Chapter Two—

Christine watched the opera come closer and closer.

"Park the carriage just here," Raoul instructed the driver, pointing.

The driver pulled off to the side of the road and let Christine and Raoul come out, handing them down their luggage.

"You missed it here, didn't you?" Raoul said with a grin.

Christine nodded, "Very much."

"So did I." Raoul said dryly.

Christine walked through the doors of the opera, her opera.

She trudged down the familiar halls and towards her room Andre and Richard had said in the letter would be theirs.

She opened the door and gasped with delight.

The room was huge, with two bedrooms, each with a double bed. There was a small chandelier in the main room, and the couches were white and extravagant.

"I didn't even know they had this room," She laughed.

Raoul frowned, "Neither did I. I expected a empty dressing room."

Christine nodded, "So did I. But this is so wonderful!"

"It is indeed."

Christine set down her luggage and walked into one of the bedrooms.

"It's beautiful." She gawked. The mirror up against one of the walls was rimmed in diamonds; a silver brush lay on the table. Christine walked over and picked up the brush, astonished at the carvings and deigns in it. They were neatly cut in perfect flows and patterns.

Raoul entered shortly after Christine, he smiled at her; "It is a nice room."

"How do they have this? I wouldn't think they could afford all of this and still have props and backgrounds for the shows."

"Maybe they just put in an effort. Meg is the star here now, perhaps she is making more money than Carlotta ever did."

Christine nodded sadly, "Or me."

Raoul's lips parted, "No… I didn't mean-"

"It's fine. I'm tired, I think I'll just go to bed."

"Oh, but there is a performance tonight. Meg so wanted us to see it."

Christine took a deep breath, "Yes, of course. What time is the performance?"

"Seven o'clock."

"And what time is it now?"

"Six-thirty."

Christine answered, "I'll get changed."

Raoul turned and walked out the door.

Christine slipped out of her small blue dress and put on an extravagant scarlet red one. She put in diamond earrings and a silver necklace.

She walked out of her room, Raoul was already waiting for her in a tuxedo; "You look marvelous."

Christine blushed, "Thank you."

The performance went along quickly. But Erik enjoyed it immensely. Hearing Meg sing so softly and sweetly and watching her from above dancing around the stage.

Erik could dimly see any particular audience members in the discreet light of the chandelier, but he could make out one specific figure: Raoul DeChagney. He knew Christine Daae would be next to him, but he had woman on either side of him, both of which were brunettes. One, he knew, was just a stranger, a woman he sat next to by chance. But one, one was Christine.

Erik tried to forget Christine was just below him and attempted to merely enjoy the show, but it kept eating at him, having her so close.

Erik just then made a decision, that very night he would see Christine.

Christine tied the strings on her nightdress. She looked at the candle before her and an image came to her mind.

All the candles blew out, leaving her in darkness. A voice came: "Insolent boy, this brave young suitor, basking in your glory. Ignorant fool, this slave of fashion, sharing in my triumph."

Christine flinched as the thought flickered through her mind. It was that night she met Erik, the first night she held him for the first time…

"Christine…" A low voice sounded.

Christine looked up immediately and she looked about, "R-Raoul?" She questioned into the air.

"Someday, you'll be a great and famous singer… I'll help you."

"Raoul? Raoul, this isn't funny!"

"Christine…"

Christine screamed, "Stop it! Leave me alone!"

The voice was gentle, but at the same time had a hard feeling to it, "You left me… now you can see what it feels like."

"Erik?" Christine screamed again.

There was no reply.

"Erik, are you there?"

Still nothing.

Christine looked frantically about, trying to find something, anything. "Come back! Please!"

Christine sunk to the ground, tears streaming her face, "Come back." She whispered helplessly.

A moment passed in an agonizing silence, and then there was a whisper, a song:

"Say you'll love me every waking moment. Turn my head with talk of summertime. Say you'll need me with you here beside you, anyway you go let me go to… that's all I ask of you." Christine sung softly.

Another string of silence.

"Say you'll share with me one love… one lifetime… lead me, save me from my solitude… say you'll want me with you here beside you… anyway where you go let me go to! Christine, that's all I ask of you!"

Christine bolted upright to her feet, "Erik!"

The mirror slid open and there he was.

Erik stood in his white mask and all black clothes before her.

Christine ran to him, but he put him hand out to stop her.

Christine winced, "What is it?"

"I only came to see you. I have done so." Erik said shakily.

He started to turn, but Christine grabbed his arm. "You built this room."

"This bedroom, yes. Who do you think paid for all of it?"

"And it was designed for-?"

"Yes. It was designed for you. I don't know why, I built this last month."

Christine gawked wordlessly and she took a deep breath, "I love it."

Christine leaned forward and planted a kiss on Erik's cheek.

Erik flustered, but he shook his head, "I must go now. Your Vicomte will be missing you."

"He went out to dinner with Monsieur Andre and Richard, he won't be back for hours." Christine said quickly.

She could see a longing in Erik's eyes, but he swallowed, "I cannot."

"What?"

"I thought I could look at you again… but I can't. I just can't."

Christine thrust forward and her took Erik's hand in hers, "But I can." She pulled forward and kissed Erik passionately.

Erik stared at her dark brown eyes, tears flooding his face like they had when she had first kissed him.

"Don't turn away now." Christine pleaded quietly.

Erik wanted to kiss her, to love her again. But then the door slammed. "Christine!"

It was Raoul.

Christine turned around, alarmed. "Raoul, you're not supposed to be home so early!"

"I eat quickly to get home- hey, unlock the door!"

Erik dropped his arm, which made Christine fall, almost to the ground, but she caught herself.

She gave him a questioning look, it was pleading.

"Your fiancée awaits you." Erik said resentfully.

Christine's eyes widened, she shook her head, "No- Erik!"

Erik slammed the mirror shut behind him, and ran off down the corridor.

Christine toppled onto the bed, sobbing unyieldingly

"Open up!" Raoul called.

Christine made no move; she just stayed on her bed. Sobbing quietly into her pillow.

So that's all I have, guys. I hope you like it! Review please, and give me some ideas or opinions. Thanks!

~Rosie

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