The door to the torture chamber opened with a crash. I followed the sound and moved from my hiding place behind the iron tree. I stood in front of Raoul and the Persian.
Erik's figure loomed in the doorway, his long cape practically blocking all the light from beyond the other room. In his hand I could see a large sword which he moved methodically back and forth in front of his legs. I stiffened at the sight of it and heard the shuffle of fabric and fingers behind me, no doubt the sound of pistols being made ready.
I turned around and flung out my arms so I could prevent the other party from attacking each other with their weapons. "Don't… please." I asked. I saw the Persian lower his gun, letting the barrel point down towards the floor and Raoul reluctantly followed suit. I felt my left arm violently grabbed as Erik pulled me from behind and out of the door. I didn't struggle but Erik's grip only tightened as if intended to run away.
"Christine! Christine!" I heard Raoul call my name, a terrible painful cry that filled my ears until the door of the torture chamber was shut and it became only a muffled lamentation.
Erik continued to pull me across the room with my arm pinned behind my back. I glanced around trying to see where Genny was but with no luck. The uncomfortable position was now becoming a painful one. Before I could plead for my release, Erik let go of my arm and the force of our backward motion was enough to send me falling to the floor.
I saw Genny across the room, lying on a couch. Her hands were tied behind her back and a gag had slipped around her neck. As soon as I had fallen, I pushed myself upwards and spirited towards her. I pulled her into my arms, calling her name. She only responds was sobbing as I cradled her. She still wore her peasant costume which was soaked with dirty water at the hem. I felt her hands which were bounded with thick black cord. I pulled at them with little success of making them loose.
"Genny…" every time I called her name, she would give a terrified moan or sob. I managed to untie the fabric of the gag that circled her neck and flung it away.
"Please. I'm here. I'm here. I'll protect you." I murmured, like trying to comfort a child. I could feel my tears finally starting to fall despite my best efforts to keep them concealed.
"The phantom….the phantom….." Genny whispered terrified.
I turned to Erik. "Let her go! You can't keep her tied up like an animal!" I threaten. I paused in my angry words as I finally got a good look at Erik and the effect overtook me.
He was the very picture of a mad man. The formidable sword still held closely to his person. The edges of his long cloak where shredded and like the hem of Genny's dress dripping with water. He wore no jacket and his shirt was unbuttoned at the neck and sleeve. His hair, which he had always made great effort to comb back, hung in front of his face, soak with his own sweat. His mask has titled downward, exposing the top of his waxen forehead and falling below his eyes, leaving nothing but shadows peering out. His lips were curled in a sneer.
He stalked towards me. "Forgive me if I'm not inclined to submit to your requests, my love." I try to shield Genny with my out-stretched arms, but I only provided the perfect target for Erik to snatch my limb and drag me to my feet once more. He kept me upright as he fished for an item in his pocket. He held out the plain gold ring in front of me. I turned from the sight of it.
"I told you. As long as you wear this ring, you will be safe. You would have had my protection…" he hissed.
"And you promised in return that you would not interfere with my life above. That you wouldn't harm my friends and now you've put all their lives in danger!" I countered.
His fingers closed around the ring forming a fist. He raised his hand and looked as if he wanted to throw it across the room. He paused, a raging sigh escaping his mouth.
"You broke your promise to me. You put everything and everyone in danger the moment you agreed to put on this ring with no intention marrying me; no intention of keeping your word. Isn't that right, Christine?" He pulled me closer to his face. "You played me for a fool. You pretended to love me when all you really felt for me was disgust. You couldn't fathom being the bride of such a hideous wretch!" he accused.
I wanted to cry in pain, but I felt that even my pleas would fall on deaf ears at this point. "Only because I was frightened!" I protested. "What would you have done if I refused? You would have destroyed everyone I loved and if I said no, I knew that would kill you. I've already lied to protect you so many times. I've done terrible things. I couldn't bear knowing that I had again caused another person so much pain. Especially you, my maestro, my teacher, my friend."
He didn't loosen his grip. "But what choice did I have?" I stammered in desperation. "Now I know that even you couldn't keep your promise to me. How can I be your wife and live with knowing all the pain you have caused? How can I accept you now?" He reached to straighten his mask, projecting an aura of uncaring indifference to my implorations. "Your face doesn't upset me anymore, for I know that your soul is the most truly terrifying about you." I pulled at my arm but could not break free. Erik reached a hand towards my chin and brought our faces together, the tip of my nose just brushing the cool leather of the mask.
"Then tell me you truly don't love me." He demanded. "You'll be the greatest actress on this earth if you can honestly admit that you have no feelings for me, Christine. It has been an impressive show you have put on so far."
I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my chest. I knew that Raoul must be listening to every word. I thought of the heat in the torture chamber rising. I thought of Genny, driven to insanity. What good would it do them if I angered Erik by denying him?
Inwardly, I could recognize that my true fear was denying to myself that I loved him.
"I love you, but you horrify me…" my voice cracked as I spoke. I could see the eyes behind the mask shut in disappointment. I had removed his mask twice and seen the terror of those terribly beautiful eyes contorted in pain and sorrow. If I should live a thousand years I would always be haunted by that look of agony and I would give anything to never have to see Erik look that way at me again.
His hand relaxed for a moment, letting the blood flow back into my compressed fingertips. He reached over and caressed my face. The cold tips of his fingers gave my skin a stinging impression when mixed with the heat of my cheek. My whole body seemed to be convulsing after the affect of the torture chamber. My lips were cracking enough to bleed and my skin felt the uncomfortable sensation of pin and needles rising from below the surface of my flesh. It would only get worse as I had no doubt I had more trials to face.
His tenderness was short lived as he pulled at my wrist and dragged me across the room near the organ. I pressed my feet into the floor to stop him, calling franticly that he needed to let me help Genny. His strength was enough to lift me off my stumbling feet and continue in his course.
"Well, you are fortunate this evening, mademoiselle Daae!" he spat. "Not only have I spared your live, I will give you choice of how you chose to spend the rest of your precious time on earth!" He let me go, letting me drop to on the organ bench. He pointed to a shelf carved into the wall with two decorative caskets. He opened each lid and with a menacing wave of his hand gestured to me to come for a closer look. Inside of each was a figurine cut out of black stone: a scorpion and a grasshopper.
"Observe my fine pets Christine." Erik laughed. "Aside from being very pretty to look at; they serve another important function. These will be the devices that you make your final decision with." His hand captured mine again but instead of crushing it he held it gently and delicately stroked the top of it. "If you turn the scorpion, you will let me know that you have chosen life with me. That you will hold yourself to the promise to become part of my life and share in my loneliness. However, if you turn the grasshopper, you will reject me and then you can be reunited with your precious boy...in death."
I screamed and stepped away. "You would kill me!" I shrieked in shock. Erik only smiled.
"No, you will make the choice to do that; not I. You know that I hate to see you in pain, so the thought of me ending your life...is unthinkable. Even for someone as evil as I." he explained in a clipped gentlemanly tone. "Christine, you are a clever girl and because of such, I will treat you with the respect your intelligence deserves. You see, if you turn the scorpion, you will make a present of their lives to your dear Vicomte as well as hundreds of you fellow Parisians."
I shook my head. "If I marry you..." I trailed off. Erik had complemented my intellect; but I had no clue what he was alluding at. "Erik, what have you done? What do you mean?" Across the room, I heard Genny give another mad sob and I turned to her direction.
One of Erik's fingers reached up and turned my chin back to face him again. "This scorpion has a sting, but it is nothing to compare to the grasshopper when he jumps. Beware the grasshopper, Christine, for he hops jolly high!" he threated.
I pulled my head and hand away from him. I walked back over to Genny on the couch and tried to work free the cord on her limbs frantically. Erik didn't stop me, he just watched. I ran over to the kitchen to the drawer to find a knife. I pulled it out and tried to find one in the cluster of cutlery to no avail. I emptied the contents onto the table and found nothing sharper than a spoon. I cursed, realizing that Erik would have gotten rid of the knife after my attempt to kill myself. Erik was no fool. Why would he give me access to anything in his house that I could turn into a weapon against him?
I looked back at him and then at Genny. His gaze hadn't left me and those mad eyes behind the mask greeted me with a surprisingly calm look. Genny however had her eyes locked on Erik, who still had the sword hanging by his side. Now he was tapping the end of it in an impatient tempo.
I couldn't panic. That was what Erik wanted. I think he secretly wanted me to reach for the grasshopper in my desperation to rid myself of him. But I was clueless to what his threats had meant. I only knew one thing for certain: If I rejected him, he would destroy everything and everyone. I had no doubt of that. We stood there in some bizarre standoff, waiting for the other to move.
Erik tilted his head and then looked across the room. "Did you hear that, Christine?"
I shook my head no. "It's not unreasonable to assume that you would have an army of suitors coming to your rescue. I heard one of them just now, at the lake. Are there indeed more of your lovers coming to rescue you from the monster?" he inquired, distain dripping from every word.
"I didn't hear anything, Erik. " I protested. "Please, you're frightening me." He started to stalk to the door and I ran to stop him.
"I shall give you an hour to make your decision, Christine."
I grabbed his arm. "I don't need an hour. I'll choose now. If you will spare Raoul and the others I will marry you! I swear it." I cried.
He didn't even stop his determined pace and flung my arm away. "Don't be so rash with your decision. An eternity in darkness awaits you. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to take care of our unwelcome guest." he pointed to the door. "One hour Christine." and with only a few long strides he had vanished to the other side of the door.
I turned to the caskets, then to the door. I couldn't think of anyone else who knew that I was down here; much less find the house on the lake themselves. I returned to Genny and finally finished untying the knots and freeing her hands. She flung herself into my arms, still sobbing. Once again, she was that broken woman I had seen the night of the masquerade. Mumbling apologizes and unaware what she was saying or doing. I grabbed a throw from one of the other chairs and wrapped her in it, using the ends to wipe the tears from her face.
"Christine...Christine. I'm so sorry." she sobbed. Her fingers dug into my shoulders like a helpless child who didn't want to let go. I gave her a kiss on her forehead and offered my arms to her again, feeling the guilt over the situation weigh down on me. It was only a brief embrace I could offer because my attention turned back to Raoul and the torture chamber.
"Genny, I'm sorry and I'm going to change all of this." I stood up and went over to the wall with the door to the torture chamber. It was indeed the same one I had opened by mistake. "Raoul! Raoul!" I called out. I heard no answer. Terror raced through me at the thought that he could already be dead. I started tearing around the room, knocking over music on the piano and looking through the scattered items on the floor in an attempt to find the keys.
"Christine?" a weak voice croaked from the other side.
"Raoul?" I called again.
"You must open the door..." he pleaded. His soft painful voice tore at my heart.
"I can't. Erik has taken the keys!" I cried. "Raoul, I'm sorry."
"Mademoiselle." Now it was the Persian calling. "You must not touch anything! I overheard you. Do not trust Erik!"
"He has given me an hour. If I marry him, I can save your lives." I reasoned. "What other choice do I have?" I gave a nervous glance back to the caskets. "He said if I turn the grasshopper, it will mean I chose to end my life. What does he mean?"
"I can only guess, but remember, Erik is a master criminal and he is capable of anything." he coughed and I pressed my ear to the wall to hear him better. "No doubt the grasshopper is some sort of trip that could cause and explosion, a fire, anything. I have seen him use the same method to destroy his enemies before."
My heart dropped. Erik meant to unite us all in death. That was meaning behind the threat of how I would spend the rest of my time on earth. He meant to destroy us all.
"Then I must turn the scorpion."
"No! Do not think for a second that his love for you would be enough to turn his deceitful nature. There is a good chance he is lying. The scorpion may not offer you your freedom, but seal your fate."
Did Erik doubt me? Did he think I would deny him and accept death over a life with him? He had given me all his love and now treated me with cynical contempt. Even under that mask of hatred, I believe he knew me better. I would not sacrifice others for my sake. Why else had I agree to stay with him, to ruin myself and cater to his request if only to save my friends from his wrath?
"I don't believe that to be true. Whatever I choose, my life is over."
"Christine...don't..." Raoul sounded even weaker.
I heard footstep and a great commotion at the door. "He's coming."
Standing, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. I return to Genny who was still holding her arms across her chest and shaking like a frightened animal. I waited by her side, counting every agonizing second until Erik reappeared in the doorway.
He was soaked to the skin. He pulled off his cloak and it fell with a sickening thick sound into a heap on the floor. His skeletal arms shown through his cold wet dress shirt, and the water in his hair caused it to lengthen, falling onto his shoulders. He tossed aside an item that I could not see and I heard it roll away. He no longer carried his sword.
Erik turned to face us and Genny screamed. Her hands trashed wildly about her trying to get away. I saw one long fingernail swipe across her cheek and cut her. I pulled her arms to her side and trapped them with one arm while taking the other and pressing her sobbing head into my shoulder with the other to shield her from the sight. Erik had lost his mask in the lake and his death head starred back at us. He approached with slow deliberate steps. Genny was still wailing and quivering, her tears staining my shoulder. I kept my eyes fixed on Erik, looking directly into his eyes and not letting my gaze slip.
"Oh, how must I frighten you." he teased. "What a state I am in. But it is not my fault Christine. Our guests have picked a most unpleasant time to come calling and they should have been wary...about the siren of the lake." I listened to his mad speech with a calm expression, not letting any sign show that he was upsetting me.
"Erik, you should change your clothes." I stated. "You must be cold and you could..."
"I'm quite use to being cold." Erik cut me off with a bow. "One must get use to such unpleasantness, when one is born a freak like me. I do thank you for your concern, Christine." He bent his forehead over mine and I watched the lips beneath the hole that served as his nose twist into a smile. "How good it is to have someone show concern for me. How good it is for someone to care. Perhaps within the hour, I will know if I can look forward to this kindness for the rest of my life. That is…if you agree to be mine."
"No Christine!" I heard Raoul's voice call from the other side of the torture chamber. "Don't do it."
Erik's smile vanished and he turned a half lidded gaze toward the opposite side of the room. "A pity he is not dead yet." he whispered.
"Erik, I have made my choice." I kept my hands around Genny and now I squeezed her tightly, trying to find the strength for what I had to say next. "Erik, swear to me that you haven't deceived me. If I turn the scorpion, it will not cause anyone harm."
One of his fingers snaked out and planted itself under my chin. "Christine, my clever girl. You've figured it out...or perhaps you had some help." His eyes darted away and then back to me again. "Indeed, should you choose to turn the grasshopper, you will ignite the switch that will start a very nasty explosion. You see, I've had many years to collect enough gunpowder to wipe the Opera Garnier right off the map."
"But why, Erik? Why would you even think of such a horrible thing to do?" I asked. I thought of Erik's passion for opera and music and what would possess him to destroy possible the one thing he loved more than me.
"Why? Why should others have the honor of hearing great music; of seeing great beauty when the world has denied me beauty so many times? They are so privileged and they take everything for granted. They have never known the pain I have suffered. But enough of me, Christine. Why don't you see for yourself? Turn the grasshopper and you will have an entirety to contemplate why!"
Erik's finger was pressing so hard against the bottom of my jaw that I could barely speak. I let go of Genny for a moment to push his hand aside, before returning to my previous position once more. I pressed my chin into the top of Genny's head and she returned my fierce embrace with frighten intensity.
"I will marry you. If I stay with you Erik, you must let Raoul live." I stated with as much authority as I could muster. "You will spare their lives. You promise me this. Their lives for mine." I glanced back at him and thought of his cruel proclamation of how promises were for fools. We both had spoken of promises and broken oaths, and I now I knew that Erik did not care to be honorable for anyone. He couldn't even keep a promise even when he was getting the better end of the bargain, but I had to find some trust in him one last time. "If you can't give me your word, then you may as well turn the grasshopper yourself."
Erik nodded. He rose and offered his arm to me. I reluctantly let go of Genny, and let her fall back onto the chaise, careful to keep her face still turned away. Erik led me back over to the caskets, and I tried not to show my discomfort of my arm touching the freezing fabric of his shirt. With a grand gesture he presented me to the macabre display once more. Without a word, my hand reached forward, touched the scorpion and felt it rotate within my hand.
Nothing. I was inwardly bracing myself for anything and waited a few long seconds as silence passed. Then I heard the rushing of water, a far way sound that seemed to resound around the perimeter of the room.
"What's happening?"
"The water from the lake is drowning the gunpowder in the cellars." Erik explained. My eyebrows went up. "Don't worry my dear, you are in no danger of getting wet."
I knew that I was no longer the one in any danger. "Erik, please. I've done what you asked. Now you must open the torture chamber." I insisted. I expected more snide remarks from Erik, but he only nodded and withdrew his set of keys from his pocket and walked towards the torture chamber. He opened the door and I saw the hellish red light from within and hoped I wasn't too late.
"Gentlemen, you are free to go. My wife has bought your freedom." he called out. "Exit slowly, with your hands where I can see them." My eyes locked on the door until finally I saw another shadow from within the red light and the Persian appeared into the room, his arms extended before him. Raoul followed behind him, his hands in a similar position. He didn't look at me and my heart fell, knowing that he refused to acknowledge me. He looked at Erik and I saw his eyes widen in horror for a brief second before filling with hatred again. I knew all too well what he was thinking. The woman he loved was rejecting him once more.
Erik turned and gave a graceful bow in my direction. "Observe, I present you with your wedding gift." he addressed me. As soon as his back was lowered, I saw Raoul lunged forward and put his hands around Erik's neck. They both screamed and within seconds that were on the floor, pulling and tearing at one another. Raoul's grip was tight around Erik's neck and Erik's hand struck Raoul's mid-section in attempt to wound him. I shouted for them to stop. The Persian took a step forward to attempt to pull them apart, but quickly made the decision not to interfere. Erik made a horrible gasping sound which was enough to call me to action. I moved towards them. Then I saw Erik strike at Raoul once more, driving his knee between his legs. Raoul buckled and like lighting, Erik had the upper hand and was on top of him.
"Stop it!" I cried, but Erik's hand had already found Raoul's throat and was returning his assault in kind.
The Persian called across the room to me. "Run!" But I didn't move. I watched in helpless horror as Raoul's arms flailed wildly about him. I was as unmovable as a statue not wanting to leave. I heard the Persian call again. I heard Genny still sobbing but they were like distance echoes in my ear as I watched. Raoul managed to find enough control of one of his hands and reached behind him. I saw the flash of the pistol he pulled from his waist band and I blinked. I heard the gunshot explode throughout the room. The pistol flew back from Raoul's hands and clattered on the other side of the floor.
Erik dropped like a stone onto the floor. The breath I took ignited me like a cannon and transformed into a scream bursting from my lips. I ran to them. Raoul pushed Erik off of him and caught my arm before I could reach his fallen form.
"Christine, come." he called. "We must leave now!" My breath quicken as I continued to stare at Erik. He didn't stir. He didn't even give a cry of pain. My heartbeat was growing faster and louder, sounding in my ears. Now Raoul was pulling at my arm with more urgency, enough to cause my feet to move backward. My resolved only increased and with all my strength I flung myself towards Erik. I wrapped my arms around his back, feeling the sting of cold invade my clothes as they touched.
He was so cold.
"Christine, enough!" Raoul called again in exasperation. He touched my shoulder and I jerked rounded.
"No!" I hissed, slapping his hands away. "No, no, no..." I repeated over and over again. Each time the word passed my lips, my tears increased. "How could you? Raoul, how could you?" I wailed.
One of my greatest fears had come to pass. I let my head fall next to his. His hair covered his face and I couldn't hear him breathing. I was paralyzed with fear. I should have been checking his body for a wound. I should have turned him so he could breathe but I only laid there, shaking and crying out his name.
"Erik, you can't be dead." I pressed my mouth next to his ear, my hands shaking his shoulders. "Don't leave me." I begged. "Don't leave me."
The room was silent save for my pitiful cries of despair. I could feel what hope I had left die inside me. I had earned my freedom at a terrible price. Erik had wronged me and committed terrible sins, but even he didn't deserve a death like this. To be betrayed by the only person he loved and left to die alone.
"God, please….please don't leave me…"
I felt a stirring beneath my fingers. I jerked upright it shock. Then a sharp intake of breath, followed by another. I felt my entire body go still in anticipation, waiting to hear more.
A hollow laugh shattered the silence. The sound crawled out from underneath Erik's form and filled the entire space. I watched as he lifted his head and saw his mouth moving in time with the laugh; that hideous laugh. With uncanny speed, he rose up, reached over and entrapped me in his arms before sitting up to his full height. I looked at him.
A patch of bloody skin shown from underneath the fabric of his shirt. The bullet had torn through the top of his shoulder leaving a gouge across his flesh. However the rest of him was unmarked. I breathed the quickly sigh of relief before I realized once again that I had been tricked. Erik pressed me against his form even tighter and I turned my head away.
Erik caressed the side of the face, continued his ugly laugh. "Ah Christine, my angel." He turned his attention to Raoul, who looked on, stunned. He made a move towards us, but the Persian caught his arm and stopped him mid-stride. "Observe, M. de Chagny." Erik spat out his name like he was expelling poison from his lips. "Christine has chosen me. Even in your feeble attempt to destroy me, she rejected you for me." Erik's month turned and buried itself in my hair. He spoke in a loud whisper so that all could hear him. His voice, dripping with confidence ripped through me "I had no reason to ever doubt her love for me...she is mine."