Chapter 8

I sighed softly, sitting on the bed with Carlotta, just when the show was about ot begin.

"Don't be so down, my dear little toad," she said, sarcastically patting my back. "Not everyone was meant to be in the spotlight."

"Like you," I replied, glaring at her.

"I've worked harder and have more experience than you, little toad," she said, as the orchestra began to play the beginning of the opera.

"You just wait, Carlotta. You're going to get yours."

Above, unbeknowingst to me, my Angel was there, watching the opera, knowing that I wasn't the lead. Attached to his hip was a noose, which Buquet called his magical lasso. I had a feeling that something bad was about to happen. He walked around, opening a door which led to the theater. He was hidden by the chandiler, watching me.

Being a mute was easy. It was Carlotta that was the hard part and Buquet watching me from above. Madame Giry was backstage and the managers were in their box and Raoul was in Box 5, my Angel's Box. By Raoul's smile and the way he looked at me, he thought I was cute in the Pageboy's costume. I realized that I missed his smile and...I missed him. Yes, my Angel would always be there, but what if he found another girl to protect? I couldn't wait around for him forever.

Then...a booming voice...all too familiar.

"DID I NOT INSTRUCT THAT BOX 5 WAS TO BE KEPT EMPTY?!"

Everyone in the theater gasped and looked towards the ceiling and the whole opera stopped, looking up as well.

"He's here," Meg whispered to one of the extras. "The Phantom of the Opera."

"It's him," I whispered, closing my eyes.

"Your part is silent, little toad," Carlotta yelled, then laughed politely, going backstage.

"A toad, madame," he said, in his booming voice. "Perhaps it is you who are the toad."

Carlotta had the conductor begin the song again as I looked at Madame Giry, who shrugged her shoulders. Carlotta began to sing, looking out at the audience.

Seriphino, away with this pretense

You cannot speak

But kiss me in my CROAAAAAAAAK

Carlotta gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. The patrons began to laugh as the Phantom laughed evilly.

"Try again, Miss Carlotta," the conductor whispered as the music started again.

Carlotta nodded, clearing her throat.

Poor fool, he makes me laugh

Ha, ha, ha

Ha, ha CROAAAAAK

CROAAAK

CROAAAK

CROAAAK

The Phantom laughed again, grabbing the rope to the chandiler.

"How appalling," he shouted. "She sings to bring down the chandiler!"

He pulled on the rope, making the chandiler shake. The theater erupted in screams for fear the chandiler would fall and one of the managers stood up as Carlotta ran off stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we apoligize. The performance will continue in ten minutes time when the role of the Countess will be played by Miss Daae."

I looked up, knowing that my Angel had something to do with Carlotta's voice. Then a comforting voice from above.

Not the Phantom.

Raoul.

"Don't worry, Christine. I'm here."

I nodded, running backstage, with Madame Giry.

As soon as I got my undergown on, I went backstage and was told that Carlotta wouldn't give up the costume. She was calming that I had put a spell on her or something. I sighed, putting my cloak on and looking up at the rafters, not believing what I was seeing. I saw the Phantom strangling Buquet.

I pushed stagehands out of the way, running up the stairs trying to get to him. I had to stop him. When I asked for his promise that Buquet wouldn't bother me again, I didn't mean to put him to death. I got half way up and I heard the theater erupt in screams yet again. I looked and I saw Buquet's body dangling and the Phantom was hanging onto the noose. I ran back down the stairs as the Phantom dropped the body, trying to breathe. This wasn't happening. My Angel had killed for me. If he could do this in dreams, what could Monsieur Destler do in reality?

I felt someone grab me. I almost screamed until I turned, seeing Raoul.

"Are you all right," he asked, looking at me.

"Raoul, you're not safe here," I said, grabbing his hand and dragging him up the stairs and onto the rafters level.

"Where are you taking me, Christine?"

"He'll kill you. I know he will."

"Wait. What are you talking about, Christine? Slow down!"

"The Phantom of the Opera! He'll kill you, Raoul! I know he will," I said, opening the door to the roof and running outside, into the lightly falling snow.

"Christine," he said, shutting the door, "there is no Phantom of the Opera. It's just a story."

"No, Raoul. I've been there. I've been in his home, in his world of unending night. I've seen him, Raoul, and I don't think I'll ever forget that sight. His face...so distorted, deformed...it was hardly a face in the darkness."

How could I be saying such things? I knew that I wasn't being myself. I never said such horrible things about Monsieur Destler. Why was this different?

"Oh, Christine..."

"But his voice filled my spirit with a strange sweet sound," I said, then I began to sing.

In the night, there was music in my mind

And through music my soul began to soar

And I heard...as I never heard before...

"What you heard, Christine, was a dream and nothing more."

I took a breath, singing again.

Yet in his eyes

All the sadness of the world

Those pleading eyes that both threatened

And adored...

"Christine, Christine..." Raoul said, coming up behind me, wrapping an arm protectively around me

Just then, a third voice spoke.

"Christine..."

I turned to Raoul, looking into his eyes, ignoring the strange voice that had called to me so many times.

He ran through my hair as he spoke. "No more talk of darkness. Forget your wide eyed fears. I'm here, Christine, and nothing will harm you. I want to be your freedom. Let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you, beside you, guarding and guiding you."

"Say you love me every waking moment. Turn my head with talk of summer time. Say you need me with you now and always. Promise me that all you say is true. That's all I ask of you."

He nodded, leaning down and kissing me gently. My first real kiss. I kissed him back with all of the passion and deepness that I could muster. He lifted me up, spinning me around.

"I better go. They'll wonder where I am."

He nodded, putting me down, taking my hand. "Let's go."

During my curtain call, as I bowed to the people, a booming voice yelled,

"GO!"

I looked up and chandiler began to fall, coming right for me.

"CHRISTINE," Raoul yelled, running to me and getting us both out of harm's away.

The chandiler was destroyed.

Raoul had left after he thought that I had gone to bed, but I wasn't asleep. I had began walking around the Opera House, running a hand through my hair, thinking about him.

Not Raoul.

The Phantom.

I made my way to the stage, where chandiler once was. The stage hands, along with some help from the police, helped clean up what was left of the chandiler after Raoul and Madame Giry helped me into my room. Why was the chandiler headed for me? Could it have been meant for Carlotta and he possibly forgot about it? I didn't know. I knew one thing. He had killed for me.

"You betrayed me tonight."

I gasped, turning around, seeing him.

"W-what do you mean?"

"You were with another man. Him."

I sighed. "I love him, Phantom. I'm sorry if I hurt you, but you --"

"You were the only woman I ever loved, Christine! You killed my song tonight!"

"I didn't mean to hurt you! I didn't know you cared so deeply for me!"

"You should know now!"

"I didn't want you to kill for me!"

"Then what did you want?!"

"Protection!"

"I did that tonight! I saw how he was touching you!"

"Then why didn't you come then!?"

"I would've killed him if I had my noose!"

"You're supposed to be my guardian! Killing is NOT a nice way of protecting me."

His lip curled, his eyes burning with anger.

"You have done your part, Christine," he snarled, glaring at me. "I do not need to hear anything more from you."

"Then...what was the point of this?"

"To say goodbye. For you'll never see me again."

"Y-you're leaving me? All because of Raoul?"

He just looked at me, coldness in his eyes.

"I shall never come near you again."

"But...my voice..."

"You will have your voice, but it will not be me there to guide you."

My lip trembled, looking at him.

"No need to shed tears."

I shook my head. "Never."

"Since I am leaving, I feel it would be proper to tell you my name."

"You have a name?"

He nodded. "Erik. Erik Destler."

I nodded, acknowledging it.

"I...I'll never forget you," I said, barely above a whisper.

He turned his back on me, slowly walking away.

"Goodbye, Miss Daae."

It was almost as if my feet were frozen. I wanted to chase after him, tell him not to go, to stay. Where would he go? He lived below. Then...a creak...and the door shut. I began to cry, leaning down until I was on my knees, holding my head in one hand while the other held me up. I had lost him. I lost Erik, My Angel, My Phantom, My Teacher...My Everything.