Raging Fire
Chapter 6: Holy Pickles! It's Over!
Erik was awakened from his slumber when a loud crash sounded in the room and there was a burst of that familiar blue light. He fell off the sofa and onto the hard floor. "Ouch!" he said, and then stood up quickly. The wispy blue smoke slowly faded away, and he came face to face with a woman. "CHRIS!" he shouted, and then just like that, she fainted into his arms. He picked her up and rushed her to the bedroom where he laid her on the bed. She was dressed in Christine's flimsy Don Juan dress, and he couldn't help thinking about how lovely she looked. However, he knew that he had to wake her up. Erik ran into the bathroom and filled the decorative pitcher with some icy water. Ugh, she is going to hate me for this! he thought, and then tossed the water over her head.
In a flash she was sitting up and glaring at him, her eyes shooting knives at him. Then, she realized where she was and jumped into his arms. "Erik!"
"Chris I missed you so much," he said, pulling her into his arms tightly. Then he put her down and took a closer look at her. "Holy pickles, you're covered in soot! I thought that was just some make-up thing. What happened?"
"I got trapped in the fire from the chandelier. Just before the flames got me I came back here, I guess." She shrugged and then hugged him again. "I never want to leave you again."
"Ditto."
- - -
"You try my patience," he said, spitting venom at her. "Make your choice." Now that it really was Christine, Mr. The Phantom was back to his usualbad tempered self. Everything was back to normal. Christine looked from man to man, thinking that the choice would be easy. After all, when Erik had asked her whom she loved she had answered The Phantom. However, now that she had seen Raoul again, she found that she missed him. He was so kind to her and truly loved her. With him, it was not merely an infatuation.
Having seen the movie several times, Christine knew that if she gave herself to The Phantom, he'd let her go. But, did she want to be with Raoul? Christine looked over at him, saw the tears in his eyes and knew her answer. "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known?"
- - -
The next morning, Chris and Erik happily shared a bowl of cereal at their little kitchen table. Other than when they had to -er- go to the bathroom, they were inseperable. There was hardly a second when they were not within eyesight and earshot of the other.
"I am so glad that you're back Chris," said Erik, wiping a stray rice crispie from his cleft chin.
"And I'm glad to be back," replied Chris. Last night had been difficult for the couple. Chris had smoke in her lungs and was up coughing, and Erik refused to leave her bedside. Her hair was slightly singed, and she had several small scars and bruises, but was otherwise just fine. She strode around the table and climbed into his lap for a cuddle.
- - -
"We're here Christine," said the driver. Since the incident at the Opera House, Christine had ordered her servants to refer to her simply as 'Christine'.
"Thank you Vincenzo," she said and stepped out of the carriage. She walked up the small brick path and up the steps to the wooden front door. She opened it up and went inside, dropping her purse on a small table near the door.
"Good afternoon Christine," said her maid, Stacey.
"Hello Stacey," she replied, "Is lunch ready yet?"
"Yes, and we set it out in the garden for you."
"Thank you." Christine headed into the small yard and sat down at the little table to eat. She loved living alone. Her decision to pick neither gentlemen was never regretted. Once a month each man would send her some money so that she could afford to live comfortably. Christine was having some of the best times of her life in her little cottage. Sure, she felt bad that she broke the hearts of two gentlemen, but at least she was happy, and neither got to have her.
Christine picked up a cup of tea and sipped, enjoying the bliss that her life now posessed.
- - -
And that is the end of this tale. It's a true story...happened to a friend of a friend of mine.
A/N: Well, as you can probably see, I decided to end my story. I considered adding a switch of the Eriks', but thought that it may be too much and I'd have to make up a bunch of things or re-tell the story again. Maybe eventually one day I might try that, but not now. I hope you enjoyed it, even though it was short, and I want to thank everyone who left a review! They meant so much to me. So, go off and play outside now. Just don't get sent back in time and switch places with Christine and screw up history. Not a good idea, trust me...been there done that. Lol. I'm such a dork. I'm really sorry it wasn't longer, but I just don't have the patience yet to write something of any signifigant length without losing interest in it. So, see ya!