Every Hope and Every Prayer Rests on You Now
The immense tension in the cell could have been cut with a knife. Or was it? Ironically, the tension was in fact being created by the knife that was held to my throat. I dared not move or speak, in case I would accidentally cause the blade to cut into my flesh. Christophe, who held the opposite end of the knife stared at me viciously.
"So, my love…do you regret anything in your life, as you stare death in the face?"
My heart broke into small fragments as I actually considered his words. "I regret not living long enough to honor my parents…," I raised my voice so that there would be no mistake of the honesty of my next statement, "And I regret not being able to spend eternity with Erik's love." Erik had rose to his feet and unraveled the lasso from his neck. His sharp intake of breath made me realize how much he did love me. He slowly began to advance on Christophe, but somehow he was seen, and in response, Christophe pulled out another knife from inside his sleeve and held it at the level of my eyes.
"Monsieur Phantom, drop the rope and do not move any closer, or I will gouge her eyes, through which you both seem to converse, out of their sockets!" He immediately froze and let the lasso fall to the ground. "That's what I like…obedience…perhaps you could have learned from him…but now we'll never know now, will we?"
Raoul must have snapped out of his shock, because he began to call for the guard, who casually strolled towards out cell.
"Monsieur, this man is about to commit a murder! SIR! HELP US!" Raoul yelled frantically at the guard who merely shrugged.
"It's your business, monsieur!" Raoul's mouth gaped open.
Christophe laughed harshly. "Did you think I wouldn't have considered him already…he is in my service…my money has ensured me that…"
Out of the shadows, the bitter voice of my Erik, emerged. "So, what happens now?"
"I have not yet decided…but it is a great feeling to know that I am the one who will decide!"
In my mind I desperately tried to come up with some solution to this. When none came to my mind I was reduced to staring at Erik over Christophe's shoulder. Erik's eyes met mine and in them I saw a kind of helpless terror. He could do nothing and it was killing him to not be able to protect me. Unexpectedly, Christophe grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me back only to slam me against the wall once again.
"Sorry, m'dear, but you seem to be quite unaffected by my talk of your death…you only stare at Erik, expressing unspoken vows of love through those treacherous eyes, no doubt!" It was then that I decided to take matters into my own hands. I could only pray that Erik caught on to the game I was determined to win.
"On the contrary Christophe, I was merely detaching myself from him. I have accepted that you are my master and I shall be at your disposal for as long as you ask it of me." I masked the nervousness I felt with false sadness and sobriety. He looked at me apprehensively.
"You mean you give in to me?"
"Yes, Sir…I will obey you, my love." It surprised me that I God hadn't struck me down for such blasphemy. MY LOVE! I mocked the words in my head. Not even the devil himself could love such a man!
"I don't believe you! PROVE IT!" I nearly shook of fright, but I continued my acting.
"How would you like me to do it?" I cringed slightly before concealing my dishonesty and innocently watching his eyes for the response.
"I would like you to…remain with me here tonight…we will bind your Phantom here to the wall by chains and make him watch as I…have you in a way, he never could…for no woman would let something such as him touch her body!" I saw Erik stare at me in complete agony. He thought I had betrayed him and his love…Oh Erik! PLEASE CATCH ON! Don't believe my performance! It's false! IT IS FALSE! "Do you agree to this?"
I stared at Christophe with tears glistening in my eyes. I knew that through my words and tears, I could make him believe that I had truly given in to him, but my tears were, in reality, for what I was doing to Erik. "I will, my master…my love…but…may I ask to have one last moment with Erik?" Erik looked up gloomily and Christophe turned his back on me,
"You have 2 minutes, at the end of which, your Raoul will assist me in binding Erik to the wall, then he will leave us and my guard will lock the door."
"Yes, Sir."
I slowly walked over to Erik, who truly looked like he might turn me away. I lowered my voice so it was nearly audible. Lucky for me, Erik had the hearing of a cat. "Erik…I love you so much…" He turned his head away from me in disgust. "Erik…listen to me…don't shun me…I have done nothing…I am simply ending our pain…making it so we will be together…"
"You did not need to do THIS!" His bitter anger consumed the musical quality of his voice. I reached up and removed his mask. He rushed to cover it with his hand, but I pulled his hand away quickly.
I continued to whisper in his ear, "Erik…I am and always will be yours…you cannot know what resides in my mind this very moment…I am not sure if what I am thinking will work…if it does not…know I love you and all that I have said to Christophe was a lie! You are mine and I am yours…I love you more truly than I love life!" Before he could comment I kissed him urgently but not without complete love. I made the kiss as chaste as I could when I felt Christophe's eyes burning on my back. I then laid my hand one last time on Erik's distorted flesh then turned and walked into Christophe's open arms. I was suddenly surprised when he violently turned me around and took my mouth with his. I had expected him to do this, but not without warning. The pain that I had felt when he had savagely beaten me returned to my mind and nearly caused me to abandon my plan. But the sight of Erik painfully watching us caused me to come to my senses. Passionately I moved my mouth with his and struggled to act as if I were enjoying his foul mouth upon mine. While I was distracting him, my hand reached within his coat and caressed his chest. He seemed to be believing in my loyalty because he moved his hands along my body as well. Every inch of me wanted nothing more than to shove him away, but my conscience would not be betrayed. Secretively, I reached my hand into the inside pocket of his coat and seized the knife within.
I placed it behind my back and stepped back from him. His eyes were dark and filled with an burning lust and then they clouded over with anger. "WHY DID YOU STOP!"
I let the poison in my heart fill my voice with complete hatred. "Because, my dearest Christophe… I could never accept you as my MASTER…I belong to one man and one alone, and he watches us in complete anguish. He is tormented by my sick display towards you but he truly knows that I love him and always will…I am his and despite what you think I would rather have his hands upon me than your own. It is you who a woman could never allow to touch her body, as you just did mine! Every inch of me wanted to refuse you…but I had to play along…I had to…" I let my mouth form a wicked smile.
"You little BITCH!" He came at me in a flash, his hands clamped into fists. Erik made to run at him too, but they was all oblivious to what I had in store.
My plan had succeeded. Immediately, I thrust the knife out in front of me and into Christophe's chest. He stopped walking towards me and looked down at the blade protruding from where his evil heart dwelled. In anger, he made to grab my throat, but his grip was so weakened that I had no trouble in throwing him off. He tumbled to the floor and remained still in a pool of his own blood.
I merely gawked at what I had done. Suddenly the reality of what I had done enveloped my soul like a wave and I was reduced to tears. No part of me still loved Christophe, but the realization that I had committed murder was more than I could bare. I heard footsteps coming up behind me. Raoul reached for me, but I pushed him away.
"LEAVE ME! LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE! I HAVE KILLED! I AM A MURDERER! I DON'T DESERVE LIFE NOR LOVE…I HAVE KILLED! LOOK WHAT I HAVE DONE…DON'T YOU SEE IT? HE HAS CAUSED ME TO BE CONDEMNED TO HELL…to HELL….to…to…"
Another pair of hands grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet. I fought and attempted to resist them, but they were far too strong for me. I was turned and pulled into Erik's arms. At first I tried to escape from his embrace, but he held me with a gentle strength that I could not elude.
I finally exhausted myself and gave in to sobbing on his shoulder. He placed a comforting hand on the back of my head, then began to stroke my hair. I looked over his shoulder for an instant only to see Raoul bash the guard over the head to render him unconscious. I closed my eyes and buried my face in his neck once again.
Gently he addressed me. "My love…we must leave…Raoul will escort us out of Paris safely…calm down my love…Calmez-vous! …We are free…free…and we are together!"
Free Together! My tears died down at this. We were now on the run…but at least we were together. Whatever would confront us, we would be able to overcome…together! We were together at last!
