Title: A Better Life

Author: Sparkling Diamond Satine

Summary: A girl faces her drunken stepfather, who tries to abuse her. When she is hit by a car, she is given a second chance by being reborn in Satine, who has just died by Christian's side. ((I got this idea when my stepfather called me "incredibly hot" and then stumbled down the stairs...so this is trying to boost my spirits))

Disclaimer: I do not own Christian, Satine, or any other character in the Moulin Rouge. Please read and tell me what you think.

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It all started when my cousins left and I was left alone with my mom going up to her bedroom and my stepfather stayed downstairs, watching TV. I was on the computer, watching the Winter Olympics, and downloading clips from my favorite movie, Moulin Rouge. I heard footsteps come up the stairs. I knew that he had drunk some beer, but I didn't know just how much. I wished my mom hadn't fallen asleep, because I had a feeling something bad was about to happen.

I looked him in the eye, he was grinning madly at me. "I have a bad feeling about this," I said in my best British accent. I smiled at him, hoping he would just go away.

"I hope you don't mind me saying this...but you're so incredibly...hot," he whispered this last word.

My eyes filled with tears, but I tried to hide the fact that this horrified me, by grinning and turning away. He grabbed my arm, and I tried to get it out of his grasp, but he pulled me away from the computer, and I crashed into the wall. My mom didn't hear the crash; she must have been fast asleep.

As soon as I saw him advancing, I pulled up the window, climbed out onto the roof over our garage, and leaped down to the ground. I ran madly away from that house, afraid to go back. It was too bad I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. The next thing I knew, I was staring into the headlights of a honking car like a deer about to be road kill. ((A/N: great comparison, eh? lol))

I woke up, not really taking in my surroundings. I looked at what I was wearing and raised an eyebrow. I was looking down at some bloodstained Hindu costume, which was very revealing. I saw a man who was backing away; I didn't exactly know why he was scared, but I knew I would soon find out.

"This isn't possible..." was all he said.

"You...just died!" I heard a few people mumble around me.

I laughed at this and everyone stared at me.

"What's so funny?" the man asked. I finally recognized who he was, as my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. I remembered the set perfectly and I became frightened. I was in the Moulin Rouge! And to top it all off, I was staring up at Christian, and I figured out that I was in Satine's body.

"Um...I guess it's just because I couldn't have died if I'm getting up and walking around," I said, dumbly. I wanted time away from all of this excitement to take everything in. Wasn't I just chased by my stepfather? And now I'm in a nightclub surrounded by courtesans and the man who loved me was backing away, staring dumbfounded at me, because it appeared that I had just risen from the dead.

Christian finally got over his shock at seeing me open my eyes and stand up, and he walked towards me and took my hand. "Satine! We're finally free! The Duke has left and we can be alone forever!"

I wanted so much to say that I wasn't Satine, but I knew he wouldn't believe me unless I told him everything. I supposed he wouldn't even believe me then. Would you believe that a girl from the future was just transported into the 19th century to live the life of the now dead Satine? I sure wouldn't if I heard the story from my friend's mouth.

Christian led me away from everyone and I grinned. I never realized exactly how cute he was until I saw him there, with my own eyes, standing in front of me. I guess people look a lot different in person than on TV.

Christian brought me to his apartment across the streets of Monmarte, and I looked around at the place. It was really small, but at least it was clean. I wished I had brought some money with me, but I realized that American money would probably not buy much in France, especially if the date of the money was 1999.

"Christian...I think I need to tell you something," I started, trying to figure out just what I would say.

"You can tell me everything," he responded.

"Well...you see..." I couldn't quite find the words, but I formed a story in my mind, and decided it would be best just to tell what exactly happened.

TO BE CONTINUED

Note: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter, so far! Please don't flame it, flames hurt!