Christine soon became cheerful once more when Raoul came to pick her up shortly after her last visit to Erik. She knew that she should be excited to be Raoul's bride, and she was, but as she turned to face the opera house for the last time as a regular girl, nothing more.
She felt a pang of sadness, and oddly enough, it wasn't because of leaving the opera house-it was because of leaving Erik.
Christine stomach fluttered as she examined herself in the mirror. She could already hear the clamor of the guests in the main church area. Raoul had invited only close family, so there wouldn't be that many people, but that wasn't what Christine was worried about. She was worried if she made the right decision.
The dress looked painfully close to the one Erik had made her-only less detailed. But that didn't matter, because she was happy with Raoul and the fact that they were marrying. In five minutes.
Christine hair was weaved into a crown with a white flower pinned at the back. Smaller, simpler white flowers were weaved into her hair.
Madame Giry poked her head into the room. "My darling you look beautiful", she told her, and stepped inside the room completely. Christine nervously smiled and looked down.
Madame Giry was out of her usual black attire and wore a lavender colored gown.
Three minutes later, Christine was standing side by side, next to Raoul, everyone gathering excited breaths...
"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion. Basking in your glory. Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor. Sharing in my triumph!" came a voice from above, and then, it was dark. All the candles had blown out.
Christine eyes widened as she felt Raoul leave her side, and tingles went up and down her spine when she realized who had been singing. That voice, so familiar, so entrancing... there was so much meaning in those words.
"Angel", Christine whispered. A woman screamed. Christine felt a tight arm squeeze around her waist to pick her up. She tried to scream, not knowing who it was, but no sound came out. She was so scared, she didn't know what to do.
The person carrying her ran into a room, far back from everything else, so old and unused that it as covered in cobwebs. Christine saw a glimpse of white and almost fainted.
"It's you", she whispered.
"I couldn't let you marry that idiot", he grumbled, pulling chairs and a table against the door.
"You ruin everything in my life don't you?" Christine said simply, her voice choked with anger and sadness.
"Only things that ruin my life, Miss Daae", he said, trying to avoid looking at her. She looked breathtakingly beautiful with the flowers weaved into her hair, and he didn't want to go weak at the sight of her.
Christine just watched Erik as he secured the room. "I didn't think even you would do this", she sad to him.
"Put this cloak on, cover your head. Besides the fact that you won't be as recognizable, it's raining outside", he said gruffly. He threw a brown cloak at Christine, who put it on. There was pounding at the door, and Erik opened a door that Christine hadn't noticed earlier. He grabbed her arm and helped her onto a black horse... the same one they had rode...
Erik got on after helping Christine on and rode as fast as they could back to the opera house. Christine held on to Erik's muscular body as tight as she could to avoid falling off.
They rushed into Erik's lair. It was so calm, and Christine almost forgot that everyone was searching for her. "Erik, you make it impossible for me to even try to forgive you!" Christine cried.
"We can't part ways. I would die", he responded.
"Erik... Raoul and I were so happy together. I was still going to come back to the opera house..." Christine reasoned.
"You thought the both of you would live "happily ever after". Is that correct? But thoughts of your Angel would constantly stalk you, and then your marriage to Raoul may not be as happy as it seemed", Erik said.
"No, you are exactly correct. I would be haunted, afraid that everywhere I go alone, you would be waiting for me... just like you were at the church", she quietly said.
Christine hid a yawn with her hand and took her cloak off. Her hair flew wildly around her face from the rough ride over. The candlelight reflected off of her glowing, sad face, and it also brought out gold tints in her chestnut locks. There was a small tear in her wedding gown, but Christine didn't seem to notice. Erik thought she looked beautiful.
"I assume I'm staying the night", Christine said wryly as she brought her fingers through her tangled hair.
"Yes. Their still looking for you, and the only entrance there is is the gate you see there in the water, and they wouldn't dare burn it down with you here. I guess it's the safest place for us right now", he said.
"The safest place for you, maybe. The safest place for me right now would be with Raoul", Christine said with disgust.
Erik shook his head. "If you're tired, I brought some of your things down. You can take my bed", he said awkwardly, and Christine saw him blush.
"Thank you", she said kindly, realizing how odd this was for him, too.
He looked at her, surprised at her kind tone towards him, but she was gone.
Christine easily found her nightgown on the bed, and the consideration of his actions made her smile. But then she remembered that, by now, she would be a wife to a wonderful man.
She folded her wedding gown and ran her fingers over the soft fabric. Raoul had barely even seen her in it. She sighed.
Christine tiptoed back to where Erik was. "Goodnight, Erik", she said.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again. "Goodnight Christine", he replied, and turned back to his composing.
Christine sighed (had she wanted more than a goodnight from Erik?) and settled into the very familiar swan bed. Sleep washed over her, and she drifted into a dreamless, cold sleep.