The Phantom's Revenge

Chapter 1: The Darkness

I had just stormed out of the room with my whiskey bottle in hand. Christine, my wife had told me I needed to quit this "erratic" behavior. I didn't see what was wrong with downing an occasional bottle or two? A man is entitled to a drink every now and then isn't he? Just because I drunk until I dropped mean nothing. I liked the burn of whiskey. It felt lovely! At least I thought so. There were tiny footsteps behind me. I could make out the blurry shape if my wife.

"Raoul! Please stop this, this isn't who you are. Where is the man I fell in love with?"

She clung to my arm and I threw her off of me. Harder than I should've, but she wouldn't let go.

"I am the man you married! This is me! The Vicomte de Changy!!"

I stepped towards her and she backed away. She was still on the ground. The fear in her eyes hurt. Me? How could she fear me? The man she loved?

"Raoul please."

She begged me again and I picked her up by her dress. I backed her into the corner so she couldn't get away.

"Christine. You agreed to marry me and stay with me through whatever. I grow tired of you. I grow tired of your whining about me. If you don't like me, who I am what I am you can leave. Or, "

I pressed my forehead against hers and let out and angry sigh into her face. Making sure she could smell the whiskey on my breath.

"You will accept me as I am."

I crushed my mouth to hers and put on my weight on her. She tried to push me off of her, but it was easy to keep control over her she was so small and weak. I put my hand on her jaw and squeezed it as I pulled away.

"Raoul, y-you're hurting me.

Oh, I'm sorry."

I moved my hand to her shoulder and squeezed it hard. She winced and let out a moan.

"Raoul stop! You are hurting me!

You hurt me Christine. You hurt me, you ask me to change! If you really loved me, you wouldn't want me to change."

She eyed me with a look of disgust.

"Maybe I don't love you anymore."

I brought my hand to her face. A quick slap should teach her a lesson.

"If you ever, and I mean ever say anything like that again, I will make you wish you'd chosen that-that hermit. That thing!

Maybe I already wish that I had...

What did you say?"

I violently shook her shoulders.

"N-nothing.

That's correct."

I let her go and turned to leave the room. She didn't follow me this time. I went to the sitting room and sipped at my whiskey. The next thing I knew I was nodding off in my chair.

When I awoke it was about one in the morning. Perfect, I could still make it to the pub! I grabbed my wallet, coat and hat. Before I left I checked our bedroom. There was a shape in our bed. Christine must've been fast asleep. I skipped out the door humming a merry tune. The night was fresh, so I decided to walk to the pub that was just a few blocks over. There street lamps were lit, it was foggy and barely visible out. There were few people in the street. A few men on their way home from the bar, or just on their way as well as me. I looked behind me and saw a figure on the other side of the street. I payed him no mind. As I walked I hummed my tune. There was a bounce in my step. I turned my head again to the figure. He was much closer. I couldn't make out any features. He was wearing a cloak that covered his face. His footsteps echoed in the quiet night. A chill when down my spine, but I payed him no mind. Again, he could just be on his way to the pub like I was. I could hear his footsteps get closer and faster. The night suddenly grew cold and instinct told me to run. I glanced behind me and nobody was there. When I turned around there he was. He had a crowbar in hand.

"Well, hello there. I'm-

I know who you are."

He whispered in a low menacing voice. Who was this man? How did he know me? Was he an assassin?

"Sir, I don't know who you are or wh-

Oh but you do know me."

He said more loudly this time. I could here the smile in his voice. Slowly he uncovered his head. There it was. The slick black hair and half mask that was pale as the moon. Anger filled me. This was the man who'd brainwashed my Christine. He'd frightened her and kidnaped us both.

"You!

Yes me, how are you Raoul? I know you haven't been treating Christine as she deserves. I've been keeping watch over her. I saw what happened today. When you passed out, drunk I entered your house. Christine ran to me, crying. She told me she missed me, she kissed me as well. Raoul she hates you. You don't deserve her.

She would never say that!

Oh really? That lump in your bed? How closely did you look? Because Christine is back at the Opera Populaire waiting for our arrival.

Our arrival?"

The last thing I remember was him striking me over the head with the crowbar.

I awoke in a dark room. It was damp and cold. I tried to move, but I was chained to a gate.

"Struggling will do you no good Monsieur."

A ghostly voice from the darkness called. It was him.

"What do you want!? I've done nothing to you!

Oh, but you have. You've hurt the woman I love.

That's my business, none of yours!"

I growled at him and threw my head back. As I did this I felt the spot where he had hit me. It was sore and probably swollen.

"It is my business.

I made it his business..."

Two figures stepped into the light.

Christine and him. They were holding hands. I wanted to break free and rip their throats out, but I was bound to the gate.

"Christine! What are you doing!?

I'm sick of you Raoul! I'm sick of being hurt by you. I'm sick of being afraid for my life in my own home!"

She started to tear up and she threw herself into his arms. I looked away. The sight made my stomach churn.

"You deserve to feel all the pain you caused her! You dug yourself into this hole and I'm not letting you escape! You will never leave the darkness! Never Monsieur Vicomte de Changy!" He said my name in a mocking tone and I spit at him. The spit dribbled down my chin and he laughed.

"You may want to behave. I'm in control now."