A/N - Here it is! What you have all been waiting for! I'm sorry to make you squirm, (which was GREAT BTW!) but I had to get my other two phics off the ground. Please read them after you have read this one! Thank you so much for reviewing, and please keep doing so! -hugz-
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Chapter 16 - No Backward Glances
Christine finally did what she knew she had to do. It was her mission. She brought her lips onto Erik's in a passionate kiss. Erik was taken aback, but he wrapped his arms around Christine, holding her tightly. Christine's hands clasped Erik's face, holding it to hers. The embrace lasted for an eternity to the audience, but to those in the embrace, it seemed like seconds.
They broke apart, both gasping for air. Christine's eyes sparkled, her lips moist. She looked up to Erik whose eyes were filled with a joy she had never seen in him. They looked out at the audience, who was gasping. Christine's eyes were drawn to the Managers, who stood gaping like fish. They knew whom she sang with, they knew it was the Phantom who sang. Erik grabbed Christine by her waist, eyes blazing at the audience but mostly at Madame Giry. She had denied him everything he loved, not any more.
"You've past the point of no RETUUURN!" Erik sang, booming out the line. He kicked a trap door lever, causing the bridge they were on to give way. Christine opened her mouth to scream as they fell through the floor, but the sudden force whipped it away. She clutched at Erik tightly, closing her eyes. Erik held her close, her touch warming his skin and heart. She had kissed him.
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As soon as Christine had kissed Erik, Madame Giry knew. She may think it was her mission, but she could die! Madame Giry had seen him kill Piangi, she was the only one who knew that so far. And she had known it was he who caused the death of many others before. Christine was in trouble.
As they plummeted through the gap, Madame Giry ran forwards, not forgetting the glare from Erik. She stared down the hole, eyes wide in shock. Meg had followed her, and a mob of others had then followed Meg too. The audience was in outrage, standing, shouting, and screaming. They had walked out, or to the stage. An angry mob of cast, crew and audience was forming around the hole. Madame Giry looked to Meg.
"I'm coming with you Maman!" Meg cried. Madame shook her head, picking up her skirts.
"No Meg NO!" She shouted over the roar. "No! You stay here!" And with that, she ran off, her hand at the level of her eyes. Meg stared after her. The Mob began to push and shove past Meg, trying to follow Madame Giry. Meg turned and shoved them back
"NO!" She shouted, "NO! Back!" The Mob stopped and with another roar, they set off to search for another place to enter The Phantom's Lair.
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Erik and Christine were making their way to his Lair via their usual route. Only the mirror had been missed out. They had landed in the Lake, bang in the middle of it. Christine surged to the surface, Erik had done so just before her. The water was just deep enough to walk in without getting above the thigh, so Erik picked up Christine, and walked the rest of the way with her in his arms. Her dress was soaked and her hair hung damp about her shoulders. Erik could feel her frame through the wet cloth, he tried not to think about it too much. Christine just looked at Erik, her eyes full of love. When he looked at her, he returned the loving gaze with an intense passion that made her heart flutter. Christine became heavily aware her clothes stuck to her when he did this, so she looked around as they walked to his Lair.
They finally arrived and Erik put Christine down gently. She slid out of his arms, but hers were still around his neck. She looked deep into his eyes, and they simply stood there for a while. Erik's heart thundered in his chest, he was sure Christine could hear it.
"You must change…" He said softly, his whispery breath soft on Christine's face. She nodded.
Erik looked to his model of Christine in her white wedding dress. Christine followed his gaze, then looked back up at him. She left his arms and undressed the dummy, taking the dress into a separate part of Erik's Lair. Erik stood where he was, and watched her leave. Once she had gone, he sat at his organ, and played a soft melody he made up as he went along. It was soft and sweet.
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Madame Giry had been following them, she had ran down to Christine's old room, wrenched open the mirror and only slowed to a walk as she descended the staircase that wound into the Lake.
She hurried. Christine might already be dead. She raised her hand and ran on, the looming faces and gargoyles casting dark and dingy shadows across her path. She didn't even think about what might happen. Erik might force her to tell him everything or she might tell him, even though he knew about her being a Futori. She shook the thoughts out of her head and ran on ever faster.
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Christine was dressed in a splendid white outfit of Erik's design. It was tasteful, and in keeping with the current fashions. She stepped from the room and twirled as he turned to face her.
"You look beautiful," He said, stepping and kissing her lips gently. She stepped back from the embrace and smiled.
"Thank you…" She blushed then looked up again suddenly, "Erik?" She asked.
"Yes Christine?" He replied, her tone had made him a little nervous. She looked down.
"I need to tell you something…about me," She said softly. Erik wrapped an arm around her shoulders and lead her to a plush velvet chemise. They sat down, and Christine continued.
"You see well, there is something about me that you don't know…" She said, unable to look at Erik. He released her, and sat back.
"Like what?" He asked gently, his heart beating in his throat. She shifted uncomfortably in place.
"Like…I'm not from…"
"She's doesn't love you Erik." Came a voice. Both spun around. Madame Giry stood, a hidden staircase winding away behind her. Erik stood.
"She does, Antoinette!" Erik roared, "Don't you dare, no! Don't you dare take her from me! You have everything else but not her!" He stood, arms crossed, in front of Christine. Christine was silent, eyes wide.
Antoinette walked towards them, the only sound came from her cane, tapping the bare rock floor. She sighed heavily and sat on another velvet chair.
"You have taken her, bewitched her innocent mind. I can see that, I saw you take her the very first time, remember? She was under a spell, I know it." She spoke quite calmly, her face not showing any emotion of any sort.
"I did nothing of the sort, she came willingly" Erik said dangerously, grinding his teeth. Madame Giry sighed again and looked past Erik to Christine, who was still frozen in place.
"My dear child, come back to where you belong," She coaxed, "Surely you don't want to live your life a slave?"
Christine stood and took hold of Erik's hand. He looked down at her, but her eyes were glued to Madame Giry.
"I do love him Madame, nothing you can say would change that. And no, I am not a slave, I am willing." She replied, her voice level, but her heart beating fast. She was sure the others could hear it.
Madame nodded sagely. "I see my dear…" she said softly.
Erik is loved…she thought I thought no one could ever love him, but that's not so…She stood again,
"He knows Christine, about you and I." Christine gaped,
"You told me never to tell anyone, no matter how trustworthy they were!" She almost shouted, her anger rose up through her. Madame Giry was still telling her what to do, and she was ready to marry! She shook her head, sending her curls bouncing.
"I did, but Erik found me once, and I was force to tell him. And, he has kept his word." Antoinette said softly. She stroked the end of her cane as she waited for the reply.
Christine's mind was a torrent of thoughts. "So…he knows this was, my mission? And that I'm not from this time?" Erik nodded and replaced his arm around her.
"Yes, the first time you were here, Antoinette came and told me. You were sleeping and she gave you back your talisman. She said you'd be trapped here if you didn't go back." He squeezed her gently,
"It was so hard to let go…"
Christine looked up and their lips brushed against each others, moist once they had parted.
"But what of this mission?" He asked, Christine faced him, still holding his arm.
"I became a Futori for a reason. Something, someone wanted me to come here to do something that would make someone or somewhere better. And I know what my mission is now." She stopped, and looked into Erik's eyes.
"What is it Christine?" He whispered,
"To help you to love others," She said simply.