raoul

Raoul's Revelation

"My mistress with a monster is in love." - William Shakespeare

I have heard it said that a man's life will flash before his eyes when he comes to the crossroads between life and death. As I stood on my tiptoes, struggling with the noose about my neck, I instantly knew this to be true. My life literally hung by a thread, and my mind was filled with vivid images of the events that had led up to this moment.

Only hours ago I had been sitting comfortably in Box Five of the Paris Opera House, watching my bride-to-be perform her role in the new opera, "Don Juan Triumphant." Of course, it had all been a ruse to catch the famed Opera Ghost, the phantom composer of the piece who nursed an unhealthy obsession for my beloved Christine. And though I was concerned for Miss Daae's safety, I knew that to have her perform in the opera would ensure the Phantom's appearance and subsequent capture. Besides, I had hired every gendarme in Paris; the place was literally crawling with policemen.

Yet even with such precautions, the Phantom managed to steal into the theatre and abduct Christine before my very eyes. He plunged the stage into darkness and simply disappeared with my bride!

When the lights returned, I pushed past the frightened theatre patrons and hurried down to the stage. The cast and crew were running about in a panic as well, and a group of them had decided to gather their courage and go on a hunt for the Opera Ghost. They took up their arms while I sought out the only person I knew who could be of help to me: Madame Giry.

The ballet mistress was on strange terms with the Phantom of the Opera. She knew more of the Phantom's secrets than anyone dared to admit, but she finally told me where to find him and what to do to avoid his dangerous trap, the Punjab Lasso. I thanked her profusely and then hurried down to the cellar, her warnings firm in my mind.

When I came upon the famous lake that lay deep below the Paris Opera House, I looked out across the waters, hoping for a sign of Christine. All was dark, but I fancied I could hear voices echoing across the water, so I stripped off my jacket and threw myself into the icy lake. I had no idea where I was going, but I swam through the dark waters, trying to ignore the chill that swept through my body.

I could not give into the fear that nagged at the back of my mind. I could not believe that courage and righteousness would not be on my side. Love would conquer all, and
I would save Christine.

I swam for what felt like hours until fortune favored me and delivered me to a small, dark shore. I searched about and managed to find a walled fortress. The whole place looked like a prison to me, well-fortified with a gate.

As I approached the gate, a flicker of light awarded me with the sight of Christine. She was inside the monster's abode, dressed in a beautiful white gown (a wedding gown!), though I had no idea how she came by such garments. I had last seen her but a few hours ago, dressed in her Spanish costume for the Phantom's outlandish opera.

Now it seemed as if we were in some horrific drama of our own.

"Christine!" I cried out.

I grabbed onto the heavy portcullis and tried to lift the iron gate. Christine called out to me and ran over to aid me in my quest. I clutched at her pale, white hands and tried to reassure her that I was there to rescue her. But the Phantom was quickly upon her. He pulled her away from me and seemed to envelop her with his darkness.

"Unhand her, you beast!" I challenged him.

I could scarcely look at him, at the horror that was his face. Christine had told me how grotesquely disfigured he was, but I had honestly dismissed her account, blaming it on her over-active imagination. Now that he stood before me, though, I could see that he was indeed the stuff of nightmares!

His face was that of a death's head, a skull with but yellow parchment for skin. And his eyes! How they blazed at me, as I demanded that he let me see the woman I loved!

"As you wish, monsieur," he seethed.

Miraculously, I heard the mechanism of the portcullis working to draw the gate up. I crawled into the monster's lair and gathered my fair lady into my arms.

"You're safe now," I whispered to her.

"Did you think that I would harm her?" the Phantom spat while Christine trembled against me.

I tried to console her, tried to focus on her, before I could gather the strength to face him. I took a breath and raised my head to confront my deadly rival when I felt a noose slide about my neck. The Punjab Lasso!

"Your hand at the level of your eyes," Madame Giry had warned.

But my arms had been around Christine, and I did not have time to ward off the monster's trap! I grasped feebly at the rope, but could not stop it from tightening about my neck.

"Poor, poor Vicomte," the Phantom sneered. "You seem to have got yourself into quite a bind!"

My vision clouded over as the Punjab Lasso cut into my tender flesh. I was amazed the rope did not kill me instantly, but the Phantom must have rigged the noose to keep me on the brink between life and death.

"Christine!" I cried out. I tried to tell her to flee, but I was choking on my words.

The Phantom used my disadvantage to descend upon Christine. He stalked about her like a cat closing in on its prey, his grotesque features lit by the candles which filled his lair. His hideousness and our predicament certainly made it seem as if we had fallen into Hell itself!

God, how could I have let this happen? I had put her in the monster's path by asking her to perform his opera. I was so certain that I could keep her from harm, capture him and put an end to his machinations.

I was Raoul de Chagny, Vicomte and prince among men. The world was at my fingertips!

But now I was within an inch of my life.

"Marry me, Christine," the Phantom bade her, " and I will spare the Vicomte's life."

"No!" I screamed. "Don't do it, Christine!"

She flew to my side and looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

I could not comfort her, so I turned my rage towards the monster. "What do you want from her? Lies?"

The Phantom cursed at me and dragged Christine away. As the room swam before my eyes, I could hear their voices arguing back and forth in a strange cacophony of fear, hatred, and love. The monster was demanding an answer from Christine, begging her to love him, and threatening her when she did not reply. At last Christine put forth her own impassioned query.

"How could you lie to me?" she cried, ripping the wedding veil from her head and casting it to the floor. "How could you play upon my father's memory? I thought you were a dream...Did you take me for a fool?"

"I was there when you needed someone!" he retorted. "Long before this popinjay appeared to take you away from me!"

I twisted about to try to find Christine's face. I saw her look at me, her eyes wide with terror. Then I heard her plead with him.

"Erik, please..."

"I dried your tears with my songs!" he thundered. "I gave you hope when there was none to be found. And now I ask the same of you, Christine Daae. What will your answer be? Yes or no?"

I struggled against the Punjab Lasso, trying to answer for her, but I could only manage one last gasp: "Christine...."

She didn't seem to see or hear me, for her gaze was held by the Phantom. She was moving towards him, frightened and yet assured at the same time.

"How can I ... show you what you mean to me?" she whispered to him.

And then, to my amazement, she put her hands on either side of his gruesome face and kissed him. I'm sure he was just as stunned as I was, for his body went rigid with shock and his hands seemed to tremble at his sides. We were both like drowning men, and Christine had chosen to save him. She embraced him over and over again, and kissed him with a passion I had never seen her display before.

I couldn't believe it. She had to be doing it to save my life, and yet the kiss lasted an eternity.

Why? What had passed between them? What was going on???

I couldn't speak. I could hardly breathe, and I prayed with all my might that the madness would come to an end.

At last she broke away from him, and they simply stared at each other, lost in some private moment that I did not wish to be a part of. Then he slowly made his way towards me.

He snatched a candle from its base, and held the burning flame to my face. I shook with fear, not knowing what he intended to do. Would he scar me, light me on fire? What?

A small sneer washed over his face but was just as quickly replaced by a look of remorse. Then he placed the flame to the rope that held me so secure, and burned away the last remnants of the Punjab Lasso. I collapsed into Christine's arms, grateful for her embrace.

I looked up at the monster, but he had turned his back on us.

"Take her," he said quietly. "Leave this place and never return."

I did not need to be told twice. I gathered Christine into my arms and pulled her away from the Phantom. I was not quite sure if it was my imagination or not, but she seemed to resist me slightly.

I steered her towards what I thought was the door to the bizarre abode. I was about to open it when Christine reached out to stop me. She laid her hand on my cheek and gently asked me to wait for a moment. I looked into her beautiful blue eyes, and like a foolish schoolboy, I obeyed her. I leaned against the door and tried to catch my breath.

She went back into the beast's drawing room, and I feared that she would not return. But I heard what sounded like a stifled sob, and when I looked up, I saw Christine hurrying towards me. She was as pale as a ghost, but my heart rejoiced. She had chosen me! She would leave the darkness with me, and I would take her to the city of light!

I grabbed her hand and led her towards a little boat that was moored near the place. I helped her into the boat and noticed for the first time that she seemed to move with a strange detachment.

"Darling, we're free!" I said fervently.

She gave a slight nod and echoed, "Free."

I rowed the boat onto the lake and for some foolish reason cast a glance back at the Phantom's home. I thought I caught a glimpse of him, stooping over Christine's discarded veil, weeping. The caverns were filled with his sobs, and I momentarily took pity on him. I whispered a prayer that the angry mob who was searching for the Opera Ghost would not find him.

I looked back to Christine and saw that she had wrapped her arms about herself. She was rocking back and forth, tears cascading down her cheeks. Her long, dark curls seemed to fall about her like a shroud.

"Don't worry," I said. "I'll get us out of here."

* Chapter 2 *