Christine went to bed that night at the opera house, trying to make Erik disappear out of her mind. But it was impossible, and she could still feel his touch on every centimeter of her body. She could see his horribly sad face staring at her, no mask to strain him back.
She tied her nightgown on. A candle in the corner blew out, making Christine jump with fear. That was what had happened when he had visited her that night...
"Erik? Why do you haunt me like this?" she asked aloud. She knew she was here; she could almost feel his presence.
There was no reply, but then he spoke, quietly and sadly. "I can't stay away from you, Christine. I love you too much", he said.
"No, don't do this to me! You're... trying to control me, like Raoul said!"
"Christine, I think you're just controlling yourself. And so is Raoul", he said distantly.
"Don't blame this on him. Please!" she said, expecting an answer. None came, and soon Christine went into bed and tried to fall asleep.
I think you're just controlling yourself, kept going through her mind as she tossed and turned, trying to forget.
She managed to get it out of her mind for a little bit, but her sleepless night ahead of her just reminded her of the night he first came to her when she was a little girl. She finally gave up and went to the chapel for her father.
She knelt down and lit the candle for her father. "Angel of Music, you deceived me. Angel no one, deserves this", she sang softly, more to Erik than anyone else.
"I gave you my mind blindly. What did I do to deserve this? What?" she whispered to herself.
After praying to her father, she left, finally feeling tired. After tossing and turning for a half an hour more, she finally drifted into a soft sleep.
"No more talk of darkness. Forget these wide-eyed fears. I'm here, nothing will harm you. Your fears are far behind you", Raoul sang to Christine as snow drifted around them. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, slowly rocking back and forth.
Christine held onto him, smiling at his affection. He continued to sing, but then his voice changed. "Christine I love you", a powerful voice wafted into her ear's. Christine turned into surprise, to find Erik standing there.
She gasped and backed away, frightened. He faded away, and then her father appeared in his place. "Christine, listen to your own mind, and try not to influenced by anyone else. Do it for me. Please. That's all I ask of you", her father said. But as the last sentence he spoke, two loving male voices drifted Christine's way. It was both Erik and Raoul singing to her.
Raoul voice was getting more and more powerful, and both Erik and his own voice started to fade away. Something about the way he looked at her... She ran towards him, just as he was almost completely faded.
"Erik, no!" she screamed.
"Christine, it was your choice. You made it, and I realize now that I couldn't do anything to influence that choice. It's yours, Christine. Yours. Forgive me for everything, all the torture I've put you through..." he said, and then he was gone.
"NO ERIK! You never tortured me, please don't leave! Erik..." she said, and burst into tears.
Raoul came up behind her and roughly grabbed her neck. "You're mine now, Christine. We're going to get married, and you'll finally belong to me. After all this time. You won't ever see him again, I'll make sure of that!" he said, and then he kissed her harshly. He opened his mouth to violently bite her lip, and she tasted blood...
Christine awoke in a cold sweat, every part of her body shaking. Her lip was bleeding; she had been biting it from nervousness. She looked around, half expecting to see Raoul and Erik looming over her.
But there was no one, and sunlight filtered through the window, the complete opposite of what she felt inside. She did indeed make her choice.
Her choice? She wouldn't stay with either of them.
Even though she was exhausted from everything, it was a Sunday and almost everyone was still sleeping form the Masquerade. She took this as her chance to visit Raoul and tell him of her decision.
On the way there, Christine nervously picked at a thread on her shawl. This didn't feel right. Not at all. why was she doing this? Was it possible to love two men at once? It was all so confusing, especially for a young girl like her.
The dreaded moment had come, and Raoul's big home came into view. They finally stopped and Christine said thank you and paid the driver.
With a trembling hand, she knocked on the door. An unknown man answered. "I'm here to speak to the Vicomte, please. Tell him that it's Christine Daae", she said.
He raised an eyebrow at her name but invited her into the parlor. Christine patiently waited to see Raoul.
He walked in and leaned to kiss Christine. She moved her head away, avoiding his eyes.
He frowned. "What, Christine? Don't tell me he's visited you again..." he trailed off and shuddered at the thought.
"No, Raoul. I've made up my mind. It's neither you or him. Please believe me when I tell you this. We'll all just have to move on", she said, waiting for his response.
"Christine, no. I can't believe you and I won't let myself. See, he's doing it again. You love one of us, and he is persuading you to either pick him or neither", Raoul pointed out.
"No he's not Raoul. I just need to think and choose. But my heart will choose, not Erik's influence. I... I don't even know anymore", she said fretfully.
"Shh, Christine. Don't worry. You'll make the right choice, whatever that may be", he said, and then kissed her.
Her eyes shot open in fear, but his warm and comforting hands trailing along her back made her sink into his kiss out of comfort. She needed this affection, especially when it felt like she would never be able to choose.
She got ahold of herself and backed away from his kiss. She had to wait until she decided. But what about Erik? Maybe that one time has decided for you, she thought, remembering his hands everywhere on her. Did she actually enjoy that? Now the thought of her doing that with him made her cringe.
"Raoul, no. Not yet. I need to think", she said again, and headed toward the door.
"Alright Christine. But when you decide, remember that I'm always here for you", he said, his voice suggesting that she would come to her senses and pick him.
She abruptly turned away and fled, all her emotions clashing into each other. Being tired from not sleeping last night did not help.
She ran outside and stopped at a quiet spot under a tree to think. It didn't help. Erik had been so kind to me, and we even made love. That must mean something. Besides, he's my Angel... But Raoul? He's my childhood sweetheart, and he would be any girl's dream. We would be able to raise children properly, in a real house, unlike if I stayed with Erik. They would be living in darkness. But I can't even imagine life without Erik. He's been such a big part ever since I came to the opera house...
Christine continued like this until her brain was whirling at super speeds trying to think straight. Her weary body had had enough, and finally, she just collapsed under the tree, not a soul around to see or hear her.