In my madness, I am nearly giddy with the sense of the eventual confrontation that would soon take place. Oh, I would have the revenge I sought.....nothing could stop that now. As I learned from my recurring dream where I leapt from the pinnacle of the Opera Garnier, I am invincible. Hate consumes me like a murderous disease but I will have my final vengeance. No one could ever take Christine from me. She is mine. My blood rushes hotly through my veins in a hot thirst for retribution. How dare he.....how DARE he! Oh, he would pay. Yes, the Devil would die at my hand this night and I would unleash his sinister hold on my Christine forever. I gaze upon the black night with a grim sense of destiny. Tonight would be the point of no return. In my insanity, I chuckle the anticipatory laugh of a warrior going into battle – to kill or be killed.
I struggled against the tightly knotted rope holding my wrists while frantically attempting to appear as though I were not. Glancing furtively at Raoul standing at the open French doors looking out towards the grounds, I knew exactly whom he was waiting for and my heart hammered in my chest. As I listened to his crazed laughter from some unknown thought, I closed my eyes and thought fruitlessly, "Erik, please don't come... Please don't come here!" Yet, my silent pleadings were futile for I knew with my entire being that Erik was already on his way to rescue me from my captor.
Raoul stood as still as a statue carved from stone while I strained with both the physical ropes tying my wrists and the emotional upheaval surging in my heart.
For I was held captive by a man I did not know.
The easy-going boy I had romped with as a young girl and the man I had recognized the night of my debut at the Opera had disappeared. In his place was a fierce-eyed stranger who saw right through me whenever his cold stare happened my way. Anger and anxiety tightened my chest and my bosom heaved with indignant frustration. Glaring at Raoul, I suddenly railed, "What has changed you so?! Why are you being so cruel? Who are you?!"
As though he had not heard my irritated questions, he stood with his back to me and did not acknowledge my outburst. Knowing it was pointless, I gave up my struggle to become free and bowed my head in defeat. I gasped in unexpected surprise when a rough hand jerked my chin upwards until I stared into the unfeeling eyes of a stranger. For a brief moment, some emotion flickered in the green depths but I could not ascertain what that emotion might be since it was replaced with a malicious frostiness. An evil smile upturned his lips as Raoul crooned, "Oh, now.....I wonder what could have changed me, my Charming, Reticent Christine?" Appearing contemplative, he gazed upwards towards the ceiling in exaggerated thoughtfulness before sending a look of pure hate towards me. "Who am I? Why.....I am your creation, my Love." Finding this amusing, he began to cackle insanely while I stared at him wild-eyed and experienced a surge of real fear. What would he do with me? What would he do to Erik? As though on cue, in my peripheral vision, I thought I saw a shadow of black shift in the darkness of the balcony and my startled gaze flew to the open doors. Closing my eyes in a silent prayer, I hoped to God that it would not be my Betrothed, yet, I knew that was as likely as Raoul suddenly seeing reason and allowing me to go. Oh, God! What would Erik do to Raoul when he saw that I was bound?! Swallowing my tears, I tried another tactic. "Raoul......listen to me. If Erik finds me here like this....he....he will kill you. Please....please let me go and I swear to God that I will never tell him what happened this night!"
Having taken a step from me, Raoul slowly turned towards me to stare at me as though incredulous. Gazing at me in disbelief, he raised a hand to touch one of my disheveled curls in a negligent manner. Parrot-like, he repeated tonelessly, "He will kill me..........." Abruptly, he fisted his cruel hand in my hair and jerked it back harshly. Bringing his face close to mine, he whispered, "Oh, Christine.... What a child you are! Don't you understand that you are merely a means to an end? What else could possibly lure him here but his poor Christine in dire peril?" Returning his gaze, I was suddenly weary of being used as a pawn in deadly games of cat and mouse. I saw Raoul's eyes drop to my parted lips for an instant, a cold fear that he would kiss me while Erik watched froze my blood. Keeping my hair in a brutal grip that hurt my scalp, I whispered tremblingly with pleading eyes, "Let me go....." Shaking his head slowly, his gaze never left mine as he decreed without emotion. "No."
Abruptly, his head turned towards the balcony although there was no noise and only the breeze rippled the curtains. Without warning, Raoul drew a small, sharp dagger as my eyes widened in fear and my breath stilled in my throat. Standing to his full height, he came to stand behind my chair with the knife poised at my throat and his hand still tugging my head back. "Show yourself or I swear to God, I will kill her, Erik."
My chest heaving with labored breaths, I began to shake uncontrollably as I stared crazily towards the darkness. Unable to speak, I gasped as Erik slowly emerged from the shadows of the balcony.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spying from the shadow of the balcony when his hand touched her, it instantly snapped my unflinching logical comportment. My blood began to boil as I saw his hand upon Christine and I very nearly lost my composure with a desire to charge towards him. Hiding in the darkness of the balcony, I observed stealthily for several minutes in order to determine that damn boy's frame of mind. Having heard his deranged ramblings, I was somewhat concerned to realize that he had lost his mind. From his harsh words to Christine, I realized that he was actually waiting for me and almost chuckled at his naiveté .
Yet, I experienced the first, genuine sharp stab of fear when he called out to me and held the knife to Christine's neck. Dear God! Swallowing my anger, I realized that I could never put her life in jeopardy – no matter the cost to myself.Regardless of the outcome, his life was over but I could not allow him to harm Christine in the process. Enraged, I calculated coldly that he would not live after this night for this outrage. Stepping slowly from the darkness, I separated from the shadows and stood completely still as I stared him directly in the eyes. Without speaking and without looking at Christine, I leveled my gaze at him as he began to gradually smile.
Tilting his head curiously, he stared at my masked face and hissed, "The Phantom shows himself at last." All of my senses heightened, I stood ready for any attack but uncertain as how best to protect Christine. For I all to clearly saw the maddened gleam in Raoul's green eyes and I was instinctively aware that he would not negotiate. Maddened by his advantage, I could not look directly at Christine and stared piercingly into his eyes.
Gazing down at Christine, he smiled politely and suggested, "Christine, do tell your fiancé how thrilled we are to see him!" When she did not answer, his expression turned incensed and he abruptly looked up at me. Using all my powers of control, I attempted to keep my outward demeanor calm and folded my arms in front of me as though somewhat bored with this game. Raoul stared at me for several long minutes and then, as though in a trance, moved his dagger to the right side of Christine's face. Caressing her cheek with the flat of the blade, he whispered ominously, "Since you both are of one heart, perhaps we should match your faces as well." His eyes flew up to meet mine as his lip twitched in amusement. Smiling even broader, he demanded of me, "Take off your mask, Devil."
Panic pounded through my veins as I looked into Christine's eyes for the first time. The complete fear in them made me frantic to free her but I knew I must act carefully. Her expression pleaded with me not to give in to Raoul's orders and I debated quickly. My steady hand lifted as I removed my Fedora and Christine choked, "Erik, don't!" Shedding my mask, I dropped it carelessly to the stone floor and watched the familiar look of astonishment followed by revulsion flitter over Raoul's face.
Inhaling sharply, he was smart enough not to look down at Christine as he questioned her breathlessly, "Christine......how could you....how could you agree to wed....." My vision became blurry with rage and only the razor sharp knife at Christine's cheek held me in check. This was no time to give in to my emotion since I needed to think clearly.
A small sob from Christine made my gaze dart to hers as she began to cry and Raoul loosened his hold on her but kept the knife on her cheek. Brokenly, she began to sob, "He fforced me, Raoul! He ssaid he would kkill you so I agreed to mmarry him!"
As both Raoul and I gazed at Christine in stunned astonishment, she did not meet my eyes and suddenly I knew. I knew beyond a doubt that she was giving a desperate performance for my sake. Swallowing hard, I carefully watched the damned boy for any sign of softening or a lowering of his blade. Silently, I encouraged her to continue and hoped to God he would believe her.
Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she implored him, "Please, Raoul! You know you are the only one who has ever had my heart. I.....I love you!" Keeping my sharp, intense gaze on his reaction, my heart leapt with hope as he slowly lowered the knife and released her hair. The blade was still at her neck however and Iwas certain that if I moved at the wrong time, he would slice her skin.
"Christine....", he whispered in shocked amazement as his eyes wandered from me to her intermittently. Stifling a sob, she breathed brokenly, "If you ddon't believe me....look at my necklace. I....I am wearing your ring next to my heart."
A quick flash of outrage widened my eyes as he carefully lifted her necklace while keeping the knife at her throat. It was difficult to determine who was more dumbfounded - Raoul or myself. Instantly, I decided how I would proceed....