Hi everyone! So sorry I've been gone. I'm doing another show so rehearsals have gotten in the way. This chapter I've had planned for months and I'm so happy that it's finally time to reveal it to you. Enjoy!

Chapter 25

I woke up backstage, my body strew across a few chairs. I winced and blinked as my eyes tried to adjust to the bright light. I held my head as it throbbed in pain. An ice pack sat on my forehead and I pushed it off as I straightened into a sitting position.

"Kirsten, honey?" Came my mom's gentle voice beside me. She was kneeling beside me. "How are you?"

"I..." After a few deep breaths, it all came back to me. "How long have I been out?"

"About 20 minutes, dear." She said gently.

"Where's Erik?" I asked, no longer relaxed. "Is he alright?" I stood quickly.

"Darling, just be calm for a minute, you need to rest." My mom urged but I cut her off.

"Where is he?!" I started panicking. I didn't wait for her to finish. I hurried out onto the stage, my head still spinning. It was dark and empty, but I heard a riot outside the auditorium.

My breathing began to quicken as I left the room and darted down the hall. I was met with a sound that broke my heart.

"Kirsten! Kirsten!" It wailed. "Let me see her!"

Tears blurred my vision as I followed Erik's cries. I finally found a small crowd outside the choir room. The sight stopped my heart. Erik was held in a tight grip by two police officers. His mask was no where to be found and tears streamed down his cheeks. He was pleading with them.

"Please let me see her. Please give me my mask. I didn't mean to hurt her, just please. I meant nothing by it. My mask, please. I love her, you don't understand. I love her more than anything. Please let me see her." Each plead was laced with tears and sobs.

"Erik!" I cried. I raced toward him.

He looked up, his sea colored eyes rimmed with red from tears. Shock covered his face. I ran to him. The officers tried to stop me from reaching him, and I shoved at them

"Let me by." I demanded, although my voice trembling.

"Kirsten," Erik said begged, "do as they say."

I was about to reply but a voice drowned out my own. "Let her through."

I turned back to see Rory, his face stern and his voice strong. The officers moved by reluctantly.

"Thank you." I whispered and he nodded in reply. I rushed into Erik's waiting arms.

"I'm so very sorry. So very sorry." Erik whispered into my hair. His hands were shaking.

I buried my face in his chest. "Are you alright?" I pulled back and looked up at him. I gasped and whispered. "Erik.."

"What?" His eyes scanned over my face, searching for answers. In realization, he gasped and grabbed the side of his face.

"Erik, darling." I whispered softly. I placed my hand over his, cupping the side of his face he was trying conceal. "I love you. I love you more than anything on this Earth. You need to know that I accept you, mask or not. I will always accept you."

Tears ran down his cheeks. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Erik, you aren't going to hurt me. I promise you that. I love you." I begged him.

He gulped and winced, and then slowly lowered his hand. Angry, red, cars crisscrossed all the way down to his chin. Chunks of his skin were actually missing. His right eye drooped lower than his left and it bulged out. I could only imagine how painful it was for him. I took a finger and gently traced a scar. I felt more tears press behind my eyes.

"You don't deserve this. You are the last person to deserve this." I stroked his face with the back on my hand.

"It's all in the past, Kirsten." He said softly.

I nodded. "You are right." I looked around. "Erik, why did you come tonight?"

"Didn't you want me here?" He asked.

"Of course I did." I sighed. "I didn't think you would come, after all I did to you."

"Kirsten, I wasn't going to miss this." He caressed my cheek. "I'm so sorry about how this turned out. All I wanted to do was be your Phantom."

I smiled through the tears. "Don't you see? You already are my Phantom. And I will always be your Christine. That is, if you'll have me."

He cupped my face. "I don't want anyone else." He kissed me gently, sweetly.

I hugged him close. "So what happens now?"

"I don't know." He held me close again.

As we embraced, something caught my eye. The ring that still sat on my hand was not a prop. It was a sparkling diamond ring, and it sat heavily on my left ring finger. "Erik, what is-"

"Alright break it up!" An officer said harshly. He pulled me away from Erik and them resumed his position beside him.

"Just let him go!" I told them. These guys were getting on my nerves. "This makes no sense."

"Look missy," said one of them, "it ain't that easy."

"Yes it is!" I stormed up to him. "He didn't do anything!"

"He is being charged for trespassing and assault."

"Assault? Trespassing?" I was shocked.

"He was trespassing on private school property. He assaulted Ms. Paul and Mr. Walters."

I looked to Erik. "You did that? What happened to Danny?"

"Miss," said the policeman, "we found Mr. Walters passed out backstage. He was hit in the head with a 2 by 4."

I was shocked. I put my head in my hands, trying to process it all. I caught sight Ms. Admick, who was hiding in the corner.

"Are you just going to sit here and let this happen?" I grabbed her by the arm. "Ms. Admick, this is my vocal coach. But to me, he's more than that."

"Kirsten, I know who Erik is. He's the reason we did this show." She told me.

I was coming up with more questions than answers. "Please just let him go, this was all a big misunderstanding!" I walked back to the officers.

"It doesn't work that way. He's coming with us." One said.

"No, no no. You can't mean that. Please let him go." I panicked.

My mom walked up me and put an arm around me. "Kirsten, don't argue with them. It'll only make it worse."

I shook my head. Tears were starting again. "Mom, they can't do this."

"They have too, sweetheart." I heard her voice catch. "At least let her say goodbye." She asked.

They nodded. I ran to Erik. I hugged him as tight as I could, burying my face into his neck.

"Be strong for me, my love." He whispered gently.

"Erik, I love you." I sobbed.

"And I love you. Everything will be alright, I promise." He assured me.

"I'll get you out. I'll fight for you." I vowed.

"I know you will. Just remember, I'm always with you." His voice washed over me.

I looked into his eyes. Those sweet blue eyes. He pressed a passionate against my lips. In that moment, no one existed. It was just us. I melted in his embrace. It ended far too soon.

"I love you." He whispered again."

"I love you too." I replied. Erik released me.

I watched in horror as the officers placed my angel in handcuffs. He winced and I saw the sadness in his eyes.

"Where's his mask?" I asked. My mom handed it to me. Taking it from her, I went up to Erik.

"You'll need this." I pressed it into his hand.

"He can't take it with him, miss." An officer said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Just keep it." He said

I looked into Erik's eyes one final time. After another gentle kiss, I watched them lead him away. My heart broke as I watched his shoulders shake with sobs. They were taking my angel away.

It seemed better in my head, but there you have it. Sorry that my description of the deformity sucks, it was hard to write, I hope you all enjoyed it.