Rating: PG-13 (T)

Genre: Drama/Romance

Summary: AU fic! She couldn't stand music anymore because of him. Christine "Angel" Dallas promised she'll never sing again until an accident sends her back as Christine Daae. Will she regain her love for music? And will she be reunited with a forgotten love?

Disclaimer: I decided that I'm saying this once and only once! I do not own any of the characters of POTO and if I did that will be awesome! But for now, I'm just borrowing them. And all the names of celebrities and such, I'm using because it fits.

A/N: I'm back again! Thank you all who read Lessons on Love! I hope that you continue to read this. This one here has been my favorite to write and I hope you all like it.

Since this is an alternate universe I'll be using the same elements from the movie, but I'm going to twist them and some of the lines to make it fit in the context of the story. There will be some references to Leroux's book (though brief).

There are going to be the mentioning of some adult themes but I'll post warnings for those chapters, starting with this one. Abuse and rape is mentioned so reader ye be warned.

This is in dedication to my friend, Megan, who gave me the inspiration and for listening to me endlessly about the Phantom and my story ideas. Thanks a bunch!

The Butterfly

By: Erik'sTrueAngel

Chapter 1- The Accident

Do not look back. Just go. Get the Hell out of here right now! Sitting in her car, Christine shifted the Porsche into drive and sped off away from the house, away from him.

Her right side ached from the latest "punishment" her boyfriend decided she earned minutes ago. No doubt it was over her upcoming tour that she didn't want to go on. She once enjoyed the trips on the tour bus but not anymore. Now the new songs and concerts were just torture. Not once did Christine put in her heart and soul into it like she use to. What was the point? Singing became a drag, a chore that needed to be done quickly. There was no point to it after he left…

It was hard to believe that Angel was energetic on the stage and that she was deemed as the "Sexiest Woman Alive" in People Magazine. Those were merely the good times when music meant something to her. Now she went on pretending she loved it and act as if nothing's happening. And she lost her "sexiness" meaning she was rank 15 on the Top 20. What happened to me? She thought.


Christine Dallas aka Angel was found at 18 during a talent show in the small town of Roland, Michigan. Her father was a brilliant violinist who made a couple of records, but was not too well known in the music industry. Christine usually accompanied her father in the vocals with songs that she wrote. She dreamed of making it big as an opera singer. But her dream did come close to what she wanted. She did become famous.

Two agents from Los Angeles heard her and automatically signed her up and within a few days she was on a plane to the Golden state with a contract deal with Popular Records.

The style the company wanted her to do was hip-hop and pop mix and within a year she was competing with Britney Spears over the Pop Charts. Angel was the latest singing sensation with many devoted fans from abroad. Christine wasn't too thrilled at first with the choice of clothing she had to wear during video shoots, but eventually grew to love the scantly clad outfits. She also became accustomed to the label "sex symbol".

That fact alone made her feel honored for she never considered herself as sexy. She led a clean life- no drugs, no binge drinking, and no wild nights at the clubs. Paparazzi could never find any dirt on Angel and so they resorted to false scandals, which always backfired on them. Especially the one that Christine supposedly made a video that put Paris Hilton's to shame. But there was no evidence of a tape or the person she was "with".

There were rumors, of course, that there was a rivalry between Angel, Britney, and Christina. There was no such thing for Christine never met two incredible strong women and she looked to them for advice on fashions and teaming up for tours. But that didn't mean she never had any rivals. There was one and only one- Caroline Giuseppe "Queen CG".

Christine could hardly remember what caused this strife, but it had been present since she started. She thought it had to be back when her first album, Angel Unleashed, became the number one seller in the States and in Europe. Caroline always had her CDs somewhere between one and two, but fifth? Something needed to be done and the Battle of the Press began. Caroline used any interviews she got to say something bad about Christine, everything from dance moves to the choice of hairstylist and choreographer. Caroline worked for Popular Records and was their top grosser until Angel came along. Then again, that could have been it, though Christine never was for confrontations. It didn't matter what Caroline said, Christine was the stronger person to keep on going and not make up stuff about "CG". And the fact they shared agents didn't do much for the already tense relationship.

But it didn't affect her in the least, despite the urges to rip her head off at times, but Christine learned to ignore the woman's griping and make the best of it. But she was proud to say her life hadn't changed her at all.

The sudden celebrity status came not only as a surprise to her, but to her friends and family back home.

Charles Dallas was pleased with his daughter's success, but wasn't sure how to cope with her style and labels. But Christine was sure that if her mother were alive she would be proud of her accomplishments. Marie Dallas died when Christine was five in a drunk driving accident. The intoxicated driver made it out alive and it was one of the reasons why Christine refused to drink at clubs. Alcohol usually brought back memories she wished to forget and she never wanted to imagine being like that driver that killed her mother. She rather have herself hurt in an accident relating to the vile drink than destroy a family.

Her father raised her in a music environment, which helped enabled Christine to express her feelings freely. She never could live her life without a tune in it somewhere. And it even meant if she had to sing about physical love she would do it, though she never experienced anything so personal with another human being in the beginning. Christine was modest in her own way, but an irresistible one at that that drove men crazy. She enjoyed the power she had over her admiring fans that brought the company more money and pushed her towards a "Grade A" rank.

The style she was performing was hip and that's what the record company and her agents, Rick Foster and Edward Andrews, wanted from her. Christine was a bit disheartened that her career wasn't singing anything with opera or classical in it. She intended, however, to make a few recordings of her own choice with her type of music. With this being said, she did one more recording with her father before he died and one platinum record with a certain famous pianist. It seemed that whatever she sang was the golden touch that made her soar. Her fans were very supportive in both parts of her career so it was a go ahead to try other types.

Christine never allowed her money or her new life mess up her old one. Her best friend will always remain Megan Gary.

The two were friends ever since they were born. There were jokes that the two befriended each other in the womb since both their mothers were close friends as well. They shared a sisterly bond and Meg's mother, Antonia, became a second mother to Christine. Meg was completely heartbroken when Christine left, but it didn't last long.

Christine flew Meg and Antonia out to California so Meg could secure her dreams of being a choreographer (her father, however, wanted to remain in Michigan). Christine hired Meg to be her back-up dancer and she appeared in every music video and every show.

Christine was also able to pull a few strings and got Meg the dream job of the century. She became Usher's choreographer for his Confessions tour.

Then came Ray Chandler.

He was an old friend of Christine's that used to live next door to her. Last time she saw him was when they were thirteen and Ray was trying to join different bands as bass guitar. He moved out and the two kept in touch for a few months before the writing dwindled off.

They met up, eventually, at an after party after a Simple Plan concert. She hardly recognized him without seeing him for seven years. His short-cut golden hair now had light brown streaks with spikes. He was well built and more rugged in appearance, but still had the same darling blue-green eyes that could make any girl's knees buckle. But despite the sudden masculinity, Ray was still a boy at heart and was still quite the charmer.

Ray came out to L.A. looking for a deal and with some help on Christine's part he became one of her leading guitar players. He also managed to make a solo record with a few duets with Angel.

It wasn't until a few months later that she met him. She would have to be a fool not to think those past two years were the best in her life. They were in ways she never imagined. But it has been over six months since she last saw him and even said his name. She was trying to forget him, a task that proved futile. He broke her heart and for that she could never forgive him.

When he left, Ray tried to go out with her, but Christine didn't want their friendship to change. She was attracted to him when they met up, but after being in the arms of another for a long time she didn't want to be in another relationship so soon.

This went on for two months, a dark period in Christine's life. She was terribly upset with him and for the pain he caused her that Christine went on a rampage and wrote many serious and dark songs. They were all about losing lovers and one about how a girl who used her love for his body and didn't care about him. It was a way for her to release the overpowering anguish she felt. The songs were private and only a couple that was considered "clean" she released to the public. But for the most part, Christine was numb and dead when it came to music. He was her inspiration for the love songs that became hits and even during her depression; the harsh tunes were hits as well.

Meg grew worried about her, especially with the latest themes she was working on. So Meg sat Christine down one day and they talked about everything. Christine, in tears, explained to Meg about it and her feelings and the reasons for such dreary songs. She never saw it ending. There were no hints that there was something wrong. Their relationship was perfect. Perfect.

But the biggest topic that came up was Christine's career. It was apparent she wasn't stable enough to continue on with singing. So Christine decided enough was enough. She was going to stop.

She knew her agents and the music producers would be upset for Angel's sudden out of the blue decision, but her heart just wasn't in it anymore. She remembered one day preparing a speech to break the news to Foster and Andrews when Ray came over. Christine didn't tell her friend what she had planned and figured it was a good enough chance to tell him.

Ray was dumbfounded. He didn't take the news lightly and told her his mind right away of how stupid it was for giving up a career just over some guy. But it wasn't just "some guy". Christine knew deep down she could never forget the impact he left on her even if she tried.

Ray left the house pissed and cursing her. She thought he was overreacting. It wasn't his career that was ending, it was hers and the choice was hers alone to make. It wasn't until a couple of days later when her life took a turn for the worse. Ray went over to her house and a heated argument started once he entered. It was about her decision. He didn't want her to end. But he let it go, only to ask another thing of her. And the outcome was above all, the least expected from him.

Now, she knew he changed over the months when they began working together. Ray would drink all the time and occasionally smoke, both habits that disgusted Christine and she tried to get him to quit. Then he punched her. That was the first incident and the first sign.

He hit her in the jaw but thankfully it wasn't anything that required medical attention. His first excuse was that he was drunk and she forgave him. Ray wasn't normally a violent person and everyone is entitled to lose their temper once and a while, but the action still disturbed her.

And just as she thought, Ray asked her out for what had to be the hundredth time and for her hundredth rejection. Once she turned him down, he grabbed her by the arm, twisting it so badly that one pull would have broken it. He then elbowed her from behind and shoved her onto the floor. Looking at him with shock and fear, he glared down at her like she was puppy caught in an act of wrongdoing.

"I'm tired of this Christine," he sneered. "You've been mourning over this loser for far too long and its about time you got over him. Now, we are going out and that's final!"

He was sober at the time. And sadly, Christine agreed for there wasn't anyone she could turn to for help. A year before her father died from a severe heart attack. She was terrified to tell anyone, even her close friends, in fear that someone would tell Ray.

Ray forced her to continue singing much to her protests. She learned quickly that it was best to submit to his wishes then suffer his wrath, which could be ignited over anything at any time.

Christine went about now living a false life. In pictures and interviews she and Ray looked so happy when deep down she was crying. There was no one for her to turn to. Her love had disappeared from the face of the Earth it seemed, leaving her in the clutches of this cruel being. Meg never suspected anything. She was completely oblivious to the uneasiness and shiftiness Christine became whenever Ray was in the same vicinity.

She thought that Mrs. Gary knew there was something was up, but couldn't understand why she hasn't approached her. Maybe she too was afraid of what Ray might do to Christine if she said something.


"I can't escape. Ever," she said aloud, speed picking up as she drove down the highway. She didn't know where she was going, but the only thing she wanted was to get far away from Ray and her depressing life.

"Why is this happening to me God?" she prayed but not expecting an answer. Everything was spinning out of control and there was nothing she could do. Christine never felt so helpless in her entire life and it just continued to grow worse.

Ray was usually smart enough to keep the beatings minimal and in places where it would be hard to see. Though she did get some cuts and bruises on her face and the invention of the cover up came in handy.

"How ironic," she mused. "Most of my songs teaches young girls to stand up to their troubles and make the very best of it, and here I am trapped." Once she said this, the overcast sky began to beat down with bitter tears.

Ray was too strong and powerful. And he's proven this almost every night when he was in the mood. Being violated made her feel worse than the beatings she got. Christine would try and forget the horrid action by imagining that he was there and that there was no Ray, just them, making love. Then the reality of it would hit her and all Christine wanted to do was shrivel up and die.

Sour tears began falling down her eyes as she swerved around a corner. She couldn't handle the abuse no more. When he left her spirit and will left as well. She hated herself for allowing Ray to control her life and she hated the world for watching her suffer. This life was a lie that she frankly fought against. Her speed became faster as the rain came down in the same pace.

"It's no use," she whispered. She closed her eyes for a second and she could almost hear his voice. His beautiful voice that would turn her into butter.

A horn blared bringing her back once more to the road. She saw the driver flick her off but ignored him. She knew she went into the other lane for a mere second and oddly enough it didn't bother her.

She turned on the radio and when she heard herself she quickly turned it off. Christine wasn't in the mood to hear herself sing.

She glanced down and for a second forgot to breathe. Lying inside the cup holder was something she thought she'd never see again. It came from him and it was a symbol of their love. The last time she saw it was-

Another horn snapped her head up and when she realized what she was heading at she slammed on her brakes. The tires screeched and then…

Silence.

TBC…

Just in case anyone is interested, I happen to love making cliffhangers and this is the first of many. –Laughs like a maniac- I hope you all like this so far. Don't forget to review! They make my day!