Chapter 15

Ashley was grateful for the fact that the dress didn't come with a corset, but she still had a hard time with it. First she wasn't sure how she was going to put it on, and then it came down to doing it all up. The dress still came with ties to help make it tight enough to fit, but it wasn't easy working them up. She kept reaching in back to fasten the ties but only succeeded in frustrating herself.

"Urgh! Stupid dress!" She groaned as she worked the ties but just pulled her arms back around and stamped her foot. She reached back and grabbed the ribbons again but stopped when she felt a pair of hands upon her own, taking them from her hands.

"Allow me." Ashley felt her cheeks burn while his hands remained on hers. She released the ties and brought her hands back around and clasped them in front of her. "I heard you struggling and knew you wouldn't come looking for help." She sighed.

"Too many years of refusing to ask for help." She said flatly.

"Are you upset?" Ashley wasn't expecting this question.

"I thought you were the one upset… at me." She looked down at her feet. She heard Erik stop his work and felt her heart beat with anxiety. She screwed her eyes shut willing her tears not to fall. They shot open when she felt his hand on her cheek and turning her to face him and widened in shock as he kissed her. After getting over the shock, she relaxed and kissed him back, if a bit timidly.

"I'm not upset with you." He whispered in her ear. She felt his hands working the ties on her back again as she faced him. "There. That should do it." She stepped away from him and looked herself over. The dress was certainly very beautiful, but she wanted to see herself in a mirror. Of course, there were no mirrors around.

"How does it look?" She asked looking back to Erik.

"The most beautiful bride in the world." Ashley started giggling. "I'm being serious."

"There's no way I'm the most beautiful bride in the world Erik." He lightly brushed a strand of hair from her face then rested his hand against her cheek.

"You are more beautiful than you know." Erik began leaning closer to her for a kiss but stopped half way as of sensing something… or someone.

"What's wrong?" Ashley wondered seeing the annoyance etched on his face. He backed away and made to leave the room.

"Wait right here." He said over his shoulder and left his fiancé alone. As he made his way over to the lake, he saw Christine standing behind the gate on the opposite side. "Well, this is quite the surprise." He said dryly. "Sick of your boy already Miss Daae?"

"I'm here to take Ashley back." She stated. Erik laughed.

"How sweet of you Christine." He said bitterly. "You're so concerned for your friend that you're willing to walk straight into the lion's den to retrieve her and return to your world of light."

"Please, let her go! If you wish to punish someone, then punish me. Ashley doesn't deserve this!" She pleaded pressing herself against the iron gate as if believing she could meld through the bars to the other side.

"Christine, Christine. You understand nothing. This goes farther than just tonight. The girl stays." He said and began making his way back to the bedroom.

"Have you've gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?" She said causing him to return his attention to the dark haired girl. "Is this girl to be prey to your lust for flesh?"

"That Fate which condemns me to wallow in blood as also denied me the joys of the flesh." Christine looked up and saw Ashley coming out of the room. Erik followed her gaze and saw his young bride looking from Christine to him. "This face… the infection… which poisoned our love." Ashley came down to stand next to Erik and placed her hands on both sides of his face.

"This haunted face holds no horror for me now." She began. Erik tried to say something but she placed one finger on his lips to shush him. "For in your soul I have seen the man inside." Erik was on the verge of tears, but the new figure behind Christine returned him to his Phantom persona.

"Wait, it seems my dear, we've one more guest!" Ashley and Christine turned to see Raoul standing some ways away.

"Raoul, why are you here?" Christine questioned frantically.

"Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight!" Erik said sarcastically. "I had rather hoped that you would come. And now, my wish comes true, you have truly made my night." He stepped in front of Ashley to shield him from the Vicomte's eyes.

"Free her! Do what you like, only free her! Have you no pity?"

"Ha! Your lover makes a passionate plea!" He said mockingly.

"Please Raoul it's useless!" She said trying to stop him.

"Release her! She's just a child! Release her! Show some compassion!" Erik's eyes flashed with anger at the boy.

"The world showed no compassion to me!" He was bout ready to charge towards the gates but Ashley took hold of his arm and he immediately stopped himself.

"Please, at least let me see her!" Christine begged. Erik turned to look at Ashley and she nodded.

"Be my guest dear." He said and the gate started to rise. Raoul and Christine entered his lair and the gate quickly closed behind them. Ashley moved out from behind Erik and moved towards her friend and Christine began fussing over her making sure she wasn't hurt. Erik watched the two girls for a moment and smiled before turning his attention to Raoul. "Monsieur, I bit you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her? Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" He pulled a lasso as if from nowhere and threw it around Raoul's neck causing Christine to let out a frightened gasp. The end of the rope was levitating as if on its own but Ashley could see a very thin wire holding it up. "Order your fine horses now! Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes. Nothing can save you now! No, not even Christine." He kept gazing at him angrily as he made his way to his organ. "I won't lose her again. I lost her once those years ago. And those who dare try, I'll send them to their deaths! This is the price! This is the point of no return!" He pressed the keys of his organ playing an angry chord.

"And what about you, monsieur?" Raoul shot back. "You said that you hated her, and yet when she disobeyed you, you do not pass judgment!"

"Ashley is no concern of yours!" He bellowed. "Six years ago, she found her way into my world of music and darkness. When I heard her voice for the first time, I thought I was dreaming. Then I found her. A young girl, no more than fourteen, lost and frightened. I returned her to the world above knowing she would not dare find her way down again. Since then, I had felt compelled to watch over her. I listened too many of the voices that came from her world and could only wish such an event they agreed to would be over soon. But when I heard her, I thought her an angel sent from heaven. So I taught her what I knew in the short time she would stay, and with each passing day I could not bear the thought of her leaving me. I decided that on the final day, I would spirit her away to my world and never let her go. To my surprise, she wanted the same. But then she was taken from me. The cruel hands of Fate stole my angel from me!" He turned his gaze to the two girls once more and looked into Ashley's eyes. "But it seems Fate brought her back to me." He returned his gaze to Raoul. "But you, monsieur, I know you wish to take her from me. I will not risk losing her again. Therefore, you must die!"

"Christine, forgive me." Raoul said sadly. "I tried to set you and Miss Ashley free."

"Is this a twisted joke set forth by Fate? Why must our love produce such hate?" Ashley sang breaking free from Christine and rushing over to Erik. "Please stop this! Please don't end him in this way!"

Too late for turning back! / We have such hopes
Too late for prayers and useless pity! / don't let those hopes all shatter!

She had reached the final lair. The climax of the show. Ashley was beginning to fear for everything they had worked for now. She didn't want Erik to have to keep killing to secure their love. She had to find some way to stop him!

Past all hopes of cries for help
No point in fighting
No matter what you do
You will not win

He turned his attention to Christine, stalking towards her with a fiery rage.

"So, she will end her days with me…" He snarled before grabbing her by her arms, "Or you will also meet your end!"

"Please Angel, stop this now!" Christine begged. "For her sake." He released her and stalked back over to his organ.

Past the point of no return / Angel of Music
Stop this madness! / The final threshold
Her heart has been the prize I had to earn / Why can't you trust mercy?

Ashley rushed over to him and clutched onto his sleeve, begging him to stop him.

We've past the point of no… / Angel of Music
return / Please don't do this!

"Stop all this pointless killing!" He looked down at Ashley and saw the tears falling down her face. While in her wedding dress she looked like an angel. But with her tears she seemed like a broken angel. He couldn't stand to see her this way. "My dearest Angel of Darkness… what kind of life have you known? You've been my courage to show you… you're not alone!"

With that being said, Ashley stood up on her tip toes and caught him in a loving kiss. She wouldn't leave him, no matter what. From the very first time she sang his music she belonged to him. There was nothing in either of their worlds that could divide them now.

"There's nothing they can do Erik." She pleaded. "Just let them go." Erik looked into her eyes and knew he couldn't deny her request. He went over to one of the many candelabras and plucked one of the lit sticks from its resting place. He went over to Raoul and held the flame over the rope holding the lasso up and it snapped releasing him.

"I want you to leave here and never return." He warned him. "If it wasn't for Ashley, you'd be dead by now." He threw the candle aside and returned to Ashley's side. Finally, the fight was over and they were free. But as quickly as their happiness came, the faster it went. Ashley's eye caught sight of Raoul pulling something from his shirt and saw a gun. He aimed it at Erik and was ready to shoot.

"NO!" She jumped in front of him just as the gun went off and soon felt a stabbing pain in her back and something warm and wet flowing from the wound. Erik and Christine watched in horror as Ashley, for the second time, protected her love from certain death.

"Ashley!" He caught her just before she fell to the ground and pulled one of his hands away from her back to find it covered in blood. "No… no this can't be happening!" He turned to Raoul and began seeing red. He carefully rested Ashley on the ground then strode over to him picking up the lasso and catching him with it around his neck. He was about ready to snap his neck when he heard the chanting of a mob.

"Track down this murderer! He must be found!"

He threw Raoul aside and released the rope that was around his neck.

"Leave here, forget me, forget all of this!" He shouted to Raoul and Christine. Christine tried approaching him but he merely pushed her away.

"Leave me alone!" He bellowed. "Forget all you've seen. Go now, don't let them find you!" Christine ran over to Raoul and pulled him up and began leading him away. "Take the boat, swear to me never to tell… the secrets you know of this angel in hell!" He watched as they made their escape and he continued shouting after them. "Go! Go now and leave me!" He collapsed next to Ashley's body and gathered her in his arms. In the distance, the sound of a music box was heard playing Masquerade. Ashley's head turned towards the sound and smiled.

"Masquerade…" She sang weakly, "…paper faces on parade. Masquerade…"

"Hide your face so the world will never find you." He finished and she focused her gaze on him once more. He leaned down and kissed her forehead then rested his own on hers. "Ashley, I love you." Ashley let out a painful laugh before she started coughing.

"You have to get out of here." She whispered.

"I'm not leaving you here. I promised I would never leave you again." She just shook her head.

"If they catch you, they'll kill you. And if they do, I won't forgive you." She said with a hint of humor in her voice. Erik looked down at the dying girl and let a single tear fall from his eye and hit her cheek. Her head soon went limp and she let out her last breath. Erik could no longer hold back the sobs over the loss of his love. For the second time she died because of him and he knew it. Her words rang through his mind.

"…I won't forgive you…"

He knew he had to escape before the mob came. He got to his feet with Ashley still in his arms and brought her back into the bed room and rested her on the bed. He took the sheet and brought it over her, covering her from head to toe. He couldn't bear to leave her, but he had no choice. He quickly made his way to his organ and moved it aside revealing a secret door. He pressed a secret switch and the door opened allowing him to escape. And just as the door closed, the organ moved back into place.

When the mob finally made it down to the Phantom's lair, they had just missed him leaving. Meg began wandering around and found the mask resting on the bench in front of the organ. She knew that he was no longer there, meaning that he escaped with Ashley. She went into the bedroom and saw there was something on the bed. She couldn't see what it was because there was a sheet covering it. It almost had the shape of a person.

Oh, please no! She thought. She grabbed the sheet and pulled it away…

Erik had made it safely outside the walls of the Opera Populaire. He looked back into the dark corridor he had just fled through and felt the overwhelming need to go back. He couldn't stand that he just left her there. But he had no choice. He sealed the exit and just stood and leaned against the wall letting his heart mourn the loss of the only girl who had ever truly loved him.

"So, you're still here?" He turned to see the stern face of Madame Giry. He slipped into a stone cold mask as he addressed the ballet mistress. "Meg had just returned. She thought you may want this back." She held out his mask to him and he took it and placed it on his face. "Is Ashley not with you?" At the mere mention of her name he felt himself being ripped apart.

"Ashley is dead." He said tonelessly trying to hide his sorrow and anger. "Surely your daughter would have figured that out.

"Meg thought she was with you."

"And why would she think that?" He shouted.

"Because, if she was dead, there was no sign of her anywhere." Erik couldn't believe his ears.

"I placed her body in the bed and covered her with a sheet."

"Meg saw the form in the sheet Erik. But when she tore it away there was nothing there." There were no words that could be said for him. She had to be dead! But then, if she wasn't found…

Ashley shot up from her bed. Her body was covered in cold sweat and her heart was racing. She looked around her and took in the familiar sight of her dorm room. The sun was already out but the building was still quiet. Her shoulders slumped and she fell back down on her pillow.

"Another dream." She said tiredly. "Fan-bloody-tastic." She pulled out her cell phone and looked at the time. It was about 8:30 in the morning. She decided it was time to get up son she reluctantly pulled herself out of bed and placed her feet in her Gir slippers before making her way to the door, making sure to pick up her toothbrush and toothpaste before exiting the room. When she got to the girl's bathroom, she proceeded in brushing her teeth and taking care of any other essential needs. Just as she spat out the rest of the toothpaste, the door opened and one of her former roommates came in.

"Ashley, good morning." Ashley turned her head and smiled at her.

"Good morning." She said sounding a little less groggy.

"You feel better this morning?" Ashley gave her a confused look.

"What do you mean?" She queried.

"Well, last night a group of my friends and I found you unconscious last night. I knew you're not one to drink so I thought maybe you were sick or something." Ashley tried to remember anything that happened the night before and did indeed remember blacking out.

"I… I'm fine." She said sounding a bit tired.

"Hey, you alright?" She asked.

"Yeah, why?" She pointed to her face and Ashley looked in the mirror to see a tear running down her face. "Wha-" She quickly wiped it away. As she wiped her hand across her face, she noticed a small glint from the light and looked down to see her engagement ring. She grabbed her wrist and just stared at the small piece of jewelry. "Impossible." Then, realization suddenly smacked her square in the face. "Oh, dear God. Erik."

The song used in this chapter was Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer (with altered lyrics) from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

I did tweak this chapter a little bit because while making my edits when I listened to my 25th Anniversary Phantom soundtrack I would use my own lyrics while I was listening. I just thought of making it seem a little more Phantomy in a way, you know? And I also let her keep the ring because I wanted her to keep the hope that it wasn't a dream. Plus, for the AB chapters, it will make a bit of a twist.