saw the angry, flustered look on her face and the coldness of her voice as she sang:
Have you gorged yourself at last
in your lust for blood?
Am I now to be prey
to your lust for flesh?
He stopped, taking in the impact of her words, and realizing what she was suggesting to him. He harshly replied:
That fate which condemns me
to wallow in blood,
Has also denied me
the joys of the flesh.
He began to stroke her cheek, but she curtly turned her head away from him. He knew it was because she didn't want some monster touching her. He continued:
This face, the infection
Which poisons our love
This face, which earned
A mother's fear, and loathing.
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing
He removed the matching weeding veil from his hand-made wax model of Christine, and held it reverently, preparing to put it on Christine for real. She slightly turned to look it him, a pitying look in her eyes. Erik roughly placed the veil on her head, while singing
Pity comes to late!
Turn around and face your fate!
He turned her around roughly to face him, and looked her straight in the eye while singing
An eternity of -this-
He pointed at his face furiously, but then his tone of voice softened
Before your eyes.
Christine looked at him curiously for a moment. She removed the veil from her head, and dropped it at Erik's feet. She then procceded to remove a cloth from a large mirror. Looking at her own reflection for a moment, then turning to Erik, she gently grasped his hand, and he stepped up beside her. He looked down, not daring to look into the mirror. Christine noticed, and she gently titled his chin upward with her hand, and forced him to look at his reflection in the mirror. Christine broke the silence by softly asking "What do you see?" she asked
He let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he'd holding and replied " A demon. A horrid demon that doesn't deserve to have an angel like you near him."
Christine turned his head sharply to face her and she replied fiercly "That isn't what I see. And that isn't what you truly are. You're just a man. Not an angel, but not a demon either. Just a man, with a slight distortion in his appearance. The evil doesn't truly lie in your face Erik. It's in your heart, your soul. And you could overcome it, in time, if you would only learn to love, and to trust. Not everyone judges you by your appearance, especially not me. People could care for you, and love you, if only would let them instead of shutting yourself away from the rest of the world"
Erik let out a slow breath. She was right, he slowly realized. She turned his face to the mirror again.
"Now, what do you see?"
Erik was about to answer, when a movement behind him reflected in the mirror. He turned sharply, and saw Raoul, dripping wet and out of breath, standing just outside the gate. Now, he thought, may be the perfect time to expose his plan. He smirked cruely and sang to Christine:
Wait! I think my dear, we have a guest he sang, jerking his head towards the gate at the end of the lake where Raoul stood. Christine shouted "Raoul!" with a confused, shocked look on her face as Erik continued:
Sir, this is indeed an unparallelled delight.
I had rather hoped that you would come
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night!
Erik walked over towards Christine, and threw an arm around her. She didn't struggle, but looked at him oddly and then looked back at Raoul again. Raoul mistook her confused look as a desperate gesture for help and cried to Erik
"Free her! Do what you like only free her! Have you no pity?"
Erik looked at Christine, gesturing towards Raoul "Your lover makes a passionate plea"
Christine looked at Raoul pitifully, and sang "Please, Raoul, it's useless. Stop this"
Raoul continued as Erik turned his back on him " I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her. Show some compassion!"
With that, Erik lost it "The world showed no compassion to me!" he screamed at him
Raoul drew in an angry breath. "Christine, please monsieur, I beg you, let me see her!"
Erik turned away from Raoul, secretly smiling, and trying not to laugh " Be my guest, sir"
He opened up the gate, began walking into the lake to meet Raoul,and continued singing
Monsieur I bid you welcome.
Did you think that I would harm her?
Why would I make her pay,
For the sins which are yours!
As the gate began to lower behind Raoul, he turned to look at it, giving Erik a chance to make his move. He pulled a Punjab lasso from the water where he had been hiding it, and threw it at Raoul, tightening it around his neck. He saw Christine's shocked, horribly concerned expression from the corner of his eye. He ignored her cries and gasps of "Erik stop! Please, Erik, don't do it!" He was begining to tie Raoul up to the lake's gate, when suddenly he heard a splash behind him. Keeping Raoul pinned to the gate, Erik turned to look. Christine had lifted her skirts up, and was running into the water. She ran up to Erik, and tried to stop him. "Erik, please, stop this madness!" she cried, desperatly trying to pry his hands of of Raoul and the rope. He tried to shove her away, but she wouldn't budge.
He was beginning to tie Raoul up, when Christine,using all ofher strength, ripped the rope from his hands and flung it into the water. "Erik, STOP IT! You don't need to do this!" she yelled at him. He pushed her aside, and was beginning to strangle Raoul, when Erik began to sing to him:
"Nothing can save you now, except perhaps, Christine."
He turned to face her.
Start a new life with me
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!
This is your choice! This is the point of no return!
Christine looked at him slowly and put her hand up to his face. She softly began speaking "Angel, I already have made my choice. I choose you. I always would, and I always will. It's always been clear to me.You don't need to try to force me to love you. I already do" she said, and slowly began to kiss him, feeling every inch of his face with her soft hands. A moment later, they both remembered Raoul.
Erik abruptly pulled the lasso off of him. "Go, now. You're freed. But, never, I mean NEVER reveal to anyone what you have heard, seen, or done tonight, or you will come to regret it." he said, while hugging Christine. They broke apart, and Raoul grabbed Christine's hand as Erik went back up onto shore. "Come on Christine! We're freed! Let's go now, while we can get away.!"
Christine pulled her hand from his. "Raoul no, I'm staying. I don't want to leave."
Raoul turned and looked at her queerly "Christine, honey, come on. I'm free, we can leave! He had to have bewitched you or something to make you say this. Come on, let's go" he said, growing more urgent by the minute.
Erik stopped moving behind some candles, and bent down out of sight, listening for Christine's response, andhoping she wasn't going to run off with the Vicomte again.
Christine wasn't budging, and pulled Raoul back to her "Raoul, damn it,stop. Please, just listen to me"
Raoul stopped, looking her straight in the eye. She took both of his hands in hers, and faced him, preparing to tell him something she knew would change both their lives forever. "Raoul, this is hard for me to say, and it's probably even harder for you to hear. Raoul, I don't love you. I never did."
Raoul was going to speak, but Christine put a finger to his lips, silencing him "I thought I loved you, but I didn't, Raoul. It was an immature love, a passing childhood fancy. I thought I loved you, but it wasn't truly love. I didn't know what love was until I met Erik.You were always there for me, comforting me and protecting me, but Raoul, we can't go on like this. I know now that I truly don't and never will love you, and I can't spend the rest of my life married to someone I don't love.It wouldn't be fair to either of us. I will always be very fond of you, and you'll always have a special place in my heart. I know all that you could provide and give me, but it would never be what I truly wanted. You can't provide me with passion and fire, and love like my Angel can. So, Raoul, I truly don't love you, and I can't bear to decieve you into thinking that I do any longer. I was trying to tell you this months ago, but I couldn't find the nerve to."
They looked at each other for a few moments, and Raoul finally hugged her tightly, and whispered to her "Christine, I love you. I always will, and always have, and I only want you to be happy. I always wanted only the best for you, and I suppose if only Erik can provide that for you, then so be it. I always will care for you Christine. Just remember me once in a while, and if you ever change your mind, I'll be waiting." he said.
They broke apart, and Christine looked at him, with tears in her eyes, smiling, and said softly "Thank you"
Raoul began to leave, and turned back once, only to say " Whatever happens, take care of her, Phantom" And with that, he took the boat and rowed away, out of the Phantom's and Christine's lives forever.
Christine walked out of the water, up to where Erik was now standing. He drew her into a comforting embrace, trying to calm her shaking body down. They could both hear the mon faintly approaching, and knew they didn't have much time.Erik could feel the blood coursing through his veins, and he knew that he had to propose to Christine here, now.
He swiftly broke apart from Christine. She looked at him startled "Erik, what?" she began to ask. Erik shushed her. He got down on one knee, and looked up at Christine's tear streaked face "Christine, love, this is never how I imagined doing this" he said, giving her a rare laugh. Christine looked confused, but happy. Erik withdrew a ringbox from his pocket, snapping it open to reveal Christine's previous engagement ring he had taken from her at the Bal Masque all those monthes ago,sparkling and bright, just like Christine's face as she gasped, and knew what was coming.
Erik looked up at her, taking her hand in his and asked her: "Christine, I love you. I can never begin to describe how deep my love for you is, and how much I care for you. You mean the world to me Christine, and I knew I loved you the moment I first laid eyes on your radiant, innocent beauty. You are my angel, and I couldn't bear to live my life without you. Christine, will you save me, and lead me from my solitude? Will you share with me one love, one lifetime? Christine Daae, will you marry me?" he asked
Christine gazed upon him happily as she answered...
Author's Note 2: Dun, dun, dun! What will Christine say? You've have to check back soon to find out! Also, sorry if I made Christine a little too forceful and OOC in the "Down Once More" scene, but once again, it practically makes me sick watching her just go with Erik like that in the movie, so easily, and not even fighting. I mean, come on, she's not THAT weak and defensless! Okay, I'm done protesting now. Hope you enjoyed this chap!