Pity Comes Too Late: Chapter One

Phantom of the Opera: Pity Comes Too Late

Chapter One: The Choice

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Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair. Down we plunge through the prison of my mind. Down that path into darkness deep as hell. . . ."

"This face which earned, a mothers fear and loathing. A mask. My first unfeeling scrap of clothing. Pity comes too late, turn around and face your fate, an eternity of this before your eyes. Join me, make the Music of the Night. . ."

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All of them had waited for this moment. Raoul, Madame Giry, Meg, Andre and Firmin. All had sat on the edges of their seats, wondering would the accursed Phantom attend. They had set up the trap perfectly. The cast was performing his composition Don Juan Triumphant, and they had called the police. Nothing was out of place. Now they only had to wait. . .

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Christine screamed as the rope tightened around Raoul's neck. He gasped and tried to loosen it, but the Phantom had caught him by surprise, and had the upper hand. Within seconds Raoul was unable to move; his hands tied up around his head.

The Phantom turned to her, "Start a new life with me and you buy his freedom with your love. Refuse me and you send your lover to his death. This is your choice. This is the Point of no Return Christine."

"Please. . . . Don't do this." Christine begged, "Please."

"It's too late for prayers and useless pity. Make your choice. Do you spend your days with me? Or do you send him to his grave?" The Phantom asked impatiently.

Christine sobbed, looking from her beloved Raoul to the man she had once called her Angel of Music. This was impossible. How could she choose? Who would she choose?

"Christine my patience grows thin." The Phantom warned, tugging on the rope. Raoul gasped as he did so, and coughed trying to breath.

"If I let Raoul die, there is no life for me," Christine reasoned. "But if I stay with my Angel I loose him anyway. . ."

"Christine don't give your life away for my sake," Raoul said in-between more gasps. "Please don't give in to him! That's just what he wants!"

"Indeed that is what I want, Vicomte. Who wouldn't what is rightfully theirs?" The Phantom spoke calmly, though his eyes showed fierce determination.

Christine walked down to the waters edge. She slowly said the words that she had been dreading. "Alright my Angel. . . I will go with you."

"No! Christine! No!" Raoul yelled struggling against his bonds trying to free himself. "No!"

The Phantom looked at her with unwavering eyes, "Promise you will stay with me and be my wife."

"I promise."

The Phantom turned to Raoul drawing back his fist and hit the struggling Vicomte. He stopped moving as the fist came in contact with his jaw. His head sagged and blood began to dribble from the corner of his mouth.

"Raoul," Christine cried running forward towards him. But just before she made it to him the Phantom grabbed her arm.

"Let me go!" She said in frustration.

"He is fine Christine, merely unconscious." The Phantom said wearily.

"Why would you do that? I agreed to go with you!"

"He must not see the way we exit. Don't worry about him, I'm sure those meddling police will be down shortly and they will find him."

Christine looked into his large bright eyes and although she hated him for what he had done she couldn't deny that she still loved him and cherished him as her Angel of Music.

"Come," he said briskly pulling her in the direction of his many mirrors. "We must go."

Christine looked back at her fiance one last time while the Phantom stepped in front of a beautiful full length mirror.

"Are you ready," he asked without looking at her.

"Yes," she whispered knowing that he would hear.

He nodded and tapped the glass, making it shatter. In the place where the mirror had once been, there lay a secret passageway.

The Phantom took Christine's hand and pulled her through it. And once they were inside, a black curtain slid over the entrance and they were enveloped in darkness.

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