This story is based on the 2004 movie The Phantom of the Opera, with some influences from Leroux's book (I do not own anything Phantom of the Opera related). Because I am taking a psychology class and learning about the unconscious mind and dreaming an interesting thought played in my head; What if Christine dreamt the whole entire thing and then woke up? Would her knowing how the story could play out would she have done things differently? It is actually suggested that in dreaming we may have premonitions, and I can honestly say that I had a dream before and the exact events in the dream happened the next day. I have absolutely NO idea where this story is going and I'm not sure if I want to keep it serious or throw in a little comedy because it seems to have tremendous potential to be a comical plot.
If I get enough reviews for this story I'll continue posting. It just seemed like an interesting idea to me. But I will not be updating this story too often because I am currently engrossed in writing my other story Passion Play: The Man Behind the Mask. That story will always be a priority for me to write, this one just seemed really fun to do.
let me know what you think of this first chapter! enjoy!
Christine's POV
"It's over now the music of the night!"
Those were the last words I heard from Erik as Raoul rowed the gondola around the corner towards the exit of the lair. My angel of music had been The Phantom of the Opera for all these years. Angel, phantom, murderer, but most of all he was a man who loved alone. I clung myself to Raoul as tight as possibly in belief that it would dissipate all the guilt I felt for the decision I had just made but it didn't. I tried to focus on pacing my breathing and hushing my urge to cry. Then all of the sudden a loud crash echoed through the catacombs. This frightened me and caused me to jump shaking the boat as a result. Raoul tried to keep it balanced by holding on tightly to the pole. Once it was balanced he placed his arm around me.
"Christine what is the matter?"
Then two more loud crashes sounded through the cellar when I realized it had to have been Erik. My poor Erik was breaking something because no one would listen; he was alone forever now. Each crash was a blow to my heart causing me to realize the damage I had done, and the horrifying realization that this was the end of the music of the night; it was the end of my soul! I couldn't contain myself anymore and the waterworks had begun. The tears endlessly began to flow down my cheeks.
"Christine! My love what is wrong!" Raoul worriedly asked.
"I-It's all my f-fault!" I choked.
Raoul expressed a look of discomfort, "Christine it's not your fault. Nothing is your fault. He did what was right and gave us our life back Christine. Whatever that man must endure is self inflicted. He chose this fate for himself."
"N-No! I-I could've stopped it! It c-can't do this!"
"Can't do what Christine? What is it that you can't do? We can't do anything for him."
The truth finally sank beneath my skin and circulated throughout my entire body. I could feel it coursing through my veins and settle deep within my lungs until it made its way up to the back of my throat and came through my lips, "I can't live without him."
Raoul's face was nothing but astonished.
"I'm sorry."
I stepped off of the boat and into the water and started making my way back to Erik.
"CHRISTINE!" Raoul jumped off and came after me.
I desperately tried to move faster.
"Erik! Erik please come back!" I screamed but then a hand wrapped around my ankle and pulled me beneath the water. I swallowed a mouthful of the green water and tried to make it back to the surface but a strong force had maintained its pressure on me forcing me to stay beneath the surface. I now felt two hands grasping each of my ankles and pulling me down. In the midst of all the chaos I could remember the water had only been as high as my knees but somehow I was being dragged what seemed like hundreds of feet underwater. I began to scream as the light from the surface dimmed. When I could scream no longer and all felt the last of my oxygen seep from my lungs I knew it wouldn't be long before I was dead. My entire life flashed through my head, and the last thing that entered my mind was Erik.
Everything went black.
I don't know how long I was in this blackness but someone's voice, a girl, called my name.
"Christine!" I faintly heard her. "Oh Christine please wake up! Wake up!"
Then I felt the sensation of me ascending through the depths of the lake water overcome me. I could sense light getting brighter through my closed eyelids. When I had finally broke through the surface I gasped for air and opened my eyes.
Madame Giry and Meg were hovering over me.
"Christine! Thank God! We thought you were having a heart attack!" Meg's face lit up and gave the biggest smile.
I was confused. What had happened? I was making my way to Erik when Raoul tried to drown me!
"Where's Raoul!" I looked around to find that I was in the dancer's residence of the opera house and that I was lying on Meg's bed.
"Who's Raoul?" A look of confusion spread across Meg's face. How could she not know who Raoul was?
"R-Raoul….DeChangey…?" I waited for her to remember but no recollection took place in her.
"Um, no I'm sorry Christine I don't know where Raoul is….is that what your dream was about?" she asked slightly concerned.
"My dream?" No…this could not have been happening.
"Yeah….you had quite the nightmare Christine, people were getting scared because…well you wouldn't wake up." Meg sheepishly replied.
Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. Exactly how long was I dreaming then! Was it all a dream! Raoul? The Masquerade? Erik? I had to be sure….
"Madame Giry….?" I tried to retain any sanity I felt within me as I began to speak.
"Yes my dear?" she sat on the mattress next to me and stroked my face in a motherly gesture.
"What day is it?" I asked her. I needed to make sense of time.
"Today is the last rehearsal for Hannibal before the show starts later tonight." She simply answered.
Oh my God….
"Yeah, which is why it was really lucky that you decided to wake up in time for rehearsal; without you the whole dance would be off." Meg added.
I felt utterly consumed by insanity….if today was the last rehearsal for Hannibal then that could only mean that I had dreamt of everything.
"Christine, why are you crying?" Meg questioned. I didn't even notice the small tears streaking down my face. I quickly wiped them away. "You must've had really bad nightmares…."
All I could do was nod as I hid my face into my hands. It was all so surreal.
"Come Christine. You and Meg need to get dressed in your costumes for rehearsal. The manager says he would like everyone to be on stage in an hour for an important announcement."
What Madame Giry had just said had caused goose bumps to spread across my body. I slowly sat up and looked at her.
"Why? Is he retiring and moving to Australia?" I probed.
Madame Giry gave me a look of question, "I am not sure….but we shall see when he makes his announcement. Come now let us make haste."
I slowly stood up and felt as if I had weighed fifty pounds lighter than I should have. I followed Meg to the dressing rooms and got ready. So far everything seemed normal. Carlotta sang just as horrible as usual; I think my dream gave her voice a little more justice. Then the manager walked on stage with two men following behind him. One tall with a pompous hairstyle, the other man was rather short with gray wires for hair pointing in every direction.
"Please don't say those two men are the new managers…." Was all I could repeat in my thoughts.
Everyone applauded at the arrival of the two new managers. I felt sick to my stomach, but I could only anticipate what would happen next….and secretly I didn't want it to.
"And we are deeply honored to introduce our new patron…" Monsieur Firmin began.
God, no…please.
"The Vicomte DeChangey!"
