This is it guys, the final chapter. Remember, if you like this, vote for what I should write next on my profile page. I will collect the votes on June 15th!

Chapter 22
I ran through the twisted catacombs. In all honesty, I didn't really know where I was going, I was just running where my gut told me to run. All that I could think about was Christine and Erik. Would Christine be safe? Would Erik hurt her?

"Track down this murderer
He must be found!
Track down this murderer
He must be found!" I was assuming that an angry mob was coming to get Erik, so I quickened my pace.

I finally came to a halting stop. "Shit!" I shouted. I didn't care if I was being unladylike at this time. I was at the river and of course, there was no boat. I sighed heavily and l ran into the water. I ran and ran as fast as I could.

"Hounded out by everyone
Met with hatred everywhere
No kind words from anyone
No compassion anywhere" I could hear Erik shouting and I took that as a sign that I was getting closer to the lair.

As fast as my legs could carry me in the water, I ran. Finally, I stopped. "Jemma!" Christine shouted. I stood at the bared gate.

"Christine!" I turned my attention to Erik, my eyes filled with hurt. Erik sighed and looked down as he pulled a lever to let me in, then quickly shut it. I ran through the water and embraced Christine in a huge hug.

"It's alright Christine, your alright." I spoke in a soothing voice.

"Let her go Jemma." Erik demanded. I backed up and turned to look at Erik. He held out the wedding dress that I guess he got from the creepy mannequin Christine had told me about so many moons ago. "Help her put the dress on."

I sadly nodded my head and walked Christine into the Louis-Phillip room. "He scares me Jemma."

"He is only broken."

"Broken or not, he still set fire to my home, to our home. Don't you care?" Christine's words stung me. I helped her get out of her costume.

"I care Christine, but sometimes love rules over every other emotion." I took a step back as Christine pulled the white corset on. I then stepped forward and laced her back up.

"You are saying that you still love that man? After all he is done?"

I shrugged even though Christine's back was to me. "What can I say Christine? Sometimes love makes you crazy."

Christine turned back to me. "You know Jemma, I think that you are just crazy for love! I mean, you said yes to a man who proposed to you and you don't even love him! Now, you say you are in love with the phantom? A killer? You are the crazy one here!"

I was taken back by Christine's words. I shut my mouth and finished helping her. "Go." I said. Christine did as I said and walked out into the main cavern.

"Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?
Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?" I thought at first that Christine had lost her heart, but then I realized after those words that she was just a bit frazzled.

"That fate, which condemns me to wallow in blood
Has also denied me the joys of the flesh…
This face, the infection which poisons our love..." Erik paused. The 2 seconds of silence was killing me, but Erik's next words killed me even more.

"This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing
A mask, my first
Unfeeling scrap of clothing
Pity comes too late
Turn around and face your fate
An eternity of this before your eyes"

"Gosh damn it!" I silently cursed. Why couldn't Erik see that I was here for him? I always have been! I sat in a chair in a corner and let my head fall into my hands.

"This haunted face holds no horror for me now
It's in your soul that the true distortion lies" Oh so now Christine decides to have a change of heart!

"Wait!
I think, my dear,
We have a guest
Sir!" My head shot up. Someone, a male, was here.

"Raoul!" Christine shouted! I jumped out of the chair and ran out the where all of the commotion was. Raoul stood at the gate, soaking wet and I couldn't help but giggle. Wait! This is no time for laughing! Even if the situation with Raoul is funny.

"This is indeed an unparalleled delight
I had rather hoped that you would come
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night!"

"Let me go!" Christine shouted. I wanted to do something, but for some reason, I didn't. Something in me told me to keep my place near the grand organ.

"Free her
Do what you like,
Only free her
Have you no pity?" Raoul's face was pressed against the gate and I actually kind of felt bad for him. Christine struggled and at last broke free of Erik's grasp. But was still by his side.

"Your lover makes a passionate plea." Erik said to Christine.

"Please, Raoul, it's useless." Christine told her lover. Still he kept at it.

"I love her
Does that mean nothing?
I love her
Show some compassion."

"The world showed no compassion to me!" My heart broke at that.

After pleading, Raoul was allowed through the gates to see Christine. Before he could get on to the land though, Erik picked up a Punjab lasso and swung it around Raoul's neck! Both Christine and I gasped. Erik tied him to the gate, all the while singing.

"Order your fine horses now
Raise up your hand to the level of your eyes
Nothing can save you now,
Except perhaps Christine
Start a new life with me
Buy his freedom with your love!
Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death!" Erik was scaring poor Christine half to death! Why I didn't step in, I don't know. I think I was to caught up in the sight to do anything. That or I knew that Erik wouldn't never kill Raoul. He is the one Christine loves and it would break her heart.

"This is the choice
This is the point of no return!" The point of no return. Like from his Opera!

Christine looked conflicted. "The tears I might have shed
For your dark fate
Grow cold
And turn to tears of hate."

Then, everyone began to sing. It was like a whole ensemble! I could follow along with what anyone was saying.

"You've passed the point of no return!" Erik finished with.

"You try my patients, make your choice!" He yelled, pulling the rope around Raoul's neck even tighter.

I looked over at Christine and I could tell that she was having a self conflict within her head as tears spilled from her eyes. 'I love you.' She mouthed to Raoul. AW!

"Pitiful creature of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?" Christine walked into the water. Her dress began to float and all eyes were on Christine. I clenched my fists.

"God give me courage to show you,
You are not alone…" Christine slipped a purple ring onto her finger and kissed Erik. It took all that I had in me not to shout or pry them off of each other. I looked down at my hand. I was already engaged. I stomped my foot lightly.

All was silent for the few moments that Christine had kissed erik. Then the silence was replaced with the sound of someone crying. I looked up and saw tears dripping from Erik's eyes. Why? He has the love of his life with him now.

"Track down this murderer, he must be found!" The mob sounded closer than before.

Erik backed away from Christine. "Take her, forget me, forget all of this…" Erik demanded of Raoul.

"Hunt out this animal, who runs to ground!" The mob was getting closer!

"Leave me alone - forget all you've seen…" Erik walked up onto the land. Uh-Oh! He was getting closer to me! I stood straight up and watched as Christine untied Raoul and they hugged.

"Go now - don't let them find you! Take the boat, swear to me, never to tell, the secret you know, of the angel in hell!" Erik was near the organ and I just silently inched closer to the room.

I stood against the wall. "Go now - go now and leave me!"

"Jemma!" Christine yelled. "Come on!"

I shook my head. "I will be right there!" Christine sighed and began to ready the boat with Raoul. I on the other hand followed Erik into the Louis-Phillip room. Erik sat down against the swan bed and I sat next to him.

"Go Jemma." Erik said sadly.

I shook my head. "No."

"Jem-"

"I don't want to leave you Erik! Have I not made it clear enough that I love you with all that I have?" I shouted in his face. I knew that I was engaged but I needed to feel my lips against his if it was the last thing I did. I leaned in and kissed Erik. Sparks electrified my body as they always did when I kissed Erik. This time, Erik kissed me back.

When we pulled away, Erik looked at me with sad eyes. "Why didn't I see it before?"

"See what?"

"Why didn't I see that you were always here for me? You were right, Christine loves Raoul. Now I guess its to late to be with you though." Erik held my hand and rubbed the ring.

"I can break it off Erik! I love you!"

"No, no! You already made a commitment, and you are going to stick by it. So help me Jemma, if I could go back in time and realize your love for me from day one, I would. I can't though." Erik shook his head.

Tears began to pour down my face. "No no Erik, I can leave him!"

"But he loves you Jemma!" I sighed. Erik wasn't going to let me leave William.

"But-"

"Trust me Jemma, I know that we will meet again someday, somehow. We will meet and then we can start over. I can make the first move and I can kiss you. I don't ever want to leave you Jemma, but the time has come, and the time will come again." I stared at Erik with wide eyes. "Go now, please."

I stood up and spoke through tears. "Wherever I go Erik, I promise that you will be in my heart." I turned my back on the love of my life and walked away. I walked down to the boat.

"I will be right back." Christine said. Christine walked away, leaving me alone with Raoul.

"So um…did you um…know the phantom well?" Raoul asked as he stood, holding the oar.

I nodded. "You could say that."

"You do know that you should be reported to the police." My eyes widened. "But I'm not going to do that. I judged you wrong Jemma. At no point did you try to steal the spotlight from Christine."

"Christine is my friend."

"And she is my lover."

We both nodded our heads as Christine stepped into the boat. "L-lets just go." Christine said. I sat down as Christine stood next to Raoul.

Looking back I could see Erik and his sad figure made me just burst into tears. I had to look away, or else I would swim back to erik and he didn't want that of me.

When we reached the surface through the mirror, the fire had been tamed and 2 police men led us outside. Blankets were tossed around us and we were ushered to safety.

"Jemma!" William yelled. He embraced me in a warm hug, but I wasn't all there. I was still staring off into the distance at the Opera House. "We can find a place together, don't worry."

I pulled away from the hug lightly and walked over to Christine. "Christine."

"Jemma." We hugged each other.

"What is to happen to him? Will he live?" Christine backed up and looked at me.

"I would like to say that he will be fine, but in all honestly, I don't know. All we can do is pray." I nodded. "Raoul is going to be taking me to his place and we will live there. Where will you go?"

I looked over at William who was looking at me lovingly. "William and I will most likely stay at an inn for a few days until we find a place."

"Alright, I want to stay in contact, so meet me in the park tomorrow at noon alright?" Christine smiled, trying to make me smile.

"Alright." I smiled back at her even though it was a fake smile.

I glanced back at the opera house as William came to lead me away. I guess that this was the end of Erik, the end of the Phantom. He had told me that we would meet again someday, but until that day comes, I will only be living on a strand of life and only my memories will comfort me at night. Erik will forever be in my heart.

So...what did you all think? Was it sad, happy, good, bad? Let me know! Thank you all for your support on this story, it means a lot! Remember to vote for what I should write next on my page please! And leave a comment! Have a nice day!