Raoul carried me to the boat and practically threw me into it. My mind was racing.

"Christine, you are not going back there. You are finally free of him, I will not let you go back," Raoul said suddenly. He was watching me suspiciously as I looked around.

Erik had sent me away! Why? Why did he not believe me when I told him that I had not lied to him? Why had he not believed in my love? There was a sharp pain in my chest and I began shivering and sobbing uncontrollably. How could I expect him to believe me? I had done nothing to earn his trust with my inconsistent ways. Of course he would think that I had only agreed to stay with him to save Raoul. He knew how much Raoul meant to me. He knew of our engagement.

"Oh, God," I whispered as I heard the sounds of the mob from across the lake. They were almost to Erik's chambers. I thought of Erik huddled next to the organ. Would he even try to escape? Would he even try to fight?

"I have to go back, Raoul. I have to go back to him!" I said frantically. "Please, take me back!" "No, Christine. I will not take you back," Raoul said. "He has twisted your mind. You need to just get away from him. Let the police deal with him."

"No, Raoul, you do not understand!"

"I understand, Christine. I understand that he has lied to you, deceived you. I understand that you have been under his control," Raoul said harshly. "I understand that you have not been yourself, my love," he added softly.

I stared at Raoul in disbelief. "No, Raoul, it is not like that!" I said, struggling to my feet, almost tipping the boat over in the process.

"Christine, I swear I will tie you up if I have to. Now sit down! You are not going back there!" Raoul growled.

I sat down slowly. If I thought it would do any good I would have jumped out of the boat, but Raoul would have caught me quickly. I sat in the boat, staring straight ahead, nervously twisting my hands. I could not bear the thought of the mob finding Erik, but I felt completely helpless.

We reached the other side of the lake and Raoul started to step out of the boat. Then he gave me a calculating look and made me get out first.

He kept a firm grip on my wrist as he led us up, taking a different route than Erik had always brought me. I struggled with him at first, but quickly realised that he was too strong for me and that there was no chance I could get free and I gave up in despair. We ended up backstage, coming out of a well hidden door in the wall.

The theatre was empty. Apparently the patrons had all gone, and everyone else was down below going after Erik. I shivered and Raoul pulled me into his arms.

"Oh, sweetheart, this will all be over soon," he sighed.

I wiggled out of his grip and glared at him. "Raoul, please..."

He sighed heavily. "Christine, I know that this has been a difficult time for you. But it is over now, and I will be patient. But you will have to move on."

I looked at him sadly. He would never understand. I did not reply, just looked away.

Raoul led me to his waiting carriage. He held my arms firmly, not allowing me any chance to escape. He was looking very protective, as if I were a small child that needed to be coddled.

The carriage ride was silent. Raoul watched me carefully while I just tried to ignore him. I remembered the ring that Erik had slid onto my finger and looked down at it. The onyx glinted up at me and I felt an overwhelming sorrow as I looked at it. When we reached Raoul's estate he led me into the house and into the kitchen, still holding me tightly. He sat me at the table and called his maid to fix a pot of tea.

I sat at the table, staring into space, memories flooding over me. I shivered when I remembered the feel of Erik's lips on mine. What was I doing here? What on earth was wrong with me? I loved Erik, not Raoul and yet, like the foolish child that I knew I was, I had allowed Raoul to lead me along, obeying his orders.

It would not continue. I would go back to Erik, beg him to believe me, beg him not to send me away again. I had just gathered up the courage to stand up to Raoul when the maid put the tea set in the middle of the table and handed me a cup.

"You should drink it, Christine," Raoul said, reaching out to hold my hand.

I pulled my hand away from his, stubbornly ignoring the hurt in his eyes. The tea smelled wonderful and as I wrapped my cold hands around the cup I decided that a cup of tea before I left would be a good idea, as I had not eaten or drank anything all day.

I sipped the tea, which had a different sort of sweetness to it. After a few moments I felt my eyelids growing heavier and heavier. I was so tired! I struggled to stay awake, but felt myself sliding towards a peaceful oblivion.

Raoul took the teacup and scooped me up. "I have just given you a little something to help you sleep, my love. You have had an exhausting day."

"What?" I said, trying frantically to wake up.

"It is all right, Christine. You need some sleep," Raoul said softly.

I tried to fight the sleep, but I felt the darkness drawing closer and closer, and then, all was dark.

X

I was surrounded by mist; dark, swirling mist that rose up around me like a shroud. I walked forward, trying to find my way, but there was nothing. Then, as I turned, I saw a figure walking towards me. It was a man in a bright costume, wearing a glittering black mask. He came towards me and stopped in front of me. There was something sinister about him and I looked up at him fearfully. I reached out and ripped off his mask, but there was another mask, this one red. The man just stood there, unmoving. I ripped the red mask off and there was a yellow one. Over and over I took off his mask, only to find another one beneath it. I began to panic and turned to run, but when I turned around I found myself in a glittering ballroom, surrounded by dancing couples wearing elaborate costumes and garish masks. They turned to stare at me as they danced past.

I tried frantically to find someone I knew, but I recognised no one. The couples became more menacing and I backed away, trying to get away from them. I opened my mouth to scream and was plunged into darkness.

There was no light, nothing; just an endless expanse of darkness. I groped around, trying to find my way, but there was nothing. Tears prickled behind my eyes and I looked around, panicked. I felt myself sliding into hopelessness.

Then I looked up. There was a light in the distance, drawing near. As it came closer I saw that it was a lantern. I could make out the form of a man in black carrying the lantern. As he held the lantern up the light glinted off of his snow white mask.

Joy bubbled up inside me.

"Erik!" I cried, taking a step towards him. "Erik!"

"Christine, wake up."

My eyes flew open, the dream vanishing as I struggled to focus.

Raoul was standing over me, watching me. His eyebrows were furrowed and he looked quite anxious.

"Raoul?" I mumbled.

"I am here, darling," he murmured, taking my hand.

My mind reeled as memories assaulted me. Don Juan Triumphant. The wedding dress. Raoul, hanging from the noose. Erik's and my kiss, Erik sending me away, Raoul drugging my tea. And the dream. Erik, the light in my darkness.

I struggled to sit up, practically slapping Raoul's hand away from me.

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked as the last of the shadowy dream disappeared. I was in a guest bedroom at Raoul's estate, still wearing the wedding dress.

"Two days," Raoul said stiffly, pulling his hand back. "You were exhausted."

Two days! I thought. It had been two days since Erik had sent me away. I moaned. If anything had happened to him I did not know what I would do.

"I have to go," I said, struggling to stand.

"No, Christine. You are not going anywhere. You are in no condition to leave."

"I do not care!" I snarled, pushing him away. I had reached the end of my patience with Raoul de Chagney.

"Christine, you are tired, you should rest," Raoul said calmly.

"Stop patronizing me, Raoul!" I snapped. I stood up and Raoul followed, standing in front of me.

"But, Christine, you do not know what you are saying," Raoul said, confusion clouding his dark eyes.

"Oh, Raoul. I do know what I am saying. I do not love you," I said with a sigh, my anger dissolving.

Raoul shook his head. "That is impossible."

I sighed again. "I know it is hard for you to understand, but I love Erik. I always have. I was just confused."

"You agreed to marry me, Christine," he said, eyes narrowed.

"I know I did. I was scared. I am so sorry."

Raoul watched me carefully and I could see his anger, just beneath the surface of his calm expression.

"So you are saying it was all a lie, then?" he asked.

"No, Raoul. I care for you, I do. I always have. But I am not in love with you. We were the best of friends, Raoul, and I loved you once, but we were children."

"You actually mean to try to tell me that you love that monster?" he asked incredulously. He still looked as if he did not really believe me.

"He is not a monster, Raoul. He is just a man, a man who has lived a horrible life. But I love him. I do," I said firmly.

Raoul shook his head and laughed humourlessly. "Perhaps you should take some time to think things over."

"I do not need to. I love him," I said resolutely.

Raoul looked at me. "So you are going to throw away your life to live with this...man. He is a murderer, Christine."

I looked away, unable to look at him. "I know," I said softly. "But that changes nothing."

Raoul turned around and slammed his hand into the wall. "Damn it, Christine! I love you. I have always loved you. And now you tell me you love another. After I have seen him control you, manipulate you, you expect me to just forget it and just let you go?"

Tears filled my eyes at his angry words. "I am sorry, Raoul. I am so sorry I hurt you!"

"Well, sorry is not enough, Christine. I cannot allow you to..."

"It is not your decision," I interrupted. "It is not up to you to allow or not allow anything. It is my life."

"And you are throwing it away! For God's sake, Christine, what kind of life could you possibly have with this...thing? You will never have a normal life!"

"Raoul, it is not your choice," I repeated, my frustration growing. "It is mine. I love him and he loves me, that is all that matters."

Raoul laughed cynically. "He does not love you, Christine. He is obsessed with you."

I sighed heavily. Every second that I stood arguing with Raoul was more time for Erik to think that I had betrayed him again.

"I will not argue any more. I am going," I said, and tried to slip past him.

He grabbed me by the shoulders. "Do not do this, Christine. Do not throw away what we could have," he said desperately, his anger vanished.

I took a deep breath. "Good-bye, Raoul," I said and slipped free of his grasp. I turned and walked away and I did not look back.