srry this has taken me soo long, but ive been really busy!! well heres the next chptr! enjoy and leave me a review!!!

Chapter 11

Walking Down the Aisle to Hell

Christine faced towards the front of the church, there Raoul and an elderly priest were standing at the alter. A shiver ran up her spine when she gazed upon him. This was no longer Raoul; the happy and joyful boy from her youth was gone, replaced by an insane man who had shot his own brother… his own family. Christine cast her eyes away from the man at the alter and turned them to the stone floor.

Her long white train seemed to weigh a hundred pounds. Her vision blurred, not because of the veil in front of her face, but the tears that welled in her eyes. Her gorgeous dress's beauty was ripped to shambles by her sadness. The white roses that she held in her hand seemed dead and unattractive. Christine just wanted to turn and run, but where would she go?

There were only two other people in the small chapel. Two young bored looking alter boys, who were only there to be witnesses to the marriage. A tear fell down her cheek as she stepped up to the alter. Raoul's smile seemed twisted and mangled on his face. This was not the wedding she had fantasized throughout her life.

She stood next to Raoul not daring to look at anyone, so she kept her eyes trained at the floor.

"Tears of joy?" Raoul whispered in her ear.

"Yes," Christine lied.

"Dearly beloved," the priest began, "We are gathered here today…"

Christine stopped listening after that. Every word the priest spoke was another inch dug for her grave. Erik would be here soon, he would rescue her… he would rescue her. Meg got to him, they would come, they would, she knew they would.

"If there be any reason these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."

He would come right now; he is right at the door.

Nothing.

He wasn't coming for her, where was Erik? Did Meg reach him or did he just not care? Did he not believe the letter she had written? What ever it was, Erik was not there to rescue her.

The priest opened his mouth to continue, since he heard not objects from the alter boys, when Erik burst though the door.

"STOP!" he yelled sprinting down the aisle. "She cannot marry him!"

"And why not?" the priest asked, "I need a good reason to stop a wedding."

"Because that man is forcing her too." Erik snarled "he kidnapped her and held her against her will."

By now Erik had made it to the alter and was now standing between Raoul and Christine.

"Is this true?" the priest asked.

"Of course not," Raoul shouted, "Christine tell him that this madman is lying!"

"No Raoul," Christine said firmly. "You kept me as prisoner and now you force me to marry you. You killed your own brother; this is not the Raoul that dove into the sea to save my scarf, you sir are a madman."

"No!" Raoul scream. "NO!" and he pulled a revolver from his vest.

"You brought a weapon to a house of god and you dare threaten someone in this holy space? You sir, are damned to hell and…" before the priest could say another word Raoul shot him.

The two frightened alter boys scattered like mice. Erik stood in front of Christine and Raoul pointed his gun towards them.

"Oh I was damned long ago," Raoul said eyes wide, then he turned his attention to Erik. "Monsieur I bid you welcome, did you really think I would harm Miss Daae? Why would I make her pay, for the sins which are yours?!"

"Raoul don't do this, what has happened to the young man I once knew? Has you soul really come so distorted?" Christine gasped.

"Oh it is too late for prays and useless pity." Raoul spat.

"Free her! Don't make me kill you boy," Erik snarled.

Raoul grabbed him by the throat and held the gun to his head.

"Your lover makes a passionate plea. Nothing can save you now, oh mighty phantom, except perhaps Christine." Raoul turned to Christine, "Say you love me and he goes free, reject me and he dies." Raoul smiled madly enjoying every second.

"Say you love him and my life is over Christine, he'll kill me anyway." Erik said, but what Erik didn't say was that he still had the upper hand in this fight, he just needed the right moment to strike.

"This is the choice, and choose quickly for I have little patience. The joke is wearing thin, welcome to Hell." Raoul laughed deranged.

"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate grow cold and turn to tears of hate!!" Christine screamed.

"Christine don't listen to him, I did this all for you and I will die for you, don't turn it into nothing." Erik cried.

"Goodbye by my fallen idol and false friend." Christine yelled once more.

"All hope for help is gone Christine!" Raoul shouted.

"Christine say no for either way you choose you cannot win. Do not throw your life away for my sake!" Erik said.

"So do you marry me, or do you send him to his grave," Raoul asked.

"Why make her lie to you to save me?" Erik bellowed.

"Raoul don't make me do this!" Christine pleaded.

"You try my patience, make your choice." Raoul cocked the gun and turned his full attention to Christine. This was Erik's moment.

Erik quickly punched Raoul in the face, knocking him out cold and sending him to the stone floor. There was a gun shot, Christine screamed and fell to the ground silent and unmoving.

Meg ran into the chapel at the sound of her friend's piercing scream. Erik had told her to wait until he called for her and told her it was safe to enter, but Meg couldn't stand there not knowing what had become of Christine.

She found Erik near the alter cradling Christine in his arms, tears falling down his face and mask; Raoul was out cold next to them. Meg ran to the aid of her friend, but she could see she had been shot in the left shoulder. Erik had removed his cloak and was applying pressure to the wound, but the wound was still bleeding badly, staining the white dress a dark red. Meg didn't know what to do, what was there to do?

Christine's breathing was slow and shallow; she was so frail from being locked up. This wound would probably not kill any healthy person, but the condition she was in; Meg was beginning to doubt Christine's chances of survival.

"No," Erik whispered. He didn't even seem to notice Meg was there.

Christine's eyes fluttered open feebly, she moaned a bit from the pain from the wound. "Erik?" she asked softly, "Meg? Thank God you're here," and she fell back into unconsciousness.

"We need to get her out of here," Meg said, "she needs a doctor. I know of a friend, he does not live far from here, he is a medical doctor. He can help her."

Erik said nothing, only nodded his head. He scooped up Christine in his arms and they left the carnage behind.