This is a real short chapter, but I promise that I'll post another one today!
-Nico
The iron gate lifted simultaneously with Rae's warning scream, which caused both men to look back at her as she stood on the shores of Erik's underground lair.
She hurried towards where Erik stood in ankle deep water, his right hand clutching the rope.
"Gerard," Rae rasped, the cold of the lair taking it toll on her slender body. "Don't come any closer," she finished.
Gerard ignored her, walking pointedly under the gate, closer to the man with a noose in his hand.
"Let her go," he said, keeping his voice threatening and low.
"Why would I do that, Monsieur?" Erik countered, surprised by the bravery of this strangely dressed man.
"Because you can't win her love by making her your prisoner," Gerard said.
Erik smiled slowly. He had heard such claims before.
"On the contrary," Erik said. "I believe I already have the love of Christine."
"Please, stop," Rae said, shivering.
"But she is not Christine!" Gerard yelled.
"She is the closest thing to Christine I have!" Erik bellowed back.
Gerard stepped back, Erik's admission painfully truthful.
"And you are willing to kill for her?" Gerard asked, nodding towards the rope in Erik's hand.
"I have before," Erik replied darkly. "I will not lose her again."
"Then you will have to kill me," Gerard said, loosening his collar.
Rae gasped. "Gerard!" She said, pleading with one word.
"You would die for her?" Erik asked.
Gerard looked from the man before him to Rae.
She stood, her face stained with tears. Her hair flowed about her pale face.
She was beautiful, even in the most desperate of situations.
Gerard locked his eyes with hers.
Oceans of emotions flowed between the two. Feelings that words could not express.
Fear. Hope. Love. Sadness.
"Yes," Gerard said softly. "I believe I would."
Erik didn't move for a moment.
And then, he growled, swinging the lasso in Gerard's direction.
"No!" Rae screamed at the same time, grasping onto Erik's arm just as he was about to release the rope, causing his aim to be severely deterred.
The noose landed several feet to the right of Gerard, whose eyes were on Rae.
Erik looked down at Rae, who still clutched his bicep with both her hands.
He turned slightly, gently pressing his palm to her cheek.
Jealously burned within Gerard, yet since it seemed Rae was not in immediate danger, he remained still.
Rae looked up at Erik.
Christine Daae swelled within Rae's body, the touch of Erik clearly too much to ignore.
She raised her hand in response, bringing her cold fingertips down the side of his masked face.
"Christine," Erik said softly. "I love you."
Rae smiled.
Slowly, Erik lowered his lips to hers, pulling her against his body in a crushing embrace.
Gerard watched as they kissed, his world slowly dissolving around him.
He watched as Rae's hands came up to clutch at the Phantom's hair.
He watched as the Phantom's hands came down to grasp her waist.
He watched as Rae pulled back, her face smiling.
And then, he watched as she slid away from the Phantom, her eyes rolling back in her head, her body crashing limply into the shallow lake all three stood in.