Chapter 15: Corpse Bride (Couldn't resist )

I think I may have confused some people with the last chapters. Frankly, I wasn't proud of them. At all. So, basically, Christine was feeling guilty because she betrayed her LEGAL husband (and friend). Does she love Erik? We'll see. She definitely thought she did. So basically, she was going a bit insane, because she was cooped up in her room with horrible, horrible guilt filling her mind. That part was badly written, however. If you don't get it now, don't worry. In the words of our heroine, "You will understand in time!"

As for Meg, she was in a bad situation. Betray her friend to help the man she loves, or vice-versa. I'm going to try to explain a bit, because the way I did it was extremely badly done, and for that, I apologize. Meg doesn't think she was happy with Erik, because she'd seen her cry miserably because of him, and when you put together that with the things her mother had told her, she could only draw one conclusion: Erik's a monster (which he is NOT!) and Christine should be with Raoul, even though it hurts her. She was really just doing what she thought was right. I'm going to stop now, because the authors note is really long.

I do not own the Phantom of the Opera.

Also, a little note on morphine: Erik's past is Kay/ ALW based. I'm thinking he killed Javert, was rescued by Madame Giry, then the events of Kay took place. I know that sounds dumb, but I don't know what else to do…as for the morphine, his addiction was a big part of Kay, that stays, but I'm thinking it might not have gotten bad enough to kill him. So this story is Kay/ALW. And very bad.

When she finally opened her eyes, she was greeted by Erik's face. She felt pressure on her forehead, and was vaguely aware of bandages wrapped around her forehead. He had moved her onto the couch, she noted, and he did not at all look happy.

"E…Erik…" she managed. There was a throbbing pain in her forehead.

"Well, thank God," he cried sarcastically. "I thought I'd lost you!"

"Erik…" She tried again. Her forehead pounded. Erik continued.

"Tell me, my love, how you came by such awful injuries?" The sarcasm was still evident in his voice, and she searched her mind her an answer.

"I'm sorry, Raoul!"

She banged her head against the wall, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry…"

Blackness.

"I…" she struggled. "I don't… remember…" She prayed that he didn't know. He knew.

"Spare your lies, dearest, they tire me so!"

She sat up on her elbows, ignoring the searing pain in her head.

"When have I lied to you?"

Erik stared at her in disbelief.

"I'm not going to dignify that with an answer," he said, wide-eyed. "I do hope you haven't damaged your memory in your suicide attempt, as that would prove quite inconvenient for your husband when he comes down for you."

"Husband," she repeated. Her heart pounded faster as she remembered her sin. "He won't come…"

She prayed he wouldn't come! If he never came, she would never have to deal with the awful guilt, she could stay down there forever if she pleased, she'd never have to tell Raoul what she'd done…

Oh, God.

What if…

What if he'd impregnated her? What if he'd impregnated her, and Raoul took her back, and she gave birth, and Raoul knew it wasn't his, and…

The mere thought of it caused her to fall back upon the couch!

"No…" she moaned, allowing the imaginary situation to get ahead of her. She and her baby, on the streets with nowhere to go…

"What is it, Christine?" Erik's cold voice interrupted her thoughts just as Erik Jr. was stealing food from a cart. "Are you remembering your horrible adultery?" He sneered, then turned his back. She was sure she heard him say, "Just like the girl…would rather die than lie with me…"

"No," she struggled to get off the couch, stumbling as she stood. "That's not it at all…"

"Then what is it, my dearest? Thinking of your husband, what he'd think if he knew of your adultery?"

How was he always able to read her mind? Was she that predictable?

"He wouldn't be happy, Erik…" Don't make him angrier…

"Of course he wouldn't…and you always did put his feelings before anyone else's…"

She found her voice before the emotional abuse could continue.

"You know that's not true, Erik!" she cried. He spun around. "I came back to you, did I not?"

"If I remember correctly, it was purely for the fact that you had nowhere to stay!"

"Correct!" she narrowed her eyes, approaching him. "I had no where to stay because I had left my husband!"

"And now you regret it!"

"I did not say that! Don't you dare put words in my mouth!"
"What will you do, Christine?" he asked, a small glint in his eyes. "Ask your old theater friends to destroy my home? I stopped them once, Christine, and I am perfectly capable of stopping them again."

She stopped. There had been a mob, that night…she vaguely recalled screaming…

"The phantom of the opera must be found! Track down this demon!"

"You killed them," she whispered, sick realization washing over her. "You killed them, didn't you?"

"Christine, you always expect the worst of me…" he replied in a much too casual tone of voice. "Do you honestly think I would kill all those innocents?"

"You killed Joseph Buquet!" she cried, before she could stop herself. Erik froze.

"You tread on dangerous ground, de Chagny. Watch your step."

"And the gypsy man! You killed him as well!"

Erik stared at her, a puzzled expression in his eyes.

"How did you-"

"Madame Giry told Raoul," she answered immediately.

"I will have to have a small chat with Madame Giry," he replied, the same glint in his eyes. "In any case, Javert was by no means innocent."

Erik shuddered. Christine did not break her glare. He sighed.

"The Opera Ghost lives! If you so much as set a foot down here in the future, you will never see the light of day again!" His voice came from all directions, and Christine immediately understood what had happened to her at the lake.

"You're a ventriloquist," It was not a question. "I'm learning many new things about you today, Erik. I've learned that you are just as jealous as you were, and you still think little of yourself, and-"

"Stop right there," Erik said, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. "I do believe I see the man of your dreams now!"

She turned her head, only to see Raoul punting the boat across the lake.

"I knew it," he cried, jumping out of the boat, drawing his sword. "I knew you'd taken her! You probably forged the note as well, you fiend! Hand her over, or prepare to fight!"

He took a few steps toward him, his breathing jagged. "This time, phantom, I will not take pity on you, not for the world!"

Erik stared at him, not blinking.

Then, quite rudely, he began to laugh.

"Prepare…to…" he laughed harder, tears streaming down his face and mask. This only fueled the young Victome's anger.

"I said hand her over, demon!" he cried, grabbing Christine's arm. Erik straightened, wiping his uncovered eye, chuckling slightly.

"Christine, I do believe you've made your decision, have you not?" he asked, blinking a few times, his voice shaky.

She stared at the two men, that familiar nausea taking over. Without looking at Erik, she took Raoul's outstretched hand. Raoul dropped her arm and drew his sword.

"If you don't want me here," she finally met his eyes. "I will leave of my own will. It will save you some time."

Erik stared at her, his eyes wide.

"When have I ever-"

"Silence, Phantom!" Raoul cried. He and Christine were already half-way to the boat. "She's made her decision!"

Erik found himself quite incapable of moving as he watched the two leave. Christine never took her eyes of him, and he swore he could see tears in the chocolate orbs.

And yet, he did not feel the usual depression he felt whenever Christine left him. No, in fact, he felt, almost…hopeful.

She'll be back.

Enjoy! More soon!