Shade: Well, I tried to update on Friday, but my comp was not being yay. However, I have returned. Now, upon reading this chapter, you will understand why I insisted on this being posted when I got back. Enjoy!

And on a side note, Kitariki (AKA Natsuki) was my 300th reviewer! So Natsuki, you get Erik until the next update! YAY! (celebration ensues)

"Past the point of no return

The final threshold . . .

The bridge is crossed

So stand and watch it burn . . ." –The Point of No Return

Chapter 25: Past All Thought of Right or Wrong

I froze in fear. My legs turned to marble statues and I couldn't run. I knew the guns were pointed at me, readying to fire. I knew that if they shot me, I would certainly die on the spot. Yet, I couldn't bring myself to flee.

Are you going down this easily, Nasrin?

No, Erik will know who I am first, even if I die in the process.

Be careful what you wish for . . .

But just as I moved to run, Madame Giry tapped a policeman on the shoulder, motioned to me, and shook her head. Just like that, I was no longer a target, and I was free from their scrutinizing gaze. Now I could have fled to safety. However, I would not abandon my post. I would stay, and I would observe how Erik would attempt to make the angel stray from her lover.

Just as I attempted to do when I was beside him . . .

Christine's voice was the one thing able to erase my memory from Erik's head. And that was what he sought after. I lowered my head in shame and felt a reluctant tear trickle down my face as Piangi went behind the curtain, waiting for Aminta. An echo of Christine's voice held the audience spellbound and I clenched my fists, my teeth gritted in restrained spite. How I loathed myself for being jealous of her.

As Piangi's next part came around, I noticed that his voice was different, far more melodic and the Italian accent almost gone. Christine noticed it too, for her eyes darted and she seemed to be immediately uneasy.

My breath caught in my throat and I began to move trance-like towards the stage, my eyes wide. My arms fell limply at my side and the rope slipping between my fingers. The police officers were forgotten and the only thing that mattered to me was the incredible song of an angel . . . my angel.

Erik and Christine began to sing, and the audience gradually began to notice as I walked down the aisle towards them. I could see numerous audience members turn to me, undoubtedly wondering if I happened to be a character in the production.

"Take your seat Mademoiselle," an usher murmured, catching up with me by the orchestra seats.

"I thought I told you to leave me be," I answered in a reverie, my eyes staying locked on Erik and how striking he looked as Don Juan.

"Yes, but that was when you wanted to stay in the back. Now you are blocking the views of some of our paying customers." His voice was soft, yet hurried.

"You would do best to leave me alone," I muttered, readying my body for a conflict, should he remain insolent.

"Come with me." The usher grabbed my arm. That was it. I whipped around, jolted from my trance and utterly enraged. I gripped fast to his neck and pushed him over, sitting on his stomach and squeezing his neck, my thumbs against his windpipe. He let out a frantic gasp of panic and some people rose from their seats to attempt to save the usher's life. My work was cut short by several pairs of hands, which dragged me from him.

However, when they went to examine the poor man, they found him blue in the face with my fingerprints darkened on his skin. I had strangled the life out of him. His body lay limp on the floor, facing the ceiling with a look of shocked horror on his face.

In an attempt to draw attention back to themselves, Christine and Erik's voices rose in volume, and some people turned back to the opera as a few more ushers came to carry the body away. I looked up at them, waiting for a tension to burst and chaos to ensue.

"The bridge is crossed

So stand and watch it burn.

We've passed the point of no return . . ."

I focused my attention on them again, eyes wide at the amount of passion in their melody. I moved closer to the stage, stopping just short of the orchestra and gaping up at them. How I yearned to take the place of Christine . . . if only Erik wasn't so insolent. At the peak of my desire, I cast aside my mask and walked on the stage, following Erik's path up to the catwalk just as he began to sing again.

"Say you'll share with me

One love, one lifetime . . .

Lead me, save me

From my solitude . . ."

I heard the gunmen ready their rifles, but I didn't cease. I would reach him; that was all I wanted. I was halfway up the stairs and I looked up at Erik, wincing as he faced Christine, cupping her hands in his, speaking of undying devotion . . . words that should have been spoken to me.

"Anywhere you go

Let me go too . . ."

A feeling of dread come over me as Christine's hands roved over Erik's face. I noticed that Christine mouthed something to Erik, and my feeling of terror worsened. Christine's lips formed a single word: Revenge. Erik didn't seem to notice, and continued to sing.

"Christine, that's all I ask of-" Erik couldn't finish, since Christine tore the mask from his face, exposing his horrid deformity to the whole theater. He roared in rage and my heart shattered for him.

I clapped my hands over my mouth, unable to stifle a cry of both rage and pity. "Erik! Oh no!" I screeched as I raced the rest of the way up the stairs. I stood in front of Erik, facing the crowd; I heard Raoul give the order to fire and spread my arms protectively.

"Daevas?" he spat.

I turned to face him, my mask gone. "No, my love." I saw his face contort into a look of absolute shock. His mouth hung open.

"Nasrin?" he gasped, touching my face in awe as he clutched Christine to him.

"I told you. I swore to you that I would always-"

A gunshot pealed through the air. There was a sudden searing pain; then I felt wet blood blossom quickly from the wound. I began to feel faint, and I clutched at Erik's shirt, desperate for him.

"Nasrin!" he bellowed, catching me around my waist as the bullet tore through me.

I clutched his ear to me as I heard him begin to sob. "Run, Erik. Get out of here." I shakily kissed his deformity.

"No! Nasrin you can't-"

"I made my choice . . ." I coughed, feeling my body shut down.

Was I dying?

"Run my only love. Don't . . . let this be . . . in . . . vain . . ."

He released me and I saw his face dim before my eyes as my legs gave way. I felt someone catch me in their arms as Erik faded to black. I heard them speak, and I was thus put in someone's charge.

The voices became muffled . . .

Darkness . . .

xXxXx

Erik's POV:

Don Juan was a blur . . .

None of my music mattered anymore . . . not after . . .

Everything went by so quickly. But as I saw Daevas running to me, protecting me, I felt weak. Even before she turned to me, revealing her to be my beautiful Nasrin, I knew.

She was blocking me with her own body . . . for one reason . . .

See what your negligence has done?

I had kept Christine close, though now I hardly knew the reason. Now that Nasrin was alive, I could have simply taken her. But then, the unspeakable . . . a bullet, meant to claim my life, ripped through her body. I didn't know where the bullet had struck her, but it was enough to make her cry and cling to me. All I saw on her was blood . . . it was everywhere. I could feel her blood, my Nasrin's blood, dampening my shirt and dripping down my skin and I grabbed her. I never wanted to let her go again. But, she pulled me to her, asking me to leave her . . . leave her to die . . .

As if by a miracle, Madame Giry came running to the catwalk, catching Nasrin just as her eyes closed and she fell completely limp in my arms. I knew not whether she was alive or dead.

"Take her," I said to Madame Giry. "Take care of her."

Giry nodded, knowing that, as my Nasrin was wounded or worse, that Christine was my key to happiness.

I looked once more down at my fair Nasrin, limp and soaked with blood, and grabbed the lever for the trapdoor. Upon looking at the audience, I saw that most of them had fled and the rest of the policemen froze, fearing I would use Christine as a human shield.

But I did see the man who shot Daevas. He twirled his pistol in his fingers, smiling wickedly at what I now knew to be Nasrin's limp form. He then looked at me, making the same motion to shoot me, now that Nasrin was out of the way. It was then that I pledged to kill Jean de Lamarier in the most painful way I knew how. I pulled the lever and, clutching Christine to me, I allowed us to fall below.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! I heart every one of you!

XxDallysGirl4Life-x-GerrysLoveTartxX: She didn't because he walked away too quickly. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Natsuki: Well, that's ok. XD! Here you go, take Erik until my next update! I know, some people are tortured by the lack of romance, but do not fear! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

harem98: (revives) I know, I'd faint too. I know, he's dense. Got some sense knocked into him now, didn't he? Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Dragon-mage16: Well, you won't. But now you will, lol. I'm glad you love the story. I know, I wanted the knife to hit too. That would have prevented this whole thing. -.-;; Oh well. You shall see in time. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Jen Lennon: LOL, thank you. You and like three other people are the only ones who didn't push for another update before I left. THANK YOU! Anyway, thanks for understanding about the whole romance thing. Again, you are in the minority, but you make this a lot easier. LOL. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

DragonheartRAB: I know, I know . . . well, she got through to him, though not as easily as she wanted. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: LOL, thanks. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

GerrysISUChick04: XD! Well, punjabbing Erik wouldn't be great either. But luckily there is no need for that. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Bananas in Pajamas: XD! Thanks. You'll know. Erik gets smart, don't worry. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Corpse x Bride: (gives tissues) And YAY FOR SEEING HUGH! Omg, I heart him like you cannot believe! (and after listening to Sarah Brightman for such a long time, Sandra Joseph seemed to be sort of a let down.) Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Mademoiselle Justicia: XD! (looks over at Erik who jumped of the deep end of the pool) THERE HE GOES! XD! Very amusing review. Anwyay, thanks for the review and here is your update!

yagirl-123: Though that is not how they are reunited, I will probably use snippets of that here and there. (nods) Do you write a lot? Because as angsty as you are, you're really good. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

VictorianDream: XD! I'm glad last chapter was easier to follow. Well, thanks for the review and here is your update! Now I hope you see why I kept it until I came home. (nervous laughter)

phantominhell: Well, yes. LOL. You'll see. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

LadyOfLegends: XD! LMAO! LMBO! LOL! And any other form of laughter expressed through IMs. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Mrs. Gerard Butler: I wish that was my name . . . anyway! If you have ever heard the song "Phantom of the Opera" (as I'm sure you have) after "Your spirit and my voice, in one combined the Phantom of the Opera is here inside my mind" there is an interlude by random voices that say "He's here, the Phantom of the Opera! Beware the Phantom of the Opera" so that's where that came from. But I'm using Leroux Christine, yes. I figure she was the original (shrugs) even if my phantom is based off of Hugh Panaro and Gerard Butler. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Norma Jean the Dancing Machine: XD! Jean's still there, don't worry. Although it will be safe to assume that you will more likely want to kill him than mock him in a little bit. (nods) Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Ethalas Tuath'an: That is a constant complaint, isn't it? Well, do you think if Erik walked by her and she took off her wig he would turn back around if she called? Really, he's too stupidly convinced of his assumption rather than the truth. Stupid Erik. Don't worry, he comes to! LOL! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

littledarkone: XD! I was in Mass. not too long ago. Just thought I'd share that though it has NO relevance to anything. (nervous laughter) Don't worry, Erik comes to. LOL. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

ali: See Ethalas Tuath'an's review for my reasoning for the wig thing. She isn't dumb, she's just not thinking clearly at the moment. (shrugs) Truth be told, it would have been easier on them both than what's about to happen. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

jessie: XD! Thank you very much! I know, Erik is silly. XD! A blond moment, LOL! Thanks for the review and here is your update!