Author's Note: Sorry that it took so long for this chapter. I had a fencing tournament and a bug Chemistry project, so I didnt have much time...but I will make it up to you with this one now. I thank all of my faithful phans, and this chapter is dedicated to my loyal friend, Gracie. (Thanks for being my companion and assistant all weekend! I LOVE YOU!) PS: HOORAY! more day and 3 hours til PHANOM IS RELEASED ON DVD!

Either Way You Choose, You Cannot Win

The cold hard pavement beneath me forced me to consciousness. The officer was gone and I was completely alone on the ground in front of the Opera house. My body was stiff and rigid from laying on the edge of the street. I assumed I had not been out long otherwise someone, with either good or bad intentions, would have moved me. I slowly got to my feet. The street was currently deserted and there was no sound of life coming from the Opera itself. All was calm and quiet.

All except my heart. It cried and prayed for Erik back, anger poisoning every plea. Hastily, I remembered the angel woman who had spoke to me in my dreams.

Raoul de Chagny. I had no clue as to who that man was and why in the world would he help me rescue the dreaded Phantom of the Opera, but I knew I had to try. I decided I would ask anyone I could find in the Opera house itself if they knew of this man called Raoul. As I climbed the main staircase to the entrance, the possibility that my dream had only been that…a dream and nothing more filled me with dread. Once inside I asked the first person I saw if they had ever heard of the man I so desperately searched for. A young blonde haired dancer who called herself Meg Giry told me that yes, she knew of Raoul. My heart skipped a beat as I shook her shoulders slightly in anxiousness. She then found a piece of parchment in her pocket and scribbled down an address for me. Her words that had made my heart skip earlier now made my heart stop entirely.

She said, "Poor Raoul…speak carefully to him…his wife Christine…you may have heard of her, Christine Daae?…anyway, she passed away a month or so ago…the poor angel! It is a shame that she wasted so much time with her thoughts on that damned Phantom, her teacher…"

"Excuse me miss?" I managed to choke out. "Did you say Phantom?"

"Why, yes…he was an insane man who loved Christine to the point of obsession, but then got jealous of Raoul and turned violent. The word is he's dead now…left her in peace, or so I'm told…she died happily with Raoul. Although, I do feel slight pity for the Phantom. He loved her so very much and she crushed him when she chose Raoul…it is said the poor man died of grief!" She shook her head as she spoke, pity behind every word. It was all I could do to not break into tears or burst into a rage.

"Thank you Madame, you have been most helpful! Au revoir!" I left as quickly as I could. My emotions were so scattered that I nearly thought about going to Erik's home first to sort them out. My heart ached. He had loved Christine so deeply…was I a fool to think that he might love me as much? Was he really capable of insanity? I couldn't believe that…and yet…how could I be certain he wasn't. I shunned the treacherous thoughts from my head and heart with an audible snarl. These thoughts were getting me no where. I knew perfectly well he was the angel I saw him as. I loved him for it and he returned my love. He needed me and I needed him. So, I hurried down the street towards the address I held before me in black ink.

After a bit of a trek, I found myself before a medium sized white house with a garden that seemed as if it once held a great beauty, but was now forsaken as unimportant and left to grow wildly. I followed the cobblestone path up to the main door crashed the bronze doorknocker against the doorframe. I heard soft footsteps and then the door creaked open. A woman dressed in a black and white maids' uniform spoke to me.

"Yes ma'am? May I be of assistance to you?"

"I believe you might be. I am looking to speak with a man known as Raoul de Chagny. Does he by chance, live here?"

"Why yes, Madame, but he wasn't expecting visitors today, I'm afraid that you might have to wait 'til tomorrow."

"NO! You don't understand…this is important…The man I love is wrongly imprisoned and I do not know if we have another day to spare! I must speak with him immediately! PLEASE!" The words just flew from my mouth. I didn't know whether I could trust this maid with the dark secret of loving the Phantom, but my plea seemed to have an effect on the woman and she advised me to wait while she went to speak with him. She returned shortly, bowed slightly and led me into the house.

The house was very wealthily furnished and yet very comfortable at the same time. I noticed many paintings and sculptures around, giving the house an artsy feel. We soon came upon the living area and I saw a man who I placed to be a little younger than myself, dressed in a black evening suit, sitting in an arm chair near the fireplace. He was staring into the flames as if they were a window into another world, but as the maid cleared her throat his attention instantly fell upon us. He made to get up and welcome me but I motioned for him to remain where he was and made mention that it wasn't necessary for him to trouble himself in my presence. He smiled faintly and sunk back into the cushions. He gestured to a seat near his own and I took it graciously.

"So, my maid tells me that you have an important matter to take up with me, is that right?" He spoke gently, formally and without mockery.

"Please sir…the man I love is imprisoned and I was told you might be able to help us… I am Gabrielle -"

He interrupted me gently. " I know who you are…and I will help you, although I was told that your husband was imprisoned for abusing you…if that is a rumor than by all means I can help you"

"No sir, that is no rumor and he is not the one I wish to free…"

"OH? I apologize, please…continue to say what you must…

I dreaded the next words I would have to say, but complete and total love forced me to say them despite all else.

"Monsieur, the man I wish to rescue…is…Erik…the Phantom of the Opera." The look of total stupor on Raoul's face left me breathless. If only there had been another way to rescue my love, but there wasn't and I knew it. The path of the rest of my life depended on Raoul's response.