Hi guys! This is my rendition of Down Once More/Final Lair from the Phantom of the Opera. Ever since we watched this in music I've been completely hooked! Sorry it's not my best writing, and the ending is a little messy, what with all of the different voices. I cut out some of Christine's and Erik's singing parts in the end just to make it a bit clearer. Only in the end though (:

Enjoy, and please review!

"Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair!

Down we plunge to the prisons of my mind!
Down that path into darkness deep as hell!"

I unwillingly stumbled down the path to Erik's lair, being dragged behind him by my wrist. His harsh grip he held on me ached more than anything, but I knew there was nothing I could do. We continued running down the path made of stones of deep, dark grey.

"Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?

Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!"

He stopped and turned to face me, still holding his grip. He shouted these words into my face, painfully, forcing me to look up at his deformities. I felt such pain for him…after all, I wasn't heartless, as he probably thought me to be. But what could I do? He thinks I betrayed him, but I love Raoul. I think…no, I love Raoul. Definitely…

"Hounded out by everyone, met with hatred everywhere!

No kind words from anyone, no compassion anywhere! Christine…why? Why?"

With these words, I lost it. I allowed the tears, which I've so willingly tried to keep behind my eyelids, to flow now. This man had been shown nothing but hatred and evilness his entire life! No wonder he is the way he is now. He is beautiful.

I could hear the chants from the people above, demanding to "track down this murderer". If they only could hear the, until now, unspoken words of this Angel in Hell, maybe they'd understand.

He led me over to the mannequin of myself dressed in a wedding gown that he'd first shown me when he led me down to his lair just a few weeks prior. He quickly and forcefully undressed the mannequin and turned towards me.

"Put this on!" he half-yelled to me.

"Wait, but, Erik…"

"NO! Put the dress on!" he interrupted me. He turned around to allow me some privacy, even though I still felt violated. I quickly undressed and slipped the beautifully embroidered dress over my head.

"Have you gorged yourself at last for your lust for blood?

I took a step toward him, with more confidence this time.

Am I now to be prey, to your lust of flesh?"

I gave him my worst angry face, knowing that I probably looked ridiculous in trying. A malicious grin was plastered on Erik's face as he turned to me.

"This fate which condemns me to wallow in blood, has oh, so denied me the joys of the flesh.

This face the infection…which poisons our Love."

His voice broke on the last word.

"This face, which earned a mother's fear and loathing.

More tears.

A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing."

More pity.

"Pity comes too late!
Turn around, and face your fate!"

He forcefully grabbed me, pulling me to him, and lifted my chin until I was face to face with him.

"An eternity of THIS!...before your eyes."

Oh, the life this man had known. He placed the veil that matched the wedding dress upon my head. I gently removed it just as soon as his hands moved away and handed it back to him. I walked over to the mirror and cast aside the long tapestry which covered it.

"This haunted face holds no horror for me now.

It's in your soul where the true distortion lies."

He turned to me with such sadness in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but then cast his head to the side and looked past the gates which confined us in this lair.

"Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!"

I looked over to the gates, only to see my beloved Raoul standing at them, his fingers entwining around the iron bars.

"I had rather hoped that you would come!" He sang.

"Raoul!" I shouted.

"And now, my wish comes true—you have truly made my night!"

"Free her!" Raoul pleaded with Erik. "Do what you like, only free her! Have you no pity?" he asked desperately.

With that, Erik grabbed me and put his arm around my waist, pulling me to him.

"Let me go!" I fought against him, but his grip was too strong.

"Your Lover makes a passionate plea!"

"Please, Raoul, it's useless." I shouted out to him.

"I love her!" He yelled back. "Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion!"

"THE WORLD SHOWED NO COMPASSION TO ME!" Erik shouted. Oh, why must they fight like this? Over me? I was not worth it…I had to put an end to this…

"Christine, Christine, let me see her…" Raoul's voice trailed off.

"Be my guest, sir," Erik said, walking over to a lever off to the side of the Wall. He pulled it and the iron gates slowly began to lift up, granting Raoul entrance to the lair.

"Monsieur, I bid you welcome! Did you think that I would harm her? Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours!" He instantly grabbed a Punjab-lasso out of the water and wrapped around Raoul's neck, tightening it. I gasped loud enough for the entire lair to echo it and my heart started beating rapidly. Shit!
"Order your fine horses now, raise up your hand to the level of your eyes, nothing can save you now, except perhaps—Christine!" He looked over my way. This wasn't happening! Surely I was dreaming…no! Not dreaming—having a nightmare—a horrible, horrible nightmare!
"Start a new life with me, buy his freedom with your Love, refuse me and you send your Lover to his death—this is the choice! This is the point of no return!"

"No…" I started, sinking down onto my knees. My sight was blinded by what felt like pounds of tears pouring from my eyes. "No, no, no!" I shouted.

I sat there, just like that, screaming the words "no" over and over again, sobbing into my hands. I realized that this would solve nothing and slowly rose to my feet.

"The tears I might have shed for your dark fate…grow cold, and turn to tears of HATE!"

My voice rang through the room as I realized what I would have to do.

"Christine, forgive me, please forgive me!" came Raoul's voice from behind Erik.

"Farewell, my fallen Idol and false Friend! We had such hopes and now those hopes are shattered!" I sang hopelessly.

"Too late for turning back, too late for useless pity! Past all hopes of cries for help, no point in fighting-" Erik sang.

"Say you Love him, and my life is over!" Raoul sang.
"For either way you choose, he/I has/have to win!" My two men sang in unison.

"So do you end your days with me, or do you send him to his GRAVE!" Erik shouted.

"Why make her lie to you to save me!" Raoul looked at Erik and sang.

"Angel of music!" I called out to Erik. "Why this torment?" I sobbed.
"For God's sake, Christine, say no!" Raoul pleaded with me, but I wasn't listening. "Don't throw your life away for my sake!"

"His life is now a prize which you must earn!" Erik sang.

"I tried so hard to free you…" Raoul's voice trailed off.

"You've passed the point of no return."Erik said.

"Angel of music, you deceived me!" I spat at Erik. "I gave you my mind blindly!"

"You try my patience." He tugged the rope tighter, causing Raoul to gag. "Make your choice."

I sat there, thinking. I knew what I had to go, though I wish I didn't have to. There was no way I was allowing Erik to kill Raoul…the very thought of it made me sick to my stomach. I groaned out loud, honestly not caring if they heard. I hated this!

"Why must you put me through this!" I shouted to Erik.

"CHRISTINE!" Raoul yelled at me as Erik pulled the rope tighter. With this, I ran into the water, getting my dress wet.

"I…I'll stay with you."

I pulled Erik into a deep, passionate kiss, shifting my eyes over to Raoul, trying to apologize with them. He looked so hurt…tears pricked my eyes.

"YOU LITTLE FUCK!" Raoul screamed as loud as he could, his voice ringing through the lair.

"GO!" Erik shouted, untying Raoul from the gate. I fought so hard to keep my tears hidden…

"GET OUT OF HERE! SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU, YOU FILTHY PIECE OF SCUM. LEAVE!" Raoul made his way up the path. "RUN!" Raoul started running.

And then he was gone.

Erik waded through the water, approaching me. He picked me up off my feet, carrying me over to the bedroom behind the front section of the lair.

"Ahh, my beautiful bride, we are together at last…"

He laid me down on the bed.

"I love you, Angel." He kissed me, full on the lips, and pulled down the curtain, dangerously allowing me to be alone with my thoughts.

EEEP! What did you guys think? Was it awful? Haha I might possible continue this and make it into a story. It all depends on if you all think I should. I tried to make Christine seem a bit more…emotionless and vague towards the end. I had such a fun time writing this. Don't forget to review!

Thanks for reading! (: