I thank all the people who have read this story, helping me get Erik and Christine to the happy ending that they deserved in the movie and I am pleased with how many people have kept this on their follow/favorite lists. It has been immensely enjoyable writing this story and I thank everyone who has helped me get through all the rough spots to make it to this ending.
Your obedient servant,
PhantomsAngel1870
Chapter 24: Down Once More
Raoul watched as his men went up to the stage and grabbed Christine and Erik. Once the two stars of the opera were off the stage and on their way back to his home Raoul went up and greeted everything from the center of downstage.
"Forgive me my dear friends, I have no idea what just occurred but nonetheless I have the two singers being rushed to a hospital immediately. It seemed that the man was shot at, by whom I have no idea but I will ensure that they both get seen by the best medic in France to make sure they get a hurried recovery. In the meantime please enjoy the ballet from Act four tonight that happens right after Aminta and Don Juan decide to live their lives together. I thank you again for your consideration and time." Raoul forced himself to talk about Christine and that monster together only because it was vital to the plot.
The audience had listened to every word the Vicomte DeChagny had spoken to them. Not only was he the sole patron to the Opera Populaire but he also was a leading figure in society and so everyone believed him without giving another thought about it. Raoul was pleased that no one tried to tell him no at this point—he probably would've killed anyone that spoke against him.
With a brisk nod Raoul went back off the stage allowing the corps de ballet to start their dance that will enthrall the simple minded people in the audience before them. He rushed back towards his box and pulled the chief officer out into the empty hallway. Once Raoul made sure that no one would be listening in on their conversation he pulled the officer closer to him so that he wouldn't have to speak loudly to be heard, that blasted orchestra made everything so much more damn harder in this place.
"I need you to make sure that no one speaks about the man and girl's disappearance, do you understand?" Raoul swiftly passed a couple hundred francs to the officer as compensation to the extra work that Raoul needed him to do for himself, Raoul couldn't and won't let himself be distracted from his task at hand because of some stupid little stage hands or the crew talking about Christine's disappearance or her relationship with that freak of nature on the stage.
The chief officer nodded to Raoul as he slipped the money into his inner coat pocket. Raoul was pleased as to how easy this business transaction was and was glad that at least something tonight could be easy. As he began to leave he heard the police officer call out to him,
"I hope that everything goes smoothly for you Vicomte, if you are in need of my assistance or the city's assistance please do not hesitate to contact us—we will always be ready to protect such an important person as you," Raoul nodded to the older man and continued down the steps as he put his hat and cloak around his shoulders to shield himself from the winter weather outside.
Raoul walked over to his parked carriage and gently tapped the driver's shoulder to acknowledge presence. With a short but sharp twitch from his driver of fright Raoul was sat down in his carriage and off back to his house in a few minutes. On the way to his mansion Raoul thought of how easy and difficult that the situation ahead could be. Christine could agree that she and he were meant to be together and leave any notion of staying with the hideous monster that she seductively danced and sang with on the stage tonight. She would agree to never speak of him again and promise to marry Raoul within a fortnight of tonight and become his wife and bear children—the future heirs to the DeChagny name—or she could make this entire night very much difficult.
Now if Christine was going to be difficult and refuse to come easily with himself, Raoul knew that he would have to force her to agree to stay and live a life of luxury with him and his family. Raoul didn't want to do it but he knew that he would have to eventually even hurt Christine if she was going to become his obedient little wife—even a horse needed to be broken in before she could be ridden. He would have to hurt her and that monster before it got through to her that Raoul was in the one in power and Christine was there to do whatever he asked of her. If he told her to jump, Christine needed to know that the right answer was 'how high?'
As Raoul peered outside his window he saw how dark tonight really was, there were dark clouds covering the stars and moon making it impossible to see outside if it weren't for the oil lamps that lit the streets of the upper class of Paris. Raoul smiled knowing that this would stop any ideas of them thinking about escaping from his home should anything happen that would allow them such a freedom.
Raoul felt the shift of the rough road turn into a seamlessly smooth one instead and knew that the driver almost had him back to his home. Raoul sat back and relaxed for the rest of the journey home knowing that whatever happened tonight in his mansion would be good either way—for no matter what the outcome was going to be tonight he knew that he would have Christine for himself either way she chooses. Ever since he first laid eyes on her and heard her sing 'Think of Me' during Hannibal he knew that he had to have her. But alas, she chose a monster instead—how wrong of her. Raoul hated the thought of that freak having a beautiful girl that he couldn't have and that's what began this entire problem. If only Christine had been smart in the beginning none of this would have happened.
"Oh Christine, you are quite stupid for someone so beautiful," Raoul spoke in the dark of the night as his house came into view.
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Christine was on stage kneeling in front of Erik trying to stop the bleeding. She looked at his arm not caring if everyone in the audience was watching them at this moment. She looked into Erik's eyes and saw how much pain he was in and cursed herself silently for not being able to do anything to ease his pain. She quickly looked at the audience and was furious that they were just sitting there not trying to do anything to help her—they could be of some use if they would just stop staring at her as if she grew another arm.
When she felt Erik's hand grip hers tightly she knew that she needed to do something quickly to ensure that the blood stopped spilling, he would die if she didn't do something quickly enough to save him. Without giving it a second thought she grabbed ahold of the bottom of her skirt and ripped of a large piece of the golden fabric and quickly wrapped it around Erik's arm. When she gently pulled his arm up she saw the bloody bullet on the floor of the catwalk and was thankful that the bullet was still not lodged in his arm—it would make the healing much more easier.
Beside the bullet Christine caught the sight of something twinkling and looked down closer at it. When she picked up the small trinket she knew that it was an engagement ring—the most beautiful ring that she had ever seen and she felt the urge to cry overcome her, but she knew that she needed to be strong for both her and Erik. So instead of giving in to the overwhelming feelings that were building up inside of her Christine slipped the ring onto her finger in acceptance of the engagement and quickly went back to the task at hand.
Just as Christine finished tying her home made tourniquet around Erik's arm she heard someone walking towards her and Erik briskly but she wasn't given enough time to scream before she was being grabbed by the arm and pulled away. She looked for Erik and saw that another man was dragging him by the back of his collar on the ground. She screamed and shouted but it was to no prevail for no one stopped and helped her and for the first time in her life she cursed the orchestra for being too loud.
After a while of screaming Christine eventually stopped knowing that it was useless now, no one would help them get out of this situation. She glanced up quickly at the men that kidnapping her and Erik and saw the DeChagny crest pinned against their uniforms on their chests and right arms. Christine gasped as she put two and two together and finally came to the conclusion that Raoul had enough and shot Erik and was finally kidnapping them now. But despite all this Christine knew that she needed to be strong for both her and Erik now, it was all up to her to make sure that their future that they've both desired comes true.
She felt the unrelenting dark coldness hit her before she knew that they were outside. Wearing only the small skimpy dress from the play Christine knew that she needed something to cover her if she was needed to fight for her life and Erik's. She felt her body give into the coldness as her arms started shivering and the fog leave her mouth and nose as she breathed in the ice cold air. How long were they going to be outside? Where were they going? Christine looked back and saw Erik continued to be dragged through the snow on the ground, it was only then that she saw a DeChagny carriage come into her view that Christine knew that they were going to the lion's den.
When they finally reached the carriage the guards opened the door and roughly shoved Christine and Erik into the small compartment. When Christine sat up properly she watched as the men closed the door hard and locked them inside giving them no chance of escape. Christine waited for the men to be seated at the front of the carriage and start driving before she went to Erik.
Christine gently placed Erik's face into her lap as she caressed his black hair as she had done last night. When he slowly opened his eyes Christine saw so much pain flooding in their depth's that she wanted to do nothing more than to assure Erik that she would find a way for them to escape. She looked outside the window to see that there was no light to help guide them once she found a way for them to run. Oh God papa what are we to do? Christine felt tears leak from her eyes and she leaned down to kiss Erik one more time before the real battle began.
Once more she looked at the engagement ring that laid upon her left ring finger and admired its beauty. She knew that the only other thing more beautiful than the ring was Erik himself and she felt her heart pounding regardless of the situation at they were in as she realized what this ring meant—she accepted his proposal of marriage, and with that thought she felt the tears come down harder than before as she realized the new hope and strength that entered her body and mind as her new strong determination to set them free from Raoul's grasp so that they could live their lives together for the rest of time.
With the mansion coming into sight she glared at the luxurious house knowing of the past sins that were transgressed there and the sins that would happen tonight. Christine just wished and hoped that the Lord watching over her and Erik would forgive her for any and all sins that she herself would have to commit tonight to set Erik and herself free from the devil's servant's tight grasp.
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Erik felt himself being dragged throughout the opera house and through the snow outside. He was grateful for the many layers of clothing he had forced himself to wear for his costume tonight because the snow was having trouble penetrating his skin with its unforgiving coldness. His left arm had a sharp pain in it still from the bullet that the DeChagny boy and Erik was furious that his arm would become a handicap because of that damned boy. But he still thanked the Lord that it was his left arm instead of his right one, if that had been the case he knew that there would have been very little that he could do.
Once he felt himself being pushed into the carriage and thrown carelessly onto the bench he knew that he had to think of a plan to keep him and Christine safe from the dangers that were lurking not far from here. He knew that the Vicomte was strong and young—and quite stupid—so the only advantage that the boy had against Erik was the use of a left arm which wasn't much of a disadvantage to Erik, but an advantage that the boy did have was that he knew the layout of the mansion better than Erik did and that was going to prove troublesome when it was time for Christine and himself to leave the grounds and find somewhere safe to hide for the time being.
But for now he knew that he had to feign extreme pain and act weak not only in front of DeChagny and his men but Christine too. If he wanted this plan to succeed he had to make Christine believe that he was on the brink of death, because if she believed it then he knew that the Vicomte would believe it as well.
Erik felt the ground give way to a different texture and knew that the smoother pavement was a sign that they were closer to the DeChagny Mansion, and that was where their fates would all be decided tonight. He had a feeling that the Vicomte DeChagny would put him in a different room far away from Christine and Erik knew that it was up to him to try to memorize as much of the house so that he knew exactly how to get out before being discovered.
When he felt the carriage slowing down he knew that their last fight was about to begin shortly and he relaxed under Christine's touch one last time before he knew that they were going to be separated for a while before they would be united once more to live their lives together without the fear of the Vicomte ruining anything else for them. He could kill the Vicomte for all the pain that he has put Christine through so far and Erik vowed that should the Vicomte lay a finger on Christine tonight Erik knew that there would be very little willpower in him to stop himself from killing the boy on the spot.
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Christine felt the carriage jerk to an erupt stop and heard the men start talking once more. When she heard their voices come closer she straightened her clothes that had become disarranged during the ride to Raoul's home—even if she were defenseless against their strength Christine hated the idea of other men seeing more of herself than was necessary.
The man that had taken her at the opera house was the same one that grabbed her and started forcing her to walk towards the entrance of the DeChagny home. Christine forced herself to go up each step that led her towards her inevitable fate, normally she would have enjoyed looking at such a splendid garden such as the one that DeChagny's owned but all she wanted to do at this point was to spit at it. The hatred she held for Raoul at this point was too great of an emotion that she began to see red at the corners of her vision. After a few minutes of climbing a numerous amount of steps to the entrance Christine finally made it to the two large grandeur oak doors which were opened after the man rapt a series of knocks in a specific rhythm.
Christine saw that another man like the ones that kidnapped her and Erik open the door and allowed the four people outside the large estate inside the confines of the large prison. The man holding Christine's arm led her to a sitting area.
"You better stay in the same spot as where I just left you or I swear to god that I will just have to disobey DeChagny's orders about not touching what is not mine. You are very desirable my sweet little songbird and there are many things I can imagine us doing together, I would love to make you sing songs that you thought were impossible," Christine felt her skin crawl as the man's drunk breath washed over her face as his fingers caressed her exposed cheek and neckline. She had never felt so violated in her life, even Raoul didn't make her feel as horrible as she was feeling right now and it took quite a bit for her to hate someone more than Raoul at this point.
Christine turned to face the man and pursued her lips. The man watched her mouth begin to form into one for a kiss and the man grinned madly as he began to lean down to taste the sweetness of her innocent little lips. Just as he was about to kiss her Christine spat in the man's face and kicked him as hard as he could in his groin. The man fell to the ground in pain and Christine made a run for it out of the room. When she reached the door she threw it open and ran out of the room without looking where she was going and suddenly ran into a solid object.
Before she was able to fall back from the impact Christine felt arms wrap around her and hold her up. When she looked up she saw that it was Raoul holding her with a large smile on his face. She couldn't do anything but glare at him at this point and she knew that even though she wanted to be as far from his as possible at this point Raoul was the only one that knew exactly where Erik was so.
"Eager to find me my darling?" Raoul smirked as he questioned Christine. He held his hands on her waist and immediately found himself eager to take her in that moment. He desperately wanted to make her his for the rest of their lives over and over again each night and morning but he knew that it would be dishonorable to not wait until the wedding night even if he could get away with breaking that silly little rule. He saw Christine's fiery eyes which should've angered him but instead it only caused him to become more aroused.
Raoul leaned down to capture a kiss and when his lips brushed against Christine's he was taken back when he felt her teeth bite down hard on his lower lip. The pain shot through him and forced himself away from Christine for a moment as he felt a lightning bolt of pain shoot throughout his body. As he pulled a few fingers up to inspect the torn lip he withdrew the fingers to find a good amount of blood on them.
"So, you still choose the monster Christine? You still would rather have him over me, the Vicomte DeChagny?" Raoul pulled Christine closer to his face as he challenged her into picking the wrong decision. This was it, whatever she chose right now would decide what he would do for the rest of the night.
"I'd rather die than be with you," Christine spat back at Raoul. It was true, she would rather kill herself on their wedding night before they made love than ever live a life where she did not have Erik, her music and her muse, her life and her love. She and Erik were meant to be together and she would be damned if a spoiled fop like Raoul would get in their way of true happiness.
"You've decided." Christine heard Raoul speak the words not as acceptance but as the start of war. She was suddenly afraid for Erik and his wellbeing, but she knew somehow that she would end up with Erik in the end. Raoul was cruel and she knew that he would want her and Erik to see whatever it was that he would do to the both of them. Christine finally knew the true monster and it was never, and never will be, Erik but Raoul the man with the perfect face but the tainted soul. Christine knew that she had to get as much information out of Raoul before it was too late—she needed to get to Erik.
"Where did you take him?" She nearly growled at the man before her. She needed to know what has come to the man that she loved and when she found out where he was located there was nothing that would stop her from taking him back.
"Come with me, mademoiselle. For I will take you to him, but remember, you have chosen both of your fates tonight and because of your ignorance the both you will be paying for the misery that you have afflicted upon me and my status of Vicomte." Raoul began to drag Christine down a darker hallway. Raoul continued to force Christine to keep up with his pace and before they entered the freak's holding cell a guard stepped up beside Raoul.
"Sir, I'll go with you inside," the guard began to speak to Raoul. He knew that it was his job to help the man with anything that involved physical labor and offered his services earnestly.
"No, you must stay here in case anyone tries to disturb me with my job." The guard nodded once more and returned to his assigned post watching the empty hallway in the event that something should disturb his master.
Raoul opened the door while he continued holding Christine roughly as they descended down a staircase into the large depths of the mansion's old dungeon cells. Something about the atmosphere faintly reminded Christine of the journey to Erik's home but it didn't hold any of the love or musical atmosphere that his held. She was continued to be dragged by Raoul as she heard him begin to sing,
"Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair
Down we plunge to the prison of my pride
Down that path into darkness
Deep as hell!
Why, you ask,
Am I taking you
Down in this cold and dismal place?
Yes for all the monster's sins
And to make sure I will leave no trace"
Raoul continued dragging Christine down through the vast amount of tunnels that would be able to hide all of his crimes that he had committed throughout his life to vanquish the disgusting men of this world that had stolen money or property from him, spoken against him in public places and most of all laid their eyes on his Christine—he made sure that those that talked of his Christine or looked at her in a way that Raoul did not like were taken care of slowly and painfully. Raoul enjoyed each and every minute of that process. He continued to lash out at the woman that he was forcing to follow along because of all the trouble that she had caused for him throughout these past few months at the Opera Populaire with the one man that he had in his prison down below as he continued to sing to her,
"I hounded out everyone,
But met hatred everywhere
No kind words given from anyone
No compassion strong enough from women anywhere
Christine, why? WHY?"
Christine felt Raoul shake her as they reached another tunnel and she gasped at the sudden harshness of it. She knew that Raoul's tightly pressed fingers on her shoulders would leave unpleasant looking bruises soon. She looked up at the man that she no longer knew anymore, she wanted nothing more than to have her childhood friend back once more but she knew that there was no more chance of that happening ever again—all of Raoul's humanity was lost completely and Christine mourned that she would never be able to have her friend back once more. She needed to tell him something and something soon before he shook her again or took advantage of her. So as she looked up mournfully at her long lost friend she shook her head in disappointment,
"Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for his death?
Am I now to prey to your lust for flesh?"
Raoul was stunned by Christine's harsh words, he felt his pride being ripped apart. Then after the shock washed away he felt a renewed anger enter his blood and he sang back to her harshly,
"That fate, which condemns me to wallow alone
Has also denied me the joys of your flesh
This monster, the infection which poisons our love…"
Christine glared at him with all the anger in her body. How dare her accuse Erik of being a monster! Let alone tainting the ability for us to be together! Christine thought angrily as she listened to the words that poured out of Raoul's mouth. She knew that he desired her but this—this—obsession was outstanding. Suddenly, Christine was very much so glad that she had chosen Erik from the beginning, otherwise she would have lived a life of regret as the wife to this protective, overly decorated, fop standing before her. Whatever friendship they held together when they were young was now gone. She began to pity Raoul for the life that he created for himself—causing other people pain at the expense that his title would be able to cover up the bloodstains and misery that other family's would feel with the knowledge that they would never see, hug, or kiss their loved one again for an insignificant crime that they had committed against Raoul or the DeChagny's. But Raoul was not done and he pulled Christine's face towards his as he continued to sing,
"These hands, which caused a lifetime of pain and loathing
A title, my first unfeeling scrap of living
Pity comes too late
Turn around and face your fact
An eternity of this before your eyes,"
Raoul pointed to his face to emphasize what he meant by her fate and he felt himself begin to breakdown in tears. He never wanted his Christine to have to live with him by force, no, he wanted her to love him like a proper wife should. But even if she didn't love him right now she would grow to love him and accept that this was the best for her. He knew that was for the best and he relaxed a little with this knowledge now. Christine watched as her old friend broke down in tears before her, and it surprised her because she had never seen Raoul cry before. With the sight before her Christine could not help but pity the man even more knowing now that she opened his eyes to something that he wasn't used to—not getting something that he desperately wanted. She gently touched his shoulder and sang,
"These killing hands hold no horror for me now
It's in your soul that the true distortion lies,"
Christine saw the realization hit Raoul in the confines of his soul and she knew that he was able to see the truth now, but before she was able to bring back her friend she saw a change come over him again and an evil look took over his features as he casually sang to her,
"Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest." Raoul mockingly sang as he pointed towards Erik who was pinned up against the wall with chains. Christine looked and saw that Erik's clothes were tattered and bloodied. When she looked closer she saw that there were lashes going across his chest and Christine felt her heart break a little as she saw what kind of fate befell upon her Erik. She never wanted any of this to happen to him, he was an innocent man.
"Sir! Erik!" Raoul and Christine shouted in unison to Erik, forcing the broken man to look up shakily at the two people before him. Christine was about to leap towards Erik but Raoul held out an arm restraining her from fleeing towards his rival. Raoul had to set an example of who was in charge and he couldn't allow Christine believe that she held some sort of power of them because of her voice. Raoul continued on talking as he pulled Christine towards his body.
"This is indeed an unparalleled delight,
I had rather hoped to see you still alive
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night!"
Raoul pulled Christine against his chest showing the monster in front of him that Raoul was indeed more of a man than he was and in turn, deserved Christine more than he ever would. However he didn't expect Christine to push herself away from him with all the strength in her body crying,
"Let me go!"
Erik looked up again and saw that the Vicomte held his darling Christine captive. Blood rushed throughout his body as his vision turned red at the unwanted touches that DeChagny was giving to Christine.
"Free her, do what you like, only free her! Have you no pity?" he begged and growled towards the Vicomte and hated the way that the boy began to laugh at Erik's pleading voice. Erik knew that there were times that one would be able to threaten and the other party would give into the demands, but like this time, Erik knew that he had to give the Vicomte what he desired most—Erik's humiliation.
"Your lover makes a passionate plea," Raoul spoke over to Christine as he watched the monster beg for Christine's freedom. It felt wonderful to have the monster beg Raoul and he wanted nothing more than to continue doing this to the freak that caused him so much pain this past year—it was Raoul's turn to give the masked freak as much as pain as he had received.
"Please Erik, it's useless," Christine begged Erik to stop giving Raoul what he wanted, it wouldn't help if Raoul was given such power. With that kind of power Raoul could do whatever he wished of to her and Erik and Christine vowed to keep them both safe.
"I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her, show some compassion!" Erik yelled towards Raoul as he watched the man go near his Christine once again. What else did the boy want from him? Did he want to see himself fall to pieces as he continued to beg for Christine's freedom, as long as she was free he could do whatever he wished to him. Erik didn't care anything except Christine's freedom now.
"Yet Christine has shown no compassion to me!" Raoul shouted angrily back at the freak in front of him. How was it that the girl before him was able to show this abomination love and not himself? Wasn't he perfect and flawless? Didn't all the girls in Paris beg for him to kiss them on their cheek? What was it about this freak that was so charming?
"Christine…Let me see her," Erik begged and pleaded. He just wanted to be able to hold Christine once last time before they were parted forever. It was inevitable that the Vicomte would take her away from him forever and Erik wanted nothing more than to hold her once more.
"Be my guest, sir…" Raoul growled as he undid the shackles that held the freak to the cold wet wall of the dungeon cellar beneath the mansion. He moved to the side so that he wouldn't have to touch the freak of nature and was disgusted by the way that Christine threw herself at the hideous creature. After a while Raoul had enough and knew that it was time to finish Christine's punishment for denying him earlier.
"Monsieur, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her? Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" When he caught the monster off his guard Raoul pulled out his knife and held it over the freak's throat while backing him away from Christine and putting him in his shackles against the wall once more to make sure he does not leave. As he pushed the abhorrent creature into the metal prison he mocked him,
"Order your fine horse now
Raise up your hands to the level of your eyes
Nothing can save you now, except perhaps Christine,"
Once he was finished bolting the man down against the wall he turned around to face Christine. When Christine heard her name being called she looked up with tears in her eyes as she saw what the admiration that her old childhood friend had come down to—a jealousy so strong that he was willing to kill the only chance of happiness she had just so that he could say that he won in the end. Once she finally looked at him into his eyes Raoul gave Christine her ultimatum,
"Start a new life with me
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!
This is the choice,
This is your point of no return!"
Christine could not believe what she was hearing. Either way she chose the love of her life would die by her hands. She never wanted any of this to come down to death, but it seemed wherever she went death always followed closely by. She looked at Raoul once more with so much hatred she felt she would burst as she sang and spat at him,
"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate,
Grow cold and turn to tears of hate,"
Raoul smiled and shook his head as he revealed a long dagger in the confines of his boot and began walking up towards the monster that was pinned against the wall. Raoul knew that it was time to make him and Christine pay for all the misery that they had caused him.
"Christine, forgive me, please forgive me,"
Erik sobbed as he knew that death was coming for him very closely. He never wanted to do this to Christine, all he wanted was to live a normal life with a woman that loved him. Yet it seemed that God was denying him every chance of life that came at him.
"Farewell, my fallen patron and false friend. We had such hopes, and now those hopes are shattered,"
Christine screamed at the man that was going to hurt her Erik. She couldn't run towards him because she feared that if she did then he would only further Erik's death and now all she could do was try to sway him away from going through with the act—so she stayed where she was.
"Too late for turning back, too late for prayers and useless pity,"
Raoul spat at the woman from behind him. He had to follow through with the punishment that Christine set upon herself. He needed to show her just how much of a better husband he would be for her. He could give her anything and everything that her heart desired—unlike the monster she had chosen over himself. Raoul continued going towards the freak with a new determination.
"Say you love him, and my life is over!"
Erik cried towards Christine, there was no need to hide his hard exterior. This was real life and he knew that his life was coming near an end so he didn't feel the need to hide his emotions from Christine anymore. But he needed her to know just what was at stake for them right now.
"All hope of cries for help, no point of fighting,"
Raoul explained to Christine as he continued getting nearer to the monster. He knew that everyone knew that nothing would be done or said if Christine were to cry and scream at the top of her lungs—no one would come to her rescue. He also knew that he was past the point of apologies from Christine, nothing would be stopping him from finishing the monster once and for all.
"For either way you choose, you cannot win/Either way you choose, he has to win,"
The two men sang in earnest to Christine. They all knew that Raoul would get his way no matter what was said or done. Christine knew that it was all up to her now, but she wished that it had never had to come to such a decision from her. It killed her knowing that there was no way out of this situation.
"So do you end your days with me
Or do you send him to his grave?"
Raoul pressed the tip of the knife into Erik's neck causing Erik to hiss in pain. The pain was astounding but Erik was still able to hiss back at Raoul.
"Why make her lie to you to save me?"
Christine felt the tears falling freely from her face as she saw how grave the situation had become in the matter of seconds. She had to intervene, help subdue Raoul's anger in some way.
"Raoul remember my music…"
Christine needed Raoul to remember how important music was to herself. For if he was to kill the man against the wall, that same man that she loved with every fiber of her being, the music would be infinitely gone.
"Past the point of no return…"
Raoul reminded Christine that she had to choose. Why was she stalling her decision by reminding him of her music? Yes, he knew just how much music was to her, she loved it just as much as she loved her father—she had even told him so when they were younger—but what does that monster have anything to do with it?
"Christine say no! Don't throw your life away for my sake!"
Erik didn't want Christine to live with this damned Vicomte. He would gladly die if it meant giving Christine the freedom from the man that was holding them captive, he would become her angel of music and then he would be able to guide and guard her throughout her days even if he wasn't going to be able to touch her ever again—but if that's what it took to ensure her safety he would choose that destiny openly.
"Who deserves this?"
Christine spread her arms out showing Raoul what he was doing. She had to believe that couldn't possibly be okay knowing that he was causing not only Erik harm but he was slowly breaking her heart. She had trusted this same man with secrets of hers when she was younger. She had ran across the beach barefoot with him every summer and they had spent many days listening to her father play the violin and tell them Swedish folklores.
"The final threshold…"
Raoul had just had enough of all the games that they were playing and he dug the knife a little deeper into the freak behind him to make him shut up. Christine was making the choice quite clear—she didn't want to be with himself, but with the freak.
"Why do you curse mercy?"
Christine shook her head as she watched all the humanity slip out of her long lost friend. She would have never believed that things would have happened this way. But to show them no mercy while they were begging for their lives? What kind of monster had Raoul turned into throughout the years that he had grown up? What happened to that little boy that she loved dearly as a brother?
"I fought so hard to free you…"
Erik lamented that he would never have Christine freed from the clutches of the Vicomte. Yes, the Vicomte had won and he had failed Christine. Every promise that he had made to keep her safe from harm's way was broken in that instant and it broke Erik's heart knowing that he had failed her so much.
"Oh God Raoul…you've deceived me"
Their entire friendship was a lie now, Christine could see that and it hurt knowing that Raoul had changed into a madman. The nobility life has forced her friend into thinking that he deserved more than anyone else just because of his last name and Christine grieved the humility that he would never have.
"You try my patience, make your choice!" Raoul slashed the knife down Erik's chest causing him to wince in pain. Christine watched the horrible act be done to Erik and waited for Erik's eyes to return to hers. Christine mouth 'I love you' before turning her gaze back to Raoul once more.
"Pitiful human of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you,
You are not alone.."
Christine walked up and gently hugged Raoul, placing her head against his chest and leaning up to give her lifelong friend a kiss farewell. She looked up at saw Raoul staring down at her and she watched as tears formed around his eyes. She looked over at Erik quickly and apologized with her eyes, and she saw that he understood with his own. However, Christine saw what her gaze towards Erik did to Raoul and she knew that he saw through her plan.
"So you think you would be able to sway me that easily my dear? Well now it's time to say farewell to your one true love!" He pulled the knife out again and held it up to plunge into the freak's heart. But just as the knife made contact with Erik's chest, Christine pulled the knife out of the thigh strap that Erik had given her a month ago after her meeting with Raoul and without thinking she stabbed Raoul in his right arm using all the force in her body.
Raoul let out a scream and dropped his weapon. Before Christine began to worry about being caught she remembered that Raoul told her that no guard's would come down if a scream was released and she was pleased knowing that she wasn't going to get caught. So she ran up to Erik and began kissing him as she picked the lock's open as he had shown her when she was younger and inquisitive. When she had him released from the iron clamps Christine held him tightly against her body and kissed him more.
Raoul watched as the two people embraced and realized for the first time in his life that Christine really did love someone other than himself, and the realization angered himself immensely. But the anger also brought out the immense sadness that sheltered in his heart because of the discovery—Christine had broken his heart.
"Forget all of this…Forget all you have seen. Go out the back door, don't let them find you! Take the road, swear to me, never to tell. The secrets of you know, of the man who lives in hell! Go now—go now and leave me!"
Raoul chocked out in between his sobbing and pain. He could feel the blood streaming out of his body leaving him weak and afraid. He didn't want to die, he wasn't ready to die! He shouldn't have to die, that monster should! It's all the monster's fault that he was dying! But he knew that in these last moments he had to repent some of his sins and if helping his Christine once more was to do that then he would do as much as he could for her. Soon all the memories of the past year began flooding back to him and he found himself singing along to the song at the Masque Bal.
"Masquerade
Paper faces on parade…
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you…"
It was only then that he saw Christine watching him as she slowly made her way towards the door. Raoul knew that this was his last chance to see Christine and he gathered all the strength left in him and stood up as he spoke to her one last time,
"Christine, I love you…"
Christine watched him for a second longer then ran back up to Erik and held his hand and smiled up at him. She did it, she saved the both of them and no one died this time. She was pleased that Erik was not harmed to horrible and as they left the confines of their personal hell they both began to sing in unison their song of love and hope,
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you…"
Raoul stood where he was listening to his Christine sing the same song that she had on the rooftop after 'Il Muto' and in that moment that he knew that he had lost his Christine to that man that was carrying her away from him for the rest of his life. As he watched them escape from his life he sang as he watched Christine disappear forever,
"She chose this now,
Their Music of the Night!"