One Love, One Lifetime

Christine's Point of View

I wake up. I sit up in the bed and look around Erik's bedroom. Candles all around, murals on the cold stone walls. I climb out of bed. Memories of my final morning in the De Chagny manor come flooding back into my mind...

I walk down the stairs to the room where I last saw Raoul. No one was there. The room was empty. Everything had been cleared away from last night. All the mess disappeared as if nothing had ever happened. I grow worried. Worried that he may have caused harm on himself or someone else.

I walk to the other room where I find Marie; one of the maids.

"Where is my husband?" I ask worryingly.

"I do not know where he has went Madame. He left during the early hours of this morning," Marie answers back.

I grow more worried and return back to the other room.

Erik's Point of View

I gaze around my home.

"Why isn't she awake yet," I ask myself.

As this thought comes to my mind she walks around the corner. Her beautiful face brings me joy every time i see it. She looks a lot more peaceful than she did last night. I did not sleep in the same room as her last night. I stayed awake all night. Waiting on any needs my Angel might have. It is so good to have her at last but I am not sure of her real reasons for coming here.

Christine's Point of View

I smile at Erik before taking my first step towards him. I can tell he is no longer resentful towards me as his face is not as cold as it once was. I am still scared of him. I do not know what to do. How do I act towards him?

"Good morning Erik," the words broke out of me like bullet from a gun.

Erik stands up from his organ and smiles at me.

"Good morning Christine."

He takes a respectful bow and places his hand out towards mine. I stare at it. He wants me to come to him. I walk up to him and place my hand on his. He kisses my hands and leads me to the room where my new clothes are kept. He goes into a drawn and pulls out a small black box and opens it facing me. It was a ring. The same ring I gave him many months ago.

"Please take it," Erik says looking at me.

I am astonished. I take the ring out of the box and place it on the palm of my hand, tears flowing down my face.

Erik's Point of View

She took it! I know now her true feelings. Her face says more than any word could ever say. I put the box on a shelf at the side and glance back at Christine. She is walking towards me.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one life time.

Lead me, save me from my solitude,

Say the word and I will follow you.

Share each day with me, each night, each morning.

Say you love me."

"You know I do," Christine said.

"Love me..

that's all I ask of you."

Our voices together at last. Our love for each other finally admitted. How long I have waited to hear these words from my dear Christine's lips. I move close to her and kiss her. She kisses me back. A kiss so unlike the one we last shared. I felt the love on her as she showed me her true feelings. My gratitude could not be put into words. I held her close. The tighter I held her the happier I felt.

Christine's Point of View

"Erik stop," I said trying to get out of his grip.

He is holding me too tight and I am starting to go faint.

"Erik let go of me," this only was a whisper as I can hardly breathe.

"Erik let go," I managed to shout and he lefts go.

I fall to the ground.

Erik's Point of View

What have I done. I see her scared face as she backs away from me along the floor.

"I-I'm sorry," I stutter, "I am so sorry. Let me help you up."

She backs away after

"Leave me alone," she says getting back up onto her feet.

I must have scared her. I couldn't help it. My emotions got the better of me. The terror on her face wasn't new for me. Many a time have I seen that emotion across her face. This was the worst thing that could happen.

We both stand looking at each other, speechless. She turns around and leave the room and goes to the bedroom. I sit back in a chair; hands covering my face. I hope I haven't scared her off. Not now. Not like this.

Christine's Point of View

I know he did not mean what happened just now but this does not help me cure my fear of him. He is a powerful man. If this is him when he is happy, what will he be like when he is in a rage? Who would be able to help me? I can see him. He is walking back from the dressing room towards me. I hope he doesn't come in here. I still love him but I do not want to speak to him. It is too soon. He is sitting down at his organ. He plays loud ferocious notes. Booming notes filling up all of his home.

I can feel his anger though his music. His music is his only out let for his pain. Erik glances over to me. I can see the sorrow on his face. The music becomes softer. A familiar tune reaches my ears.

My Angel begins to sing.

"Night-time sharpens..

heightens each sensation.

Darkness stirs..

and wakes imagination."

I stand up and go to the entrance of the room.

"Silently the senses abandon their defenses..

helpless to resist the notes I write."

I start to sing..

"For you compose the music of the night."

Un-lit candles slowly illuminate around me.

Erik's Point of View

I stand up and take off my mask.

"Close your eyes for your eyes,

will only tell the truth.

And the truth isn't what you want to see.

In the dark it is easy to pretend."

Christine sings again..

"That the truth,

is what it ought to be."

She walks over to me and touches me face. Gently stroking my deformity.

"Erik, I forgive you," she says before kissing me.

At that moment a shot is released into the air. The sharp booming sounds kills our silence.

Three days have now passed since I last saw my fiancé. Where is he? I haven't been out of the grounds since he left in fear that he might come back while I'm away. Marie is coming into my bedroom.

"Madame, the police are here to see you," she said before leaving.

Two police men walk in dressed in brown suits.

"Madame, we are sorry but we have not been able to find your fiancé," said one of the police men, "but we have a witness to him assaulting a man down in the village."

"What?" i exclaim, shocked.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this but your fiancé has left this man with severe injuries," said the other police man.

"I'm sorry, but I will not believe this. Raoul would not to that to any one. Now would you please leave. You have upset me greatly," I screamed at the two police officers.

They both turned round and headed out the door. I over hear one of the police man telling Marie something.

"Like Father like son, the curse of the De Chagny family all too fond of their drink."

I could not believe what I heard the audacity of this man to give this terrible opinion of my fiancé was madness! But the memory of him throwing that glass at me the last night we spoke came into my mind. Can this be true? Was Raoul dangerous?