The next day, since I had promised Erik I would go out in town and buy firewood and blankets, I got up early. I dressed myself in a plain violet colored dress and put on the comfortable coat that Erik had bought for me.

I came out of my room and walked to where Erik was lying on the couch. He was sitting there, bored; I could tell, and fiddling through the pages of his book. I kneeled next to him and kissed his forehead.

"I'm going to get the firewood and blankets now, Erik."

"Ah, my dear, you know I am very capable of doing it mys - "

"No!" I protested. "You still need to lay down. You aren't quite well yet. Besides, I promised I would get it."

"Yes, yes," He mumbled. "Well, you will need the money, but I can get that for you," And then, he attempted to get off the couch, but I gently pushed him back down. I smiled at him.

"Erik, no, you aren't well enough yet! Now, where is the money?"

"I left it on the - " He stopped abruptly and cleared his throat. He then smiled nervously. "It's on the kitchen table."

I crossed my arms across my chest. "Oh, really? And how did the money get there? Did it fly?"

"Alright, fine!" He exclaimed. "I got up to put the money on the table but that was it!"

I sighed. "You got lucky that time, Erik. Next time you get up I'm not going to be very happy."

He rolled his eyes and smiled devilishly at me. "Come here, my sweet." He said, motioning for me to come to him. I leaned forward and he gave me a big kiss. I giggled and returned it.

"I'll be back soon, and please, don't get up!"

"Fine," Erik said, looking around.

"I don't believe you. Will you promise me that you won't get up?"

"I promise."

"Really?"

"Really."

"You'll stay on the couch?"

"I will."

"For me?"

He looked at me and smiled. "For you, my precious."

I giggled and kissed his cheek. I said goodbye to him and walked to the kitchen, gathering the money that was left on the table by Erik. I walked towards the shore and picked up that large pole; Erik still hasn't told me what it really is called, but anyways I picked that up and started to row gently down the lake.

I started to sing to myself, as I was very nervous I was about to fall:

"Row, row, row Erik's boat

Gently down the lake

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is on the lake!"

And I sang this over and over to myself until I reached my destination. I tied up the boat to a thick wooden stick which Erik had set up and carefully got out of the boat. And then, it was time to make my way through the catacombs.

I remembered the way that Erik showed Nadir and I back in November, about a secret passage way that led out the side of the Opera House. I tried to remember the exact directions and after a few moments I did. I walked extremely slowly down a few tunnels, remembering which way to turn, and I came across a door that looked very much like the wall itself.

Slowly, gently, I pushed it forward. It opened, and led to the side of the Opera House. Since it was so early, I didn't see anyone around, and I carefully walked out, pushing the door shut behind me. Acting casual, I walked down the streets and tried to find a store that sold blankets.

To my luck, I came across a store that said Rugs, Carpets, and Blankets. Never heard of that one before. Smiling, I walked inside and searched around the store.

Beautiful Persian carpets filled one side of the store, and I was caught looking at those for some time. I finally came back to myself and tried to search for blankets, but the next thing I came across were some beautiful rugs. I looked at those for a moment, then quickly went to the blanket area.

There were so many beautiful blankets! How many did Erik want? Did he want a specific color? Oh no, I thought. I should have asked him these questions before I left!

All of a sudden, I felt someone grab my wrist and spin my around. I gasped, as I was now looking into the face of Raoul de Changy.

"So, we meet again, Madmoiselle." He said, sounding very casual.

"Please, let me go." I whispered, trying to get my arm free.

Raoul looked around to see if anybody was watching. Since he saw nobody, he said to me very roughly:

"Don't try to fight me, Christine. You know I'll win. Now, come, let us talk this over."

"Talk what over?" I asked, frightened.

"Don't act as if you don't know!" He spat.

"Let me go! Please!" I whispered, trying to fight free.

"If you scream, my little love, I swear I will break your neck. Now act casual."

Raoul then led me out of the store, smiling to people as we walked down the street, as if nothing was the matter. I didn't smile. But I didn't want to scream. I was too frightened.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked him, as we reached a fancy carriage. He pushed me inside and snapped at the driver to start moving. He quickly hopped in next to me and shut the door.

"Where are you taking me!" I cried at last.

Raoul only glared me, and I saw the daggers in his eyes. I shivered violently. Erik would be worried if I didn't come home. He'd be so cold down there! And he would need to eat something! Oh Erik!

As Raoul seemed to catch me daydreaming, he grabbed my shoulder and made me face him by holding my chin up.

"Now, now, my dear. You'll be okay." And softly, gently, he caressed my cheek with his finger. But I didn't want to feel his flesh against mine. I wanted to go back to Erik!

"Don't touch me!" I told him, yanking my elbow away from him and turning my head to face the window. Suddenly, without warning, I felt a burning blow come across my cheek.

Raoul had slapped me, and he had slapped me hard. Tears started to form in my eyes, and immediatley I lifted my hand to my cheek. I rubbed it, but that never helped.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do," He said flatly. "You belong to me now."

"No I don't!" I cried. "I belong to Erik!"

Raoul once again sent daggers flashing across his eyes. I knew I shouldn't have said that, but I couldn't help it.

"And who, may I ask, is Erik?"

"He's - he's my - " I couldn't finish. I couldn't say it was the Phantom of the Opera! So instead I said, "He's my boyfriend." Technically it was true.

"Well you're wrong," Raoul snapped at me. "You are mine, and you'll never see your blasted boyfriend again! What? What's this?"

At first I didn't know what he was speaking of, but then, as I saw him looking at the ring on my finger, The Promise Ring, I knew that Raoul was going to fly into a rage. And he had.

He grabbed my hand and tried to tear the ring off my finger, but luckily, it was on there quite nicely.

"Raoul, stop! You're hurting me!"

"Oh, I know, I know." He said between clentched teeth, still trying to get the ring off my finger.

I didn't struggle that much, because I knew the ring wasn't going to come off. But unfortunatley out of nowhere, the ring had come off my finger and Raoul was clutching it in his hand.

"No! Give it back to me!" I cried, trying to take the ring from his finger.

"Never," He spat, and held it above his head. "This precious ring will go in the fire, where it belongs!"

"No!"

"Oh, but indeed it will, my lovely!"

I started to sob. Erik said that if ever the promise ring was off my finger, it meant that I didn't love him, and that something terrible would happen! Surely he would believe my story about Raoul though, right?

I stayed quiet, trying to fight back my tears, and looked out the window. If I wasn't home soon, Erik would start to worry. And then what?

We came threw some large gates and down a dirt path, heading towards a large mansion. I guessed this was Raoul's house.

"What are you going to do with me?" I asked, almost in a whisper.

"You heard me," He responded. "You're mine now, so I can do what I'd like with you."

I sighed. There was no point in trying to argue with him. He would win, and that was a fact.

x x x x x

I was standing before the fire miserably. Raoul had just thrown the ring into the fire, and I didn't dare try to stop him. There was no point, either. He would win the battle.

I was left inside of the drawing room, as Raoul told me to stay here. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to escape out the window, but then again I didn't want to move. What if he caught me? The man was horrible. He may try to shoot me!

I could escape easily out the window though. I didn't look difficult at all. All that stopped me was the gates. I wouldn't be able to get past them, as they were shut, and I knew not how to open them.

Raoul came in quietly behind him, as I could only hear him faintly. I sighed, still looking into the fire. Whatever he wanted to do with me, I didn't care. The ring was burnt, I couldn't go home to Erik; I was trapped. Trapped for good.

"Well, well, my dear," Raoul said, as he put his cold hands on my shoulder from behind me. "Your room is prepared."

I shivered. "What room?"

"Why, you are staying here with me! This is your home now, my love."

I was about to just give up and stomp up to my new room, but instead I asked, "Why must I stay here with you? What would you do with me?"

Raoul smiled devilishly and whispered in my ear, "Why, tonight we could have some fun. You know, my legs wrapped around your sweet bo - "

"You disgust me!" I cried, pulling myself away from Raoul. I turned to face him, but his expression didn't change. "I would never do such a thing!"

"Not unless I force you," He said casually. All of a sudden, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun, aiming it towards me. I gasped, trying my best not to move, incase he shot at me.

"Let me lay down the rules here, Christine. If you try to escape, by god I will find you and murder you in front of your precious Erik. Then I will murder him, understand?"

I didn't answer. What was there to say?

"If you don't do as I tell you, I will be forced to shoot you. I have power over you now my dearest."

How in the world did he have power over me? Nobody had exact power over me! I was about to ask him this, but seeing the gun, I kept silent.

"Is this agreed to?" He asked.

"Ye - yes, sir." I whispered.

"I can't hear you," He sneered, moving closer to me. "Speak louder!"

"Yes, sir!"

"That's better." He said, in almost a whisper. He stuffed his gun carefully back into his pocket and moved closer to me. I didn't dare move back, as he might try and bring his gun out again. He touched my breast, feeling my nipple and stroking my soft dress. I shivered violently. I was already raped once, I didn't need to be raped again.

He whispered in my ear, "Tonight, my dear." And then he stalked out of the room.

Before any thoughts could enter my mind, a lady came into the room. She was very pretty. Dark brown hair, green eyes, quite pale, and a very neat posture. She looked so familiar, almost like a dear friend that I knew. She said to me,

"Madame Christine?"

"Yes, that's me." I said.

"Would you like to come with me? I shall show you to your room."

I nodded silently and followed the girl up the stairs and down a hallway. My room seemed to be at the end. When she opened the door to it, I was expecting it to be a dark, dusty, crowded room, but instead it was very beautiful.

A large bed, with light blue blankets and pillows occupied the corner of the room. The carpet was soft and white, matching the color of the walls. There were a few pictures hanging on the walls, and two large windows. One over the bed, and one near the right side of the room.

"Master de Changy says - " The girl cleared her throat, as if deciding to speak or not.

"What is it?" I asked.

She looked at me and smiled. "The Master says that you could share a room with him. If you wanted to."

I frowned. "No thank you, I shall stay here."

"Yes, madame." She was about to walk out of the room and shut the door behind her when I asked,

"What's your name?"

"My name, miss?" She asked.

"Yes."

"My name is Rose Willour, miss."

"And you are a servant here?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Oh, I think this about - " She stopped to think, and then answered, "my second year here."

"I see. Well, thank you Rose."

"Your welcome Madame - "

"Oh please, call me Christine!"

Rose nodded and said, "Christine" under her breath, as if trying to pronounce the name correctly. I turned around and looked at the pictures in my room, but Rose's voice made me turn back around to face her,

"Mada - I mean, Christine," She blushed. "I was just wondering if, um - " She stopped. "Oh nevermind. It's foolish, really."

"You can tell me, Rose."

Rose looked around, her face suddenly becoming more frightened. "I'd rather not, miss. At least not right now. I will fetch you down when lunch is ready, and after dinner Master de Changy would like to see you in the drawing room again for tea."

She then said her goodbye's and walked away, shutting the door behind her; leaving me in this room.

I sighed and sat down on the bed. All the memories of Erik came back to me. He would be so worried! I should have been home by now!

I started to cry my eyes out. Would I ever see my darling Erik again?

x x x x x

Me: Boohaha! I feel so evil.

Christine: Pfft.

Erik: Oh sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...

Christine: Can you please tell him to stop singing!

Me: Why don't you?

Christine: Because he won't listen to me!

Erik: I like big butts and I cannot lie, you other brothers can't deny! And when a girl walks in with a...

Christine: Shut up!

Me: Why is he singing, anyway?

Christine: I don't know. He has just been sitting there singing ever since he got out of the shower.

Erik: It's a thriller! Thrill -

Christine: SHUT UP ERIK!

Erik: (tear) Don't you like my singing, Christine?

Christine: Not that kind of singing! What songs were those anyway?

Erik: I don't know. I just grabbed this CD player and started to listen to them.

Me: (snatches CD player back) Uh, where did you get that?

Erik: Under your bed.

Christine: Well stop singing!

Erik: I love you, you love me! We're a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you -

Christine: Ahhh!

Me: Boohaha! Review!