My soul Began to Soar

Chapter 8

*Raoul's POV*
3 days. It has been 3 days since Christine left, and I am dying inside. I just want to hear from her, know that she is okay. Even if she is with...him. I just want her to be safe and happy. I don't know what could have driven her away. Let's see, that night I brought her here, she was very emotional, claiming that she loved him. I told her about his childhood, and why he is the way he is. I had a few drinks, then went to sleep. I have no idea why she would have left without telling me, or at least waiting till the sun rose. I need to find her. What if he took her? He probably did. He can't force her to love him! Even if she doesn't love me, that doesn't mean he can have her! If I find him holding her captive, oh he is a dead man! I am loosing my temper and my patience. I'm going to a show at the Opera Populaire tonight. Afterwords, I will sneak down into his lair and if I find her there, they will both be sorry.

Intermission of the show
I decide to sneak down early and see if she is down there. She isn't performing in the show because tonight is her night off according to the manager. I find my way back down to that monster's lair and stay quiet as I walk in to see Christine and...I don't even want to say his name, you know what it is... anyways, they are laying on the bed. He is reading a book to her. Beauty and the Beast, how ironic. I can't take this any longer, if I don't leave, I will loose my temper and kill him. I know it! I start to run back up the pathway but when i'm emerged into darkness, I yell "Let it be war upon you both!" I then storm off to plot.

After the show
Everyone is gone. That is, except for me, the custodians, Christine, and Erik. I make a disgusted face as I think of the two of them together. I hear him coming. Earlier, I had left them a note that read:

To the monster whose brainwashed my Christine,
You both seem to be having so much fun, I would like to add to it. I would like Erik to meet me on the stage at approximately 12:35. I have set my watch so I will be exactly on time, unless you want to steal that away from me as well. Otherwise, I shall give you further instructions if you choose to meet me at said time and place. If not, well, you will just have to wait and see.
With the utmost of gratitude,
Raoul De Changy.

It is now 12:34 and I hear light footsteps coming towards the stage. Some phantom! I imagined he would be silent as a mouse. He must be ignorant! What if I had set a trap? But, alas, I have not. I have a much bigger, better plan in mind. I see him uneasily emerge onto the stage. That's quite strange, his footsteps don't match up with the sounds. Anyways, I am up in the stage crew catwalks, waiting for the perfect time. I see him stand there for a moment and wait, then he checks his watch but when he looks up all he sees is his precious chandelier about to crush him. NO! It goes to the side for some reason and just misses him. One of the heavyweights must have fallen. I then hear a scream. It's not from Erik though. He looks tremendously worried and rushes over to the shattered remains of the lighting fixture which are building up flames very quickly. He pulls a body out from underneath it. A body I recognize...NOOOO MY CHRISTINE! THIS CANNOT BE HAPPENING! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! I NEVER WANTED HER INVOLVED! I stumble down the stairs and out the building, hardly able to process in my mind what I have done. How am I capable of such things? Oh God, what in the world was I thinking? I can only hope they got out okay as I hear sirens in the distance coming to put out the fire I have caused in the glorious building. They might be able to put out this fire, but they can't stop the fire burning a hole in my heart.