Chapter 2: Down Once More

It was around seven when she arrived at the charred site of the opera house where she made her début to the royalties of France. She had to be particularly cautious for one wrong move could send rubble crashing down on her fragile body. Walking past the grand staircase reminded her of the first night of Raoul and her secret engagement. How long ago that was. Four months, to be exact. She made her way to the stage that still held memories of the last performance of the house. Christine could almost hear their voices entwining together and sounding so passionate and so into the love for music. She also noticed the chandelier, blackened from the burning flames.

As she quickly grabbed something for light, she realized she was in her own dressing room where she first encountered her Angel in person.

She made her way down to the taverns of the home of the Phantom, as she was feeling nervous yet at the same time excited to see her adopted father. Finally, reaching the gondola, she pushed herself to the cavern that held the man she once adored.

She quickly left the gondola to the organ. He hadn't written much music from the time when she left him for Raoul. She then went to the mannequin that once had been occupied by the gorgeous wedding gown that she wore the night of the terrible disaster.

She hesitantly walked toward the sound of the music box that held the joyful tune "Masquerade." As she had believed, her Angel was sitting on his bed, as she had seen him for the last time, watching the monkey clap the symbols together.

He looked over, startled at the sight of his love. Could it really be? Has she come back for him? Or was it because she felt sorry for him.

Christine had noticed that tears were forming in his eyes and just at the sight of that, she quickly ran to his side and embraced him. Oh, how good it felt to hug the one she had longed to see.

She looked compassionately toward him as tears formed as fast as they were falling. Christine had been worried that he was saddened at the sight of her on behalf of that dreadful night that brought back haunting memories of her leaving him.

The Phantom had noticed that she was looking at him with fear of hurting him and yet he could see all the joy in her eyes. He simply smiled and caressed her check with his hand reassuringly. He could tell that calmed her and he were glad to see relief in her eyes.

"So, how have you been?" he asked with some sadness to the tone of his voice.

"It's…well…how do I put this? It's been awful! Raoul has abused me and I've taken it. I haven't gotten to do any of my chores that I am used to and I don't know if Raoul is just marrying me because of our shared childhood. It's been so frustrating," having said that she gave a loud roar that echoed throughout the cave. She looked at him as if a million pound weight had been lifted.

"Well, do you feel better now that you have that off your chest?"

"Not really. I have something else to tell you. I'm…um…I don't want to hurt you but I'm becoming a wife a week from Sunday. I am supposed to be shopping for my wedding gown this moment but Raoul has said if I were to come down here, he would have my heart as a decoration in the parlor. I said to him as I left so very early that I wanted to get the most beautiful gown and be the first to every store so he would be pleased but I came to you instead." Having said that, Christine felt somewhat embarrassed by her fiancé's behavior towards her.

"Do you really love him or did assume that it would be like old time's, like it was in your early childhood? I bet you just came down here to see poor, unhappy Erik!"

"Erik? Who's Erik?"

"That is my real name. I just became the Phantom because I wrote demanding letter's and I 'haunted' the opera house."

"Oh,"

"Well, you must be worried about finding the perfect wedding gown. I have something for you if your precious little Viscount won't mind you accepting a gift from a me," saying this with a harsh tone to his voice.

"He doesn't have to know," Christine replied in a way that made Erik feel he was being pushed to show her. Having the thought that she might actually love me in the back of his mind, he showed her his gown.

"Oh my gosh! It's so…perfect in so many aspects. I'm…I…I'm speechless. Erik, you created this?" Christine was about to cry with excitement it was so beautiful and so unique, it had made the other dress look like junk.

"So, you like it then?" asked Erik although he already knew the answer. He had to hear it himself to believe it.

"I love it. Almost as much as I love you," and then she leaned over to attempt to kiss him but he furiously pulled back.

"Raoul would not accept that. I think you must be on your way to find the dress for that big day."

"But I have already found that dress right here. How much does it cost?" Christine naively asked.

"It's to be worn by you and you only. I made it just for you and it is only to touch your skin. I made it because I wanted…" but he couldn't finish the sentence. He had hoped for so long that he would be seeing Christine come to him on their wedding day but knew that would never happen. "Just take it and leave immediately."

Christine stood there in shock. Why is he acting this way? He had just hugged me and gave me a look Raoul could never give to me and now he orders me to leave?

Her Angel felt pain as she left him with a questionable look upon her face that day. Why did she have to come back? Why?