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4
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Erik heard the chant, grabbed Christine and began running.
"Where are we going?" Christine asked, frantically.
"I'll decide that later."
They ran through the streets of Paris, the few people around who were not watching the opera fire seeing them run by wondering what was going on, then realizing that they had just witnessed the loathsome Phantom of the Opera who was responsible for the destruction of their beloved opera.
People yelled out in the streets, frightened of the terrible criminal. Shouts could be heard from all around.
"Chase that beast!"
"Oh, he's horrible! Horrible!"
"Don't let him get away!"
"He's disgusting!"
Erik felt a lump in his throat, hearing all that the people had said about him. He pulled Christine off to the right to run on the next street. They continued to run, seeing less and less people as they went further and further. The Phantom was heading for the frozen lake.
They reached the lake and the Phantom pulled her towards a small cabin on the edge of the frozen water. It was a fishing cabin. Erik pulled the door of the cabin open, only to find that the cabin was already occupied by a man sitting on a wooden crate, holding a fishing rod and slumped down ice fishing.
Erik growled and pulled out a noose from his back pocket. He proceeded to loop it around the man's throat and tighten it. The man screamed helplessly, as did Christine, then Erik, with one swift motion, threw the man out of the cabin and shut the door on both he and Christine, leaving them to be alone.
"Alone, my dear, at last," The Phantom said with joy, approaching his Christine. They shared another desirable kiss, then stood, looking at one another.
"We can't stay here forever, you know..." Christine said, somewhat killing the moment-- If that was a moment.
The Phantom let out a long exasperated sigh. "I know."
"They're after you. They're hunting you down. You must hide once again."
"Yes. Hiding. Forever hiding. My whole life has been one big game of hide and go seek and quite frankly... I've grown weary of concealing. Why can't I just be normal? Why? Why?" Erik asked, emotionally distraught.
"You are normal. It is everyone else who is not. The corruption in their minds makes me sick to my stomach."
"How did I ever come to receive someone as tender as you? I don't deserve to even stand in your presence right now."
Christine's cheeks began to flush. She smiled at her tutor.
"The Angel in Hell... blessed with one thing. A girl is the blessing... compassionate, loving. A face I may not retain, but she makes up for everything. All of the disregard."
Christine smiled, but quite honestly she was freezing in the ice fishing cabin. Her body began to shake and quiver, freeze and shiver.
Erik saw her discomfort and removed his cape. He draped it over her shoulders to keep her safe from the cold. Christine offered him another smile, then turned her head to the ground, ashamed at what she was about to ask.
"Do you think Raoul is okay?"