The Phantom's Daughter

16. A Difficult Choice To Make

Raoul seemed to know that he was being followed, because he stopped and turned around quickly.
"Oh, it's just you" he sighed, clearly glad that Elise was not her father.
"Yes. It's just me... Are you going to kill him this time?" Questioned Elise.
"I don't know. But I'm willing to do anything to save Christine" replied Raoul.
"So am I".
Raoul frowned, "You are?".
"He's gone too far now. He's killed too many people. Besides, Christine is my friend, and I don't want her to be forced into anything that she doesn't want to do" admitted Elise.

"Can I really trust you?  Questioned Raoul.
"You don't really have a choice. This is his domain, he has the advantage down here. So if you don't want to end up like Piangi and Buquet, then you will have to trust me" replied Elise.
"You'll help me get Christine back then?"
"I will help free Christine, yes. But to do that, I might have to go on alone. If he sees us together, he won't let me get anywhere near her. But if I pretend to be on his side, I might have a shot a helping her escape".

"So, you're just going to leave me?" Quizzed Raoul.
"You'll be alright, until you reach him. This tunnel doesn't have any booby traps, so you should be fine. Keep making your way forward, and you'll find the cavern. Just wait for my signal once you reach the main chamber. Don't go rushing in, because you'll get yourself killed" warned Elise.
"O.K"
"And if you can, please don't hurt my father"
"It is not my intention to harm him. I just want Christine back"
"Alright then, it seems like we have a deal. I help Christine escape, and you leave my father alone"
"It's a deal".

Elise abandoned Raoul once their agreement was made, and ran off down the tunnel. Although the tunnel spilt off at several points, they all ended up in the main chamber eventually. But Elise knew which ones would get her to her father the quickest, as she had grown up using them.
Eventually she reached the main chamber, and she immediately ran over to where her father was stood.
Seeing him without his mask and hair piece on, unnerved Elise slightly, but she knew that she couldn't show it on her face if she wanted to get close to Christine.
"There you are. I knew that you'd find your way down here" admitted Erik.
"Of course I would. You kidnapped Christine, and murdered Piangi, so of course I was going to come here to confront you" snapped Elise.

Hearing Elise's voice, Christine stepped out of one of the side rooms.
Elise's jaw dropped when she saw Christine, who was wearing an extravagant white wedding dress.
"I made a bridesmaid dress for you. It's in your room, if you want to be a part of this" announced Erik.
"I most definitely don't want to be a part of this. This is wrong. You can't force her to love you. She's chosen Raoul, and you have to accept that" replied Elise, unable to hold her true feelings inside.
"No! She will love me. She will be mine!"
"No, she won't. You can't force someone to love you. That's not how love works".

"How would you know? You're not exactly an expert on the matter" reminded Erik coldly.
"You're right. I have never felt love. But who's fault is that? It's not my fault you never wanted me" Replied Elise.
Erik's face softened slightly, "If you don't want to be here, then go. I won't stop you if you want to return to the world up above".
"I won't go. Because I don't want to leave Christine" admitted Elise.
"She will be fine with me. I won't ever hurt her"
"I know. But I'm not leaving her, with only you, for the rest of her life. I could never do that to my best friend".

"Fine. Stay or go, it matters not to me. Christine will be my bride, and there is nothing you can say that will stop me from making that happen" revealed Erik, as he marched over to where Christine was stood.
He grabbed hold of her hand, but Christine pulled herself away.
Elise made her way over to them both, and placed one of her hands around Christine's.
Erik was about to yell at them, when the sound of splashing water, rang through the cavern.
He spun around and saw Raoul walking through the water, which was up to his waist.
Elise groaned when she realised that Raoul had chosen the wrong tunnel at some point, and ended up coming out in the water, on the lowest part of the cavern. He also hadn't waited for her signal, so had just walked straight into Erik's clutches.

"It seems like we have a guest" grinned Erik, as he jumped from the rocks they were stood on, down into the water below.
He pulled on one of the ropes in the cavern, causing a metal grate to come down from the ceiling, stopping Raoul from going back the way he came.
Erik then removed a lasso from his waist and threw it at Raoul.
The lasso found its way onto Raoul's neck, and Erik ran foward, to tie him to the grate.
"Raoul!" Cried Christine, as she made her way down the stone steps and into the water, with Elise at her side.

"Stop this" instructed Elise.
Erik smiled, and pulled on the lasso, causing Raoul to gasp for breath, as the rope tightened around his neck.
"You have a choice to make Christine. Choose me, and save him. Of refuse me and send your lover to his death" announced Erik.
"You can't force her to make that  choice!" shouted Elise.
"And you can't win her love by making her your prisoner" added Raoul.

Erik tugged on the lasso, causing Raoul to gasp loudly again.
"Well, what is it going to be?" Questioned Erik.
Elise looked at Christine, and she had no idea how her friend was going to decide what to do.
It was a difficult choice to make, and Elise had no idea what she would do, if she was in Christine's position.