Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews! If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

"Erik!"

Christine sat up in bed as if she were struck by a bolt of lightening. Beginning to sob, she recalled the nightmare that had just transpired in her slumber. She had dreamt of him again. Night after night, he would return to her dreams. Christine shook at the horror of what had just played in her mind.

The mob had made its way down to the lair and was converging around the lone, sobbing figure. Erik sat where Christine had left him, staring from the music box in front of him, to the ring in his hand. He did not look up.

They began to taunt him, to shout obscenities and mock his unmasked face. As the mob became more frenzied, they threw rocks from the shore of the lake and moved in closer. One of the stones hit his hand, knocking the diamond to the ground. Now aware of the peril surrounding him, he quickly looked up. With movements so rapid that Erik did not have the time to register them, one of the guards cocked his pistol and pointed it at him. Erik sensed the danger his life was in and he moved forward…

The shot rang out as clear as its victim's blue-green eyes.

This was the vision that had haunted Christine. She knew unquestionably that it could not possibly be true, for Madame Giry had assured her that Erik was indeed still alive. Maybe it was the guilt Christine felt that caused her nightmare. The heartless choice she made by leaving Erik alone did not cause her to deserve the comfort of his life continuing.

"I deserve worse", Christine said through her tears. "I deserve the agony of knowing he is dead. I deserve living with the guilt of his blood on my hands from my cruelty. How could I have done this! All he wanted was for me to love him, and I did! I do still. But what was I supposed to do? I could only think of Raoul dying and my future. I was selfish. I chose luxury over love. God help me. God help me I will rectify my sins. Somehow… "

It was suppertime at the de Chagny estate. Raoul stood behind his chair, waiting for his fiancé and older brother to arrive. Looking around the table Raoul could see the annoyance in everyone else's eyes. His sister in law Josephine, his little niece Bridgette and nephew Pierre, and his stern Aunt Francine quietly talked. Raoul was thinking about Christine and how dejected he was that she would not set a wedding date when she flew through the door and to her spot by his side.

"Where have you been?" Raoul inquired.

"I was reading in my bedroom", Christine whispered so the family would not overhear.

"But what kept you? You never come late to dinner."

"I…I was engrossed in the novel I was reading. I lost track of the time."

"No you did not. You are hiding something from me Christine."

"Keep your voice down! I am not hiding anything from you. I was simply reading and I do not appreciate you being so untrustworthy of your fiancé Raoul. This is getting ridiculous! You always question everything I say to you and nev-"

The side door opened with a resounding bang as Philippe de Chagny entered his dining room. He took his spot at the head of the table and motioned for everyone else to sit. The meal began in absolute silence and Christine was grateful for the chance to halt the confrontation with Raoul. Since the morning she had been consumed by her dream and trying to provide herself a way to redeem herself in Erik's eyes and honor her promise to Raoul as well. Maybe Raoul would allow her to visit Erik so they could talk...or maybe Erik would agree to come visit her….maybe she could send him-

"This cannot continue any longer."

Forks scraped and mouths dropped when Philippe broke the silence with his ominous statement. Josephine looked quizzically at her husband and Christine stared at her lap, knowing this assuredly was about her.

"What are you talking about Philippe?" asked Raoul.

"I am speaking of your dear fiancé. A date for this wretched wedding must be set. People about town are speaking of this household in an unflattering fashion. They are saying that Christine is your whore and that I am running a whorehouse since you will not marry. I will not tolerate this! It has been almost a year since the engagement was announced and she moved in. Either marry within six months or you will both be ordered out. You are quite old enough to settle into your own home Raoul and there you can continue as you wish."

Tears were brimming in Christine's eyes and she dared not look up at the faces around the table that were undoubtedly staring in her direction. Philippe maintained a look of complete calm and smugness as he waited for his younger brother to respond. Raoul cowered in fear and quickly glanced at Christine. He knew that if he wanted to keep her at his side, he had to act. This was the defining moment in which for once, Raoul needed to fight for the love he so recklessly threw about.

"Philippe, this is not the place to have this discussion. Could it not have been saved until after dinner? It is completely unnecessary for you to repeat such horrible and untrue remarks about Christine. I think that she and I will reason about setting a wedding date this evening and in the morning you will be informed. Let us all return to our meal and talk of pleasant things. Pierre, how was your riding lesson today? Did your instructor allow the horse to gallop while you were on it?"

While Raoul's mediocre response to Philippe's tirade satisfied the rest of the family, Christine knew that Philippe was still as unconvinced as she. His eyes were piercing into her temple and felt the familiar feeling of anger and dread creeping over her. Not for one moment had she felt at home in Raoul's world. Not once had Raoul defended her honor when his relatives slandered her name and once again he had failed appallingly. Day after day, week after week, and month after month, Christine had watched as the de Chagny family grew to hate her more and Raoul even began to treat her as a child. No longer did the two go for long walks and embrace each other with desperation and tenderness. Christine did not see the boy she loved anymore when she gazed upon her future husband. Instead, she saw someone who neither knew her true self, nor honestly loved her.

"I will write Madame Giry tonight. I know she will help me find Erik", Christine thought as she excused herself from the table and retired to her chambers.