Megumisakura: Thanks for reading and for the compliment, I'm flattered that you enjoyed it. Obviously, here is an update and I know there are some people who aren't going to like it but hey, there are stories that I don't like so it all evens out. Thanks again for reading!

Oh and everyone, I'm sorry about the previous chapter. My computer wouldn't let me add in my replies to the reviews I received. If you reviewed Chapter one or two and would like to see your reply I have them posted in chapter two now so you can go and look at those. Enjoy!

Chapter Four: (Raoul's point of view)

I watched, intrigued, as Daroga jumped down from the tunnel we'd been crawling through into some room in Erik's house. I myself was terrified and my legs nearly crumpled beneath me as they hit the solid floor. We'd been standing in the room mere seconds when out torch mysteriously blew out. With no light source of any kind it took a while before my eyes adjusted to the darkness. When they had I looked all around me to see that the walls were covered in mirrors.

The mirrors were divided into panels and each panel was from the floor the ceiling in height and about four feet wide. The room itself appeared to be only four feet wide, comfortable for two people to walk side by side. As we began to walk we saw that the passageway went on for several feet before splitting into two passageways. We took the left side but when we'd walked its length we discovered a dead end.

"The maze of mirrors,"

Were the only words that Daroga had whispered as we quietly turned back. We started down the right passageway and discovered the same result, a dead end, only this time right as we turned to go back we heard a loud creaking. Upon looking back we saw that the mirror at the end of the passage had opened up leading into dozens of passageways. Suddenly I feared for both Christine and us more than ever before.

"You can't do this!"

Christine shouted frantically at Erik. It was him who had cut out every light source in the auditorium and it was him who had snatched the diva offstage with no one the wiser, except for Daroga and the young Vicomte. Now he was trying, with everything he had, to convince her to stay with him.

"Christine, as long as you walk this earth no one will ever love you as I will. I beg of you do not break my heart again."

She looked into his eyes and for the first time since he'd shown himself to her she began to see him once more as her angel and not as a monster. However angry she was with him she couldn't help but feel compassion for this man who'd done nothing, until now, to harm her. She could feel his sincerity and she knew that if she agreed to stay with him, and to marry him, that he would love her forever. She tried to speak, but no words would come out of her.

He was torn apart by her silence and she simply sat there as the tears began to flow down his face. He reluctantly let go of his grasp on her hand and saw that his tight grip had left purple bruises around her delicate wrists. This only made him cry harder and he could see that she was uncomfortable. He couldn't take it any longer, he was sick of hurting people. He was sick of hurting Christine.

"Christine…you may,"

He was about to set her free but as he spoke they both heard a deafening crash come from the room behind them. He rushed to the door and upon opening it he saw that Daroga had broken through one of the mirrors in his maze. His anger overtook his confusion and he flew towards Daroga tightening his hands around the Persian's bony neck.

"What the hell is wrong with you Daroga? I've told you, more times than I care to remember, to stay away from here. You have no right to be here you arrogant Persian bastard."

Daroga tried to speak but he was doing well managing to breath. Erik was fuming and contemplated strangling the life out of him until he saw Raoul emerging from the maze. Christine saw him too and her heart jumped. Before Erik had a chance to get up Christine ran to Raoul, threw herself into his arms and began bawling. This only upset Erik further and he rose silently. Christine was almost assured that her beloved would save her. She knew that they could run away together when all this was over, but for now she was afraid of the present. She was terrified of what Erik could, and would do to Raoul.

"Ah young Vicomte, I wondered when you would come. However, Christine will not be leaving with you, she and I are now engaged."

Inside Christine cursed him with all of her being but she knew better than to vocally refuse him. Raoul, on the other hand, was an exception. He had not dealt with the Phantom before and he knew nothing of his powers. He gently kissed Christine on the forehead and then stepped in front of her.

"Leave us alone phantom. Christine would never agree to marry you."

At hearing Raoul's voice, Erik became more infuriated then ever before. Violent images of torturing this boy went flashing through his mind and he wanted nothing more than to go through with any one of them. He heard Christine whisper, "Raoul" and when the boy turned around to look at her Erik took the opportunity. He flung his pun-jab and it fell right around Raoul's neck. Ignoring all of Christine's desperate cries, and leaving behind any trace of empathy, he dragged the choking boy over to the edge of his black lake.

He lifted Raoul up by his neck and dangled his scrawny body over the water. Finally paying notice to Christine's screams he turned to face her. She'd imagined that his face would be twisted into unfathomable hate but when he looked at her she saw quite the opposite. He had tears streaming down his cheeks and he had not even the strength to look at her. Through choked sobs he finally spoke,

"Choose Christine,"

She was confused, "what Erik? What must I choose?"

He took in a deep breath and exhaled before finding the courage to look into her deep blue eyes. "Choose between your freedom…. and his life. If you do not wish to marry me then you may leave but if you do that you will leave me with no choice but to drown your young friend in this lake."

Christine gasped and all color drained from her frail face. Her arms felt numb and she thought she might fall over. She opened her mouth to speak, several times, but her confusion was such that her voice was a luxury she could not presently attain. Under no circumstances did she want Raoul to die but she didn't want to be forced into marriage. She did love Erik but he couldn't force her like this. She'd made no advances in her decision when she heard a raspy voice from behind her.

"Christine, either way that you choose you can not win. If you truly love the Vicomte you will spare his life. For believe me there are tortures you could never imagine in that lake."

Erik hissed at Daroga, "Shut up you fool," and then he turned to Christine, "Make your choice. My patience is wearing thin Christine, do not make me choose for you."

He had no intention of letting Raoul free, but he did not want him to die from asphyxiation before he could kill him himself. Besides that his arm grew tired from holding the boy up. Erik threw him to the ground and pulled the rope tight enough that the boy could not speak. After this he simply stared at Christine, the deadly silence between the two nearly killing them both.

Moments passed and both Erik and Raoul pleaded to Christine with their eyes. Daroga, lifeless behind her, could be of no help now. This was her decision and she knew what the right choice was…

If you read my story, even just this once, please have the courtesy of reviewing, whether you liked it or not. Constructive criticism is always encouraged, however do NOT leave a review telling me how much you hate my story and what an awful author I am. If you don't like it that's fine. Tell me what I can do to make it more enjoyable for you. Thanks for reading! Caitlyn