Part Four
Raoul still wasn't ready to give up. He wasn't going to let Crystal be taken away from him, so he decided to write a note to The Phantom saying it was from Crystal. He went to the mirror and opened it. Seeing no one on the path, he placed the note on the ground, shut the mirror, and left.
The Phantom was coming up the passage way to meet Crystal when he saw the note. He opened it and read it. After he was done, he dropped the note and ran back into the cave. He was furious. The note read:
Dear Phantom,
I know I said I would return to you, but I have decided to stay here with my family. I would like it if I were to never see you again.
Sincerely,
Crystal Daae
Crystal entered the mirror and called out to The Phantom. No one answered. She walked down the path and saw the note. After reading it, she ran down to the lagoon.
"Phantom, where are you?" The Phantom didn't respond, but he was listening to her. "It wasn't I who wrote this note. It's in my fathers' handwriting. Phantom, please believe me when I say I wouldn't do anything like this to you." The Phantom did believe her.
She never got a response so she started up the stairs again to go and find him. Crystal was about open the mirror when a man grabbed her from behind. He pushed her against the wall. Crystal saw his face. He looked like The Phantom except this man wore a black mask and was much more brutal. He had a dagger in his hand and was about to kill her!
"Let me go!" she screamed. "Phantom! Please, help me!"
The Phantom heard this and ran to her. He saw what was about to happen. The man noticed The Phantom and started to run away, pushing Crystal out of his way. She hit the wall and fell to the ground and passed out. The Phantom caught the man and pushed him out the mirror and out of the dressing room. He quickly locked the door so he wouldn't be able to get back in. When The Phantom turned around, he saw Crystal lying on the ground. He ran over to her. She didn't move so he thought she was dead. He knelt down beside her, worried.
"Crystal," he said quietly, "Crystal, get up."
The Phantom moved her cloak, which was over her face, to see if she was alright. To his relief, Crystal opened her eyes and sat up. When she saw The Phantom she embraced him. He held her back.
"You saved my life," she said softly. "Thank you."
"Why wouldn't I have? I can't be the one blamed for your death," he said coldly. But in his mind he knew he saved her because he loved her. He took a ring with a pink, heart-shaped diamond out of his pocket and placed it on Crystals' finger.
"You belong to me," he said in a whisper.
After that, they went back to the lair and went to bed. When Crystal awoke, she found a red rose with a black ribbon tied to it lying on her pillow. She held the rose in her hand and admired it. Crystal then walked out of her room and searched for The Phantom. She found him at his organ writing music. She started to walk to him, but then hesitated. The Phantom noticed Crystal watching him and had her come over to him.
"Today, would you like to help me write some music?" he asked.
"I would love to."
"Will you sing my music for me?"
"Of course I would."
He gave her the words and she began to sing them as he played the music on his organ. The song was called Angel in the Night. She sang it beautifully. The Phantom thought she had the voice of an angel and wrote the song for her. They did this for most of the day. When night fell, they went to box five to watch the opera being held that night. It was called Hannibal. Christine Daae was the lead actor. They stayed until the end of the show.
"You may go and see your mother," said The Phantom after the show was over.
"Will you come with me and meet her?"
"I don't think that would be a good idea," he said worried.
"Please come. I'm sure my mother would enjoy meeting you."
"I can only hope. I'll come with you," he said.
Crystal led him to her mothers' dressing room. Christine was about to leave when she heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" called Christine.
"It's me, mother."
Christine opened the door. When she opened it, she expected to see only Crystal, but a man in a hooded cape was also with her. She backed up so Crystal and the man could enter the room.
"Please, sit down," Christine said as she pointed to some chairs.
"Crystal, who is this man?"
"He is my friend. I wanted him to meet you."
"Nice to meet you," said Christine to the man. He nodded in return.
"Crystal, we have to talk. There is a madman who is trying to take over the opera house. He means to get rid of Raoul and our family, no matter what circumstances, since Raoul is the patron."
"No, that can't happen," cried Crystal.
"We must leave," Christine said. "He is a threat to our family." The Phantom became alarmed. Crystal couldn't leave.
"Mother, I can't leave."
"We must." There was a long silence between the three of them.
"I could protect your family," The Phantom said, breaking the uneasy silence.
Christine stared at him, wondering if she could trust him. It was as if Crystal had read her mind.
"Mother, he can protect us. I trust him with my life."
"I don't know this man. How can I trust him?"
"You may not know him, but I do. Trust me. Trust him."
Christine thought about it and decided to try it.
"Alright. Thank you, monsieur. Come, Crystal. We have to go and find your father."
She took her hand and noticed the ring.
"Where did you get that ring?" Christine asked.
"From a friend," she answered, staring at The Phantom as he stood up to stop Crystal from leaving.
Christine started to walk, Crystals hand still in hers. Crystal knew what she had to do. She took her hand out of her mothers. She wouldn't go with her.
"What's wrong? Aren't you coming?" Christine asked confused.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"She belongs to me," said The Phantom as he dropped his hood and walked over to Crystal. Christine was shocked. She also moved next to her daughter.
"What are you doing here? If someone finds you they will kill you." The Phantom didn't say a word.
"Please mother, don't tell anyone about him."
"I won't," Christine said, now looking at The Phantom. "Why can't she come with me?" They were silent for a long time. The Phantom turned Crystal around to face him.
"You…may go with your mother. I'm letting you go, forever," he said sadly. "You must never speak about me. I understand if you never want to see me again," he said looking away. Crystal was speechless. She was no longer a prisoner and once again free to make her own choices. She moved The Phantoms head so that he was looking at her in the eyes. His eyes were filled with sadness.
"Thank you, for setting me free. I promise to come see you again. Tomorrow morning. I'll bring Danny." The Phantom smiled at her, but he couldn't bear to stay any longer, so he said goodbye to the both of them and hurried off. After he left, she turned back to her mother.
"Crystal, who is Danny?"
"Danny is my friend. I found him in the opera house eight years ago. I've been taking care of him since."
"Why didn't you tell me? We could have put him in an orphanage. He would have a home and family," said her mother.
"That's why I never told you. This is his home and I am his family. I had no friends until I found him. Now I have two and that is how I want it to stay."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have questioned you. You are responsible enough to take care of him. Where is he now?"
"He is up on the balcony."
"May I go see him?"
"I have to go change so you will have to go alone. Just tell him that you're Crystals' mother," replied Crystal.
