Hi guys! See, I told you I would always come back to these!

It's been a loooong time since my last chapter, I know. My sincerest apologies.

Please let me know what you think - your reviews genuinely inspire me to write!

Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Webber.

Christine

I fell to the ground, collapsing in a distraught heap. I could hear Raoul's voice as I wept, but I could not hear words, my focus was on the carriage growing smaller and smaller before my eyes, disappearing into the darkness. As I sat, staring into the distance, staring at the spot where I had seen the carriage disappear, I was visited by Erik's words; some of the last he spoke to me. There was a finality to the tone of his voice. I heard it then and yet I did nothing. I should have known what he was going to do from the very start and I should have dissuaded him somehow. I knew that no matter what, I would forever curse myself for simply neglecting to act. The cool breeze that blew through me now was once filled with such magic and possibility. Now, it tormented me. Mere minutes ago Erik and I were sharing an embrace in this magic wind… and now he was gone.

"I h-have to find him, Erik…" I wept on the balcony. "I- I have to!" The wind rushed through my dress, billowing it dramatically and causing it to engulf Erik's legs as he stood before me.

He held me tightly.

"I know." He said sadly. "I know."

"Will you help me?" I cried.

I thought I felt him shudder. Was he upset also? Of course he was. Of course.

"Of course, Môn Ange." He said, taking a deep, uneven breath. "Always."

Always…

This was him 'helping' me. But I would never have asked this of him, not a sacrifice such as this. Of course my father was important to me- but was finding him more important than Erik's life? It was a journey I wished to undertake with him, not instead of him.

"Christine…" Raoul's voice sounded once more, returning me to the present.

Despair turned to anger when I realised that the man responsible for what had happened was standing before me.

I shot up.

"You!" I began, shoving him backward. "This is your doing!"

"Christine, please…" He reasoned, holding his arms out before him defensively. "This was not my intention!"

"This was exactly your intention!" I yelled. "How dare you stand there and pretend otherwise!"

I shoved him again.

"I… I know. I'm sorry… I only meant that…"

"Meant what?! This was what you wanted!"

"I wanted to take it back! As soon as the Sûreté arrived I wanted to!"

"Tell me where they're taking him!"

"I…I don't know!" He stammered.

"You do not know or you do not wish to tell me?"

"I speak the truth, Christine. I do not know. There are a great many number of prisons… And it is not safe to be…"

"You can find out, Raoul!" I fell silent for a moment, searching for words. "If nothing else, I want to see him!"

Again, my gaze shifted to the spot where I had lost the carriage in the darkness of the night, and my chest began to ache. Blame hardly mattered now. It had already happened. Erik had already been taken and shouting at Raoul could not help Erik. He was gone.

Tears filled my eyes again as I turned away from Raoul, folding my arms against the cold.

"Why could you not just leave us be…?" I wept.

"Christine, please… Let me help."

I shook my head.

"How dare you."

"Please, allow me to make amends in some way…. Erik mentioned finding your father. Did that have something to do with the letter he gave to you?"

I looked up at him.

"That is none of your business." I spat. I turned to walk away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"I am free now, am I not? Is that not what Erik's life bought me?"

Raoul's face fell.

"Christine… please…"

I was growing tired of hearing that.

"Am I not free?" I repeated.

"You are. Of course you are." He looked down. "I am a monster."

"Yes, you are, and if you are looking for some sort of positive affirmation in admitting that then you are looking to the wrong person. Your self-assessment was entirely accurate." I turned away again. "If I am free, then I am returning to the Opera. After this night I never wish to speak with you again."

"Christine you cannot simply walk back to the Opera! It is the middle of the night! Let me offer you my carriage at least!"

"There is nothing out there that could possibly be worse than you." I spat.

"Please!" He repeated. The desperation in his voice forced me to stop and look back at him. He was on his knees. "Let me make this right!"

I approached him, offering one last chance to tell me what I needed to know.

"Find out where he is." I said. He met my gaze, and then with the most sincerity I had heard in his voice since we were children, he replied.

"Alright."

Not meeting his gaze, I replied.

"I will be at the Opera."

With that I turned and left, walking as fast as my boots could carry me. I would speak to Madame Giry – find out as much as I could of what she knew; Erik, my father… everything. Something told me that she knew a great deal more than what she let on.

Erik

I couldn't see much of the prison as the carriage approached it for it was poorly lit at this time of night. Or was it now morning? I hadn't a clue. As soon as I arrived I was handed over to the prison guards and taken to my cell. I was shoved up against a wall so that my manacles could be removed, and once they were I was stripped of my jacket and ordered to remove my boots. I didn't know whether this was in aid of discomfort or whether they thought I might be concealing something. Perhaps they had forgotten that I had opted to be here…

No one said anything as this all happened, which led me to believe that it was common practice in the prison. The thought was somewhat comforting… Perhaps my special treatment would begin tomorrow.

"Leave them on." A voice from behind me spoke.

My manacles were returned to my wrists and I was shoved inside the cage.

"A night in chains will do this one well."

A cage… Again…

Chains… Again…

I took a deep breath, telling myself that this cage was not like the last. I would not be treated the same way. Perhaps it had been more than 20 years since then, and as a man I would be able to cope…

Or so I had to tell myself.

As the guards left, I took a seat on the cot in my cell. Though, it wasn't much of a cot. There was no bedding, only a rusted frame and thin, noisy mesh that didn't look as though it would provide much comfort, if any at all. I had no doubt been allotted this cell intentionally.

I was cold, my wound was aching, sending waves of nausea through me every few minutes and my shoulders and wrists were beginning to burn from being held in such a harsh position. Knowing that I wouldn't find any comfort in the state I was in, I leant back against the cell wall and closed my eyes. I didn't know if my wound had opened or not, but the most I could do in this situation was sit still and plan my next move.

Of course, my mind remained on one single thought.

Christine…

Raoul

I stood in darkness as Christine left me. The cold, Winter's night engulfing me in its heavy silence. Though, I knew it wasn't the weight of the darkness I felt on my shoulders, it was the weight of what I had done.

For so long, all I could think about was capturing the Opera Ghost – finally showing him that I had the power, showing Christine that it was I who was meant for her, not him. I had been so consumed in winning that I could not see the sins I was committing. I could not see what I was doing to Christine, but what was the answer?

It was then that the weight became too much to bear and I fell to my knees, hardly feeling the gravel of my drive beneath me.

"Vicomte…"

"Monsieur, are you alright?"

I heard voices around me, voices of those in my employ… voices of those I paid to ask me those questions.

Ignoring them, I collapsed onto the gravel, sitting with my head in my hands. It was throbbing. I could feel my pulse rising in my neck, my chest tightening. What had I done? What could I do?

I wanted to make things right for Christine but was the only way to do that truly to set the Phantom free? The man who had committed the ultimate sin; murder?

"Monsieur…" another voice began.

"Leave me!" I threw into the cold air around me. "Leave me be!"

I heard footsteps around me as my employees dispersed, leaving me in the hungry silence that awaited me, the hungry silence I perhaps deserved.

I wanted to take back what I had done. I wanted Erik away from Christine but what did that mean? Did I want him dead if it would mean the death of Christine also?

Even if I could find out where Erik was being taken, what else could I do?

My head throbbed harder, I felt as though it were going to explode. I picked up a handful of the gravel beneath me and threw it into the night, cursing as I did so.

"I hate you!" I cried. I told myself it was directed at Erik, but it was for me. There wasn't a person in the world I loathed more at that moment than myself, and what I had become.

Christine

"Madame!" I called, knocking upon Madame Giry's door vehemently. I knew not what hour it was but I hadn't a care. I couldn't recall the walk back to the Opera. In truth, it was a risk I should not have taken. The streets of Paris are never truly safe, let alone after dark. Aside from invalidating Erik's sacrifice, I was the only hope he had of escape and he would not have appreciated the choice I'd made in walking back alone. But even so, I could not take anything from Raoul after what he had done. I wanted nothing more to do with him unless it was of direct assistance to Erik's cause.

"Madame, open this door!" I cried, now slamming my fist upon the door. "Madame!"

"Goodness me…" I heard from inside as she approached the door. "Christine, is that…" The door opened.

"Christine! You – are you alright?" She pulled me into an embrace. "How did you get here? Where… Where is Erik?"

I pulled away from her.

"You tell me." I threw at her, tears in my eyes.

Tears gathered in her own. She stepped toward me, checked the hallway to see if anyone was around before speaking again.

"Christine, come inside. I can see that we must talk."

"There isn't time for that!" I cried.

"Is that not why you have come, child?"

I looked down. Yes, of course it was. But I was desperate for Erik. Each second away from him meant that the danger grew. What if I never saw him again…

I nodded before stepping into Madame Giry's quarters.

"Did you know?" I shot as soon as the door was closed behind us.

"Christine, sit down. Tell me what happened. Tell me where Erik is?"

"Where Erik is?" I repeated. "Where do you think he is?!"

"What happened?" She asked again.

"You really didn't know of his intentions, Madame?"

"Child, please tell me what you mean!"

"Erik has been captured!" I cried before crumbling down into tears. "I thought that he was coming to take me away but instead he turned himself in so that I could have my freedom! Raoul had already called the authorities and we only had moments before…"

I heard Madame Giry gasp but I could not see her expression for I had my head in my hands.

"You must have known!" I cried, pulling my father's letter from my skirts and throwing it at her. I collapsed onto the divan behind me. "You must have known what he would do because you gave this to him. What did you think he would do!"

"Christine, please. You know that Erik is unpredictable at the best of times! I had no clue of his intentions. When he left here I was under the impression that he was only leaving to inform you about your father. I had no clue that he would… Oh Erik… you stupid man!" She began to weep also.

I looked up at her then, wiping my eyes. Perhaps she hadn't known. I was aware that she cared for Erik but this was the first I had seen of it.

"Madame, tell me what to do! I don't know what to do to help him!" I cried. "He was so close, we were so close! We could have just left but he… oh, why! Why would he do this?!" I wept. "He has been taken God knows where and with his wound I just… I…"

Madame Giry wiped her eyes and sat down beside me, pulling me into an embrace. I was too weak to object.

"Does Raoul know where he was taken?"

"No." I wept. "It was taken out of his hands as soon as the authorities arrived. It… it was almost as if he regretted what he had done but… that doesn't matter now, does it?"

"Perhaps not." She replied. "We need to find out where he has been taken. That is the first step."

"I asked Raoul to find out… I told him that he owed me that much."

"Do you think that he will deliver?"

"I… yes. I do. But I don't think I can wait for that."

"No." She agreed. "Well, allow me to prepare and we can return to le Victome's estate right now. If he doesn't have what you need then I will accompany you on your search."

I smiled through my tears. At least that was something.

She stood up and smoothed down her skirts.

"During the journey to Raoul's…" I began. "I wish for you to tell me how you came upon my father's letter."

She turned to face me, nodded tersely and began to prepare for our journey back out into the night.

Erik

To my surprise, I had fallen asleep. I know this because the shock of ice cold water pulled me from my slumber.

"No rest for the wicked!" A harsh voice called into my cell. I would have rolled my eyes had I not been frozen to the bone. The oaf, whoever he was, had used the idiom incorrectly.

I didn't look up at him as he entered my cell.

"I've heard about you." He began as he walked closer to me. He was chewing something. I detested the sound of people chewing. "You've done some bad things." He continued. "Aren't you going to look at me?"

I could see his boots before me now, but still, my gaze remained on the ground. I looked at my own feet. They were freezing. I wondered if my boots had been sold or if they'd been adopted by one of the guards. I wouldn't have blamed them; I had good taste.

"Perhaps you'd like another one of my baths?" The man continued. "A filthy animal such as yourself could use more than one." With that, he bent down and pulled my mask away from my face, my wig falling away with it. Still, I did not look at him. There was no point. I already knew the expression that would be spreading across his face. I had seen it many times before.

"An evil face for an evil man." He mused. "Or should I say… beast."

I smirked. I couldn't help myself.

"Is something funny?" He asked, suddenly moving toward me and taking hold of my throat and pushing me up against the wall. Now I was forced to look at him. I looked him in the eye and what I saw was a weak man. In my experience, those tended to be the most dangerous in these situations.

"My, you surely are the most hideous thing I have ever laid eyes upon." He looked down at my shirt, the blood stain down the front no doubt catching his gaze. "Yours or someone else's?" He asked.

I said nothing.

Pulling open the front of my shirt and peering in at my bandages he smirked.

"Well, I came here to make you suffer but I can see that someone has already beaten me to the post."

Yes, most of the world. I thought morbidly.

"Tell me, who was it that had the pleasure?" His question was punctuated by sickening pain and I knew the pain I felt was the result of his baton being pressed against my wound.

On impulse I cried out and kicked him across the cell.

"Jacques!" A voice echoed through the hall. "Get out here now, we've had three just come in!"

He stood up, dusted himself off and exited my cell. Upon locking me in again he shot me a look that told me I hadn't seen the last of Jacques. Not by far.

I wanted to weep – not because of Jacques. He was a foolish boy who was no doubt only tormenting me because he hated his life, or perhaps he even had his own childhood memories he was trying to repress, and torturing me made him feel as though he had power – when he'd never had it before. No, the only thing that could bring me to tears was the thought that I might not see Christine again before the end…

I sat back, as much as the manacles around my wrists would allow and thought of her once more.

Christine

"I am sorry for neglecting to give it to you sooner. I know that you may never be able to forgive me, but your father was emphatic that…"

"Is he alive?"

I asked, cutting her off. I had not truly forgiven her for waiting a whole year before giving it to me but there were more important questions at hand.

"I…" she began. "I cannot say."

Tears stung my eyes once more.

"Christine, you must understand that he contacted me a year ago. He did not even know whether or not you were still at the Garnier but he sent the letter to me hoping that it would reach you."

"But, why you? How did he know where to send it? Who to send it to? Did… you must have known my father?"

She nodded, taking my hand in hers.

"Your father and I knew each other, yes."

I shot up.

"How?! Why have you not told me this?" I cried. "For years you watched me cry myself to sleep, you let me believe that I had no one. That I had nothing…" I backed away from her. "And yet you had the answers all along!" I yelled. "Did Erik know this?"

"No, of course not. All I told him was that your father contacted me. He knew just as much as you." She reached for my hand but I pulled away. "Christine, please. Your father made me promise to keep it all a secret!"

"But why?!" I cried, tears clouding my vision. "Why would he want that?! Didn't he want me?!"

"Of course he did, child!" She put her arm around me, pulling me toward her. Once more I found myself powerless to resist and collapsed into her, weeping.

"You must see him, Christine." She said calmly.

"Why would he want to stay away from me, Madame? Why did he leave!? Why would he want me to believe that he was dead?!"

"He did not say, Christine." She replied as she held me. "I wish that I could tell you more…"

"You can."

"Christine, he made me promise… Perhaps you would have the courage to deny a dying man his final wish, but I did not."

I looked down at my hands.

"He may already be dead." I began, my tone cynical. "He may already be dead and Erik could be sentenced to death because of me."

"Child, you mustn't blame yourself for any of this. If Erik is sentenced to death, it is not because of you! He has made his own choices in life!"

"How can you say that? How can you say that when you claim to care for him?!"

"I am simply saying that he would not want you to blame yourself! He has done this so that you can get to the bottom of this letter." She pulled it out of her skirts and placed it in my lap. "Do not allow his sacrifice to be in vain!"

"You are speaking as if his fate has already been decided!"

My words hung in silence as the horses drew to a halt in front of us.

"De Chagny manor." The driver called from atop the carriage.

"Come." Madame Giry began. "Let us go inside."