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: What more can you say about a loyal fan?
lilymunster: They say that every character an author writes about is an extentsion of themselves. In this case, I hope not . . . :) Thanks for reading!
Gi Xian: I thought the same thing after writing it. Welcome to my strange world. Thanks!
phantomadark: You flatter me too much. It is nice to know that people are enjoying my writing. An author could hope for nothing more . . .
Chapter Nine
Christine's eyes were glazed over. Her heavy breathing and loathsome stares were the first indications that her anger spilt past her breaking point. Christine impaled Meg. After diving at her and tumbling off the bed, Christine showed no restraint dealing full force punches to Meg's face. Meg reached up and was able to grab Christine's hair. Yanking on it, Meg pulled Christine off of her, got up and began to drag Christine across the room. "You never learn do you?" Meg cried out. "You ruined an absolutely perfect moment."
Christine didn't waste any of her limited energy trying to engage in an argument. She stopped her by hitting Meg's ankle. After Meg fell, they continued to roll along the floor assaulting each other with elbows, knees and feet. Meg wiggled herself away and continued taunting her. "Couldn't stand the thought of him wanting to be with another! You cannot beat me this time!" Meg lunged at her, knocking Christine to the floor. Meg grabbed her shoulders and forcefully slammed Christine's head into the ground, twice. After the second time, Christine was too dazed to stop the vicious strike Meg impaled on her cheek. Christine's body relaxed reluctantly. Meg's sinister laugh rang through the cavern. "I told you. You are too weak. You've always been." Meg got up and staggered closer to the bed Erik was resting on. Her breathing was hard. Meg pulled a small dagger from the cuff of her right boot. "I had hoped it wouldn't come down to this, but since you insist." She started advancing towards Christine, lying helplessly on the floor. "A quick death, though most unsatisfying to me, will suffice. Let's end this."
Something rumbled from within and Christine found herself rising slowly. Meg charged, but Christine dodged her attack. As Meg passed, Christine attacked from behind, throwing the knife across the room. Christine pushed Meg's face into the ground. Meg squirmed onto her back, but Christine was ready for her. Using her knees, Christine pinned Meg's shoulders to the floor. She used all of her strength hitting Meg in the face. Meg tried to stop her, but found her efforts to be fruitless. While Meg screamed in agony, Christine began wailing harder and faster. Finally, Meg's body had become flaccid. Her eyes rolled back into her head. It was only until Erik screamed at her that Christine stopped her attack.
"Shhtuuuuoffff!" Erik muffled cry emanated from the bed. Startled, Christine halted her fist mid-swing. Her body softened when she caught his eyes. Staring down at Meg's bloodied face, Christine began to sob hysterically, throwing her face into her hands. Christine pulled herself from Meg's limp body. Noticing a small, thin chain around Meg's neck, Christine lifted it from where it had been tucked in her bosom. A heavy, iron key dangled from the end. She pulled tightly, breaking the chain off. Limping over to Erik, she continued to weep quietly.
Christine climbed onto the bed and unlocked each cuff. She untied his gag. Erik rose slowly and began to straighten himself out. Christine quickly turned her back and attended to her small friend. Her tears fell on Meg's face. Using Erik's gag, Christine started to clean Meg off. "I'm so sorry, Meg," she whispered. Erik came to her side and lifted Meg off the floor. He placed her gently in the bed, restraining her left ankle with one of the iron cuffs. He put the key into his pocket.
Erik and Christine sat for a moment staring at her body. "I don't see her breathing, Erik," Christine whispered. "What have I done?" She continued to clean Meg's face. "When I saw what she was doing to you . . . I - I don't know what came over me. I've never felt that angry before in my life."
Erik bent down to examine Meg. He placed his hand beneath her nose. Leaning "She is breathing. Don't worry. She isn't dead, little one." Erik leaned forward and felt around Meg's neck. "Her heart is still beating," He fingered the bones in her face, "And, miraculously, nothing is broken."
Christine let a huge breath out. "Good." She buried her face into his shoulder. "I would have killed her if you hadn't stopped me. I don't know what I would have done if that had happened. I never intended it to get to this. When I saw her pull that dagger out, something happened inside of me. She would have killed me if I didn't stop her, " Christine choked.
The two of them sat in silence. The ripples from the lake echoed in the cavern walls. After a moment, Erik asked, "How - how did you get out?"
Her hands were still covered in blood, some of it hers, and some of it belonged to Meg. As she stared at them she told Erik, "Love makes you do things you never thought possible." A small, desperate chuckle escaped from her throat. "When she was dragging you away, a tiny voice inside of me said, 'It's not supposed to end this way.' So I did exactly what you did and was able to fit my hand through the opening. Then I was able to fit my head, my shoulders, and finally, my legs. I tried sliding down the rope like you did, but became stuck somewhere in the middle. My grip wasn't strong enough." Christine lifted her skirt. "I think I might have hurt my leg when I fell." Erik placed his hands on her swollen knee. Christine bit her lip from the pain. "I'll be all right, though."
She looked back at Meg and then turned to Erik. Looking down, she told him softly, "I didn't think she was capable of something like that." She started into her hands. "I never thought I could do something like that. Least of all to someone I love." She sighed, "Meg may not have known it, but it hurt me everyday to have left her like that. I didn't realize how much it hurt her, too." Nervously, she twiddled her fingers together. "I don't know if there is a way to fix this." Christine looked back on Erik's face. She caressed the side of his cheek. "Please tell me there is a way for us to be together. I cannot imagine life without you."
Erik grasped her hand tenderly. "Christine," his jade eyes penetrated hers, "There would be nothing I would want more in the world than to be by your side. Every day for the past three years, I had hoped that one day you would come back to me. I will always love you." He placed her hand back into her lap. "You have more important obligations now. You have a family now. This isn't just about what you want anymore. Your son needs you."
"But," Christine began.
"I will help you out," Erik interrupted. "Father Rapier will help you heal. He would be thrilled to have you, I'm sure. He was also a fan of the theater." Christine silently nodded, saddened, but thankful for his help. She gathered their cloaks and handed Erik his.
Erik rose from the bed. He retrieved a clean basin of water and placed it next to Meg. The food tray was still in grasp if Meg woke before his return. An urn would have to serve as a makeshift latrine. Turning from her, he said, "I will leave you at the convent. It is not far from here. Come, let's go." Christine tried to take his hand, but Erik shrugged her off. Slightly hurt, Christine held back as Erik made his way to the entrance of the lair. She stared back at the music box at the side of the bed. She ran her finger over the metal rim of the cymbal. She wanted something of his to take back to her collection. Gently, she picked it up. Carrying it out, Erik called back to her, "Leave it, Christine. Do you really need that to remember me by?"
As she reluctantly placed the music box back down, she gazed back down on her friend. Christine caressed Meg's forehead. She leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I'm more sorry than you'll ever know. I never meant to hurt you. I hope someday that you will find it in your heart to forgive me. Get better soon. You deserve better than this." Christine kissed her friend again and rose to meet with Erik.
They made their way back to the narrow passageway out. Christine was careful to follow Erik's exact steps for fear of triggering another trap. Seeing the net still hoisted in the air caused the little hairs on her arms to stand on end. She knew how lucky she was to walk away from all of this madness.
The light blinded them as Erik and Christine opened the door. The air outside was crisp and clean. She basked in the warm sun that made the snow on the courtyard sparkle and shimmer. She rose and blinked her way into the daylight. In the darkness of the opera house, Christine had lost track of time. Now aware, she started panicking, wondering how much time she had before Francois would return to take her back to Champigny. Self-conscious of her ragged appearance, she smoothed her dress and hair. Erik took one a moment to inspect Christine. Her hair was a ratty mess. Blood had dried into the crevices of her hands and face. It was also splattered on her dress. Erik walked back to her and helped her cover all of this with her cloak. As he placed the hood over her head, his hands stopped. He slowly stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. They enjoyed their moment in silence.
Erik was quick to return to the task at hand. The church was nearly a kilometer away. Their only difficultly would be to walk through Paris as undetected as possible. Walking through the streets Christine argued, "The hotel is closer. I will rest there. It will be easier."
Erik pulled her close, "You are more wounded than you think. Besides, I think you could benefit from a priest's counsel." He wrapped his arm around her. "You will survive this. I will not let you fail."
Father Rapier almost seemed to know that Erik would be coming. He panicked, though when he saw the woman Erik brought with him. Erik waved knowing that he was recognized. Father Rapier quickly ushered the two of them into the church. He swiftly escorted them into this chamber. "Erik, what is all of this? I was worried. I hadn't seen you in over a week. The food I left was untouched. I feared the worst!" Father Rapier reprimandedErik as though he was his own child. "I nearly went in there after you!You can't do this to an old my, my son. My heart is not as strong as it was ten years ago. Still, I am glad to see that you arealive. But your head! You should have one of the nurses here look after it." Erik shook his head, but steered Father Rapier's attention to Christine. "Very well. Always a stubborn one. I suppose there's no changing that. And who might this be?" Father Rapier asked Christine, who still had her face covered.
"An old friend from my past who has come to haunt me," Erik said when Christine didn't answer. "She needs your help, though she may not know it now"
"She does, does she?" the priest asked inquisitively. "Well, come here then, child." Christine solemnly obeyed. He removed her coverings. As soon as he saw who she was, he exclaimed, "Good heavens!" He turned to Erik, "Is this?" When Erik softly nodded, Father Rapier gruffly said, "I see. Well then. Hmmph," he cleared his throat. "Well, yes, this isn't awkward at all, is it?" He began laughing nervously. When no one else laughed, he cleared his throat again and continued, "My dear, you have come to the right place. We have a way of being 'discretionary.' You look a terrible mess! Let's go over the damage."
After her brief examination, Father Rapier instructed her to go the Nunnery to have the nuns draw her a warm salt bath. "It will help the soreness," he said, winking at her. "We'll have you cleaned up and ready to go in a few days time."
"Thank you, your grace. But please, Father, can you tell me what day is it?" Christine asked nervously.
"Why, I believe it's Tuesday," the priest cheerfully replied. Seeing her relief, he continued, "Well then, I'll leave you two alone to say your goodbyes. I shall see you soon, milady. Erik," he gestured gently bowing before he shut the door behind him.
The silence was deafening. "Thank you, Erik," Christine softly said. Erik simply shook his head and began to walk towards the door. "Wait, Erik, don't leave! Not like this." He stopped, still facing the door. "We could escape - all of us," Christine interjected. "You, Jean and me. We could start a new life as a new family."
"No, Christine,we couldn't." Erik stood up. "Is Raoul a good father? Does he treat your son well? Does he treat you well?" When she nodded, he sighed. "How could you do that to him? It isn't fair of you to strip away from the family he loves. He has done nothing but love you, Christine. I knew he would take care of you. That's why I let you escape that night. If I had the smallest doubt that he would treat you wrongly, he would not have left with his life."
Christine gazed blankly into the air. "But what if I made the wrong choice, Erik? What if we were supposed to be together? Shouldn't I be able to correct my mistake? You said you would do anything for me." She looked at him directly. Pleading, she asked, "Why not this?"
"Your child needs his father." Erik answered back empathetically. "Raoul does not deserve this from you. He would wonder everyday for the rest of his life what he did to make you leave him; even if it was never his fault to begin with. Believe me, the pain of it hurts more than I can say. You are not a child anymore, Christine. You are a wife and mother now. Your responsibility is to their needs and wants, not your own. I will have no part of taking you away from them. You chose Raoul, Christine. You made your choice."
"Please, Erik. Don't let this end here." Christine tried to kiss him, but Erik remained steadfast and stoic. Ignoring her attempts, he walked away,using all his strength not to turn around and take back the woman he so desperately loves.
After shutting the door, Erik placed his hand on the wall between him and Christine. His heart was beating rapidly. His breathing was hoarse. Father Rapier stood nearby, ready to console Erik. But Erik could only look loathingly at the door that stood before him. Before Father Rapier could impart a few words to him, Erik stormed out of the cathedral. He began sprinting back to the opera house. Though he tried to stop, he could feel the water welling in his eyes. Entering the building, he fell to his knees. His wails echoed in the empty hallway. "Why! Why do this to me now! Why did you come back to me! Why couldn't you just let me die without ever knowing - " He pounded the ground with all of his might. "It's not fair!" He whispered, "It's not fair." Erik buried his face in his hands. He was gasping for breath. "I love you, Christine. I'm sorry." His tears splashed onto the cold, stone floor. "I'm sorry."