Authors note: This is my first more serious fan fic that ive done so forgive me for any grammer mistakes that i most likley have made and for anything that may seem some what confusing. For a better summary: this takes place before the opera and Erik and Christine meet before then. I dont know if I intentionally met forthis storyto be like it is, butit may have a hint of other things besides just the Phantom Of The Opera in it. For example: The Haunted Mansion, Beaty and the Beast ( maybe) and um some others i cant really remmber, but if you happen to find something that you think seems firmilair to something else, then your probabley right in thinking that . Anyways more summary: Christine meets the Phantom by a childish dare of having to go up to the Haunted looking Mansion for which he has been staying at and knock at his door and of course things start to unravel there. Once again this is my first more serious fan fic so for the first time Iask that you please go easy on me with this one and dont flame me lol.
Chapter 1: The house in the woods
Marie took my hand in hers and walked me down the marble path to the back gardens. It was a bright summers day full of life and beauty as flowers came into full bloom and their exotic scents carried through the garden by the light breeze. I walked lightly through the garden path and looked around in awe. Small purple lilies grew down near glowing white rocks and vines streamed through gates and walls entangling everything in its path. There were flowers of every size and shape and color all around and small insects buzzed frantically all around. I couldn't help but draw a huge smile upon my face. Marie noticed my joy.
" Surprise! Isn't it beautiful?" She proclaimed, smiling back at me. " I knew you would like it. I strolled by it this morning and knew I had to show you."
" Its wonderful! I had no idea you had such beautiful gardens here." I said still smiling. I knew I was going to enjoy staying here for the summer. This was the first year Maria's family and I got to spend the summer together in her family's estate.
My family was good friends with hers. Most years they were the ones to come visit us in Paris, but a special occasion brought us here instead. One of Marie's sisters was to marry soon and they wanted us to be there for the wedding in their hometown of Boxuan, south of Paris. I had never really got to know her very well. In fact, all of Marie's four sisters and even her brother are nearly even acquaintances. I don't think they ever really liked me much. Especially not Emily, Greta, or Nicole. They were always teasing me and trying to get me into trouble, saying that I didn't belong and that I wasn't fit into there society because technically my family wasn't my "real" family.
That may be true. Friends of my father are what I've been known to call my family now, but even though that may be the case I still hated when they aggravated me about it.
Ellis loved it too. She was the daughter of my father's friends who took me into their home. She never approved of me from the start and I believe it's because of her that the other three torment me so much.
I walked around the garden some more and pressed some of the flowers to my nose, breathing in their scents. Marie watched me and then smiled.
" Oh there's another thing I'd like to show you Christine!" She said with excitement. She ran off down one of the garden paths. I followed slowly from behind, trying to keep up with her pace.
Marie was more adventurous and fun to be around then of anyone else I knew. She really was the only friend I truly had since my father's death. I'm really quite grateful to have her around because in many ways were quite alike. I may not be as adventurous and fun, but in comparison we aren't what you would call a demonstration of a proper female figure. In fact were pretty much opposite of that. When in Paris, we spent most of our day walking to a small central park where my father use to take me and on rainy days we would go up to my families attic where we'd tell each other amazing and terrifying stories, many which a childhood friend once told me. The thing I believe we had the most in common of all though is our passion for music. Marie was a lot luckier then me in that category. She got her own private lessons while I was stuck with Ellis's governess who, in my case, always found something wrong with me.
I couldn't wait for the fun and exciting summer that I would have with Marie. Not only did she have a very nice home, but also the location was beautiful and she told me there were many things she wanted to show me. The garden was my first surprise.
I finally caught up to her and found myself in yet another garden only this time it was full of stunning crimson roses. My smile became even wider as I looked at all the rose bushes. Roses were above all my favorite flower.
Marie laughed at me as she saw my astonishment and broke off a rose from one of the bushes.
" For you my lady" She said in a low voice, bowing and handing me the rose. Laughing I took the rose and curtsied. " Why thank you."
Laughing some more, we both skipped together down the garden path until we once again ended up back in the place we started. I looked up at the manor, which I was to stay in for some months. It had brick walls all around and small glass windows. It was a nice manor, but I thought it was too plain looking. I felt like there was no life or energy about the house. Maybe it was because it just seemed too ordinary. It was a pretty big house though, almost a mansion. Marie's family was quite rich compared to my families other friends. But that never bothered me. Money was never much a concern to me as it was to my stepsister, Ellis.
Before we stepped inside the house, I stopped and looked back at the garden. " I hope we'll be able to spend more time in this place again." I said looking longingly over the garden.
" Of course we will Christine, you have almost all summer." My friend proclaimed. " Besides there's so much more I want to show you! Tomorrow we'll take a walk through the Old woods that are right by my house. They have this old fort there and some really awesome caves. It will be so much fun you'll forget about this place anyway. Now come on, dinner will be ready soon." She opened the door and we walked inside.
" Caves! I've never been in one of those before." I said excitingly. " Your so lucky you live in such a place Marie, I wish I could live out in the country."
Marie laughed." Believe me Christine, it's not as splendid as it seems. Kind of boring actually… but then again you'd probably like it more then I do."
Walking through the main halls we walked up the grand stairs and went into the visitors hall where my family was staying. Luckily this time I got to have my own room instead of having to share it with Ellis.
" Be ready around six ok, ill see you in the refectory then. If you need me you know where to find me." Marie said and walked off. I shut the door and looked about the room. It was a homely room with a medium sized bed, a small cupboard, a desk and some furniture. A fire was already burning in the small fireplace opposite my bed. A couple of paintings were hung on the walls. I walked to the window near my bed and opened it all the way. A small breeze came through into the room slightly blowing through my hair and the curtains. It was still warm out even though the sun was setting. Looking down from my window I could see the back yard of the house, which I just noticed started out with the garden that I had just went through. I didn't get a chance to look out my bedroom window before or really any windows for that matter since the whole day we were taking a tour of the house. I was quite pleased to know that now I would be able to look down at the garden and enjoy it whenever I wanted.
As I looked past the garden I noticed that it ended at a gate, which led into the forest. The forest was dark and somewhat melancholy looking, but it was probably only cause it was getting dark out. I looked out some more past the trees and forest and more into the distance. There wasn't really anything else except for more forest and some growing hills out in the distance, but then suddenly something caught my eye and I looked more closely at it. It looked like there was another building not to far away out in the forest. I couldn't see much, only the top of it and its roof, but I knew that it must be another estate. This made me somewhat curious since neither Marie nor her family ever spoke of any building being out in the woods. Even though they spoke many times of their neighbors that lived nearby, but not in the place I saw now. I felt sort of silly being so concerned about it, after all they did have many neighbors and friends and they could have forgotten to mention one of them. Shaking my head I closed the window and got ready for dinner.
After taking a bath I put on one of my evening gowns and pinned my hair up in my normal fashion. My dark brown hair rested firmly on my shoulders and down my back as I looked into the mirror hanging above the dresser. I was about to leave when someone knocked on my door. I went to it quickly, thinking it to be Marie, but found Ellis and Marie's three younger sisters, Emily, Greta, and Nicole, instead.
" Oh…" I said trying not to sound too disappointed. " Um ill be down in just a second." I was about to close the door, but Ellis stopped me.
" Mother just wants you to know that the Ewells will be joining us for dinner tonight so she asks that you don't go running off afterwards with Marie. She wants us to stay and introduce are selves better to them." Ellis said in a stern tone.
My heart sank. I was hoping to be able to see more of the stuff Marie wanted to show me, but now I would have to be stuck sitting around and listening to a boring conversation about who knows what and be more polite and proper for the guests, which was a huge strain. I wasn't used to having to behave like this. Before, when father was still alive, I could act like my own self and rarely had to show some kind of proper manner in front of others. Now I knew why I didn't fit with these kind of people.
I sighed, " Ok then, thank you for telling me Ellis, ill be right down."
" I also suggest you wear something more fashionable, after all I don't think our guests or are own hosts, the Martiques, would want to know we have someone who decides to be lazy and not show appreciation for there decision to visit us." Ellis announced.
Ellis was two years older then me, but she still liked to talk to me like I was still a child. The three Martique sisters sized me up and down and then turned off and walked down the hall. Ellis followed behind.
I looked down at my plain evening gown and decided that it was best not to go against what she said this time, so I closed the door and quickly got into a more suitable gown.
The Ewells arrived just as I was descending the stairs. There was Mr. and Mrs. Ewell and with them they had three of there sons who I learned to be John, Charles and Rye. Charles was the fiancé of Elizabeth Martique. They were the couple that was supposed to be getting married this summer.
After we all introduced ourselves we ate dinner and went out to the backyard balcony were most of the adults talked about some kind of merchandising in the east coast. Boring, was the only word I could think of this horrible situation until Mr. Ewell suggested the thought of taking a stroll into the garden and possibly the wood area. My mind descended from the clouds as I hoped terribly that the Martiques would agree. Marie seemed to be hoping the same as she too was listening. Marie's parents considered it and eventually gave in to the idea as seeing they cant pass down or refuse a guest. Faintly smiling I looked at Marie who smiled back at me.
Walking into the path Marie and I giggled excitedly as we walked arm in arm toward the woods. Lagging behind was, of course, the adults as they talked about their estates and land. Ellis and Marie's three sisters stayed with Charles and Elizabeth who talked about their upcoming wedding plans. The other two sons stayed behind with the adults. This was perfect for Marie and me. We took advantage of the situation and headed off by ourselves into the darker growing forest.
" Come on hurry up! I want to show you the fort!" Marie yelled and started running up the path. I followed close behind.
After a few minutes of winding through the forest path, and a couple of times, stopping to view more of the forest around us, we came to a halt in the middle of a dirt road. Laughing and jumping around I finally noticed where we had stopped and looked up and down the road. Every thing was hard to see cause a thick fog had descended on the land.
" Where are we?" I said nervously, hoping Marie new her way back even in this fog. She looked around and I noticed she seemed frightened herself.
" Oh no…" She whispered softly.
" What? What's wrong?" I asked Growing even more nervous. I noticed her face turned white.
" Its nothing…we just went a little to far off where I wanted to go that's all…I'm not use to going around here after dark." She began to walk back the way we came. The fog began to grow thicker. It was getting harder to see and the sun was almost below the trees. Marie was acting very strange, I never saw her actually look scared before and it made me very nervous.
I then began to follow Marie back into the forest. But then suddenly we stopped and noticed someone was coming towards us from the forest. We stood their frozen. High voices and laughing made us relax as we noticed it was only Ellis and the sisters.
" What do you guys think your doing?" Marie yelled at them. " You three should be near the others, you don't know the paths like I do, you could have gotten lost and Ellis with you!"
"Where quite fine on are own thank you very much Marie. We don't need your assistance walking around in the woods. A child could figure out there way through here." Ellis said fiercely. This statement surprised me and Marie for Ellis would never speak that way in front of her hosts. But seeing now that her parents aren't here to criticize her, it's only logical that she'd come out of her proper politeness and act like her own spiteful self.
I stepped in front of Ellis. " I highly doubt that Ellis. I think it would take you a considerable amount of time to find your way out of here and I think its best you don't go running off when you don't know anything about this area."
" Oh." She laughed. "And you know it any better?"
" No, but I happen to have a friend that does." I snapped.
"Well that very nice, but I don't really care now do I?" Ellis stepped past me and into the road. " Where does this lead to?"
" Nowhere, it's a dead end." Marie stated quickly.
" Marie you're a very nice girl and all, but you're not a very good liar are you?" Ellis said walking farther up the road.
" Ellis…please stop, believe me you don't want to go that way." Marie said nervously.
I stepped in front of Ellis again. " I think it would be polite if you did as your host tells you to Ellis…you wouldn't want mom knowing how rude you've been."
" Its my mother not yours for one! And besides it doesn't matter. I'll just have Marie's sisters confess that it was you and Marie who got us lost in the first place…no wait even better." She said with a grin. " You two forced us to come with you and then tried to lose us in the woods."
" You wouldn't dare!" I yelled stepping closer to her. I knew she'd try pulling something like this. She's always been trying to get me in trouble, but now even worse she's going to get Marie in trouble as well. If it where just me I would not care as much, but my friend was not going to get trouble for my sake. We stared at each other for a second and then Ellis looked up from behind me. Her face became pale. The three sisters gasped and stood behind Marie who also looked pale.
I turned around and saw what had made them act the way they did. The fog from before had become less thick making it easier to see a gigantic gate emerge from the fog and behind the gate a massive house only a few yards away. I backed away near Marie and stared at it in awe and then remembered the building I had saw at my window a couple of hours ago and recognized the house.
" Ok we need to go now, come on girls." Marie said to her little sisters. They did not budge.
" That's the house isn't it Marie? The one dad was talking about before?" One of the sisters said. I recognized it was Nicole. Marie said nothing. I was curious.
" What are they talking about Marie? I asked.
" Ill tell you when we get back to the house ok lets just go." Marie said impatiently.
" Wait I want to know too Marie. Is there something we need to know?" Ellis came up next to her, crossing her arms.
Marie sighed. "It's a long story"
"Well then you better tell us quick so we don't stand here all night." Ellis affirmed. Marie gave her a bad look. I said nothing, but looked up onto the house and its gate.
" Ok fine." Marie said irritated, seeing that she wasn't going to get any of us to budge. " There's this myth about the house… Its funny cause it's not very old…it was supposed to be built for this very rich man, but he unfortunately died, before he got to see it get completed. Nobody went back to the house for a long while, but then suddenly one night my father and me were in his room when we saw lights flicker and smoke come through the chimneys from the house in the distance. We assumed that someone finally moved in so we decided to introduce ourselves, but when me and my father came to this very path the lights were gone, there was no more smoke and the house seemed abandoned. A couple more days later I was in the forest when I thought I heard strange music coming from inside the house…anyways people around the area saw things too and they came up with a bunch of stories…some of course say the old man who died is haunting the place, but there are other stories that say its someone else. I knew about these stories for quite awhile, and figured they were just ghost stories…" Marie paused for a second. " That's until I saw…him."
I looked at her worried. " Him?"
"Well I think it was a person…I wasn't quite sure cause a hood covered his head and a mask covered most of his face so I couldn't see it, but…. oh Christine it was so…creepy…. he looked like death himself almost." Marie began to shake. I never saw her look so frightened before. I began to get chills. Still I told her to continue with the story.
" I was walking in the forest path one day and I saw him riding down the road on a pure black horse. I was so sure he couldn't see me from within the forest, but I was wrong. He looked straight at me like he knew I was there all along…I then got scared and I ran. After that I didn't go into the forest for quite along time…I believe someone- he- lives in that house because not only did I see him go out from that path but there have been previous others in carriages who have gone through those gates as well, but I couldn't see who they were. People say that I'm just seeing things or that their just ghosts of the past and a part of me believes that but…" Marie stopped. I did not ask her to go on, but simply stood there.
" Hmmm what a mystery wouldn't you say? But like all mysteries they need to be solved don't they?" Ellis proclaimed. I could tell she was thinking about something and suddenly she smiled and looked at Marie. "Well Marie how about this… since it seems to be bothering you so badly, why not go up to the house yourself and knock and see if someone answers."
Marie shook her head. I protested. " You know that there's no way she would do that! And neither would you or her sisters."
" Ok then Christine if we can't do it then why don't you?" Ellis said still smiling.
I opened my mouth to protest, but couldn't think of what to say at first. Of course I wouldn't do it! Not only is it an absurd and childish thing to do to just go up to some strange house and knock on the door, but also I wasn't much braver myself. I looked up at the house and a small chill ran down my spine. Yes, there was definitely no way. I had my share of moments that may have been a bit brave, but I believed I got scared quite easily and to see that huge house in front of me now, with its gothic style and dark setting, it made me feel even more of a coward. Even though this was how I felt, I wasn't about to tell Ellis that. I didn't want her to have anything else to tease me about.
Ellis began to laugh. I turned around to face her. " Oh my dear sweet Christine you're a little coward. It's just a house! I would certainly go up to it if I could, but as you said I should take the girls back to the house." I said nothing in response to this so she continued. " How about this… you say that we couldn't go up to that house and you seem to think you can, so if you don't show us this little venture right now then I'll tell my mother and Marie's what I said before, that you purposely got us lost and not only that but you lost us near this house. I'm sure Marie's father wouldn't be to happy about that now would he. Especially if the poor girls here come home having hysterical fits that they saw a strange man in the woods that Marie knew about, but didn't happen to mention to us." Ellis continued to smile. She knew that if Marie or I were to be punished, the consequences would be worse then we think. We might have to spend the whole summer with Ellis and Marie's sisters following us everywhere we go and not be able to see any of the sites for ourselves!
Marie immediately began to argue. I stared up at the house once again. It was creepy… but at the same time it had a strange vibe that was luring me to it. Something I can't explain. Maybe my curiosity would be stronger then my bravery for once.
I interrupted Marie's remarks to Ellis. " Ok fine, Ellis I agree…If I go up to that house and knock on the door, then you'll not only say anything to my mother or Marie's, but you'll also leave me and Marie alone the rest of the summer." Maybe this would work to my advantage.
" No Christine! It's not worth it believe me! I have a bad feeling…a really bad feeling that something will happen. I don't want something bad to happen to you!" Marie said grabbing my arm.
Ellis smiled at me and pulled Marie from me. " Agreed." She said and held out her hand. I hesitated for a second and then shook it. The deal was set.
Marie shook her head and didn't know what else to say. I grabbed her shoulder and tried to comfort her. " It will be fine Marie. For once I'm sure Ellis is right. It's just a house…and besides, all I have to do is go up there and knock. If someone comes to the door I'll just…. well I'll think of something."
Marie sighed and nodded " Ok Christine…I must tell you though I rather take on the caves at night then go up to that house…there's just something not right about it. But maybe your right I don't know…just be careful ok?"
I nodded and then looked up at Ellis who now seemed to be growing impatient. I gave her a quick glare and then turned around and started walking towards the wide gates. Hoping maybe they'd be right behind me I looked back and saw that they all had not moved. I rolled my eyes. And I thought I was a coward.
Walking slowly I finally reached the gates. They were very tall, at least 20 feet long and about 10 feet wide. I noticed now that at the side of the gates where pillars made of gray stone that were covered in growing vines. On top of the pillars were tainted gargoyles shaped with a lion's body, a hawk's head and dragon's wings. I steadied my breath. My heart was racing. I stepped closer to the gates into what looked like a deep-set circle in the ground that was in front of the gates. Suddenly the gates came to life and opened up by themselves. This surprised me and made me jump back. I heard someone, one of Marie's sisters, shriek in the distance. I looked back at them and then back at the gates. They were now fully open. I took a deep breath and walked past them. As I stepped all the way past the gates I came into the house's territory. Once again I stepped in what looked like a deep-set circle in the ground. Behind me the gates began to close. I had never seen a gate be able to do that before. It made me wonder what else the house had in store.
I walked on down the path toward the house or, from what I could see now, a mansion. Inside the mansion's terrain were huge oak and willow trees and small marshes. The brick path led toward a set of steps with smaller pillars to the sides set with more gargoyle looking statues. The steps lead to a small balcony that came to the front door. My heart began to beat faster in my chest. I hesitated before walking up the steps. Looking up at the house before me, I was very close to turning back, but finally built up more courage.
" Here goes nothing." I whispered softy and began to ascend the front door's steps.
AN: You know whats funny. Iwas in Disney Worldnear the Haunted Mansion when I thoughtup this story. I got so inspired for some reason when I went to the Mansion and saw howit not only was a pretty cool looking house, but it had such acreepy effect to itthat i thought of this story. Not including the fact that I got stuck inside the Attraction twice...maybe it was a sign? I also happened to be really afriad of the attraction when I was younger so for those of you who are afraid of going into haunted houses, but still have enough courage to go in them,be sure you are certian the ride wont break down onyou at the last secound cause believe meits not fun (especially when they're telling youto remian seated inside the "Doom Buggy"). But, anyways even though I got this story from Disney's Huanted Mansion, this isnt ment to be a crossover. The only thing i put the same with the Mansion and POTO is the spooky Mansion part. This isnt a supernatural fic so theres no ghosts flying around or anything.