Chapter 1- Rain on Opening Night
The show was over. After so many tiresome and frustrating rehearsals and an opening night filled with loud applause and crowds filing in and out, here and there, it was finally over. Though this thought accompanied with a sigh of a job well done and satisfaction filled the bohemian minded cast, the mind of the star of "Spectacular Spectacular" was filled with grief and fear. Fear that she had lost the man that she truly loved, and this time it was for good. She felt that it was completely her fault, and, if at all possible, she felt that she could even destroy one of her many diamonds in her bountiful collection through her anger. But that was not important at the moment- she had to find Christian. The show had finally ended after what seemed like a lifetime full of agony and pain, and she heard it when the curtain fell. It was a loud bang, the loudest she had ever heard followed by a cry of pain that was muffled from the rain that had pounded the ground and the red windmill at the time of these goings-on. She immediately rushed out of the dance hall transformed into a theater not noticing how fast she was actually running despite the weight of the heels that always hurt her feet so terribly. Somehow, deep down within her heart, she could hear Christian crying to her for help even though he had said that she meant nothing to him. She knew it wasn't true, and she knew that he did as well, but her heart told her to keep running, so that is what she did. It was almost 8:00, and darkness had fallen over Paris much earlier because of the storm. Satine kept running with tears streaming down her face as she did so. As she got closer, she could feel Christian's pain, and she knew she had to reach him. As she rounded the corner of the empty street next to the apartment where Christian stayed, she saw him. He was lying in the middle of the street allowing the rain to pour freely over his pale face, and she could barely see that his coat was covered in blood. He wasn't moving. She stopped dead in her tracks before she realized that there was still hope. At that precise moment, a tall and bulky figure appeared at the other side of the street, and Satine immediately knew who it was- Warner, the duke's manservant. That's when she ran to him even faster than before. She collapsed to her knees next to him, and quickly cradled him in her arms hoping to share every once of warmth that was left in her body to bring him back to life. She put her head to his chest and was relieved to feel a very faint heartbeat and a short and painful breath every few seconds. He was alive, but just barely. She quickly kissed his wet cheek and dragged him to the back street where they were sheltered from the rain and could not be seen. She tried to calm herself and slow her breathing so that beast of a man that was after her love couldn't hear her. She immediately took him in her arms and put her cheek against his forehead. She had never felt anyone or anything for that matter that was so cold. As Warner passed by, he looked around in a confused manner and ran back to the Moulin Rouge. After at least two minutes since he had gone inside and she was sure he was there to stay, she started to prepare herself for dragging Christian up to his garret that seemed so far away for once. Right as she started to lift him, a quiet sigh of pain escaped his chest, and his eyes fluttered open. She was the first thing he saw, and both of them had a dumbfounded stare on their rain and tear stained faces. "Oh, just tell me I'm dead, and get it bloody over with." His voice was slightly above a whisper. All she could do was laugh quietly and stroke his cheek. He hadn't had the time or the energy to recall the events of the night. "I love you, Christian," she whispered. "I know," he returned. He then gathered all of the energy that he could muster and leaned up to rest his head on her shoulder. "Let's get away from here." She very gently helped him to his feet and wrapped her arm around his shoulders so that he wouldn't fall as he slowly walked back up to the peaceful little room that he called his home.
As soon as they reached his garret, she helped him lie down on his bed and lit the fire for warmth that they so desperately needed. When he heard her trudging about on the lower level, Toulouse stuck his head down from the human-size hole in the ceiling. Before he even opened his mouth to speak in that lisped voice of his, Satine called back, "Fetch the doctor quickly, Toulouse!" He did as he was told without question of an explanation and returned more quickly than she could give him credit for with the doctor that could be found on the first floor of the same building. "How lucky," she thought to herself that a lifesaver could be in the same building as they were when he was needed most. They would need all of the luck in France to save Christian that night. Satine told the doctor what had happened to Christian, at least everything that she had seen, and he began to undress the half-unconscious boy. "It hurts so bad," he cried as she took his outreached hand and kissed it passionately. "Don't worry, darling," she returned as she caressed his hand. Toulouse covered him with blankets up to his chest to keep him somewhat warm, and the doctor focused on a wound just above Christian's heart close to his shoulder blade. "I have to remove the bullet," the doctor said, "and he should be fine if Iget this fixed up right." Satine nodded hopefully and continued to try and comfort Christian any way possible. The night slowly wore on, and she remained by his side while the doctor worked silently. Tears rolled down his cheeks from the pain that had taken over his body. It even hurt to move his fingers on his left hand. Satine could hardly stand to see him like this, and tried her hardest to hold back the tears that burned her eyes uncontrollably. She had to be strong for him. At last, the doctor stood up and looked down at Satine. A small smile appeared on his lips, but she could see sadness in his aging eyes. "Will he be alright?" she asked a bit impatiently. "He is very sick, Miss Satine, and has a very high fever and hypothermia that he got from lying out in the rain for so long. He is very cold, and if he is not kept warm tonight, I-I wouldn't expect him t-to live through the rest of the week." Once again, Satine held back the burning tears that seemed to win the seemingly everlasting battle. Christian slept peacefully after he had been given a bottle of absinthe to help with the pain. His condition hadn't gotten any better, and talk of him being sick didn't make the future look too bright. The doctor explained to Satine that she must keep him as warm as possible and that he should get plenty of rest. He gave her medicine for him and explained everything again all before quietly closing and locking the door behind him.
After unmoving from her spot in the middle of the room staring at the door for at least two minutes after the doctor had gone she quickly turned around to see a sleeping Christian. Pondering on what her next decision would be, her mind drifted back to the doctor saying that Christian had to stay warm. She recalled his exact words over and over before deciding to take action. She had hardly noticed that Toulouse had said "Take care of Cwistian" and "Goodbye Satine" almost an hour passed. Knowing that he was just on the next floor should she need him, she started to change into her night gown that she so rarely wore to sleep. She couldn't remember exactly how it got up to Christian's garret, but she didn't have the patience to retrace her actions and find out. All she was worried about was taking care of her poet. His breathing came in short, raspy intervals perhaps from the two ribs that he had broken or maybe just from sheer pain. She couldn't be sure until he opened his eyes and told her, so she blew out all of the candles that gave the room its pale and even romantic light except for the two that glowed on the bedside table. The fire still burned on yet not as brightly as it had when first lit, but it still gave off a setting sun's worth of warmth. It was enough to get by for the night, and Satine knew that she wouldn't let him out of her arms for a second. After making sure the quaint little room was secure, she cautiously laid down next to Christian who stirred as she inched her way closer to him. When he felt her arms wrap around his back, he opened his eyes to her uttermost surprise. "Satine? I'm so cold...It-it's so hard to breathe....W-what ha- " He was cut off as she gently put a finger to his lips successfully quieting him. Again, she almost lost control of her emotions when she felt him shaking against her. Living in a world that always seemed so cold, she realized that however chilled she had ever felt nothing could be as terrible as what Christian felt; he was truly freezing. Knowing that the less clothing they had on, the warmer they would be, she gently laid him on his back and started to unbutton his white shirt. When she had finished, she lifted him up so that she could take the shirt off, and when she was successful in doing so, she threw it onto the chair next to the bed which she had occupied almost the whole time the doctor was present. She then laid back down next to him letting him cuddle close to her for the warmth that he so desperately needed. He gently rested his head on her chest and whispered a muffled "I love you" before drifting back into a painful slumber. Now that he was fast asleep in her arms, she had time to think to herself. She first thought about how terrible she had hurt him when she was forced to tell him that their love wasn't real after all.. She had wounded his heart so deeply, and she wondered if he would ever fully recover from the pain she had caused as well as the pain that the God forsaken bullet had caused. She quieted her fearful thoughts and looked down at her love. He was sleeping more peacefully than before, and his breathing seemed to be almost normal again. She lovingly stroked his hair and realized that it really was as dark as a raven's wing. How wonderful life was now Christian was in her world and safely wrapped in her arms once again.
To Be Continued..
The show was over. After so many tiresome and frustrating rehearsals and an opening night filled with loud applause and crowds filing in and out, here and there, it was finally over. Though this thought accompanied with a sigh of a job well done and satisfaction filled the bohemian minded cast, the mind of the star of "Spectacular Spectacular" was filled with grief and fear. Fear that she had lost the man that she truly loved, and this time it was for good. She felt that it was completely her fault, and, if at all possible, she felt that she could even destroy one of her many diamonds in her bountiful collection through her anger. But that was not important at the moment- she had to find Christian. The show had finally ended after what seemed like a lifetime full of agony and pain, and she heard it when the curtain fell. It was a loud bang, the loudest she had ever heard followed by a cry of pain that was muffled from the rain that had pounded the ground and the red windmill at the time of these goings-on. She immediately rushed out of the dance hall transformed into a theater not noticing how fast she was actually running despite the weight of the heels that always hurt her feet so terribly. Somehow, deep down within her heart, she could hear Christian crying to her for help even though he had said that she meant nothing to him. She knew it wasn't true, and she knew that he did as well, but her heart told her to keep running, so that is what she did. It was almost 8:00, and darkness had fallen over Paris much earlier because of the storm. Satine kept running with tears streaming down her face as she did so. As she got closer, she could feel Christian's pain, and she knew she had to reach him. As she rounded the corner of the empty street next to the apartment where Christian stayed, she saw him. He was lying in the middle of the street allowing the rain to pour freely over his pale face, and she could barely see that his coat was covered in blood. He wasn't moving. She stopped dead in her tracks before she realized that there was still hope. At that precise moment, a tall and bulky figure appeared at the other side of the street, and Satine immediately knew who it was- Warner, the duke's manservant. That's when she ran to him even faster than before. She collapsed to her knees next to him, and quickly cradled him in her arms hoping to share every once of warmth that was left in her body to bring him back to life. She put her head to his chest and was relieved to feel a very faint heartbeat and a short and painful breath every few seconds. He was alive, but just barely. She quickly kissed his wet cheek and dragged him to the back street where they were sheltered from the rain and could not be seen. She tried to calm herself and slow her breathing so that beast of a man that was after her love couldn't hear her. She immediately took him in her arms and put her cheek against his forehead. She had never felt anyone or anything for that matter that was so cold. As Warner passed by, he looked around in a confused manner and ran back to the Moulin Rouge. After at least two minutes since he had gone inside and she was sure he was there to stay, she started to prepare herself for dragging Christian up to his garret that seemed so far away for once. Right as she started to lift him, a quiet sigh of pain escaped his chest, and his eyes fluttered open. She was the first thing he saw, and both of them had a dumbfounded stare on their rain and tear stained faces. "Oh, just tell me I'm dead, and get it bloody over with." His voice was slightly above a whisper. All she could do was laugh quietly and stroke his cheek. He hadn't had the time or the energy to recall the events of the night. "I love you, Christian," she whispered. "I know," he returned. He then gathered all of the energy that he could muster and leaned up to rest his head on her shoulder. "Let's get away from here." She very gently helped him to his feet and wrapped her arm around his shoulders so that he wouldn't fall as he slowly walked back up to the peaceful little room that he called his home.
As soon as they reached his garret, she helped him lie down on his bed and lit the fire for warmth that they so desperately needed. When he heard her trudging about on the lower level, Toulouse stuck his head down from the human-size hole in the ceiling. Before he even opened his mouth to speak in that lisped voice of his, Satine called back, "Fetch the doctor quickly, Toulouse!" He did as he was told without question of an explanation and returned more quickly than she could give him credit for with the doctor that could be found on the first floor of the same building. "How lucky," she thought to herself that a lifesaver could be in the same building as they were when he was needed most. They would need all of the luck in France to save Christian that night. Satine told the doctor what had happened to Christian, at least everything that she had seen, and he began to undress the half-unconscious boy. "It hurts so bad," he cried as she took his outreached hand and kissed it passionately. "Don't worry, darling," she returned as she caressed his hand. Toulouse covered him with blankets up to his chest to keep him somewhat warm, and the doctor focused on a wound just above Christian's heart close to his shoulder blade. "I have to remove the bullet," the doctor said, "and he should be fine if Iget this fixed up right." Satine nodded hopefully and continued to try and comfort Christian any way possible. The night slowly wore on, and she remained by his side while the doctor worked silently. Tears rolled down his cheeks from the pain that had taken over his body. It even hurt to move his fingers on his left hand. Satine could hardly stand to see him like this, and tried her hardest to hold back the tears that burned her eyes uncontrollably. She had to be strong for him. At last, the doctor stood up and looked down at Satine. A small smile appeared on his lips, but she could see sadness in his aging eyes. "Will he be alright?" she asked a bit impatiently. "He is very sick, Miss Satine, and has a very high fever and hypothermia that he got from lying out in the rain for so long. He is very cold, and if he is not kept warm tonight, I-I wouldn't expect him t-to live through the rest of the week." Once again, Satine held back the burning tears that seemed to win the seemingly everlasting battle. Christian slept peacefully after he had been given a bottle of absinthe to help with the pain. His condition hadn't gotten any better, and talk of him being sick didn't make the future look too bright. The doctor explained to Satine that she must keep him as warm as possible and that he should get plenty of rest. He gave her medicine for him and explained everything again all before quietly closing and locking the door behind him.
After unmoving from her spot in the middle of the room staring at the door for at least two minutes after the doctor had gone she quickly turned around to see a sleeping Christian. Pondering on what her next decision would be, her mind drifted back to the doctor saying that Christian had to stay warm. She recalled his exact words over and over before deciding to take action. She had hardly noticed that Toulouse had said "Take care of Cwistian" and "Goodbye Satine" almost an hour passed. Knowing that he was just on the next floor should she need him, she started to change into her night gown that she so rarely wore to sleep. She couldn't remember exactly how it got up to Christian's garret, but she didn't have the patience to retrace her actions and find out. All she was worried about was taking care of her poet. His breathing came in short, raspy intervals perhaps from the two ribs that he had broken or maybe just from sheer pain. She couldn't be sure until he opened his eyes and told her, so she blew out all of the candles that gave the room its pale and even romantic light except for the two that glowed on the bedside table. The fire still burned on yet not as brightly as it had when first lit, but it still gave off a setting sun's worth of warmth. It was enough to get by for the night, and Satine knew that she wouldn't let him out of her arms for a second. After making sure the quaint little room was secure, she cautiously laid down next to Christian who stirred as she inched her way closer to him. When he felt her arms wrap around his back, he opened his eyes to her uttermost surprise. "Satine? I'm so cold...It-it's so hard to breathe....W-what ha- " He was cut off as she gently put a finger to his lips successfully quieting him. Again, she almost lost control of her emotions when she felt him shaking against her. Living in a world that always seemed so cold, she realized that however chilled she had ever felt nothing could be as terrible as what Christian felt; he was truly freezing. Knowing that the less clothing they had on, the warmer they would be, she gently laid him on his back and started to unbutton his white shirt. When she had finished, she lifted him up so that she could take the shirt off, and when she was successful in doing so, she threw it onto the chair next to the bed which she had occupied almost the whole time the doctor was present. She then laid back down next to him letting him cuddle close to her for the warmth that he so desperately needed. He gently rested his head on her chest and whispered a muffled "I love you" before drifting back into a painful slumber. Now that he was fast asleep in her arms, she had time to think to herself. She first thought about how terrible she had hurt him when she was forced to tell him that their love wasn't real after all.. She had wounded his heart so deeply, and she wondered if he would ever fully recover from the pain she had caused as well as the pain that the God forsaken bullet had caused. She quieted her fearful thoughts and looked down at her love. He was sleeping more peacefully than before, and his breathing seemed to be almost normal again. She lovingly stroked his hair and realized that it really was as dark as a raven's wing. How wonderful life was now Christian was in her world and safely wrapped in her arms once again.
To Be Continued..