Torment From Behind the Mask - A continuation of The Phantom of the Opera

And then I realized

9 months later

~•8•~

It's very bothersome to have a housewife constantly at your side. Maybe it's just because I'm so far along in my pregnancy. Due any day now really.

I smile down at my bulging belly. "Any day now, Little One. Really - don't take your time."

A knock on the door awakens me from my trance. I breath a sigh of annoyance as Raoul steps into the bedroom. I glance up at Mallory.

"I think I may help Dorota in the kitchens, Madame." She smiles sweetly and hastens to leave, pausing only to curtsy for Raoul.

I rise from the bed and cross the room to the window, not even bothering to hide my anger at him.

"Christine..." he begins.

"...doesn't want to hear anything that you have to say!" I snap.

"Why must everything be so difficult for us now? Why must every conversation start in an argument?" He retorts back.

I turn to face him, "Raoul, if you are so desperate to leave me and our child, then so be it! Maybe the baby will be just fine without her father, as I was!" I turn, as I feel the tears scorch my cheeks.

I start sobbing as the afternoon sun glares through the grand window. Raoul comes behind me and places his hands on my arms. I feel my shoulders relax and betray me as he gently spins me around and starts running his hand through my hair.

As I bury my face into his strong chest, he says, "I'm sorry. So very sorry, Darling. I've never wanted to leave you. Not for anything. Please, Christine, I'm asking for your forgiveness. Begging for it."

"How many times are you going to let your anger get the better of you? How many times, Raoul, must you break my heart and expect me to blindly follow you?" My voice cracked and I took a step back. "How many times will you become jealous of a dead man?"

With that, Raoul brushed past me to the balcony. I knew I'd struck a nerve, but I believed I made my point.

As he turned to look at me, I felt pain. It was small at first, but very quickly it grew and became insurmountable. I fell to my knees, gasping for breath, as Raoul rushed to my side. He helped me stand with terror on his face. On my feet, I was standing in a small puddle of water; Raoul helped me into the bed and yelled for help.

Another wave of pain, tearing my lower body apart, Raoul screaming and gripping my hand, and my world went black.