Sorry guys, I went away for a week. Please don't kill me? I'll leave cookies! By the way, Cara is prominent because she is a) an important character and b) will play a large part in the sequel. No I am not going to kill her off.

DOWN ONCE MORE

((We join our heroine descending into the catacombs to find her beloved)) Eventually, Christine came to a staircase. First, she had just been wandering. Now she recognized the way. With a sigh, she put her hand on the wall and felt around. Now where was that tapestry? Ah, there it is, she thought as she pulled the curtain aside. She found the crack in the wall, and slid her delicate fingers through it, pulling the secret passageway open. It was barely a shortcut, but without Erik to lead the way, she needed her strength in case she got lost.

As she reached the end of the tunnel, she took another step to find that she was in water. Seeing as there was no boat, she'd have to wade or swim. She took her shoes off, and took her first step into the water. After a few steps, Christine realized that it was only about knee deep, so she decided that wading would work. After a few steps, she stepped on something. It wasn't sharp, but certainly not pleasing to step on. She quickly recoiled her food, and submerged her hand in the water. She felt around for a minute, her hand finally closing around a small object, not even an inch in diameter. She recognized the feel of the object right before she pulled it out of the water. It was the ring. The wedding ring that Erik had given her. The one she had given back.

"Oh no," Christine whispered, with a horrified look on her face. The Erik she knew would have never lost this. What if Madame Giry was wrong? What if he wasn't there? Or even worse, what if he didn't love her anymore? It almost brought tears to her eyes. No Christine, she thought, you mustn't think like that! Erik was not the type to simply abandon love, or take it lightly. He may be mad at her for turning him down, but he still loved her. Up ahead was a light, growing as she drew closer.

"Christine, I love you!" Erik said with tears in his eyes. His face looked so beautiful, so…pure, even with his deformity. Christine was already second-guessing herself when she looked into his eyes. Almost crying herself, she slipped the ring off, and kneeled down. Then, she placed the ring in his opened hand, and closed it with her own. Christine sobbed at the memory. Oh, her Erik, oh her angel. How she missed him. But finally, tonight, if God were with her, she would see him again. As she drew closer to the light, she heard quiet sighs and almost silent sobbing. As she turned the corner, she saw a sight that almost wrenched her heart out of her chest. He was still here, and still waiting for her to return. Oh, how she had waited for this so long, to be reunited with her angel of music.

"Hello? Is someone there?" Erik said in a wavering voice, cautiously. How dare they? Attacking him while he was weakest. But when he turned around, he was astounded. Her? Here? How could it be? She had returned to him? Of course it was she, he couldn't mistaken her for anyone else! His heart skipped a beat, and he stood up abruptly.

"Christine", he said softly.

"Yes Erik?"

"You came back." Erik had a small smile on his face. He never would have though that she'd come back. Why would she? She had it made with Raoul. Raoul had money, he loved her, and even though Erik hated to admit it, he was a good person. But she had come back.

"Yes, I did." Christine waded towards the shore of his island and looked at Erik closely. He was beautiful even without his mask on. But he looked so distraught. His hair was a mess, his clothes were stained and messy, but he had a smile on his face. His smile was so beautiful. She leaned in towards him. And that's when Christine kissed Erik, the Phantom of the Opera.

This story is really fun to write...
Bear with me, we're almost halfway done!

WHOOP! Kudos to:
a) one of my good friends and my beta, Idiot America
b) Celixer, Parukia Agent 007 for reviewing
And c) Gaston Leroux for inventing Phantom in the first place.

(Cookies for all!)
Review? Please?

C'est lui, c'est le Fantome de l'Opera!
-Almighty Authoress Emily/Lady Pendragon