Part 5
Her heart stopped the moment he walked on stage. It had seemed like an eternity since she last saw him, yet she still couldn't believe the swell of emotion that seeing his face brought forth in her. She realized in that very moment that she had not allowed herself to think of him. If she had, she was sure that the tears that were now welling up in her eyes would have cascaded over many times before then.
Her every instinct told her to run to him. But she couldn't. Whether it was her pride or sheer force of will that kept her from doing so she was not sure, but she knew she had to stop herself. Even so, she found it utterly absurd that the man she had yearned for so desperately was but a good ten feet from her, and yet still she could not have him.
She breathed deeply a few moments, willing the torrent of emotion she now found herself in to calm before beginning to sing.
He didn't think he had ever heard a more beautiful voice in his entire life. It astounded him that this woman before him was the young girl he had taught to sing, what seemed an eternity ago.
But he had never heard her sing like this; conviction infused within each syllable, her eyes determined. Of what she was so set on he was not sure, but the very look in her eyes made him want to melt.
What has caused this change? He couldn't understand it, and for a brief moment his heart sank to the floor as the thought occurred to him that it might possibly have something to do with her new opera house. But then, a new realization took him. Perhaps it's because she singing for me. He had cast the thought from his mind the moment it formed. No, that's ludicrous; she would never have such emotion….for me. And with that he had completely thrust the entire vain of thought from his mind.
No matter, this is my only chance, and I plan to take it. And with that he had come towards her, pushing all his insecurities into the back of his mind. I will have her.
It was indescribable the joy she felt when he touched her. She had craved his touch for so long, every moment of union between them was unspeakably sweet. She had never seen him look at her as he did then, and the very weight of his gaze made her heart pound uncontrollably.
I never want this to end.
But she knew it would. She found herself aloft on the scaffolding, Erik but a few steps before her.
I don't want to lose this moment, please God give me strength to tell him.
Erik stepped forward, but stopped but a foot before her, his eyes unreadable. He lifted his hand to her face slowly, but deciding better of it, swiftly dropped it.
"Why" she asked quietly "Why do you always do that"?
A pained expression crossed over his face, a twinge of bemusement shadowing his eyes, but he remained silent.
Christine looked away from him, a small tear falling down her cheek. "Why…why can't you see me as something…more".
Erik shook his head gently, not quite understanding.
If not now…then…I'll never know.
Her resolve reinforced, she flung her arms around him, embracing him with all her strength.
"I love you" She whispered. "I've always loved you".
He couldn't comprehend what she had said. She loves me. She, this incredible angel, this goddess of beauty, loves me, an ogre, a monster. How?
He tightened their embrace, holding on with all his might. I know I shall wake from this, I know I will awaken any moment abandoned, my life once again void of any hope, but until then…until then, I will hold her, I deserve at least that much.
She smiled up at him, her eyes glittering.
He had held her. Even if they were to be thrust from each other at that very moment she knew that at the very least he had held her. She was a fool to hope for anything more. But yet, as she looked up at him, she knew that this didn't have to be the end. If he would only trust her, trust in her love, they could be together. But she saw it in his eyes; he was skeptical, his guard refusing to be penetrated, he still rejected the belief that anyone could love him for who he was. And there was but one thing she could do that could change that.
The mask.
That accursed mask that he always wore. To protect himself, shutting himself off from the threat of rejection. But she had come to love him as he was, and absolutely nothing that his mask concealed could destroy that. She had fallen in love with him for his soul, his understated kindness lying behind his eyes. His face could be that of a living skeleton and she would not care. The only problem being that she had to convey that to him; somehow she had to show him.
She lifted her hand quickly wrenching the mask from his face.
A long moment of stunned silence passed between them as her eyes fell upon his face.
She almost wanted to laugh. This was it; this was the seemingly impassible obstacle that had stood between them. It was disconcerting, to say the very least, but it was nowhere near what she had been expecting. Her only true grief from the situation was over the pain and anguish it must have caused him throughout his life. Her heart cried out for him even more than it had moments earlier. Her love for him had grown.
However, the only thing Erik recognized from the circumstances surrounding him was Christine's seeming betrayal, as the opera house filled with gasps of horror.
Within a moment he had grasped Christine by the waist, cutting the chandelier's support cable, as they disappeared into the trapdoor below.
How could she do this to me? How? Why? Why has she done this to me?
Erik's thoughts became more and more frenzied as he raced deeper into the heart of the catacombs, Christine dragging behind him.
"Erik, please, please listen to me". "Erik, stop, please, my arm, Erik, I can't keep up, Erik". Christine's cries went unheeded, as Erik continued his pace, seemingly unaware of her presence until they reached his lair.
"Why". "Christine". "Why".
It was all he could say.
She could think of nothing to respond.
I didn't mean for this to happen. How can I make him understand how I feel?
"Erik….I….I wanted to show you, I wanted to show you that I love you…despite your appearance". "That is all".
His eyes turned to her then, malice brimming behind them. She cringed away from his gaze, turning hers towards the floor.
"You little nymph, you honestly want me to believe that?"
Christine looked up then, not able to believe that he thought her a liar. "It is the truth"! "What other motive could I have"?
He sneered, a response on the tip of his tongue, when Raoul appeared. He had come to the opera, determined to see this "phantom" who had stolen the heart of his dear Christine, and had followed them through the catacombs once the incident had taken place.
This of course presented a perfect opportunity for Erik to relieve his pent up anger of his betrayal upon Raoul.
Within a moment's time, Erik had Raoul pinned against the iron gate that closed off his lair, his Punjab lasso about his throat.
"You have but one choice Christine, make it"
Erik tightened the lasso about Raoul's throat as he tried to cry out to Christine, cutting off his air supply almost entirely.
"You would kill him"? Christine cried, her voice filled with disbelief "How could…"
Raoul tugged at the lasso about his throat, allowing him enough air to breathe. "Christine, he is a monster"! "Surely you see that now, human life means absolutely nothing to h..ack" Erik cut him short once more with a swift tug of the rope.
"Make your choice". Erik's eyes were wild, frantic.
It was within that moment that Christine finally saw what lay behind Erik's eyes; that frightened little boy that he once was, who had became a man never knowing what love truly was. He had fallen in love with Christine, and was now willing to do anything to keep her, even if it was against her will.
Empathy flooded through her as she thought of what his life must have been like; the stares, the sneers, the ridicule, and the sheer lack of anything even remotely comparable to love.
She stepped forward, placing her hand upon the ruined side of his face. "I can't even imagine what you've been through". And with that, she leaned forward, her lips linking with his.
How? How, after everything I've done to her can she look at me with such sympathy, such caring. I forced her to choose between me and that arrogant buffoon, stripped her of her freedom to choose, said awful, deplorable things…and yet she can still gaze upon me with such compassion, not even stopping to take note of my hideous face. How?
She deserves better. She deserves someone who can love her, love her like she should be loved. Someone with a guiltless conscious. Someone whose hands have not known blood shed. Someone like that fool.
And with that he turned from her, tears streaming down his face.
"Leave this accursed place". "Forget, that you have ever known me"
Christine stepped forward, reaching for him, but he stepped out of her reach.
"GO"
She didn't move from her position for a long moment, not comprehending what had happened. Then, with swift movements, she stepped towards Raoul, quickly undoing his bonds. She embraced him a moment, kissing him upon the cheek before detangling herself, then began to walk away.
He caught her wrist. "Christine, you can't honestly be thinking of returning to him"!
She glanced back at him, her decision already clear in her eyes. "I love him". Raoul dropped her wrist, knowing it was of no use.
He glanced up when she stepped in, his eyes filled with sorrow. "Christine, I love you".
She walked forward, a smile playing across her lips. "About time you figured that out".
She sat before him, leaning her head against his knee. "We need to leave quickly, they'll be here soon".
He looked down at her "You wish…to be with me"? His voice shook gently.
She nodded. "I had already decided long ago, yet you just had to continue to cut me off from staying by you for some strange reason; you know, you really and truly are an enigma".
Within a moment he was on his feet, spinning with Christine around the room, his arms locked around her in a firm embrace.
Hiya, finally did the final chapter. Sorry it took me so long, for some reason whatever I wrote just didn't work, plus I just couldn't get the feeling right. Oh well, I'm not too happy with this, seems a bit hurried, but oh well. Anyway, thanks to my reviewers!