Chapter 11: The Life That was Meant For Me
Once Christine was at the opera house, she quickly ran toward her dressing room but found that the stage had been repaired. The wooden stage had its entire glow to it and the curtains looked as if they were freshly hemmed. 'But where's the chandelier' she quietly asked her self. She looked up and found the remaining part of it hanging from the ceiling. But the one thing that shocked her most was the set the stage was holding up. It was the set of "Don Juan Triumphant" and it looked exactly as it did so long ago.
She ran down to her dressing room and found a red rose with a black ribbon on it as if she had completed her performance in success. She ran down the hallway, jumped into the gondola and stepped on the shore in her wedding dress.
Erik had heard the water moved and thought it could be a possibility it was his Angel and it was! She had come back. And she was even in her wedding gown as if she had run away.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in a joyful attitude.
"I ran away from my pretend and planned wedding to actually marry the man that was right for me," and having that, she ran to him and he picked her up, swirling and kissing her. They both smiled at each other and then she gave him his wedding band.
"I know that this was meant for Raoul but he gave it to us so you would have a symbol of your marriage," she said as she slipped the gold ring onto his finger.
"What about the stage? Did you like it?"
"I never thought that could be repaired," Christine assumed that she would play her old part in her wedding gown but just as before, Erik surprised her with her old costume and he rushed her to get changed. He was already in his costume except for his mask. He rushed over to the table and slipped on the black mask and yelled for Christine. Why must it take women so long to get ready?
She stepped out of his bedroom looking even more stunning than the night of the authentic opera. She had her hair decorated with a rose that she had found in her room upstairs. He could tell she was anxious.
The walk upward seemed to take forever but considering she was with her Angel, and now her fiancé! She could actually call him her fiancé! Anyway, back to the story, once they reached the remains, they both gasped simultaneously.
It had been ever more magnificent than before, to Christine at least. To Erik, it looked brighter than before. I suppose it was because the lights on the chandelier were shining. The two love bunnies had been holding hands as they walked up the stairs and now they let go knowing that hey would be together again shortly.
He helped her up the stage and then he climbed up himself. He gave her a quick hug as his way of saying 'thanks' and she knew that. He took his place and let his romantic opera scene begin:
"You have come here,
In pursuit of your deepest urge,
In pursuit of that wish which
'Till now has been silent.
Silent. I have brought you,
That our passions may fuse
And merge. In your mind
You've already succumbed to
Me, dropped all defenses,
Completely succumbed to me.
Now you are here with
Me. No second thoughts.
You've decided. Decided."
After starting in on the song, Christine had noticed there were no instruments. This startled her but she knew it would sound all right. She had been taught by the best.
"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? Having said this to Christine, he gave her a passionate stare that he received right back at him.
Past the point of no return,
The final threshold.
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn,
Beyond the point of no return?"
It was Christine turn for her solo and she wanted to make it extra special but how was the question. She decided to take Erik's wedding ring and make the lyrics sound somewhat like her vows to him. These vows would be very loving in a dark; mysterious way unlike usual vows would be like in a wedding.
"You have brought me,
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 word untwining she took his ring with her hand and held it as if she had just put it on in the ceremony. Why hadn't he thought of that?
"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," the two of them climbed with excitement, as they would hold each other on the bridge and the climax of the song.
"One final question.
How long should we two wait
Before we're one?" Then Christine had noticed she had said this. She knew it was the right line but just the sound of it made her even jumpier.
"When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?" They had reached the top with no problems but now they were face to face. Both were smiling with a indication of desire. They had to finish the duet before they did anything else. It had to be done!
"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!" They had made it. Erik was stroking her body like choreographed and Christine noticed something. 1) It was like one of the times she had visited Erik and she hoped it turned out the same and 2) It was like most of her nightmares that haunted her. This time it was a dream only played in reality.
He started his other solo in hopes of finishing:
"Say you'll share with me,
One love, one lifetime.
Lead me, save me
From my solitude.
Say you want me with
You here, beside you.
Anywhere you go,
Let me go, too.
Christine, that's all
I ask of you." And it was a success! He had finished it. Then he snatched her up and embraced her as if they had accomplished something.
"Do you want to go down the quick way?" he questioned Christine in case she wanted to walk all the way down.
"Sure. It doesn't sound bad to me," and he knew exactly what she meant. He kicked the trap door open and held her tightly as she did to him.
It had brought back haunting memories but she knew he wouldn't try to capture her this time. They ran toward his bedroom and enjoyed their first night together.