PtPoNR (Act II) - [Kat, Gino]

[hbghost]

Past the Point of No Return
Act Two:
Angel of Music

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

Through the wind and rain.

Through the thunder and lightning.

Through the massive crowds and nighttime traffic.

Eric persisted, and his grip on Kat's wrist never ceased to tighten. It seemed that the more she protested, the tighter he held onto her as if she would fly off any moment. He just could not risk it.

He couldn't risk her getting away. And possibly into danger.

Of course, the police had better things to do than to investigate a potential case like this, and even if they did not, something shielded him from mortal sight. Something made him invisible - only a voice and an ethereal figure dragging his lover though the streets to his twisted version of safety.


Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair!
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as hell!

That voice. It taunted them as they entered Baum, barely missing a strike of lightning several feet away that had hit a large tree near the doors. A large branch of said tree had fallen off its perch and had landed near the main steps, proceeding to block the entrance a little. But it wasn't impossible to overcome, unfortunately for Eric.

Both of them were soaking wet by the time they had ascended the stairs to the Baum dormitories. Surprisingly, Eric had not gotten tired until he had flung Kat into his dorm and slammed the door (which had echoed throughout the hallway, among various other sounds the escapade had created in the Baum corridors). He panted as he blocked the door with his body, but soon locked it securely and walked over to his bed, where he had tossed Kat.

Once he had settled down, Eric sat next to her, offering to dust her off.

"... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all that... but... I want to keep you safe. Safe from all danger. The danger that... is out there. I don't want you hurt, so I want you with someone who you can trust, and someone who can protect you with his life. In other words..."

He was interrupted by a large crack of thunder and a flash of lightning bigger than any he had ever seen before. It illuminated the whole school for a moment, and then all of the light vanished, leaving the room in complete darkness.

For some odd reason, not even the battery-powered lights would work, much less the electric lights.

"What was that?" Eric whispered, cautiously searching the room for any palpable source of the problem at hand.

Suddenly, a voice boomed out and echoed throughout the whole room. It would send chills down Kat's spine and it would make Eric cry out in pain as his face deformed even further...

Insolent boy! This slave of fashion!
Basking in your glory!
Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor!
Sharing in my triumph!

``NOTES! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's ERIK!
``STATUS! Complete!
``MUSE! omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg
``TAG! KAT and GINO
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT!
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

The rain was horrible. It was getting in her eyes and drenching her hair, turning her curls into nothing more than a soaking wet, dripping sheet of black hair. Her red dress now looked darker, more like a burgundy color as the water soaked through it, making it cling to her figure. Her mascara and eyeliner were, thankfully, waterproof, for some unknown reason, not that Kat really cared anymore. She was being dragged somewhere, against her will. It wasn't exactly an ideal situation no matter how you looked at it, running mascara or not.

Katheryn was in trouble.

She screamed a little, using the hand she had free to cover her head as lightning struck the tree nearby, but she was tugged through the front door of the dorm building just before a large branch crashed down to partly block it. Near death experience.

Now, shaking from fear and shivering, Kat was being pulled blindly down the halls and into Eric's dorm room, a song seeming to narrate, to turn this nightmare into a musical. Dungeon? That sounded ominous, for sure. Kat squealed a little as she was suddenly flung into Eric's dorm, and she fell, thankfully, into his bed rather than into a desk or a wall or something hard. She was still shivering as she turned, gasping for breath, to look at Eric, his back pressed against the door before he locked it.

Kat scrambled back, putting a little bit of distance between herself and Eric as he came to sit next to her on the bed, apologizing and explaining. His explanation was nuts, but that was to be expected, since he'd just kidnapped her. There was no rational explanation for kidnapping. She shook her head, "So you think, to keep me safe, that you have to kidnap me?!" Her teeth chattered a little as she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself to try and warm back up.

She shrieked then as lightning flashed and the lights went out. Still shivering, she pulled herself off of the bed when the lights went out, crawling into the corner, where she curled into a ball. This was not good. She tucked herself even tighter into a ball when Eric cried out, and the voice came. If she wasn't terrified before, she certainly was now, and she started mumbling into her knees, "Oh my god, oh my god.... Eric, please be okay. This is not normal. oh my god, oh my god..."

- - - -outfit

[hbghost]

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

"So you think, to keep me safe, that you have to kidnap me?!"

Eric looked up, momentarily freed from his merciless pain.

"I had to," he breathed (although it seemed more like he was whimpering, the way the pain had still lingered slightly). "You wouldn't listen either way. I... I couldn't let you go."

The pain then returned, forcing Eric to his knees and on the ground, clutching and hiding his face from Kat, in fear of her seeing what had then become of him.

"It was only because... because..." Eric attempted to continue, but then something came over him. A moment of numbness, of no pain whatsoever. Only the newly found deformities still stung him, and even then, the pain was not as bad as before. "It is because... destiny has chained you to me."

Wait, what?

Eric then collapsed on the ground in stronger pain than before. He yelled, screamed, cried, while tears of pain and humiliation ran down his face. This wasn't happening. This couldn't happen.

It was the Voice...

"Who are you?!" Eric exclaimed, slowly standing up but still clutching his face. He quickly searched the room for any source of the odd voice, the demon who was probably causing this.

Don't be afraid, Christine, the voice had simply replied. You're in no danger...

"Christine...?" Eric murmured to himself, raising an eyebrow as he tried to think of where he had heard the name before. It wasn't something he would just find on the tip of his tongue.

``NOTES! crap I forgot it was Zelda's turn...
``STATUS! Complete =/
``MUSE! Carol of the Bells by TSO
``TAG! Kat and Gino
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT!
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0

[raoul]

"KAT!"

So this was not how he had planned on spending his evening, pounding through the mud and over the asphalt and concrete in the haze of rain and a possible concussion. Giovanni could barely focus, let alone stay upright, and now his party clothes were entirely soaked through and ruined. Normally, this would have concerned him a great deal more, but right now, his mind was centered on something else entirely.

Kat is missing. Kat is gone. Kat has been kidnapped. I have to find her. I have to find her!

But where was he to look?

He was not trying to make out street signs at this point in his journey - not that he would have been able to, anyway - so he hadn't the slightest idea where he was; in his grogginess, he couldn't even make out significant landmarks. But it didn't matter. Gino wiped the rain out of his eyes and ran on.

I have to find her...

'Well, my boy, you are most certainly never going to find her THIS way.'

That voice again. Now it was very close to him, as he looked up with bleary eyes, a flash of lightning illuminated the silhouette of...a man?

"Who are you?" he mumbled, finding that his teeth were chattering.

'Follow me.' The voice was commanding, and Gino, as exhausted and wet and injured as he was, had no choice but to follow it. He had to be delusional. Maybe he really did have a concussion, and it was making him hallucinate. He'd get that Eric bastard...

'This way, please.' There was an unusual note of refinement in the voice that drew him along, and he followed it blindly, bumping into people and things in the street and unable to differentiate between the two (he ended up apologizing to a stop sign). He stumbled on like this for what felt like hours, tripping over his own feet, the voice summoning him here, guiding him there...occasionally, he thought he felt the light touch of someone catching him or moving him in the right direction, but the rain was pouring down too hard to tell.

At last, soaking wet and panting, he reached the dorms.

He was certain he was waking someone up as he stumbled blindly down the halls, running into walls, but he didn't care; at last, he wiped the rain from his eyes, and just as soon as he thought that perhaps he could find the dorm on his own...

...the lights went out.

"Shit," he hissed, then drew up the last of the breath in his body and screamed, "KAT! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

Bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. This was all very, very bad. Eric was in pain, Kat was locked in his dorm room, and Gino was probably dying. All of it was just one big mess. And the lights were out. That just added to the problems. Oh, and now there was a voice that was calling her Christine. And oddly enough, it seemed to fit her. Like she actually was Christine. At least, the voice in her head responded to Christine.

'Well, at least he's not trying to hang Raoul this time or anything.... Speak of which.... What ever happened to that Gino kid? Oh, I'm Christine, by the way. Just so you know. Not that it matters. There are more important things at the moment- focus on the angel of music. He's important.'

Kat knew she had to be crazy then. "I'm dreaming. This must all be one bad dream...." She closed her eyes then opened them, hoping to see the darkness cleared and find out that she'd fallen asleep outside or something, but the darkness persisted, and Eric was still there. And that voice.

And then a song popped into her head, sung by miss Christine. Maybe Kat had Schizophrenia or something? She would need to go to a doctor after this....

'You have brought me
to that moment when words run dry...
To that moment when speech disappears into silence...
Silence... '

Point of no return? That was bad. Kat did not want to be at the point of no return, let alone past it. She wanted to return, to go back to Gino. But she couldn't now. She was stuck in the dorm room.

....Until she heard something. It sounded like Gino. And it was calling her name. Kat blinked a little biting her lip before she finally called back, "Gino! I'm here! Help!"

And then she could only hope that it wouldn't make Eric mad.
- - - -outfit

[hbghost]

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

"KAT! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"Gino! I'm here! Help!"

"Crap!" Eric suddenly exclaimed, but somehow, the lock on the door clicked all on its own. It was only the supernatural force present in the room that controlled everything that was happening at that moment.

I think we have a guest, the voice hissed, but I think he can wait. For now, let's get down to business...

"Who are you?!" Eric repeated, pressing his mask on his face to contain the grotesque transformation. "What do you want of us?"

The voice chuckled darkly. First, you have to see who YOU are. Look at your face in the mirror, my boy,

Eric obeyed, walking over to the dresser mirror and slowly removing his hand from his face, letting the mask dangle a few degrees loose. He examined his eyes, nose, and lips, along with his own head shape, ears, and eyebrows (or at least the one that was showing. He was about to question the point of this small activity when the voice piped up again.

And then... look at... ME!

The most hideous, grotesque face appeared in the mirror, glaring at Eric and Kat. Its body soon followed in materialization, and in the odd man's hand, he held a red mask, similar to what Eric had on his face only larger. As the man placed the mask back on his face, Eric became petrified. Was this really happening? Was it?

It's true, he hissed, his long cape fluttering across the ground on the other side of the mirror as if to prove what they were seeing was not just a mere image. I am not an angel, a spirit, or a ghost. I... am ERIK. At that moment, the boom of thunder echoed through the room and lightning flashed outside the window.

At that moment, Eric did what he had been taught to do when faced with a captive situation such as this.

He screamed.

Like a little girl.

``NOTES! xDDDDDDDDDDDD ERIC
``STATUS! Complete~
``MUSE! ERIK
``TAG! Kat and Gino
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT!
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0

[raoul]

"Gino! I'm here! Help!"

She was there she was there he had to focus his mind so that he could get to where she was. Focus, Gino. Focus. You can...do this...ow.

His shoulder slammed into a wall.

The voice guiding him sighed heavily. 'Imbecile boy. It is your fault for being struck in the first place, Giovanni.'

"Shut up, whoever the hell you are," he snarled. "I don't need your advice. I can get along just fine on my own."

'Of course, young master, because you have certainly made a fine display of THAT over the past hour.'

"Be quiet. I can only hear you because I have a concussion or something and it's messing with my head. As soon as I recover, you will go away," Giovanni mumbled to himself, following the sound of Kat's voice down a hallway. "I must be almost there..."

'Let me guide you. I know the way.'

"Who ARE you?" Gino hissed, but the voice didn't answer; if anything, it faded out and became quieter as a piercing scream rang out, almost hurting Gino's ears. It sounded like it might be that Eric kid...ERIC!

"KAT!" he screamed, and flew at the door from which the scream had sounded.

Locked. Shit.

"LET ME IN!" he yelled, beating his fists against the wood. "Let me in or I'll break the door down! KAT!"

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

Kat shook her head, this was not good. What was wrong with Eric? This was really.... not normal. Even for him. Then, he screamed. That made Kat jump, and when she looked up, she saw the face, and she screamed. She screamed at a decibel she would formerly have thought inhuman.

At that, she covered her head, curling into a soaking, sopping wet ball of trembling clothing. She wanted to go home. That was all she wanted to do. She wanted to forget about this whole night, she wanted to pretend it hadn't happened. She wanted Gino to save her.

She flinched when suddenly there was a bang, someone hitting the door. She reluctantly looked up, but when she heard her name being called, heard Gino, she about started crying in relief, even though she was still locked in the room with Eric and Gino was stuck outside, "Gino!" She bit her lip then as she started to crawl to the door, hoping she wouldn't be intercepted. She blinked to try and keep herself from crying as she left a trail of water from her dripping hair and dress. She just wanted to get out.

She was so close that she could almost reach the handle, she could almost unlock it. She was so close to her freedom, from safety that was being offered by Gino. She realized something then- Gino was hurt. She didn't want him getting any more injuries. This was just all really bad. She didn't have much of a choice though- she had to go out the door. So, she reached for the lock, fumbling in the dark to try and turn it.

- - - -outfit

[hbghost]

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

The pain had stopped. Eric's face had finished transforming, but nonetheless, he lay on the ground, curled up in a ball. If Kat was crying, then Eric was crying TWICE as hard. Yes, twice. First of all, his face hurt. Really bad. Second, there was this extremely creepy guy in the room, and Eric didn't know how to get him out. And overall, this was scary. SCARY. This was an extremely bad nightmare that he just couldn't wake up from.

"KAT!"

"Gino!"

Every time Kat attempted to touch the doorknob or the lock, she would immediately receive a brief electric shock, a small spark coming from the door.

Not so fast, my dear, Erik hissed, stepping out of the mirror like the glass was simply air and standing on top of the dresser. Why must you leave so soon? The main attraction's yet to come!

Eric continued to sob softly as Erik continued.

Stand up, Eric, stand up! Let our guest see the true you who has been buried in your soul for an entire seventeen years! Go on! Go on!

Eric groaned as he slowly stood up, and with a graceful bound, Erik jumped off the dresser and stood right in front of Eric, before ripping the pitiful mask off his face and throwing it to the ground.

Here, Katheryn is your king of fools!

``NOTES! Anyone catch the HoND reference?
``STATUS! Complete~
``MUSE! Carol of the Bells - TSO
``TAG! Kat and Gino~
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT!
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0

[raoul]

'You cannot let this happen. Unacceptable. What on earth is wrong with you, boy? Fight for her! Get in there and fight for her like a MAN! Do you not love her?!'

"Love" was a bit strong yet for what he had for Kat, in Gino's mind, but...he cared. He cared deeply. Deeply enough that he knew his feelings were something that wanted to be love. And like hell was he going to let this freak do any harm to Katheryn. LIKE. HELL.

"I KNOW I CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN," he screamed at the voice, and he felt a firm hand on his shoulder retract itself. "Do you think I don't KNOW the situation?! I ran all the way here in the RAIN with a CONCUSSION. I KNOW what's going on, and I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP. YOU AREN'T REAL."

'Oh, yes, I am real, Giovanni.'

"I'm hallucinating. Leave me alone."

'You are not hallucinating. However, you should definitely get your head examined for injury once this is over.'

"No shit." Gino gritted his teeth.

Suddenly, he heard a cry of pain from the other side of the door, one that sounded suspiciously like Kat, and he felt pure, unadulterated rage and adrenalin clear all other thoughts from his mind besides save Katheryn. "KAT!" he screamed again, and threw himself at the door, slamming his shoulder against the wood. It didn't budge. Gino snarled, leapt back, and rammed it again, then kicked it, rammed it, until...

A satisfying splintering sound met his ears, and with a victorious grin, Gino kicked in the door to the dorm room.

"Kat, where are you?!"

Simultaneously, though he did not see it, he felt the gentleman pervading his thoughts enter with him and smile darkly at...something...on the other side of the room. 'We meet again, Erik.'

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

As she reached for the handle, she pulled herself a little bit closer, only to receive a strong electrical shock to her fingertip upon touching the metal handle. Kat yelped in pain, wrenching her hand back, as she pulled herself back away from the door, pausing a short distance away as she heard Gino yell her name, and she turned back, still crouched down low to avoid being seen, though all of her yelling had pretty much defeated the purpose of remaining hidden, "Gino!"

She turned then to see Erik step forward, and she immediately turned her gaze away, hiding her head in her hands as she pressed her back against the wall, her knees pulled to her chest. She looked up then as the voice in her head spoke up, 'Ah, Erik, why can't you let us go?' Kat didn't understand it, but she turned her attention suddenly to the door when she heard a splintering sound- the door giving way under Gino's assault on it. She covered her head with her arms then, squealing a little bit as the door burst open, showering splinters of wood into the air just inside the door.

As he yelled her name, asking where she was, she finally uncurled from her ball, "I-I'm here! Gino, I'm here!" She just wanted to be anywhere but there at the moment, though. She was trembling, both with cold from her wet dress and hair clinging to her, and also from fear. She didn't understand what was happening, at all, and the voice in her head certainly wasn't helping. Especially since she was getting far more vocal now.

Christine stepped up as Gino entered the room, but her attention was focused elsewhere, 'Raoul!' She dared not run to him, mostly because she feared that Erik might harm him if she did. It really just wasn't an ideal situation. Still, at least she wasn't hiding in the back of Katheryn's mind now. Speak of which, she turned back to Kat, 'Get up, Get up, Get up. You have an important role to play.' She sighed in frustration when Kat remained where she was, and Christine shook her head, 'Well, I have fantastic taste, don't I? Don't you want to help Gino? After all, he came all of this way to save you. Don't you love him?'

Kat bit her lip a little, love him? Not particularly. Not yet. They hadn't known each other for that long, and their relationship had been anything but a close one for that time. She cared for him deeply, but she wasn't sure she loved him yet. That sort of thing took time. Longer than the one evening they had spent together, however short that may have been.

- - - -outfit

[hbghost]

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

'We meet again, Erik.'

Erik chuckled and threw Eric, who proceeded to curl up into a ball and whimper, to the ground.

Well, if it isn't my old friend, Raoul. How have you been after all of this time? Certainly not planning a visit from your old friend Erik, were you? he smoothly stated to Giovanni, before raising an eyebrow. I hear you, but I do not see you. Are you using my own trick against me, or are you simply a coward, using mere pawns to attack... as am I? Oh, you, Raoul, trying to stoop down to my level... You're looking pretty miserable at it, if I do say so myself. Me... well, I would be effortlessly flinging around that waste of space you call Eric to my own pleasing, but I just couldn't be trapped within his mind any longer. His... He shuddered, puerile mind.

'Ah, Erik, why can't you let us go?'

Erik tutted.

Oh, Christine, if only you knew. This story was so wonderful to me that I just HAD to see it again... but since the events of the first time were complete, I brought it upon myself to arrange for the exact same thing to happen again. Clever of me, no? However, if only someone would be a little more cooperative... He glared at Eric, who tried to scurry under the bed to hide, then maybe this story would have ended differently.

Erik smiled as Christine revealed herself.

There, now... you needn't look so frightened. I'm not going to hurt you unless your LOVER strikes first... You know I have good intentions for you, Christine... Erik cooed to her, approaching her and attempting to stroke her face.

Under the bed, Eric thought long and hard about the situation at hand, trying to put two and two together in the sense of what was going on.

"Wait a minute... Erik... Christine... Hmm... Wait... RAOUL!" he exclaimed, crawling out from under the bed and making his way across the room, only to be stopped by Erik.

Yes... Yes, you remember! You finally remember! Erik triumphantly pulled Eric to his feet, showing him off. You see? It turns out he's not a total waste of-

"What are you talking about?" Eric suddenly asked, which made Erik do a double-take.

The Phantom paused for a moment, before asking in reply, What are YOU talking about?

Eric then pulled away and raced to a pile of clutter that had materialized throughout the chaos, and pulled out what he was looking for.

"The bunny. I wanted to make sure the bunny was okay," Eric explained, holding his rabbit up for everyone to see. "His name's Raoul~ Want to pet him?"

Erik was, for once, speechless. His jaw hung, and when he finally got his voice back, his sentences weren't exactly coherent.

But... You don't... They... You don't see... Us... We... You named the RABBIT Raoul? Wh... What? What? WHAT. Us, and... And you, and... the RABBIT? Erik huffed, before turning around and, after approaching the nearest wall, the Phantom of the Opera began beating his own head into it, before letting it rest. Raoul... wherever you are... please hit me with something very hard, so that it hurts and is painful. You win this time, Raoul, but... please, just... put me out of my own misery... PLEASE, or so help me, I will do it myself. Anything to possibly get a better host than...

Eric cuddled Raoul, before looking over at Erik, confused.

"... What'd I do?"

``NOTES! ERIC AND RAOUL FOREVER.
``STATUS! OVERDUE
``MUSE! GROWING BETTER
``TAG! KAT AND GINO
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT!
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0

[raoul]

Well, if it isn't my old friend, Raoul. How have you been after all of this time? Certainly not planning a visit from your old friend Erik, were you?

What the HELL. What...what...who was even...what the hell?! Giovanni stared at Erik in horror for a moment before he felt that hand return to his shoulder.

I hear you, but I do not see you. Are you using my own trick against me, or are you simply a coward, using mere pawns to attack... as am I? Oh, you, Raoul, trying to stoop down to my level... You're looking pretty miserable at it, if I do say so myself. Me... well, I would be effortlessly flinging around that waste of space you call Eric to my own pleasing, but I just couldn't be trapped within his mind any longer. His...puerile mind.

And at that moment, Giovanni looked up in shock as the presence that had been lingering near him materialized, and a Parisian gentleman stepped into the room, his chin held high and defiant.

"On the contrary, Erik," Raoul said firmly, glancing at Kat and then back at Erik, ignoring Eric. "I need not use any pawns when confronting you; I am perfectly capable of dealing with you on my own." A slight smile graced his face. "My condolences for your unhappy imprisonment all this time, though one could argue it is not undeserved."

"Wh...who are you?!" Gino practically screamed, staring at the man at his side with wide eyes.

"My name is Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. That...night terror over there is Erik, the Opera Ghost." Raoul attempted a gracious smile; he could tell the boy was more than a little confused.

"B...bu..buh..."

"I wouldn't consider it too deeply at the moment, Monsieur. Everything will be explained in time." Raoul drew a shining saber from the sheath at his side and pointed it steadily at Erik. "But right now," he said, his eyes narrowing, "we have a fair lady to save."

"I-I'm here! Gino, I'm here!"

Gino's eyes snapped to Kat, and, leaving Raoul's side, he ran to her. "OhGodKatareyouokay? Pleasetellmeyou'reokay. Didhehurtyou? I'llkillhimIsweartoGod..." He was frantic, but he didn't know what to do, either, so he just fretted by her side until she answered a few of his rushed questions.

Raoul, meanwhile, could not help but smile widely as Christine appeared to him. "Christine..." he said, almost breathlessly, though he resisted running to her for the time being. "Oh, thank God..."

"There, now... you needn't look so frightened. I'm not going to hurt you unless your LOVER strikes first... You know I have good intentions for you, Christine..."

"Don't you touch her," Raoul snarled, only to be interrupted by the boy crying his name - or what he thought was his name - and returning with a...rabbit?

Erik's reincarnation named his rabbit after...him?

Raoul looked momentarily confused, glancing between the Phantom and Eric as he tried to assess what he was supposed to do.

[KATHERYN JACOBS]

This was not normal. None of this was. As Christine materialized, Kat gasped, shaking her head in shock. A woman, dressed it a ball gown, with a big hooped skirt and all, had just appeared. Out of nowhere. Or even worse, not from nowhere. From her mind. People didn't just appear. Especially not people dressed like the woman who was named Christine, or the Debonair gentleman named Raoul, or the crazy mastermind of this whole kidnap, Erik. Suddenly it clicked, however, making Kat shake her head in surprise. Still terrified as she was, though, she wasn't going to say anything about it.

When Gino was suddenly at her side, Kat didn't answer any of his rushed questions, she just wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself in close to him as she buried her face in his shirt, not really caring that her drenched dress was probably getting his clothes wet. Or rather, it would have, had he not already been soaked from chasing after them. She shook her head slightly as she gave a choked sob, "N-no... He didn't hurt me...." That didn't necessarily mean she was alright, though. Far from it. She needed to be far from that room if she was going to be alright.

Meanwhile, Christine smiled, almost running to Raoul as he said her name, apparently relieved to see her. She took a couple steps, breathing a sigh of relief, "Raoul...." At Erik's threat, she stopped, looking first to Raoul as he threatened Erik, and then to Erik as she spoke, "If you touch him, I swear to you..." She left it hanging in the air, not sure how to properly voice her thoughts. She would do anything to keep Raoul safe.

She turned then to see why Raoul had gotten quiet, and saw the boy holding a rabbit. Named after Raoul? Quaint. And unusual... She shook her head turning back to face her Raoul, her fiance, taking a few more steps toward him, testing to see what Erik would do.

- - - -outfit

[hbghost]

IF WE RUN THIS LIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LIFE
no one will care at all

w e c a n b u r n i t a n d l e a v e
FOR WE ARE THE BEAUTIFUL THEIVES
a n d n o o n e s u s p e c t s a t a l l

Well, this was a very awkward situation for Erik. Nevertheless, the Phantom of the Opera attempted to redeem himself.

"On the contrary, Erik, I need not use any pawns when confronting you; I am perfectly capable of dealing with you on my own."

Erik smirked.

That's better... now, I can see the look on your face when Christine ends up with ME... and not her incredibly handsome prince charming. You see, I like that ending to the story better than the one before... so let's twist the ending a bit, shall we? Erik attempted to look as threatening as possible.

"My condolences for your unhappy imprisonment all this time, though one could argue it is not undeserved."

Erik frowned.

Not undeserved? Oh, if only you had spent eighteen years helpless inside the mind of this dimwit, then you yourself would see that this is a cruel punishment for even the most vile of men! the Phantom whined, slumping. Not undeserved, indeed... I would gladly trade any day... Your boy doesn't seem very bright, either, but at least he's not... awkward... Erik shuddered again.

"My name is Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny. That...night terror over there is Erik, the Opera Ghost."

That's MISTER 'the Opera Ghost' to you, Erik piped up, raising an eyebrow in order to make "Raoul's boy" a bit uneasy. He enjoyed doing that.

"I wouldn't consider it too deeply at the moment, Monsieur. Everything will be explained in time. But right now, we have a fair lady to save."

Erik raised his eyebrows again when Raoul had pointed his sword at him.

Whoa... Whoa... cool down, there, tiger, Erik stated, backing away before pacing around the room. Who said anything about having to save her? It's not like she's in mortal danger or anything. You're talking as if I've tied her over a fiery pit. No, that's not the case... I love Christine to death. Maybe even beyond. Just enough to make sure nothing bad happens to her, he cooed, stroking Christine's cheek. However, just because I like Christine doesn't mean at all that I like you. So put that sword away and let's handle this like honest businessmen, shall we?

"Don't you touch her,"

Too late, Erik stated, smirking.

Meanwhile, Eric simply stood there, holding the rabbit protectively in his arms.

"Um... do I get a...?" Eric started, but Erik immediately interjected.

Shut up! Just shut up! I don't need you interfering with my plans, Erik growled, and Eric flinched, standing against the wall. He didn't need to be attacked by a figment of his own imagination.

``NOTES! AKDHGALKDGHADKLGH
``STATUS! EXTREMELY OVERDUE
``MUSE! LIKE MAGIC
``TAG! yew know
``OUTFIT!
``WORD COUNT! IONO. |D
``CREDIT! PAULAA!? @ caution2.0