Christine awoke the next morning, the air was crisp and bitter, she could see her breath. None of the candles in this new lair had been lit, nor were there any signs anyone had even been in there. She looked at her surroundings only to see that she had a blanket covering her and she was lying on a bed. She suddenly realized that she was with the phantom when she had come, she sat up quickly looking around to see if he was there. He was no where to be found. Christine thought to herself…WHERE DID HE GO? DID THE MOB FIND HIM? DID HE LEAVE HER IN THE NIGHT? Millions of thoughts ran through her head as she got off the bed gently. She felt cold shivers run down her spine as she stepped foot on the cold, bare floor.
She shivered as she walked, she finally managed to say something.
"is…is anyone there?" she choked up the words. Christine was very frightened for she didn't know where the phantom was. " erik…are you there? Where are you?" she asked loudly. Hoping this was all a dream and that she would wake up and he would be lying next to her, keeping her warm. Suddenly it hit her, the worst thought possible, the mob had to have gotten him. She shuddered at the thought as she walked down the narrow hallway he had led her down the night before. When they were escaping from the mob of people who wanted to shed the phantoms blood.
The hall seemed never ending as she walked toward the light at the end of the hallway, where his old lair was waiting. Finally she reached the entrance, she stopped, fearing that if she stepped foot in there she would discover something horrible, something she did not wanna see. But she bilt up courage. She stepped lightly into his old lair, quickly scanning every little corner or it. And there he was. Sitting by his grand piano. A sigh of relief came over her, HE ISNT DEAD! She thought to herself as she walked up to him as fast as she could. "there you are, I was so worried…" she was stopped In mid sentence when he turned around, he was not smiling, his white mask was on.
She hadn't seen him witha mask on since don jaun. "whats wrong?" Christine asked sadly.
The phantom looked down, and then back up looking Christine right in the eyes. "I received a letter." He stated simply. "from Raoul, he is not pleased with the outcome of this problem." Christine looked at him, confused and scared of what he would say next. "He's coming back."
Christine felt light headed, "no…he cant! He'll kill you!" she cried as she ran and hugged erik. She buried her face in his chest, he slowly put his arms around her. She felt like she was shielded from the world when he did this, she felt protected and loved. The phantom replied, " he shall do what he pleases with me, as long as he doesn't harm you."
Christine pulled away from him, tears running down her cheeks. "I will not let him harm you either! I just don't know what to do! We have no where to go!" she grabbed his hand and held on tight. "what are you gonna do when he gets here?" she asked trying to hold back her tears.
"I…I don't know." He managed to say. This was the first time she heard him so unsure. He himself looked frightened, but then she could also see a streak of hate and anger in his face. "may I read the letter he sent you?" Christine asked as she choked back the last of her tears. He was silent while he handed her the letter. It read,
dear Opera Ghost,
I do not appreciate how I was treated before I left you last night. And I did not like the outcome of this problem. So I have done quite a lot of thinking in one night, and I've come up with the only solution possible to get back the one I so dearly love. I am coming back to the Opera Populair and I will get her back. No matter what I have to do, Christine will be mine. Please accept this challenge and be waiting for me by the lake in front of your lair at 8:30 tonight. I expect you will be there, and bring Christine. We will surely be able to see who will win the heart of such a beautiful angel. My angel.
Raoul
She dropped the letter, it sickened her to know what Raoul was up to. And she certainly knew he had plans to kill the phantom tonight. "your not going to do this are you?" she asked, her hands were shaking, her eyes pleading him to say no. "I have to do this, I cant have him threaten us like this." He stated firmly with no emotion shown. "but he'll kill you! He might bring people and…I couldn't stand not ever seeing you again, and being trapped with Raoul forever." She cried.
The phantom looked into her eyes. But he was to overcome with sadness and anger. He couldn't let Raoul threaten them both and then let him get away with it! "he's coming tonight. I cant refuse. I…I'm sorry Christine." He said as he hugged her. "if…if you have to do this. For our sake. Then its ok with me." She cried as she buried her face in his chest. She couldn't seem to make herself stop crying. But time was moving to fast. It just turned 7:30 on the clock. Only 35 more minutes.
"Christine…I have to prepare, so for right now it would be of help to me if you just sat down and make yourself busy while I prepare things for…Raoul." He said angrily. But in his eyes, she could still see all the sadness of the world.
"yes sir." She said nervously.
She watched as he tied rope here and there, took chains and tightened chains to ropes, and the ropes to the big iron gate. It didn't make sense what he was doing, but she knew that he knew what he was doing. She could see it in the way he was moving. So quickly, yet gracefully. And right then she realized how much she really love him. She loved everything about him, his anger, his sensitivity, his music. And most of all his outlook on the world. Suddenly she was pulled out of her daydream, by two strong arms. They were the phantoms. He pulled her up and looked straight into her eyes.
"he's coming, I can hear him trudging through the water. He is alone. This is it Christine, and I want you to know something." He said in a shaky voice.
That scared Christine, seeing the phantom nervous. "yes?" she asked.
"that no matter what happens…I wont let anything happen to you, I wont let him take you. And even if I get killed tonight, don't go with him, refuse." He said to her softly.
"don't say that, you wont die, I wont let you! I promise you." Christine said as tears filled her eyes, but she held them back. This was not the time for crying, she had to be ready for anything. And then, Raoul appeared at the gate. Armed only with a sword.
"sir" the phantom said just like he did the day before. "this is indeed, and unparalleled delight. I..had rather hoped that you would come. And now, my wish comes true, you have truly made my night." He smiled insanely as he said this, walking closer and closer to Raoul.
"does this sound femiler? Remember just yesterday I could have killed you. And now I have that chance…again." the phantom said loudly so that it echoed in the lair.
"you don't scare me, I've come for Christine and I wont leave without her." He said back angrily. Pulling his sword out to prepare himself. He looked at Christine. Christine looked away quickly. His stare scared her, she didn't want to lock eyes with the man she only loved 2 days ago.
"Christine" the phantom stated firmly. "yes?" she asked nervously.
"go back to the other lair please."
"no I cant leave you! I have to help!" she cried out to him. Her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't hold them back any more.
The phantom looked up at her, he wanted to yell, but didn't. he knew she had good intentions. "very well." He said as he looked back at Raoul who was now closer then he was before.
And now finally a song is sang. With the tune of "monsieur I bid you welcome"
Monsieur, im getting tired, do you really think I will harm her? I will not make her pay, for problems that are yours!- THE PHANTOM SANG AS HE PUSHED RAOUL BACKWORDS.
Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes, no one can save you now, not even Christine! She chose to start a life with me, she bought your freedom with her love. But you've come back, now I send you to your death! There is no choice! This is the point of no return! –the phantom sang angrily to Raoul.
Christine chimed in—the tears I once shed for losing you, grow cold, your filled with lies! She sang to Raoul.
Christine forgive me, please forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you! –raoul sang to her.
Farewell Roaul my false friend, we had some hopes but now those hopes are shattered. –christine sang while she cried.
Raoul: say you'll forgive me or my life is over!
Phantom: no matter what she does, you still will die! So do you give up and leave? Or do you stay here and you fight?
Raoul: why make me choose, nothing can save me.
Christine: angel of music, you did not deceive me! –at same time phantome: past the point of no return. Your life is now the price, that you must pay.
Raoul: I fought so hard, to get her.
Phantom to Raoul: you've passed the point of no…return. –at same time
Christine: angel of music..you did not deceive me. THEN SPOKEN: Raoul I gave you my love blindly.
Phantom: and he tried my patience. To late for a choice.—he said to Raoul.
CHRISTINE LOOKED UP AT RAOUL, GAVE HIM A DIRTY LOOK. AND SANG: insolent slave of fashion, this is the life that you've known. I have the courage to tell you, I am not alone! –Christine ran up to the phantom and hugged him. Showing Raoul that he really wasn't needed.
Raoul stepped back. Anger filled him. "this is not over!" he lunged at the phantom and tried to stab him with the sword. The phantom jumped back and landed into the water. Christine let out a cry as she helped him up.
"stay back! Don't come any closer Raoul!" she yelled keeping full attention on him.
The phantom leaped up and punched Raoul, who fell backwords in the water. He quickly got up. He spun around, and the phantom wasn't quick enough. The sword went in slow motion. Christine fell back against the steps leading to his lair. The phantom lay half way in the water. Motionless.
Raoul, looked at what he had done. He looked at Christine and said "I..i, didn't mean to do this! I didn't! Christine forgive me!" he pleaded.
"Raoul….i can never forgive you for the pain you've caused…just LEAVE!" she cried.
Raoul through his sword and ran away. The iron gates closed behind him.Christine got up, fearing the worst that he was dead..but had the feeling he wasn't. she was sobbing uncontrollably. She knelt down beside him, turned him facing her. "please don't go! I love you so much! Don't do this to me, we can get through this." She cried as she pulled him closer.
"Christine…i…am…sorry…this ended like….this." he gasped as he tried to talk clearly.
"shh…don't talk..let me see where he stabbed you." She look and found it. He was stabbed right through the side of his stomach. "im gonna help you get better. You will get better" she cried holding on to him.
"i…protected…you as best…I could." He gasped again, his breathing grew heavier, and shorter. "I know you did, and im thankful for that, but please don't go! Your strong you can do this!" she said. Cristine tried lifting him to his feet, he helped a little. She walked him to his bed and layed him down.
"im going to take good care of you ok? I wont let anything happen to you. I promise." She said as she sobbed harder. The phantom took her hand and kissed it. "I love you, my angel of music."
To be continued./…