Prologue

Christine sat quietly in the carriage as it made it's way bumpily down the road to their destination of Saint-Jean de Luz. Raoul had wanted to leave Paris as quickly as possible and she had no complaints to this request. All of Paris reminded her of him and she could not stand to be in the city another minute in fear that weakness would prevail. The farther away she was from him, the easier it would be. Or would it?

She sighed as she rested her head against the side of the carriage. She loved Raoul very much and was happy to be marrying him. They would have a wonderful reception by the seaside with a few modest guests. It would certainly be romantic and wonderful to live by the sea. She longed to smell the fresh breeze; to have it tease her hair and play with her senses. She needed it to clear her mind.

Thoughts of her future were once invaded again by thoughts of him. Terrible guilt and crushing feelings invaded her chest every time she thought of recent events. How could she be so cruel? She thought to herself. What a terrible way to live! And yet, she wanted to be happy herself. She wanted to be safe; she wanted to be comfortable. She didn't want to live life constantly on the threshold. She wanted to know exactly what her future held for her and no more. But was the safest route the happiest and most fruitful route in the long run? Would she always be left wondering what could have been?

No doubt she loved Raoul very much and they would have a quiet and content life together. But when he looked into her eyes passion didn't burn in her heart. She didn't feel as if every moment were to be the last before ecstasy consumed her. What she did know was that he would love her steadily for the rest of their lives together. This wasn't a risky, burning, on-the-edge love, the two of them shared.

Looking at Raoul in the drivers-seat she smiled faintly and thought, what if things had been different? What if fate had dealt them all a different hand in life? Where would she be now? Would she even be here with Raoul in this carriage?

Pondering things like this hurt her head and she closed her eyes briefly as to relieve them of the strain.

"No more thoughts of darkness," she whispered to herself as the lolling countryside rolled by through the window.

Raoul had already found their new home together. He had made the journey himself shortly before they left Paris in order to arrange all the negotiations.

He fretted terribly over Christine before he left; worried that somehow something would happened to her in his absence. Raoul still held grave concerns about him. Concerns that he would come after her yet again; that he would go back on his word and hunt them both down until he had what he wanted. Raoul almost didn't leave but Christine persuaded him that their future needed to be planned and that she didn't want to get there unsure of their next step.

So after leaving her in the guarded care of relatives he left for two days and a night. Upon his return he was flustered like a young boy about what he had seen there. He had purchased a beautiful and secluded house on the hill which overlooked the whole town and seaside. She would absolutely adore it! He told her excitedly.

"It will be a wonderful place to raise our children." Raoul spoke to her. "They will grow up happy and never lacking all the things in life children should have."

Christine was eager to see her new home. So long had she known the cloistered confines of the Opera House that this secluded abode on the hill appealed to her longing heart.

Christine had her first view of their place when they rounded a corner coming upon the town.

"Christine my love!" Raoul called back to her.

"Look yonder on the hillside!" He pointed his finger outwards.

She followed the direction of his finger and was greatly pleased by what she saw.

Her effects had already been brought forward prior to their trip and she soon made haste in scurrying about into every corner inspecting what was now hers. Furniture had already been provided but she was sure she would put her loving touch on everything soon enough. She started to unpack trunks excitedly; tucking away gowns and dresses in the lavish wardrobes.

The wedding was set for a week's time and Raoul could hardly contain his joy. After Christine had finished inspecting the house thoroughly she decided it was time to inspect her environment. She needed a good walk in the air after all to gather her thoughts on the impending marriage.

"Yes, do go outside my love." Raoul said. "It will be good to get a little sunshine on your face. I'm afraid the years at the Opera House have made you quite pale."

He smiled at her and urged her on.

Christine walked down a small path on the hill as her eyes gazed out towards the water. The air blew coolly through the grass and she decided to take her shoes off and let the blades tickle her feet.

As always happened when she least suspected it, he came into her thoughts. Suddenly her little walk was not quite as cheerful as it began. Why should he suffer so when I am here being pampered and swaddled? She thought somberly. It pained her to enjoy anything when she knew what he was going through.

Christine's eyes glazed over and she no longer saw the seaside she had been gazing at moments earlier. She walked on aimlessly lost in thought.

Something caught Christine's eye and she stopped to see a very elderly woman picking berries on the side of the path.

Had she been there this whole time? Christine though. I don't think I saw her there before.

Christine felt drawn to the old woman with her wicker basket and knitted shawl so she stopped upon approaching her.

The old woman seemed to realize Christine's presence already and turned her eye towards her.

"Bonjour." Christine said to the old woman with a slight nod of her head.

"Bonjour." The old woman replied looking at Christine with a genuine smile.

She rose from the ground at turned to face Christine on the path. The old woman looked ancient with deep eyes and dark wrinkled skin. Her hair, gray and sun whipped, was pulled neatly into a bun behind her head. The two eyes that gazed out at Christine were piercing and Christine suddenly felt at awe to all the knowledge this old woman must have possessed.

"It is a beautiful day, is it not?" The old woman remarked to Christine.

Christine smiled back shyly. "Indeed, I was just taking a walk to think all the thoughts in silence I have built up recently."

The old woman continued smiling a knowing smile her way.

"You moved here recently, did you not? You live in the house over there on this hill." The old woman stated.

"I do!" Christine replied excitedly. "We just came here yesterday and I am still in awe at the beauty of this place."

"You are to be married soon?" The old woman continued to ask.

"Yes." Christine said. "In less than a week I will be married to Raoul de Chagny. We are going to have many children and live a happy life together."

"Do you say that to convince yourself?" The old woman asked. "I can see your face and look into your soul. I can tell you have doubts about this."

"N-no!" Christine stammered. "I love Raoul very much. I know we shall be happy together forever!"

Christine began to wring her hands agitatedly and a vexed look appeared upon her face. The way that woman had said that to her. Somehow, she knew she wasn't lying.

"Your life will be happy." The old woman said plainly and assuring. "But you will always have doubts. When you are alone and quiet as all is now you will think and wonder about what your life could have been. Out of the darkest recesses of your mind these feelings will come and you won't be able to contain them. You will never let them go. It will be your dark secret for as long as you shall live."

Christine stared wide-eyed at the old woman.

"How can you possibly know all of this?" Christine whispered.

For it was true. The old woman had seen into Christine's soul and described the very thoughts, the very feelings that Christine herself had tried to deny.

"My child," The old woman began. "I see and know many things. I hear and I listen. I could see the distress and uncertainty on your face a mile away. I could feel the troubles within you."

"It's true." Christine broke down and put her hands to her eyes. "I question myself all the time. I hate feeling this way! I know I love Raoul but I cannot stop thinking about him. In the dark when I'm alone I think of him. I feel his breath upon me. His hands touching and caressing me. And that voice! It will never leave my head!"

Christine's shoulders shook as she poured out her confession.

"I miss his voice." She said. "The way it seduced me and fulfilled me. When he sang every inch of my being was complete with his music. Oh God, how I miss it."

"If only it had not been this way." Christine said in despair.

"What if it had not been this way?" The old woman had said. "Would you have accepted him then as you reject him now?"

"If only he hadn't been put so low." Christine sobbed. "He hates and condemns himself as much and if not worse then the outside world condemns him. He would never be accepted by the world. We would never be accepted by the world. He will always live in darkness cursing himself."

"Are these things really important to you?" The old woman asked bluntly.

As she shook uncontrollably, Christine wanted to sink to her knees for being so weak.

"If… if only he had been the patron instead of Raoul." Christine sobbed. "If only Raoul and I had stayed childhood friends in our memories, never to meet again. If-if he had been born with a normal face and grew up with people who loved him. Then I could truly be free! Then I would not have these feelings eating me up from the inside! They will consume me and I will burn with them forever."

"You will learn to see," The old woman started. "That beauty is not skin-deep."

Christine was not even startled when the old woman approached her.

"Do you wish to see?" The old woman asked.

Christine looked at the old woman once more. Those eyes, so full of knowledge and compassion. She knew she could trust her.

"Yes." Christine whispered.

The old woman stretched out her palm and touched Christine's forehead. Instantly the world began to fade around her. Darkness came over her and she felt completely at peace. Then suddenly sparks of gold, purple, and green light came streaming at her. They were so brilliant and yet so soft at the same time. Christine felt them envelop her completely and when they faded Christine found herself squinting in the sunlight.