Disclaimer: All originating characters and storylines belong to their respectful owner. This is mostly a continuation of ALW's work, but I do throw GL a couple of good nods. All new characters and sub-plots are my original work and are not to be used/reproduced without my expressed permission. Enjoy the story and shoot some feedback my way if you can! Thanks for reading.

Phanatic & Silvermasque: What can I say? You guys rock! Glad you are enjoying it!
Chapter Four

Christine tumbled onto a stove-paved walkway. Landing on her shoulder, the thrust of the fall caused it to dislocate. She shrieked in agony. Angry, she yelled at herself, "Why? Why did I come here?" Fearing that Meg would soon follow, Christine hobbled herself to a damp, dark corner. She threw herself against the wall and pushed her tender shoulder back into its socket. Her scream echoed across the corridor.

She forcefully tried loosening the ropes around her ankles by thrashing her feet in every direction. Meg would find her soon and she was losing time. She needed to escape this place. It didn't matter how hard she wiggled her ankles; the bindings remained taut. Christine decided to chance her luck and was able to bring herself up to a stand again. Hopping along the wall, Christine desperately tired to make her way back to the dressing room.

The throbbing in her legs from lack of circulation caused them to cramp uncontrollably. Biting her bottom lip, Christine tried to push through the pain, but fell over each step she tried to jump up to. She knew that she would not be able to escape in time. Almost surrendering to her fate, Christine became still, only silent teardrops streaking down her face. At first, she did not think anything of the small rustling she heard from the darkness behind her. There were all sorts of living things that called the underground lake home, rats being the most prominent. But the noise was becoming louder and more pronounced. Much louder than she thought any small animal could accomplish on its own.

Her heart began racing again as she furiously tried to find out where it was coming from. At one point, it seemed as though it was right next to her. She could feel the breeze it made while she had her head turned in a different direction. There wasn't anything there. As she kept looking, Christine could hear Meg starting down the secret corridor.

Christine struggled to get up once again. She still could not stop her tears and she knew that she was sobbing softly. She decided that she would have to head back down into the lair if she were to find a way to survive. Leaping back down the steps, Christine took one jump too far and began to drop. Her body rolled along the hard, cold stones until she reached the landing of the lake. Still in a daze, she was alarmed as a dark hooded figure hovered over her. It kneeled beside her. Just as about Christine was about to scream, it covered her mouth with its hand. Asking her to keep quiet, Christine watched as it headed back up the stairs partially, listening for Meg.

Returning to her, it whispered, "She will hear you, little one." It whispered into her ear. "You are not safe here. I believe she plans on killing you when she finds you. I will take you to safety." Her rescuer cradled her gently beneath her head and knees.

As she was lifted, Christine immediately felt relieved and comforted by the warm touch of its hands. "Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm an old friend." It answered back. "We are wasting time, I need to get you out of here." Christine was carefully place over its shoulder.

Christine's mysterious rescuer carried her back up the stairwell again, pausing occasionally to see if Meg was nearby. It carried her to a nook along a wall and placed her down gently. Christine watched as her rescuer felt along the walls and press three stones in succession. Checking once more for Meg, it pushed in the last stone in slightly. A loud "click" emanated from the wall and Christine saw the wall open inward. Christine was quickly pulled in and the door was abruptly shut behind them.

The room was pitch black and Christine stood right where she was. The only sounds she heard were from her hooded friend shifting around in the darkness. From the corner she saw a small lantern light up. The space was small, tiny even. There was barely room for a makeshift bed on the floor and a small cupboard that held a pitcher of water and a small basin on top. There were no other doors that Christine could see and she started to feel trapped. Her friend retrieved her a goblet of water from the basin on top of the cupboard.

"If I can get you to the upper levels, I would be able to help you escape. There is only one way that I know is safe," it whispered hoarsely, obviously winded. Its voice was soft and Christine was put at ease. Her hooded avenger came to her aid from across the room, "We must be quiet," it whispered. "She still might be able to hear us though the walls." While it was releasing her hands, its touch caused a tiny surge of excitement from Christine's stomach.

"Let's get you out of these," pointing to the ropes still tied around her hands and ankles. It led her to the bed and began to release her feet. During their attempt to leave, she could not ask any more questions. Now curiosity was getting the best of her. Christine peered inside the heavy hood to see its face. It snapped back suddenly. "I'm sorry," Christine whispered. "I should have asked. Forgive me." When Christine hands were freed, she grasped her left wrist in pain.

It came forward again, holding her hand delicately. "You might have broken it. Let me see it," it asked gruffly. It took her hand tenderly into its own. Christine winced in pain as it rotated her hand in a circle. "You are lucky, Madame. It is only a sprain. Please, if you'll allow me," it asked as it held the bottom hem of her dress. With Christine's permission, it ripped off the hem and started to wrap it tightly around her wrist. "This will help." Its hand lingered almost too long on hers. Christine pulled her wrist back into her lap.

"We will rest here for you to get some strength back." Her rescuer stood up and went back to the cabinet for some food. Christine took it gratefully. "Luckily, she does not know that this room even exists." It motioned to the bed. "Please, make yourself comfortable – as possible. You should try to sleep if you can." It added, "I will listen for her, just to be safe." When it got up to resume keeping post, Christine pulled on its cloak.

"Please, I have had enough surprises tonight." Christine tugged her champion in front of her. Christine pulled herself up from the bed. "Let me see your face. Don't I deserve to know who my rescuer is?" Christine tried not to breathe fast. Her heart was racing. She put her hands on the folds of the hood. As she started to pull it back, a loud noise bellowed from outside the door. Her avenger rose sharply, guarding against the wall. After waiting for some time, Christine asked again, "Sit with me, please." She held her hand out. Her rescuer took it and knelt down on the bed. Christine sat on her knees. She gently pulled off the gloves one finger at a time. Christine traced the lines etched into his thick palm. She brought it to her cheek. "Did you think I wouldn't remember how you feel? It was your touch that gave you away." A tear trickled down her porcelain face. "I just wanted to know that you were safe." She broke down in sobs. "I am so glad that you are all right. I've missed you more than you know." Christine dropped his hand and began to wipe the tears from her eyes.

He cradled her against his chest. He whispered softly, "Stop crying, my dear, please. I cannot bear the sight of it." Erik gently kissed the top of her head. "You shouldn't have come back, little one. You have put yourself in great danger coming back here." He looked at her directly, breathing deeply. "All the same, seeing your face . . . I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you again. I didn't know that I would even have the privilege." He inspected her face from side to side. "These past few years have been kind to you. You are even more beautiful than I remembered."

Christine slipped the hood off. His vibrant green eyes glowed in the dim light. He tried to shield his deformity from her, but Christine made him stare directly into her eyes. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are the only person who has truly known me. You will always be beautiful in my eyes." Christine could not stop smiling in spite of herself. "Inside my heart, I knew we would see each other again, Erik."

Upon hearing that, Erik let out a deep sigh and buried his face in his hands, sobbing quietly. He whispered, "It's been so long since anyone has called me by that name. I wouldn't let anyone call me by it. I bear it, gladly, from you." He turned off to the side, "I've spent too many years pretending to be something greater than what I am." Looking back at Christine, he smiled softly and said, "I'm not really the person you once remembered, Christine. I have changed. I am trying to earn my salvation. I needed to be the man you once thought me to be."

Christine placed her hands on each side of its face. Feeling along the line of the jaw, she laughed finding the scruff of his beard. It was true. He was hardly the menacing madman that Christine had run away from that night. Pale and soft, it was evident that Erik had suffered since going into hiding. He was a shadow of his former self, but the spark in his eyes still flickered. He no longer groomed himself to perfection, but his dishevelment only deepened her appreciation and admiration for him. When Christine looked into his face, she discovered he had an inner peace. As he spoke to her, he was gentle and soft-spoken, two traits that Christine did not know he possessed.

"I let you go that night to escape from this," Erik began arguing. "Surely your life must be in a better state than to return to this nightmare."

"I should never have left you that night," Christine started. It was all Erik needed to hear. He simply placed his finger over her lips, pulled her close and gave her the deep embrace he had been waiting so long to make.