The Point of No Return- COMPLETE

Chapter One


The winding tunnels deep in the belly of the Opera Populaire seemed to go on for miles. Christine clutched Erik’s cloak around her tighter as she pressed herself against his back as she held onto his hand. Then they began their trek upwards as if coming up from the canals. Where the water ran freely from the lair, the passage that Erik was leading them down was nothing but cold stone walkways. The coldness from the stones seeped out all around them. She couldn’t hold back the shiver, as she pressed closer to Erik.

Pulling her closer to him, Erik wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. “Do not worry. Not much farther.” He whispered to her in his deep soothing voice. He rubbed her back for warmth as he held the torch away from them as it lit their way. He tried to protect Christine from the cold as best he could. He silently cursed himself for not grabbing any other clothing for her. She still wore the wedding dress that he purchased for her so long ago. His eyes moved over the stained and soggy gown as inwardly he cringed. He would make it up to her.

“I am fine, really.” Christine tried to tell him. However, the trembling gave her lie away. She couldn’t shake the cold that ate away at her.

Suddenly Erik stopped. “We are here.”

Christine looked around, confused. “Here?” She looked around and the only thing she could see was a large stone wall in front of her. “There is nothing here.” She whispered, her voice sounding louder in the empty tunnel.

He gave her a small smile as he began to run his fingers over the stones in front of him. It had been a long time since he had been to this part of the opera house. His eyes darted over to look at the woman beside him. Not since a young orphan girl came to the opera house. When Madame Giry brought Christine to the opera, he knew then that his life would change. Becoming her tutor gave him a ray of hope. It gave some meaning to his life. He knew then that she had a special place in his heart. It was then he moved from this place of refuge to his lair. He waited and prepared for the day his Christine would be ready for him.

“What are you doing?” She asked him in wonder. Christine watched as he slid his fingers along one of the ridges of the stones. She immediately was pushed back as the wall before them began to open. She let out a small gasp as a dark entrance way made its appearance. A rush of cold air hit them as they both stepped back to let the door open fully. “Where are we?”

“My first home at the opera. We will be safe here. No one but Madame Giry knows of this place. Even then it was such a long time since I have been here, she might not remember.” Erik reached and pulled Christine closer to him. “Come we have little time. I doubt they will find this tunnel but I refuse to take chances with you.” He took a step in the entryway, the torch their only means of light.

Christine followed him nervously. She lifted her dress to climb a set of stone stairs. She smiled as she felt his hand reach back to help her. Going very carefully, she followed him up the stairs. She felt him pause as he lit the torches that hung on the wall on either side of them. Instantly the path in front of her was revealed to her.

“Welcome to my first safe haven.” Erik took her hand and escorted her up the last step. “Now it shall be ours.”

“What is this place?” She looked around in wonder. She watched as Erik walked around the room, lighting the candles that were scattered about. As the candles were lit, the more she could see. Her eyes scoped over the room in front of them. It was a good-sized room but not close to the size of the lair. The walls were made of the same stone that made up the stairs. Only heavy dark tapestries hung over the cold stone, as if trying to keep out the cold. Along the far wall lay a huge plush rug, faded and worn by time. Large faded and stained satin pillows surrounded it. From the looks of them, they looked to be old forgotten props of the opera house. An old carriage fur robe lay crumpled up near the pillows. The rest of the room was cluttered with large objects covered by cloths as if to help protect them from the dust and age of the room.

“This used to be the room where they kept the props when the opera house first opened. I was told as the opera grew in reputation, a bigger room was needed. This room was sealed off. Our mutual friend Madame Giry brought me here as a means of escape by way of the tunnels. It is here I hid here away from the world.” Erik turned around to look at her. He raised his hand and gently brushed his knuckles over the soft skin of her cheek. “Until you came into my life. Then I moved into my lair.”

Christine heard the pain in his words. She reached up, hesitating for the briefest moment before she pushed his dark hair away from his face. “Then we shall stay here until it is safe to return.” Her voice wavered with a mixture of weariness and cold.

Erik looked down into her eyes. He was taken aback by the strong emotions he saw in the dark orbs. He could feel the roar of the beast deep inside of him. The mere thought that she had come back for him had him at a loss for words. Several moments passed as he stared down at her before he spoke. “You are cold.” He ran his large hands over the cloak, trying to take the chill from her.

She found herself shaking, but even she couldn’t tell if it was from the cold or from being so close to him. The events of the evening were finally sinking in and Christine was overwhelmed by it all. She found herself reaching out for him as a support. “When do you think it will be safe to return?”

Seeing her shake, Erik wrapped his strong arms around her as he brought her close to his chest. It was then he discovered that he too was shaking. However, he knew that he wasn’t cold. He was scared. For so many years he had watched her hidden in the shadows. He had taught her to use her voice. Along the way he had fell in love with her. However, to have her here with him now still felt like a dream. For the first time he didn’t know what to do. “I do not know. I think once they discover they cannot find us, all will be well.”

“The opera house is in ruins.” Christine replied sadly as she hung her head. This had been her home for so many years; it broke her heart to see it crumbling down around her. She then felt rough fingers under her chin, lifting it.

Erik looked deep into her eyes as he whispered. “Trust me my angel. You will sing again in the Opera Populaire. I will make sure of that.”

The endearment he bestowed on her sent tiny shockwaves through her body. Yet it was his words that had her curiosity peaked. “What do you mean by that?” She tilted her head to the side. “The opera is ruined.”

Erik only smiled mysteriously as he took both of her hands and rubbed them between his own larger hands. “Come we must get you warm. I am sure that there is something in here that we can use.” He turned away from her to lift a cover off an old trunk. “If I remember there were some old costumes stored here.”

“What about you?” Christine dared to ask. She could see the his shirt was still wet from the battle in the water. She couldn’t be the only one who was cold. She walked up behind him slowly and put her palm against his broad back.

Erik fought a hiss the moment her hand touched him. Her touch was his greatest pleasure and pain all mixed up into one. “I am fine. I have my cloak.” He began to rummage through the now open trunk. Most of the costumes were elaborate from the early days of the opera. Then he spotted a speck of white near the bottom. He reached for it and tugged on it. Out of the bottom came a well worn long chemise. “Here this should do for now.”

Christine reached out for the chemise and as she grabbed it, their fingers touched. A spark went right through her and she looked up at Erik. His green eyes stared back at her with an intensity that had goose bumps breaking out all over her body. She swallowed hard as she watched the heavy rise and fall of his chest with every breath he took. “Thank you.” She found she could barely speak above a whisper.

He felt her brush against him as she walked towards the back of the room. He yearned to reach out to pull her against him. However, there was too much that lay unsaid between them. As he turned his head to look at her, it hit him. It was as if he were seeing her for the first time. The same exuberance he felt the night after her debut performance was now running rampant through him. Yet the cold dark fear that he could lose her again haunted him. Running his fingers through his hair, he shuddered. What kind of world had he brought her into? Was it wrong to want her love this much?

* * * * * *

Christine hung the soiled gown over the screen as she walked around it. In the back of the room, she had found an old changing screen and made the best out of it. Behind the screen lay her corset, now removed, along with the petticoat that she had been wearing. The only thing she wore now was the long cotton chemise that Erik had found for her. The faded chemise came down to just above her ankles. It had a low rounded neckline that strained across her chest. The sleeves were minimum, coming just down over her shoulders. Yet it was dry, which was an improvement over the gown.

Walking out from behind the screen at first, she didn’t see Erik. A panic began to rise in her throat. Some of the candles had burned down to give the room a faint glow, handicapping her view. Hearing a noise, she turned her head. A wave of relief washed over her as she found Erik sitting with his back to her as he rifled through another trunk. She took a silent step forward and that is when she saw that he had taken off his shirt and hung it over a broken chair that he sat in. Her eyes took in the sight before her. She found she couldn’t take her eyes from the bare broad back that faced her. As he moved, she could see the way his muscles rippled under his skin.

Nearing him, a hint of a smile played along her lips. This was the man that used to sing her to sleep during the troubled times after her father’s death. Being in a new environment had frightened her as a child. That soothing voice came out of the darkness and helped her through. Her teacher, her Angel of Music.

Going through the trunk, Erik was amazed that his meager belongings still could be here. He remember stashing them here for safekeeping. He found a worn leather satchel and begun to open it when he felt her. The instant that she laid a palm on his bare skin, he turned his head to look at her. The shy smile that greeted him warmed his heart. His eyes traveled along her body, noticing how the chemise seemed to hug her body. “You look tired, Christine.” He found he couldn’t get enough of saying her name. It was such a beautiful name. To others it might be just a name, but to him it was a mantra, a prayer.

“What is that?” She asked, nodding towards the satchel in his hands. She kept a hand on his shoulder, her thumb brushing along the muscles.

“This was all I had when I came here. Madame Giry discovered that the gypsies who I had escaped from had wanted no remembrance of my kind. She found this left behind after they had moved on. She brought it to me.” Erik answered her as he opened the satchel. His fingers brushed against cold metal. Bringing his hand out of the leather, a chain was wrapped around his fingers. Sucking in his breath he stared at his hand. The chain was made of delicate silver and a silver cross dangled from it.

“That is beautiful.” Christine breathed.

“It was my mother’s.” Erik replied flatly. “The day she-“ A grimace spread across his face. “The last day I saw her, she slipped this around my neck as she whispered, ‘God be with you’. Even then she was trying to absolve herself of her sins.”

Christine swallowed hard as she saw his green eyes fill with unshed tears. “Erik, will you tell me your story?” She turned his head and held it in her hands. Her thumbs brushed away the tears that spilled over onto his cheeks.

Looking up at his beacon of light, Erik gave her a sad smile. “Some day I promise. But not tonight.” He stood up, towering over her. He took the chain in his hands and unclasped it. Leaning forward he slid the chain around her delicate neck and clasped it. “I want you to wear this for me.”

Christine felt the cold metal lying against her breasts. She looked up to find Erik smiling down at her. “It’s beautiful.” She stood on her tiptoes, lightly brushing her lips against his. She felt his arms go around her, pulling him to his chest in a tight embrace. She laid her head upon his heart, smiling as she heard the heavy beats against her ear.

“Come you must sleep.” Erik pulled back to look at her.

“Will you sing to me?” Christine asked hesitantly.

He stared at her in wonder as he sucked in his breath. “You remember?”

She nodded as she smiled. “I remember everything.”

Without warning, Erik swept her up into his arms, cradling her against him. “Yes I will sing to you tonight. With my voice I will chase away the nightmares once again.”