Disclaimer: Still the same not owning anything….and I apologize for this chapter taking forever but the phantom took it down to his lair and wouldn't give it back….

Chapter 21

Orianna was basically tripping over her own feet because he was pulling her so fast and his grip on her was so tight; she couldn't really blame him though, if someone had exposed a secret like that to the world, to her, she would be a wreck. Orianna kept hearing more screams and yelling above them, as if something terrible was happening above them. It wasn't helping though that he was yelling at her the whole time while practically dragging her.

He threw her into the boat and went so fast across the lake, trying to cover up his face.

"You don't have to hide it." Orianna whispered, but he just glared at her.

"Didn't you hear the screams of terror? I am the devil's child." She felt terrible, what was wrong with her?

"But, they are still screaming and you are not there."

"Perhaps they should watch their chandelier ropes more carefully next time." Orianna gasped. She had noticed he had done something before they had left the stage but she didn't even know what. He had rigged the chandelier to fall down on the theater if anything went wrong, he had said that before; a disaster beyond your imagination.

They finally landed and he jumped out.

"Hounded down by everyone, met with hatred everywhere

No kind words from anyone! No compassion anywhere!"

He put his hand out to her and she took it, he pulled her up out of the boat and pulled her over to the creepy doll that looked like her. He started to pull the wedding dress off of her. But, he stopped and looked at the doll then at her.

"Christine! Christine…why?" She couldn't say anything; she didn't even know what to say to that. With no response, he got more frustrated and pulled the wedding dress off throwing it at her.

"Go change quickly!" She went into the little room with the swan bed and quickly changed, the whole time regretting what she had done. Thanks to her people were dying and the opera house was destroyed and she lost the trust of her angel…if she still had it.

The wedding dress was pretty; she had to focus on something else to lighten her spirits a little. She left her costume on the bed and then came out. He was looking at something in his hand and didn't even notice her come out. Suddenly, the words came bursting forwards.

"Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?"

He turned around and looked at her; he seemed to be pleased with the dress.

"Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?"

"That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood…has also denied me the joys of the flesh…" He reached out to touch her face and he lightly brushed against her cheek.

"This face, the infection which poisons our love…

This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing...

A mask! My first, unfeeling scrap of clothing…"

Tears began to streak down her face as she looked at him; but that just seemed to make him madder.

"Pity comes too late, look at me and face your fate

An eternity of this…before your eyes…" He held out his hand and she took it. He turned her hand over and put a ring in it. She looked up at him and walked over to one of the mirrors covered by a curtain; she pulled it down and shook her head.

"Your haunted face holds no horror for me now

It's in your eyes that the true distortion lies…"

He stopped and for a second he seemed to have calmed down a little then he tensed about.

"Wait…Christine…I think we have a guest. Sir, how nice it is to see you!"

She turned around and there, standing at the gate, was Raoul. He was dripping wet and he looked exhausted.

"Raoul, what are you doing here?"

"Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight…I had rather hoped that you would come, and now my wish comes true you have truly made my night!"

"Let her go! What has she done to you? I love her just let her go and take me instead!"

"Your lover makes a passionate plea!"

"Please, Raoul, it's useless!"

"I love her, does that mean nothing, I love her…please show some compassion!"

"Like the world showed compassion to me?" he screamed.

"Fine, then, if you won't let her out let me in!" Raoul said, shaking the gates.

"If that's what you want." He smiled which never meant anything good and opened the gates for him. He let Raoul come over to Orianna and they hugged.

"Oh, Christine…"

"Monsieur I bid you welcome! Did you think that I would harm her?" Raoul stood in front of her, trying to protect her from him. "Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" All of a sudden the phantom had maneuvered a tight noose around Raoul's neck; it looked like it was floating in the air. Orianna tried to get it off but to no avail.

"Order your fine horses now!
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now - except perhaps Christine ..."

The phantom grabbed her hands and pulled her away from Raoul; he held onto them as if begging her to pick him.

"Start a new life with me

Buy his freedom with your love

Refuse me and you send your lover to his death

This is a choice! This is the point of no return!"

Everything was jumbled for her. Now she had to pick whether or not to stay down here or kill off Raoul. She obviously didn't want either one to happen so what was there to do? She looked up at him.

"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate…

Grow cold and turn to tears of hate!"

She pulled her hands away from him, going over to Raoul.

"Christine, forgive me, please, forgive me…"

She shook her head and put her hands on his cheeks.

"It's not your fault…" She turned around and stood in front of Raoul, staring at the phantom.

"I did it all for you and all for nothing!"

"Farewell my fallen idol and false friend,

We had such hopes and now those hopes are shattered!" Orianna went towards him but the phantom moved away.

"Too late for turning back now,

Too late for prayers and useless pities!"

"Say you love him and my life is over..."

"All hope of cries for help…no point in fighting…"

Then, they all started singing together.

"For either I/you choose, I/he has to win…"

The phantom then lifted his hand up and the noose seemed to tighten on Raoul, making him cough and stop singing.

"So do I/you end my/your days with you/me, or do I/you send him to his grave?"

"Why make her lie to you to save me?"

Orianna walked away from them both, shaking her head. What was she supposed to do? She had to make a choice and it had to be soon, why couldn't she just convince him to stop all this madness? It was her fault anyways.

"Angel of music, who deserves this? Why do you curse mercy?"
"Past the point of no return, the final threshold.

His life is now the prize which you must earn…"
"For Pity's sake Christine say no, don't throw your life away for my sake.

I fought so hard to free you."
"You've passed the point of no return…"

That's when Orianna realized something; she turned around and narrowed her eyes at the phantom.

"Angel of music….you deceived me…I gave you my mind blindly." She said, shaking her head. "I trusted you."

"You try my patience, make your choice."

Orianna knew what the right thing to do would be which is to stay here with him and let Raoul go free. That's what she wanted, but would that make her happy? What was she saying? This wasn't her world or her life…this was Christine's. She knew what her choice would be…obviously with the more passionate, mysterious and uh-so green-eyed phantom; but what should happen? This wasn't her world…and it wasn't the phantoms either. He had loved her based on her voice, how romantic was that? But, then, Raoul had obviously had a crush on her since they were children. What was the right decision? But, which was the wrong? Why was this her decision? There were so many things running through her head; that's when it hit her, what she had to do. She sighed and stopped crying. She looked at Raoul, and bite her lip.

"I'm sorry…"She mouthed and saw Raoul swallow hard. Orianna then focused her attention on her angel and started moving towards him.

Pitiful creature of music…what kind of life has you known?

God give me courage to show you, you are not alone!"

She stood in front of him and kissed him. She had to show him that she cared and that she wanted to be with him…because she did. At first, he seemed kind of shocked and then he wrapped his arms around her. She pulled away and looked into his eyes; then kissed him again. Finally, they pulled away and they stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Her angel went through about a million different emotions until he shook his head and walked away from her.

"Take her-forget me-forget all of this!"

Orianna was so confused; what was going on? Hadn't she basically picked him and now he was refusing her? But, the noose had fallen from Raoul's neck, he took it off and ran over to Orianna.

"Leave me alone! Forget all you've seen!"

But, Orianna couldn't move, she was frozen in place. Why was he letting her go? Shouldn't he be pushing Raoul out the door? She didn't understand what was going on. Raoul was tugging on her arm. The phantom turned around with a look of disbelief that they were still there.

"Go now! Don't let them find you! But, swear to me, never to tell, the secret you know of the angel in hell!"

"Christine, come on!" Raoul dragged her over to the boat.

"But, I don't understand."

But, her angel went out of sight, yelling.

"Go now! Go now and leave me!"

Orianna knew something wasn't right; there was something that didn't fit in right. As Raoul was guiding her into the boat, she understood. He wanted her to be happy. He was giving her up and letting her live with Raoul, where he thought she wanted to be. He knew she didn't belong in the darkness of his "lair"; that she belonged in the world where could have everything and anything she ever wanted. Orianna shook her head and held in the tears, looking down at her hands.

The phantom sat down on the bed, looking at the little monkey music box. He couldn't believe he had let her go. He had to. This was not her world and she was too beautiful to live in the darkness. He loved her and always would; she was his angel. She had given him hope and that's all he wanted. She had seen through his face, his distortion. She had kissed him. And now he was letting her go. Next to the monkey music box was the gift she had given him over the Christmas break; he has treasured it. He touched the top of it and smiled. He then let the monkey music box start playing as he sang along and cherished the music box Christine had given him.

"Masquerade…paper faces on parade,

Masquerade…hide your face so the world will never find you…"

He looked up and saw Christine standing there; she had come back to him, he smiled. "Christine, I love you!"

Orianna smiled and finally broke down and let the tears slide out. She went and kneeled next to him, putting a hand to his cheek.

"If I could stay with you, I would…but I can't. I want to let you know that if it was any other way, I would stay here with you and just encase myself in your wonderful music and your love." She looked down at her hand and opened it; there was the ring he had given her. "I'm not sure if I can give this back because I want something from you that you gave to me out of your heart." He nodded and closed her hand up.

"Keep it." He muttered. "I have this." He motioned to the music box she had given him. She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry." She quickly stood up and left, hurrying over to the boat; Raoul was hurt and he needed her help. She helped him stand up and push the boat along. She looked down at the ring and put it on her finger.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime..." she started singing.

"Say the word and I will follow you…" Raoul answered back, even though those words weren't for him. She turned around and saw him standing at the edge, looking at her. She sighed and waved at him and he waved back, singing to him.

"Share each day with me, each night, each morning…" Then, he started singing back to her.

"You alone can make my song take flight…

It's over now the music of the night!"

She wanted to cry but she had to hold it in. She just wanted to go back to her normal life and never remember any of this; it was too painful, too painful to leave him and too painful to think about. When they finally landed, Orianna felt extremely dizzy. Raoul stepped off and then she did, but something didn't feel right.

"Christine, are you ok?" Everything was spinning and she felt so light-headed until finally she fainted.

(A/N-I'm sorry its so long but only another chapter left! Can you believe that? Crazy right? You didn't think I would leave it here…just hanging! We have to find out what happened to Orianna!! I would really appreciate some reviews…some nice ones!! Please be nice!! Keep reading and reviewing! THANKS!!!!)