Sorry for the latest update yet. My laptop's AC adapter broke and it's been down until we could get to the store and get another one (my gosh those things are so dang expensive), not only that but we've been going to the beach often. It's been great, but what I looked forward to the entire time was writing for it's so amusing. Read and review and tell me what you think!

~The Phantom's Flutist~

Chapter 26:

Doomed

I looked at him dumbfounded, my jaw hanging open.

"How would he be here...? He can't be here!" I was assuring myself, of course, but it wasn't impossible... Anything is really possible with Erik as I've discovered over this past half year or so. My heart did happen to skip a few beats.

"I beg to differ, once more, dear..." He said coolly.

"You can hurt me... It's my fault, but don't touch him... he doesn't deserve any of this..." I pleaded as he dragged me by my wrists into the all too familiar and horrific house. "You can't let jealousy do this! Erik... please...you can't do this!"

"I'm sure I can. I'm perfectly able to kill, my dear... you possibly have no idea, do you? Well, this may be very enlightening after all this time, shan't it?" I looked at him in pure disbelief as he threw me onto the couch angrily.

"You can't do this, Erik! How do you think I'll love you now? Where did your mind go?!" I asked, trying to rise to my feet. He laughed dryly, not something beautiful as I remembered it, but plainly insane and mad

"I have no idea..." He laughed sickeningly. I scoffed disgustedly, feeling sick to my stomach, blood fall from my cheeks and began to pale.

"If you're going to be ill, I suggest you using a bowl." He said looking back to me with eyes that burned, huffing pacing around the room like an about-to-burst animal. I was desperate. I had to convince him somehow that this was wrong... that I wasn't lying that I actually loved him once. I cried when I thought I'd never see him again. I couldn't... not now. I couldn't show any affection right now... not when he's trying to kill Raoul! I would die if this goes through... I wouldn't be able to live if he wasn't in this world right now. All I could think of was that I had to save him, I had to be brave somehow.

"Erik..." I whispered, brokenly, still feeling very sick. "I know you're better than this..." I said quietly.

"Don't try me," He spat venomously.

"Then what do you want from me!?" I cried out, dropping to my knees before him, clasping my hands together. "Just..." I gasped, "I'll do anything..."

"I want what all normal men want," he said looking down to me, almost mockingly and I trembled anxiously again.. "I want a wife...I want her to touch me without looking away in disgust, I want her to come and sit next to me and sing with me, and look upon my face without screaming and pushing me away."

I looked at him with shock and pity, my eyes wide, still on my knees which were trembling.

"I'll do it..." I whispered brokenly, bowing my head low.

"Well, maybe I don't want you!" He spat suddenly, taking me aback. "Maybe I don't want a wife who would put herself under a car just when she says 'I do.' Maybe I don't want a martyr."

"When will you learn marriage comes gradually?"

He stuttered for a second, and looked down to me those eyes still blazing, still not able to peel myself off the floor. "You wouldn't..."

"Well, how do you know?" I asked looking up to him. "What if I told you I thought I'd die if you did, Erik... I thought you were dying... I thought that someone very dear to me would go away just like they always do! Raoul's my friend, too... He's my best friend that was there for me when you weren't, he was there before you, and you can't think of taking him away! Don't take him away from me..." I pleaded, beginning to cry into the floor still before him.

"You try my patience!" he barked knocking me backward. "After your Erik has been so patient! After he thought you would be happy by letting you go and you cower just like I thought you would! And you cower before me now!"

"Because you're scaring me, Erik!" I cried.

"Am I?" He asked grimly.

"Stop this! You're insane! Leave Raoul alone and I'll be forever yours and be your wife just as you want!"

"It's too late." He hissed back.

"Erik!" I moaned.

"He's going to die, Christine. It's too late to help him now! You've past every point of no return," He spat hotly, his temper now scaring me overly. I felt broken... he wouldn't even return the same thought even if I approached him with it... it was to tear his walls down bare until I could reach that man, and cut it straight to him. But I couldn't bring myself to! Oh, what is wrong with me?!

"Where is he?" I yelled at him, holding onto his jacket tightly. "Take me to him! Please!"

"Very well," He said dully, and grabbed my wrists tightly and dragged me through a door I've never been able to see through (one of the many, of course) that led to a staircase leading down to a basement I never knew this house held. And now that I think on it... I never wanted to. He's such a twisted man with a horrible mind... I shuddered as I was dragged down these rough stairs, it was too dark to see anything. A wall revealed a dim light... a dim light that was the only light in this basement.

"Erik, what is it!?" I asked, trembling harshly.

"Why, it's a forest, Christine." He said too bittersweetly.

"You're lying!" I cried out.

"How can I?" He asked, as if talking to a two-year-old, and I felt like I would slap him, and I eventually tried to but didn't reach his mask, and glared at me, his eyes like fire right now.

"You think pulling off my mask would help anything?" He asked, laughing insanely. Well Erik, if you didn't have that damned mask, then I could have hurt you.

Well, instead... I kicked him... And I believe it hurt me more than it hurt him for my foot which was hardly clothed in any sort of hard material began to ache insanely. To set the record here, there's not any possible way for me to harm Erik except through words. And words weren't something that was coming easily for me right now unless I was setting myself up to be mocked.

"This is where Raoul is?" I begged him this question which happened to be answered on itself.

"CHRISTINE!" My name was being shouted in panic, in anxious and wary way that made me tremble even more violently. I turned to where it was coming from... from a wall that glowed... Walls are not supposed to glow if not a wall at all.

"Erik!" Someone else shouted his name, which was even more strange.

"Oh, you're in there too, Daroga?" Erik sounded, looking like a black shadow moving as a ghost over to the strange wall.

"In where? Erik! Answer me!"

"In the forest!" He said, still laughing like a child. I slapped what I think was his arm, and that had some sort of effect that he turned around and looked at me, holding my wrists up.

"Let them go or I'll hate you forever as I hate you now!" What the hell was that? That got nowhere for he only became angrier, and painfully gripped my wrists as he would have done before and the blood flow seemed to have gone from my hands, and I screamed.

"They're in the torture chamber, love.." I pouted in disgust at the sweetness, but became lower as I fought myself down to the floor once more, sobbing harshly.

It was like everything was frozen, for Erik let go of my wrists as I glided downward and at his feet for the umpteenth time today... I wished he would have just disposed of me there as he would for anyone else, but there was no such luck. I had to do something, for no words came to my mouth, I had to do something. I thought hard, though I could hardly hear my own thoughts for my head beat intensely and everything hurt so much. What was something Erik would have always became tender for? What would make him get out of this horrible position that I knew he wasn't like?

A kiss.

It was that simple... two words and so much more to them that would make me explode, he would want me to kiss him. I knew that he went on and on about how he was never kissed before, about how he's never been loved before and I knew this was the right way to do so. I had to think over it quickly, thinking of my actions for I've never really kissed someone before, unless being put forth to do so... for instance with Raoul, and it's dark down here so it'd be awkward. But it was worth a shot.

My knees felt like jelly, and I shook so much, so I had to cling onto him, wrapping one arm around his figure, grabbing hold like a life jacket in case I fell, I moved a hand to his mask... where I probed it to make sure and he was too much in a state of shock that he didn't move at all, I moved a finger behind it and pulled it off, feeling his strange skin, and for the third time I saw his face in a hardly lit room but it was just enough that I could see his nose-less death's head staring at me with shock, and I was in my own state of shock of which I had to choke down in order for this concept to work.

I moved up on the balls of my feet for he didn't know this was coming and didn't bother to move down to reach me, but I found his lips after a while, and pressed my own against them, so shook up with worry that I barely brushed them onto his, and though he was so startled and befuddled at the time, he moved closer and seemed to immediately beg for more, that affection-starved man simply wanted more and I couldn't refuse him. I leaned in closer, my hand now pressed upon his bony chest to push him away were if anything uncomfortable happen, and kissed him even more deeply. Thank God Raoul couldn't have saw this for he would never understand it. Once I had enough, I pressed my head sideways against Erik's chest, waiting for him to reply or do something, and he did eventually, at least, for his bony and long arms came around me, in a pursuit of utmost tenderness, holding me as if I was his small child.

It seemed like too long I stayed there, too long that I feared Raoul would have already been dead before I could have awoken Erik, for I no longer heard his shouts and pleas.

After eternity, he pulled away suddenly, and his golden eyes locked with mine for a second of understanding, no words could have described the look of longing in his eyes. I knew he wouldn't let me go right then... He was far too hungry for more, but at least I saved my best friend. Erik floated swiftly away, and pressed something on the wall and the room was entirely dark.

More light came on eventually, and for a brief moment of fear, I thought for sure Raoul and the Persian man was dead.

I no longer saw Erik's glowing eyes turning toward me, and I think he went through the wall that was recently glowing with a strange light.

He returned carrying Raoul over his shoulder like a potato sack, so fluently that he didn't even bother being careful with him. I glared at him, which caused him to lighten up..

"Go into the living room, Christine," He said so softly his words were hardly audible, soft and delicate, though his voice, then, was as broken as any normal human would have had, and I looked at him tensely, and nodded slowly, feeling my neck had been frozen still. I tried to get myself to move, not believing I actually kissed him to get things moving again, and I felt as scared and frightened as a little girl all over again, walking up the dark stairs, leaning toward the wall for support. I heard him follow me just as warily as I was, my knees still trembling with anxiety that Raoul's heartbeat probably wasn't so awesome right now.

Erik placed Raoul... rather violently onto the couch for I gasped warily, and he shot me a warning glare that was even more threatening without his mask before opening his mouth and saying, "He's alive."

I sighed, placing myself deeper into the chair to show him I was not willing to do anything more, though I was deceptive, my mind hated the very thought of this. He held up a finger and then disappeared. I rushed quickly over to Raoul and placed my head against his chest, trying to listen for as definite sign of a heartbeat, though he was terribly warm, I needed to be near him. I brushed my hand through his hair, and listened to his breathing as if it would save me.

"I love you... I love you..." I whispered over and over again, "I'll see you again, maybe... but I might never... I'll always remember you, Raoul..." I found myself sobbing horribly into his chest, grateful to God he was alive, that it must mean something that God still wants him to exist, so may it be.

Erik found me there, I knew that because I found two skeletal hands on my shoulders that threw me away from him instantly.

"You are mine now!" He hissed venomously, and I looked up to him once more on my knees, shaking all over, feeling like I should be begging for mercy.

"Erik, I know!" I shot back with as much energy as I could afford, and gathered myself back into the chair, curling my legs up to my chest and looking at him as if he might just bite anytime soon, my eyes widened horrifically.

"Christine-" He whispered suddenly, reaching toward me, and I backed further into the chair, turning my head to the side, wondering if he should slap me. This is his mood swings, which I probably deserved to receive, but one minute he's the devil, next he's a broken man, and then before you know it he's an amazing man again. There has to be something unhealthy... there has to be something wrong whether it be mental or not. "I'm sorry..." He articulated, still by me and kneeling down once more. "I-I-I..." He stuttered, his hand coming up shakily, trying to reach for mine, searching for it, "I don't... don't know what came over me... If you could forgive me one last time... I love you..."

"I know." I replied hotly, taking my knees even closer to myself. He huffed and let himself fall limply down.

"I saved him... If he went any longer he'd be dead... I know you love the boy..." He admitted dryly, "I can't change that... you don't even have to love me back... We could... be friends. Good friends as I once heard you say we were... tell me this and not lie and I would give you the world at your feet. If you want, I'll ask for your hand as you've always wanted, give you the wedding you always dreamed of..."

I couldn't say anything to him, simply looking at him speculatively, for he was extremely desperate, and it tugged at my heart how much he wanted me that he didn't even care anymore if I loved Raoul very much, and he even admitted it. It was a big step for him and his sudden selflessness after I've been so selfish recently. I was aghast, almost, that he was willing to put forth his pride just so we could have somewhat of a relationship so that if he remained like this we might just be peaceful, and he was putting forth so much...

I fought back tears, but it didn't even work, so tears were going down my cheeks as I leaned forth, unwrapping myself from the fetal position I was just in, for we were both very weak.

"My poor Erik," I whimpered, kissing his waxy forehead still shivering, and he seemed to tense under my touch, rising and falling as I touched and pulled away, as if savoring it.

"Oh...Oh..." I heard him sigh, trembling, and I wept with him, pity tugging immensely on my heart. "Christine..." my name was heard through the words I couldn't hear, he said my name like it was a prayer, like he could murmur it as if in worship, bowing before me and all I could do was sit and watch and not able to do anything. It was the strangest and most peculiar feeling in the world to be worshiped as an idol, it wasn't good at all. I felt awful for being numb about it, but decided in my mind that I really couldn't stop him, if he really must do this for my affection, then let the broken man be for I already kicked him enough. His face, no matter how much I try to deny it, was just as terrible as it was always is, especially when crying, twisted in even more ways then it already was, and being noseless, it was quite a messy thing. I knelt down to his level, and wrapped my arms around him as he wept into my shoulder, feeling it necessary to comfort him for it must be more than just this epiphany that is troubling him so much... it's his history that he takes great care in hiding from me, and I was comforting it... it felt kind of nice, actually... very nice.

We stayed like that for a while, and he stopped sniffling, and I wiped away his tears that lingered on his cheeks, and I smiled a little, finding it awkward and kind of humorous in a way and I smiled to him, trying to imagine he had a nose... I mean... the skin and stuff is fine, but it was always the fact he had no such thing as a nose, it was far-fetched.

"Oh, I love you..." He said, bringing himself to me once more, and I looked to the ceiling, praying that God would help me for once with this man... I could fix him, I know I could... I just didn't know what to do, exactly, if he would listen for once... If I taught him to listen.

The moment was broken when Raoul stirred, and he backed away cautiously, looking to Raoul on the couch, and I did the same, except very slowly, watching him carefully, thinking he might just break his word and choke him or something... But to nothing, he watched me as I watched him, and I broke it by looking to Raoul warily.

"What are you going to do with him, Erik?" I asked softly, trying to breathe in steadily but it never seemed to work, and he didn't answer for the longest time, sighed, and spoke his answer.

"You need not worry, my angel... He will be perfectly safe wherever I leave him be." Erik confided slowly, and took Raoul's wrist and pressed two fingers onto it, and seemed to count to himself, taking his pulse. "He's almost back to normal." He noted to satisfy me fully. I nodded and settled myself back onto the chair, watching him swiftly leave the room. Once Erik was gone, Raoul opened his eyes to see me, sitting there.

"Christine..." He weakly said, reaching out for me, but I couldn't satisfy his longing, still thinking with instinct that Erik would pull me away. I shook my head, taking my knees closer to him, I felt myself breaking under the impression I'll never have a wonderful time in the sun with him again, never be able to be ourselves, playing with each other, hiding under the covers and telling stories, and never overlook to the ocean and see a lighthouse in the distance... and I won't ever be wrapped in his warm, reassuring arms... I'll never have my best friend and brother back to me.

"Raoul," I whispered though it was probably not understandable through my sniffling. "Raoul, I have to leave you... I can't... I can't leave Erik, and he needs me."

"You're wrong... I'll kill him if he hurts you! I'll kill him!"

"Oh, Raoul..." I whispered, shaking my head. "No... No, he won't hurt me. He won't hurt me anymore."

"How could you?" He was aghast.

"I love you always, Raoul, and if we could be together, we would..."

"When he's gone come to me. Come to me and I'll fight him if need be."

"No..." I shook my head again, though my words happened to have no noise.

I watched Erik come back and tell me to go to my room and reluctantly, I complied, and went up to my room, looking behind my shoulder every fifth step, walking up with a strange feeling of belonging. That I don't really belong in the outside world, for it doesn't need me.