Joshua lead Raoul into Christine's dressing room then quickly shut and locked the door behind them. "What are we doing here?" Raoul demanded. Joshua rolled his eyes irritated. He walked over to the mirror and started running his hand along the frame's angelic design. Raoul watched silently, and just when he opened his mouth to ask Joshua what he was doing, click. "Ah-ha! There you are." Joshua said more to himself. Raoul stood amazed as the mirror slide open. A perfectly normal thing for the small group of friends, but to someone such as Raoul it was unnatural. Joshua grabbed a nearby lantern and lit it. He looked back at Raoul "Well are you coming or what?" Raoul looked shocked by the question. Of course. Of course Raoul wouldn't trust him. Joshua sighed deeply and looked him right in the eyes. "Look you want her safe I get it, trust me I do, Christine is like an older sister to me. I want her safe as much as you do. The only others in our group that know these tunnels as well as Christine and Erik is me. So I'm asking you to trust me. I know a short cut that will lead right to a gate on the east side of the lake, just outside the entrance of Erik's house." Joshua extended his hand to Raoul and with that said one of Erik's favorite lines "Do you trust me?" Raoul nodded and took his hand, then stepped inside the mirror. Joshua pressed in a small stone and the mirror shut. "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes. Do not ask me why just do it. Stay close and stay quite the last thing we need is unwanted attention." Raoul did as told. Joshua then began to lead him deeper and deeper into the tunnels.

Erik quickly went to his room to pack his things and left me to do what I needed. Just as said there laid my gorgeous wedding dress, veil, shoes, and all. The only dress Erik ever designed and made himself. It had a long and beautiful train, a high neck line, and lance lining every inch of it, with fingerless white lace gloves, and to top it all off the tiara veil. That was the first thing I gently placed into the bag. Followed by a few dresses, night gowns, three pairs of shoes, and a picture of my father I had on the vanity. I quickly changed out of my costume for 'Don Juan' and into my normal clothes. I then let my mind begin to wonder what our lives would be like outside of the opera walls. The furthest either of us had been since the night we met was the fair grounds, the Liveria house, and the cemetery. Erik and I studied for years different places in the world, different opera houses we hoped to one day visit, it was hard to believe that our dreams as children were finally within our grasp. We had taken so much care this time compared to when we were seventeen, we were carful not to make the same mistake twice. I knew it would be hard for both of us to leave Gerard, Jessica, Meg, Joshua, and Molly but it had to be done. They all knew Erik needed to leave and they all knew that Erik wouldn't leave without me. That and I wouldn't dare let him even think about seeing the world without me. Plus it wasn't like we would be gone forever. Erik and I would return one day because we both agreed that our first child would be born in Paris. And who honestly knew how long that would be. I blushed and laughed to myself at the thought. Everything was changing for better for all of us. Before closing up the bag I had a few more items to put in, so I let my thought cease only for that moment to concentrate on what else I needed to pack. Then from just outside my balcony I heard a splash and I refused to let my mind wonder into any worst case scenario, but it was too loud for me just to shrug off. I then turned to try and find Erik.

Twenty minutes earlier

Joshua had lead Raoul down a small path up the wall next to the lake. They turned a corner and Raoul could hear water rushing and crashing into more. It was faint but still audible, Joshua stopped. Raoul glanced around wondering if Erik was near or if he should be listening for the sounds of Christine's screams and pleads. But no, nothing. "What? What is it?" Joshua slowly turned to him. "This is as far as I can take you De Chaney. Your life is in your own hands now do with it what you will, I go no further." He then handed the lantern to Raoul and pointed him in the direction of the waterfall just outside Christine's apartment. "You will arrive at the top of a waterfall, jump you will land safely I promise. You will have to swim to shore and I believe you can take it from there." Raoul nodded and caught Joshua's arm as he turned to leave. "Thank you." Joshua nodded and then was gone within moments. Apparently Erik isn't the only one who can see in the darkness.

Raoul hid behind the corner watching Erik pack papers into a bag. He was about to leave and demand to know what he had done to his Little Lottie but then a familiar voice came from the other side of the study. From a dark hallway rushed in Christine. "Erik!" His head quickly snapped up worried about why she was so alarmed. "Erik." She cried running into his arms. "What is it Mon amour, is everything alright?" Raoul was in shock how she willingly sought comfort in him. "Erik there was a noise from the lake outside my balcony. It's too soon for anyone to be here, and no one but us and the Giry's know about that passage." Christine was visibly shacking even Raoul could see from where he hid practically a room away. Erik shushed her and held her close to him stroking her hair. "It alright Christine. I told you I'm not going to let anything happen to you. It was probably nothing to worry about." He pulled her away and attempted to tame her curly blonde hair to no avail. He laugh softly to himself for thinking he could actually tame his beautiful angle's hair. "It's going to be alright. We will leave in a bit out the back and to the boat at the other side of the lake. We'll stay at the old servant's house for the night and leave for the docks first thing in the morning." She nodded. Then he kissed her forehead and she smiled. "Now, go and finish packing." As she started to step away he said "Oh, and if you see anything come out of the lake just scream." She then punched his arm and he laughed. Christine stomped her foot like a spoiled little girl "Stop that, it's not funny." She said with a smile.

"Oh, it's not is it? Then why are you smiling?" She turned her head down to avoid his gaze and let her hair fall over her face to hide the smile that was clear on her face. "I'm not." She said. Erik came closer and closer. Raoul was afraid of what this man he called monster would do next. "You are a terrible little liar Christine Daee!" He said and began tickling her. She screamed, squeaked, and giggled. Her arms flailing and her hair swaying back and forth each time she jerked her head. She eventually pulled away and recovered herself. After that she went to Erik and placed her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist. She smiled at him and brushed her lips with his. "I love you Erik Mcgalla."

I smiled back at her "And I love you Christine Daee, Mcgalla." He said slyly sending a shiver down her spine and leaving a giggle in her throat. "I like the sound of that." She giggled once more and took his lips fully. When they pulled away he told her to go finish getting ready they didn't have much time left, and with that she was gone leaving Erik alone with his papers only for a mere moment.

Raoul stepped forward into the study. Erik knew someone was behind him, a De Chaney but it was not the one he thought of. He slowly turned to find a soaking wet Viscount who slowly reached down into his boot and pulled out a dagger. Erik reached into his back pocket and felt the scratchy material of his lasso. The only real intent he had for it tonight was to knock Antonio out, but it looked like it would have to be used for a bit more tonight. Control yourself Erik, don't let the Phantom win this battle. Control yourself. Raoul moved closer to Erik dagger in hand. "What have you done to her monster?" We don't have to answer his questions. A dark voice in the back of Erik's mind said. Let go I can take him, Christine will forgive you in time. She doesn't even have to know. It will be quick then you can just through him in the lake. Erik tried to shake the voice from his head, Raoul kept coming closer with the dagger. "If you know what's wise you'll stop where you are boy. I'm warning you don't come any closer." But Raoul refused to listen to his warning.

"We end this now." Raoul moved the dagger to end Erik before the mob could. But his eyes turned gold and his skin ice cold "No!" Erik moved quickly and jerked the dagger away out of his hands then pushed Raoul out of the study into a side entrance to the lake. Raoul fell into the ankle deep water and Erik was quick to get to the lasso. He threw it around Raoul and jerked him up. He started gasping for breath when Erik threw him up against the east gate in an attempt to stop him from struggling. "Erik warned you boy! And now you're going to pay for trying to take Christine from us! The Phantom of the Opera will take no prisoners!"

"Erik! No! Stop!" Christine ran through the water and grabbed Erik's arm trying to pull them apart. "Erik stop this madness! This isn't who you are!" He released Raoul to the floor he knew that the boy would be too weak to do anything, then he pushed Christine into the water. "Your precious Erik is no longer here!" He said looking down at her. The Phantom laughed softly and turned to go back to finish off the Viscount. "I'm not afraid of you!" Christine yelled. He stopped dead in his tracks. "Did you hear me?! I said I'm not afraid of you!" He turned back to her slowly. "You are no Phantom Erik. You are no murderer. And you are certainly no Don Juan. I remember how it ends. He loses the girl, but you will not lose me. I told you I would stay by you side and help you fight off the world. But I will not help you fight this madman Erik."

He grew irritated "Shut up you stupid little girl! Erik is no longer here!"

"If he isn't there then I would be dead right now due to your hand." He looked at her shocked by what she said and it was true. She stood up and looked Erik in the eyes "Fight it." She whispered at first. Then her emotions took over. "Fight it!" She yelled through tears. "Fight him Erik!" He was shaking all over and with an irritated, blood-curdling scream he fell to the water. Pounding his fists into it in defeat. Raoul looked up at Christine and Erik trying to catch his breath. Tears were flowing down her face she knelt down to the sobbing figure known as Erik. Christine pulled him close to her holding him, comforting him as she had done so many times before. Erik latched onto her hating himself for giving into the Phantoms wishes. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Christine. Forgive me please, forgive me, my love." She held him tighter and shushed him, stroking the coal black hair out of his face. She felt relief as she noticed the warmth had returned to him. They parted and she wiped tears from his face "It's alright, I'm here." She leaned forward and kissed the marred said of his face. They then helped each other up. Erik moved back to Raoul who was slowly regaining his strength, but was still nowhere near ready for another attack Phantom or not. He moved down and undid the lasso around the Viscount's neck. He stood up and let it flow under the bars of the gate with the water. Erik bent back down to help Raoul up and he was in no position to argue.

Christine lead them into the house where he was laid in the drawing room. "Christine, what's going on here?"

"It was a trick Raoul. I was never in love with you. I know you probably think this is some spell Erik has put on me, but no. It's not, and if you don't believe us you can ask your brother. He was a part of this too. He actually helped with the Phantom's last appearance at the opera. He's going to help us fake Erik's death so we can get away."

"Speaking of which," Erik was then interrupted by a loud alarm "The mob. They're close, too close for my liking. We have to leave. Now! Philippe will get our things once he arrives, and unfortunately I don't have time to show you a way out De Chaney. We'll have to take him with us. As far as the shore of the lake outside the opera." I nodded and with that Erik grabbed the hidden gun and we started to the back exist.