Chapter 23

Erik was torn between running after her and following Christine. He started after her but then stopped. He looked down and saw Christine running to the staircase to the roof. He looked back at Poppy, but she had disappeared. "Merde" He snarled. He grabbed a hold of a rope and disappeared up it.

Christine, the dimwitted twit she was, was running though the backstage. She believed that her 'false' angel had killed the crude man. She ran up a spiraling staircase, which leads vertiginously out on to the roof. She emerged out on to the roof. A huge statue of "La Victoire Ailee", vast gargoyles dominate and look out over a surreal panorama of Paris. She stopped to catch her breath. Her eye was still hurting from where the blind girl had hit her. She didn't know why Poppy was so protective of him. Christine didn't love him. She loved Raoul. The sweet, charming—rich man that he was. And why was Poppy down there? She was perhaps his mistress. No man would want her. She was ugly. Those scars…and disturbing white eyes…. Christine shuddered.

Suddenly she heard a soft sound.

"Wandering child…so lost… so helpless…yearning for my guidance…"

Bewildered, she looked up. Christine looked around, but saw nothing. She mutters. "Who is there staring ….?"

"Have you forgotten your angel…? To long you've wondered in winder…."

He appeared from behind a statue. Christine's eyes went wide. She began walking towards him as he did the same. She stared up at him and him down at her. She places a hand on his chest. Again Erik foolishly drops his defenses.

Christine saw him close his eyes. Now that Poppy was not there, she will be able to see under the mask. She massages his chest, with both of her hands. She allowed a slight smile came across her lips. She rubbed upward as it began to snow. The white flakes landing on his black cloak and hair. Christine stepped up closer so that her hands could reach his shoulders. She rubbed them; suddenly she pulled the mask off.

Erik had been thrilling to her touch, but Poppy's pretty face kept replacing Christine's. He finally pushed the image back when he felt cold air on his right cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Christine standing in front of him holding his mask. With a demented cry he pushed her away. Her face was nothing but a face of horror and utter disbelief. Erik advanced on her, yelling.

"Damn you! You little prying Pandora! You little demon—" He stopped. Those were almost the same words that Poppy had said. He stared at her. Her face was still distorted with fear. He reached out for the mask. Christine flinched, but handed it back to him.

"Christine—"

She flinched again. Poppy was right. Christine was only…he was interrupted when he heard Raoul's voice.

"Christine?"

Erik let out a small snarl and quickly disappeared around a statue.

As soon as the monster was gone from her sight, Christine could breathe again. She heard his fading footsteps. Oh the horror of his face! It was terrible! Suddenly, she heard Raoul calling for her.

"Raoul!"

He came staggering though the door. Christine ran to him. "Oh Raoul!"

He held her tight. "Christine, I love you."

"And I you."

Raoul kissed her lightly, "Christine, will you marry me? You will never have to worry about anything ever again. Oh Christine say you'll marry me!"

It was her chance, "Yes! Yes, I will love to be your wife! Say you love me every waking moment…"

Raoul held her tight, "I will…"

They kissed.

Christine had thought Erik had left, but he hadn't live in the Opera house for so long that he hadn't learned some tricks. She had heard fading footsteps but he was hidden, listening and watching. Finally he couldn't take it anymore. He had to leave. His heart breaking he went down to his lair, suddenly remembering Poppy and what had happened to her and what she had done, he forgot about Christine and Raoul at the moment.