Chapter Four

Raoul led them to where he got off the boat. He pointed and told them that the Phantom's lair was down the tunnel. Raoul jumped in the lake followed by others and swam through the tunnel. Raoul finally reached the gate, but it was closed.

"How are we suppose to get in Vicomte?" asked one of the men with an attitude. Raoul glared at the man with the tone of voice he was using.

Raoul knew that there must be another way to enter but, unfortunately there wasn't. Knowing that there has to be something, Raoul dove in the lake and shivered as he felt the cold water touch his chest. To is luck, he found a small hole in the bottom of the gate and quickly darted himself up and out of the water.

"I found a hole in the bottom of the gate. I will go through and open it." He said. Some of the people eyed him suspiciously.

"We still don't know if we should trust you De Changy! Let someone go with you!" shouted a man.

"The hole is barely big enough for me!" Raoul protested.

"Then let Little Meg go with you!" shouted a man.

"She's the smallest of us all!" Another man added. Everyone nodded in agreement. Meg didn't seem to like the idea but it was the only way to make sure Raoul won't trick them again and it was a way to get Christine back.

"Alright, come on mademoiselle." Raoul said as he slowly dove in the water with Meg following him. She too, like Raoul, shivered from the coldness of the water. She saw the hole on the gate. It was smaller than she expected. Surely the others wouldn't have fit here, if they came with Raoul. She knew they would have gotten stuck. But, when Raoul went through the hole it seemed like it was not a problem to go through it.

She was losing her breath so she has to go quickly. Raoul was patiently waiting for her to go through. While she was getting through the gate, her shirt got caught on the gate.

Erik went through the tunnels with Christine in his arms. She weighed like a feather. He looked down at her and saw that a few curls across her face. He quickly bounced the top of her body up to move the chocolate curls.

"Oh Christine, my Christine. I'll take you somewhere safe my angel.

But, where could he go? Without his mask… HIS MASK! He left it behind! Oh God, how can he go anywhere without his mask? It's too late to go back now. The mob was probably there. Touching his work, his music box, his masks, his things!

"I'm sorry mon ange. I have failed you." He whispered in her ear. He tried to hold back the sobs and tears. He knew no one would help him, with his face being shown. He stopped in the middle of the tunnel and gently set her down. He looked at her and sat next to her. Without a thought he grabbed her and sat her on his lap.

Not my best idea but, at least I'll keep her warm.

He held on to her tight. Feeling some wonderful sensation. He laid his head in her tangled curls. His eyes closed shut before he whispered in her head:

"I love you Christine."

Raoul turned his head and saw Meg struggling to pull her shirt free. He swam to her and tried to help but, it's like the gate wouldn't let go of her shirt.

He looked around in the bottom and saw a nice sharp rock. He grabbed it without noticing he cut himself. He quickly began to cut the shirt.

Oh please hurry Raoul! I'm running out of breath! She thought to herself.

Raoul looked in her eyes and saw that she couldn't last a lot longer underwater. To their relief the shirt finally ripped. They nodded to each other and swam up.

They both gasped for air as they got out of the water.

"Thank….you….Raoul…" she said trying to catch her breath. He gave a little nod and climbed up the stairs and pulled the liver. The mob quickly rushed in and had spread out like they have already planned where they must go. A group of the mob went to the top of the stairs where candles flickered. They gasped as they eyes gazed on what was on the floor.

"Vicomte! Meg! You might want to see this!" yelled a man

Meg and Raoul rushed over and saw three dead bodies. "There's another one over there." Said the man while pointing at the man with Punjab Lasso around his neck. Meg held her breath and back away, she quickly wandered off. However Raoul stayed exactly where he was, and just closed his eyes in disappointment.

Looks like the infamous Phantom of the Opera murdered again! Raoul thought to himself. He was worried for his Christine. If his temper went lose with these poor innocent men, imagine what he can do to Christine.

"Raoul! Come here!" Meg yelled. Raoul quickly rushed to her. He came and she pointed around to all the drawings of Christine. In her hand, Meg held the wedding ring. She handed it to Raoul.

"He loves her, doesn't he?" she asked in a innocent and curious tone. She saw the sadness in his face and for comfort she put her hand on his shoulder. He tightly squeezed the ring in his hand and turned to her.

"No, he's obsessed with her."

Hours Later…

Erik eyes fluttered open. He looked down and saw a tangled mess of curls.

She's still unconscious. My poor little petite.

He got up and once again, scooped her in his arms and continued down the tunnel. He noticed several times that her eyes would move. As if she was trying to open them but, couldn't. At last they reached the end of the tunnel.

There was a thick wooden door with a chain hanging on it. He gently laid Christine aside and grabbed the chain. He pulled the chain with all his might that veins popped out of his arms and forehead. The door was so heavy and thick that even Erik can't open it easily.

Finally he opened the door. It wasn't even dawn yet and there was a small blizzard. Erik grabbed his cape and wrapped it around Christine like a blanket. As tired as he was from opening the door, it seemed as if it was no problem when he picked her up in his arms, no hesitation at all. He walked in the shadows not wanting anyone to see him even though it was barely dawn.

He finally reached his destination. The only person in the world who could help him.

He knocked on the door and waited a few seconds before a man answered. Though it seemed as if he was wide awake with full clothes on.

"Yes, can I hel-Erik?" The man stared at him and then looked at the women in his arms.

"Hello Daroga." Erik said with a smile on his face.