It truly broke Christine's heart when Erik told her to leave with Raoul. She had given a part of her to him. He casted her aside like she was nothing to him. He had let her go when she did not want to be let go. The relationship Christine had with Raoul had change since that night as did so many other things of the course of this year. She grew to hate Raoul. Some may ask how one grew to hate someone you once wanted to marry. Well that easy to answer, she hate him because he took the one part of her that still had her angel, Erik, touch away from her. Christine's angelic voice was destroyed. Raoul became a distant thing to her. He would only hurt her more if she did not do as he wanted. That is a how her voice was destroyed with her screams of pleads to him to stop. Christine realized now she loved Erik so much more than she ever love Raoul. So here Christine was trying to make her way back to Paris away from Raoul family estate. Yes, that right she left.
Christine was on a road dress in a servant or peasant dress. Her hair was hidden in a tan cloth. Her bruises were hidden from the world. She felt so alone. Christine never felt as alone as she did now. She slowly walked on. Wincing every step she took. Her ankles were so very painful from Raoul and Christine latest fight. She only had a small amount of food and only the clothes she had were on her back as well a small amount of money. Not that it really matter. She really could not speak. Christine had to stay hidden from the world. If Raoul found her she would be as good as dead. She truly did not know where to go any more. Part of her wanted Erik but at the same time she knew he did not want her. So where was she to go? She had no choice any more. Christine could not go back to her life she had before. She needed to move on. A carriage was come up on her.
She ducked into the trees that were by the road. Christine only hoped she would be able to find peace one day. It just pasted by which was a blessing for her. After it was about meter down the road she slowly came out from the trees. And then she continued down the road.
Christine life had taken so many turns in the past year that so out of her control. She had no money; she had no home. The more she thought on those things on her painful walk the more she realized that she could not go Paris at all. They would realize it was her and then her life would be over. But what was she to do. The tears started to well up in Christine eyes and slowly drip down her once beautiful face. She had no choice she needed to keep moving. Night fell quickly as she continued to walk toward Paris.
By morning Christine had reach the train station in Paris. She needed to get out Paris quickly. For she knew it only be a matter of hours before she would found. Christine did not stop to see any one. She simply waited for the train station to open. She sat by it and took out what little food she had left. She was starveling she had not eaten since breakfast yesterday. The fight had happen shortly after that then Christine left right after that. She dared not stop yesterday in fear of getting caught. She was also cold and tried but that could wait till she was on the train. When the ticket booth open she quickly brought a train ride for as far as her money could take her. The price of her ticket took Christine as far as Rouen.
Rouen, Christine guessed that is where she would make her home. God willing better than the one she had with Raoul.
When the train pulled into the station she quickly boarded. The cloak she had on covered her face. Ironic is it not, how Christine now hide her own face as her dear Maestro once did. She found an empty seat and sat down. She was trying to look like a no body and not be stared at. For she knew if anyone saw her and recognize her it would be over. An elderly gentleman sat next to her He held a package in his hand. He looked at her. In all reality he stared at Christine. She looked at him an unnerving look.
"Forgive me Madame, you just remind me of my niece. She passed away not long ago. What your name"
"Chris-"
Her voiced cracked then gave out completely. Christine nearly broke down in tears because her voice.
"Well Chris, are you planning to stay in Rouen"
Christine nodded her head yes.
"Do you have a place to stay once you get there?"
Christine shook her head no.
"Well, I was hired by a mysterious new owner of a manor. He is used to hiring oddities not that you are an oddity my dear. My name is Darren. Do you know how to clean, cook and sew my dear. "
Again Christine nodded her head yes. He took her hand his and shook it. Then he kissed the top of it.
"Then I can hire you as a maid of shorts. You will earn your kept and you will stay with me and my wife, Isabella."
About an hour later he asked Christine another question which she feared more than anything else.
"Have you always been mute Chris?"
"No"
Christine voice was still strained just from that simple word. He took her hand and smiled. Darren and Christine had a deep understanding of each other. He did not know her deep secret but he was willing to help her. When the train finally pull into the station roughly two hours later Christine rose and started to head out. Darren grabbed his package and then his bags. Then he followed her out of the train.
