Chapter 4: Seven Days

It was around seven in the morning and Christine had actually woke up from a restful sleep. It was a very peaceful thought. Why had this been a night of peacefulness? Oh, it was a week to her wedding day and she was extremely anxious.

"Good morning, Raoul," she said with tenderness in her voice that could have only been given to her by an Angel.

"Good morning to you too, dear. How did you sleep? I didn't hear you last night. I was kind of worried," he had been somewhat nervous that she might have slipped out in the middle of the night to see Erik.

"That is because I didn't have that dream last night. It was so wonderful! I had the best sleep I have had in months! I am going to the market this morning and won't return until about one," she said with fairly shaky voice.

"Why? We have maids to that for us." He said 'we'. That made Christine tremble at the sound of that. She was going to become his wife sooner than she had hoped for.

"I want to choose some fresh fruit myself. It would make my day even better." Christine just wanted to get away from his clutches. That was what would make part of her day. The other part would have to be seeing Erik. She knew this was a bad idea but just to see him again and talk to him would make everything all right. "Do you want anything special, my love?" My love? What was she saying? She quickly gave a smile his way to make it sound like she had actually meant it.

"Can you get me some cantaloupe? It had always been my favorite and we're fresh out."

"I think I might be able to find some and I will make sure it is extra sweet! Oh, look at the time! I must leave. Don't want to be caught up in crowds!" Saying this and running for the door at the same time made Christine out of breath. She quickly hopped into the carriage and rode off.

She mentioned to the driver to be by the square by ten minutes after twelve just in case she was running behind at the Opera House. He accepted the orders and dropped her off at the most superb store in town.

She could smell all the luscious fruits just outside. 'I must pick a cantaloupe for Raoul and an assortment of fruit for Erik,' she said as if she were one of the maids. She grabbed up a few strawberries and some grapes for Erik and a cantaloupe for Raoul. Why am I doing this? I'm shopping for my husband! Maids are supposed to shop for us. I just want to shop for Erik. Having this in mind, she sat the cantaloupe down and doing this made her tremble.

She quickly paid and rushed to the opera house. Once inside, she noticed something had changed. It seemed rather clean for a burnt building. She rushed to her dressing room to find that the mirror was slightly cracked.

"I didn't leave this open," she said to her self for she had closed it, just in case anyone was to enter, they would never find the hidden portal.

The hallway was lighted all the way down to the cavern that sheltered Erik from the outer world. The cave been lit as well, but he did live down there so that was a bit obvious.

"Past the point of no return,

No backward glances.

Our games of make-believe are at an end.

Past all thought of "if" or "when",

No use resisting,

Abandon thought and let the dream descend.

What raging fire shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us?

Past the point of no return,

The final threshold.

What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn,

Beyond the point of no return?"

She couldn't believe he had still remembered that. Wait, he had written it so she could believe it but the thought that he was actually singing it was unbelievable. His loud voice boomed throughout the entire cavern, which made Christine feel like she was a part of the opera again. He was wearing the same black mask and suit that was assigned to the part, unlike his usual white half mask and suit. Christine couldn't help but to sing in, even though the outfit didn't match:

"You have brought me," he looked over, hearing that voice and seeing her face as she rowed in toward the shore. He was standing on the other side of the mannequin, which was perfect to do the stair scene as he had originally wrote in the choreography.

"To that moment when words run dry.

To that moment when speech disappears into silence.

Silence. I have come here,

Hardly knowing the reason why.

In my mind I've already imagined our bodies untwining," At the sound of that, Erik, who had wished for that, began to sweat.

"Defenseless and silent.

Now, I am here with you,

No second thoughts,

I've decided. Decided.

Past the point of no return,

No going back now.

Our passion play has

Now at last begun.

Past all thought of "right" or "wrong",

One final question.

How long should we two wait

Before we're one?

When will the blood begin to race?

The sleeping bud burst into bloom?

When will the flames at last consume us?" At this point Christine got the idea of climbing up the stairs, which was rather exciting for her. Plus, Erik was excited as well. They both eagerly started the duet together except this time; Erik had no intension of crashing a chandelier or abducting a woman who he admired. But he still wanted to kill her fiancé.

"Past the point of no return,

The final threshold.

The bridge is crossed,

So stand and watch it burn.

We've past the point of no return," Holding this note out made both of them quiver. He enjoyed caressing her body as well as she enjoyed receiving his passionate touch. He twirled her around so he could actually embrace her but instead she leaned upward and kissed him. How he missed her sweet lips from the night of his disaster of an opera. She had looked up at him then, soon after, plunged into another kiss except this time, it was a deeper, more passionate kiss. He stroked her body carefree of what the Viscount would do if he ever found out about this. Like Christine said before 'He doesn't have to know.' They both knew this was a bad idea but they couldn't help themselves. You could say that they were two love bunnies. (A/N: said this because I've been called that and thought it was kind of funny) He rapidly snatched her off her feet and whisked her away to his bedroom.

It was an hour of delight before either one could gain sanity. Erik finally pulled her away from him.

"We cannot continue this. It breaks my heart that you are just toying with me. I know you love Raoul. That is why you left me. I know. I hate it that you do this! Leave!" and he turned around and cried. She attempted to sooth him but he backed away into a corner of the room.

It was ten past one and the driver of the Changy family had become greatly worried about Christine and what may become of her if Raoul was to find out about this. He drove over to the Opera Populaire, or should I say what remained of the legendary house and saw Christine emerge from the rumble, frowning as if she had just been hurt.

"Where were you! I've been waiting for you for an hour and have been worried sick!" The sound of his voice didn't bother Christine for she had enjoyed the best morning and she probably would never receive this kind with Raoul. Oh no, Raoul! She quickly got it the carriage and told the driver to go as fast as he could go. She rapidly thought up of a lie that would have Raoul's total belief.

When they arrived, Christine stepped into the house and looked at Raoul's furious and worried, yet relieved appearance of his eyes. "Where have you been? I have been worried sick about you, Christine! Where's my cantaloupe?" Where's his what! Christine thought she was more important then a fruit that he ate for a snack in the middle of the day.

"Your more worried about a freaking cantaloupe more than about your fiancé! How dare you! I should have stayed with Erik!" She had said this without thinking about it first. What was he capable of doing?

"You were where! I…I can't believe you would go there after I told you never to go back there! What…" he was cut off by Christine's voice.

"Listen, I am not a child so I don't have to listen to you!" She also didn't consider what would happen after this came out of her mouth.

"You little ignorant child!" and then he slapped her across the face, pinned her to a wall and attempted to suffocate her. Realizing what he was doing, she kicked her foot to his area of tenderness and he dropped to the floor, crying. What a baby! She rushed upstairs, in tears of what had just happened. Relieved to be away from him, she locked the door's three locks, one of which could not accessible from the outer keyhole and knew she was safe. She heard the loud crashes of memorable items he had collected over the years and the loud screeches coming from the story below her feet. She soon understood what she must do in order to repair the couple's relationship.