Onward!

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Christine barely slept that night, still confused and shaken. Half the time, she expected the Spirit's voice to boom out of the darkness, demanding to know why she'd left, condemning her to Hell. There was never a Voice, but the noises were very strange there. She heard bangs and electrical hums and horns and sirens. How did anyone sleep?

She couldn't deny her curiosity. Her words to Raoul were honest; she did have a sinful desire to see the world one last time. Ever since she was a little girl, even after the Spirit had spoken to her, she had wanted to experience the Outside again. It had been difficult to resist the opportunity with Raoul begging her, his handsome face so desperate and forlorn.

Raoul Chagny. He was right out of a fairy tale. If he'd reached her at sixteen, she would have jumped on his white horse and let him carry her far away to his castle. But not now. Not with the Spirit.

A knock awoke her from a shallow slumber as the sun began to rise. "Christine?"

"Yes?" she hoarsely asked. She blinked several times to reprocess where she was.

"Can I come in?"

"Um, I'm still in bed."

A pause. "That's okay."

"No, it's not. Let me dress." She pulled the covers over her in case he walked in.

"All right. It's cool. Let me know when you're done, okay?"

"Okay."

He was a man, her old friend, and an Outsider. And she had no idea whether to show him respect, friendship, or scorn. In the end, it was all three, but she had trusted him enough to take her to a safe place. She'd always trusted Raoul when they were children, and there was still nothing but kindness and concern in his eyes. He just didn't understand how things were now.

Christine quickly got up and slipped on a yellow dress with blue clovers over her undergarments, before pulling her long hair back with a yellow headband. She felt far too vulnerable and out of place here to shower.

"You look nice," Raoul said as she emerged. He scratched the back of his head, looking her up and down with an expression she couldn't read.

"Thank you." She followed him downstairs to where his mother was reading. It was difficult to keep her eyes off certain gadgets—televisions and radios and computers. So many sounds and pictures assaulted her senses at once. On the TV, a man in a suit and a woman in a very short red dress were dancing in a way that would have infuriated Cameron.

"Feel free to watch whatever you want," said Raoul. "Mom won't mind."

"I won't," said Judy. "Unless you turn it to football. Ethan always used to do that…. Haha." She smiled and turned back to her magazine. Christine found her kind of sad.

She quickly averted her gaze from the television. "No, that's okay. I don't want to watch anything."

"How are you feeling this morning?" Raoul asked. He held out a white box of assorted muffins toward her. "They're fresh. This lady down the street sells them."

She slowly chose an apple bran muffin. "I'm fine, thank you. Um, thanks." The sweet bread was moist and delicious. She'd never even had dinner last night. Mrs. Valerius must be so worried…. Christine couldn't even dwell on what the Spirit must be thinking without her heart beating into a frenzy.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," she lied.

"Good." He shifted. "So, uh, is there anything you'd like to see or do? I'd love to show you around a little bit. The nicer parts. Take you to a movie? Anything!"

She smiled. Her one last chance to see the World, and her mind was already going blank. "We could drive past our old elementary school. That'd be fun! And maybe the zoo. Or a mall. Or a park."

"Okay," said Raoul. "Well, I think the zoo is closed for renovation. But the rest sounds like a plan. Awesome."

She glanced down. "Will your mom come with us?"

"Probably not. She doesn't like to get out much." He probably noticed her dismayed expression. "But, hey, I know. There's my friend, Megan. A girl-obviously. Her mom used to be part of the community! In fact, she's the one who told me you were there. Do you know a Caroline Giry?"

"The name sounds kind of familiar." But Christine did remember her. The woman who lost her mind and was banished.

"Yeah. I'd invite my friend Anthony, too, but he can be a little over the top. So we'll keep it simple."

She nodded. His eyes were so hopeful, and his smile was kind and warm. If only he would understand how much trouble he was in out here, being part of the World. As he hopped up and made a phone call, she watched him and wondered if he could ever be convinced to join her in the community. Then he would be saved, too.

"Meg is going to take a bus and meet us at the front soon," said Raoul, slipping on a jacket. "Ready?"

"Yes," she replied. After running upstairs to grab the one knitted sweater she'd brought, Christine followed Raoul outside. His neighborhood was rather lovely in the sunlight, the houses freshly painted and the yards tended as well as the ones in the community. Not everything in the World was falling apart.

Raoul introduced her to Meg Giry, and Christine immediately noted that the girl was nearly her physical opposite. Her dark hair was cut short, and she was wearing tight jeans and a small lime green t-shirt. She had three piercings in one ear and a smile that was somewhat mischievous. "Hi," said Meg, curiously tilting her head to the side. "It's really nice to meet you."

"You as well," said Christine.

"Are you having a good time out here?"

"She just got here," said Raoul. "I don't think she knows if she's having a good time yet, right?" Christine was grateful that he spoke for her.

They drove around from place to place, and Raoul pointed out everything from their past. "So there's the park we used to play at. It's not so nice now. Stupid graffiti. And there's our school. I don't think any of our teachers are still there. Schools are pretty bad these days."

"Yeah, my old high school was turned into a two-star hotel," muttered Meg. She looked back at Christine. "What was school like for you?"

"Umm. Reading and writing and some math."

"But what about high school?"

Christine felt her face warm. "There were some different classes." The truth was that, after age fourteen, academic classes for women tapered off in favor of cooking and other homemaking courses. At least she'd been allowed to continue her music, both piano and voice lessons. The boys were permitted to have more history and science classes, and Christine sometimes read their textbooks when no one was looking.

Raoul must have sensed her discomfort and quickly changed the subject. "So there's the old museum. That closed two years ago. It was kind of sad."

"Wow," Christine murmured. It was all she could say in this urban jungle. Even small things caught her attention, like people walking their dogs through the park. Few exceptions were allowed for pets in the community; she did miss kittens and puppies. Children were defying their parents by running away and laughing. Teenagers were smoking cigarettes on a street corner, and a boy and girl were kissing fervently against a wall. The couple giggled and ran off hand-in-hand. Kids were drawing with chalk on a sidewalk in a nicer neighborhood, and that made her smile. Some of the walls had colorful murals painted on them. Art. There was so little of it in the community….

She hoped it was okay to eat pizza and soda. Cameron had never made a statement against the food at least. The steaming mozzarella cheese was divine, and she closed her eyes in delight. Raoul had taken her to a pizza parlor near his home.

"You look like you're enjoying that," he said with a grin.

She blushed with string cheese still half-hanging from her mouth.

"Don't embarrass her," said Meg, giving Christine a playful nudge with her elbow. "So what's next? Shopping? Ooh! Wait. I'm going to play old school pinball first." She jumped up and ran over to a machine that looked ancient. Clanks and beeps rang into the air.

Raoul softly laughed and then grew serious again. "So how are you doing, Christine?"

"I'm a little tired," she admitted. "This is all a lot to take in."

He nodded. "Maybe we'll do the shopping center tomorrow. And the zoo should be open next week."

"I won't be here anymore next week, though. Right?" She eyed him, heart thudding in her chest.

"Right," he softly replied, head hanging in defeat.

Raoul's goal for that day was to make this world as fun as possible for her. He took her to the few places that were still nice, well-kept parks and stores where people still bothered to paint the walls and take out the trash. He didn't pry into her life and quietly told Meg not to interrogate her about the community. Phillip also wanted a turn questioning Christine about the inner workings of Cameron's world, and Raoul still wasn't sure how that was going to work. He was going to delay that conversation as long as possible, until Christine was demanding to leave.

"Looks like you worked up a sweat playing that," he said as Meg returned.

"I got some bonus balls." She looked between them. "So what's up?"

"I think we're going to call it a day and maybe go back out tomorrow. You can show Christine what's left of the fashion world; I have no idea what's up with any of that."

"Sounds good! So you'll drop me off?"

"Uh." Raoul glanced back at Christine. "Well, she doesn't want to be alone with me in a car. So I'll have to drop her off with my mother, and then take you—"

"It's okay," said Christine, softly. Raoul glanced at her in surprise. "I mean, the car is fine. I trust you."

"Great," said Meg, subtly winking at Raoul. "You can meet my mom."

He was actually a little nervous about taking her to Meg's part of the city. Then again, it was pretty impossible to avoid poverty and decay in this day and age. As they approached Meg's door, Christine folded her arms loosely against her chest and looked around. With her modest dress and lack of makeup, she appeared very out of place. And kind of beautiful, Raoul thought, with a few strands of long hair blowing out from under her headband in the breeze. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were a little curious and a little lost. Raoul gently took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He was relieved when she didn't pull away.

"Yes, I remember you," said Caroline as she answered and greeted them. She seemed healthier, dressed in a black turtle neck and blue jeans that made her appear slender. "You've grown a bit, but I remember."

"How are you?" asked Christine. Raoul couldn't read her expression, but she seemed to be studying the older woman closely.

"I'm well. Happy to be with my daughter."

"Yes, that must be very nice. But I'm sorry you couldn't stay with us. Maybe the Spirit would let you back in?"

Caroline shook her head. "No. I don't want that. The Spirit allowed me to have this life, and I have learned to be grateful for it."

Christine smiled widely. "He did?"

"Oh, yes! It was his decision to return me here. Who am I to question him?"

Christine nodded eagerly. "He speaks to me."

"Does he? I didn't know he spoke to anyone except Cameron. What does his voice sound like?"

"It's divine! Directly from heaven!"

Raoul and Meg exchanged a subtle "what the hell?" glance.

"So you'll be returning?" asked Caroline.

"Yes. I must for the Spirit. He is in control now."

Caroline nodded. "I am sure he is. God be with you."

"And you," replied Christine, still smiling. Raoul somberly said goodbye to Meg and then led Christine back to his car. A heavy feeling was gathering in his chest. What could he show her now that would make her want to stay? Why did the stupid zoo have to be closed?

After a silent drive, they were back in his neighborhood. He climbed out of the car and spotted the park down the street where the wealthy could still allow their children to play without fear. Without a word, Raoul dashed over to it and jumped onto one of the rubber swings. Christine stared after him with wide eyes. After a second, she slowly walked to the playground and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Not everything's changed!" he exclaimed, pumping higher and higher. Maybe it was catharsis. Maybe it was one last futile grab at the past.

She nervously laughed and sat on the swing beside him. They swung together, her hair glinting in the orange light of the slowly setting sun and her dress floating out around her. He let out a cry as the swing jerked when he finally got too high, and Christine giggled. Finally, they both slowed and rocked back and forth, slightly out of breath.

"Are you going to stay here?" she softly asked. "In this city?"

"I'm going to help my brother for a while. But if things don't get better soon, I'm going to leave."

"Where are you going?"

"Maybe Europe or Asia. I haven't really planned it out yet. Things are better in other countries, though."

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" she asked, glancing away.

He sighed. "Chris, I wouldn't do well there. I don't believe in any of it. I'm sorry."

"You don't believe in God?"

"I think I do. It's not that. But I don't believe in following strict, old-fashioned rules to get into heaven. I don't believe everyone is damned just because they don't follow some old guy in a beard or believe in disembodied voices. That's a little over the top for me." He saw her expression and repeated, "I'm sorry."

"It's…okay."

"I wish you'd stay with me." He weakly smiled. "I'd take you anywhere you wanted to go."

Her blue eyes were distant once more. "The Spirit, Raoul. I believe in him with all my heart."

"I know you do. I just—"

"What?"

"I don't want you to be hurt if you ever find out that your Spirit isn't what you think it is. Like if it's Cameron manipulating you."

She shook her head. "Cameron doesn't have a voice like the Spirit. No mortal man really could. He sang to me once, Raoul, and it was really a voice from heaven. The Spirit is real."

"If you say so," Raoul murmured. He was done trying to argue, at least for now. "But you'll stay one more day. Please?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "I want another slice of pizza. Maybe Cameron would let me make my own version of it there, you think?"

Raoul gave a short, sad laugh. "Maybe."

They rocked back and forth in silence for a long time. Feeling like he was continuing to lose her, Raoul urgently tried to come up with fascinating activities for them to do tomorrow. It wasn't that he was desperate for a romantic relationship with her. Of course, he wanted it on some level, but, mostly, the thought of her going back to that place was devastating. All because of some horrible mind manipulation. What had they done to her?

Before he left the country, he would try to help Phillip destroy these sick people. Was that maybe the answer to saving Christine? First taking down the entire cult? The thought perked him up somewhat as they finally left the playground and joined his mother for a quiet dinner.

Was there at least a way to stall her any longer? Raoul wondered this as he headed to bed that night. He fell into a troubled sleep, only to be awoken several hours later by a deep rumbling outside. Then he heard shouts and another explosion, yellow and orange lights flashing through his window. Jumping out of bed, he threw open the door and ran into the hall. Christine and his mother were standing there in their nightgowns, clasping hands with wide, terrified eyes. Phillip was at his own place that night, and so Raoul took charge. "C'mon," he said, leading them down the stairs. "Let's see what's going on."

Signaling for them to stay back, he opened the front door and peeked outside. The smell of something burning was heavy in the air, and he coughed in the growing clouds of smoke. Flames were jumping out of the buildings down the block, around a post office and the café Raoul loved. At least both were closed at this hour. The roof was completely engulfed in fire, and the windows had shattered. "Holy crap," he whispered, taking several steps outside. Neighbors had also come outside to look at the glowing ball of orange.

He approached the street, wondering if there was something he should do. Someone had probably called the underfunded fire department by now. "I wonder what happened," his mother murmured. She and Christine had followed barefoot behind him, eyes fixed on the jumping flames.

"Must have been an accident. Faulty wiring or something," Raoul replied as they stood together on the curb. He was about to tell them it might be best to get back inside; the smoke was doing a number on his lungs. Before he was able, another explosion shook the ground beneath him, knocking him off his feet and onto his hands and knees. He cried out and heard Christine and his mother do the same.

Smoke filled the air so thickly that he could barely see a foot in front of him. Raoul's eyes watered, and he fell into a short coughing fit on the ground, lungs raw and burning. Once he'd recovered, he rose up from his sore knees, reaching out to grasp at the air around him. "Mom! Christine!"

"Raoul!" his mom cried. She stumbled toward him and grabbed his shoulders.

He hugged her protectively. "Are you okay?" he asked between gasps of breath.

"I'm fine," she replied. "Oh, what's happening? What's going on?"

"I don't know." He frantically looked through the fog as it finally began to clear. With some relief, he saw that there wasn't another fire—just an explosion of thick smoke. "Christine?" he called, turning around so many times that he became dizzy. "Christine!"

"Christine?" Judy joined him in his search.

"Christine!" He screamed her name as loudly as he could, still hoarse. The smoke had almost completely cleared by now, revealing her certain absence. A massive fire truck was now rolling through the gate, sirens blaring and lights flashing. "Christine!" he hollered over the growing noise.

He ran around the entire neighborhood and through the rooms of his house, all the while screaming her name. Maybe she'd become frightened and tried to hide? His mom asked neighbors if they had seen a young blonde woman. But no one had.

She was simply…gone.

What happened?

An explosion had knocked her to her knees, leaving her nightgown and hands splayed out on the street. Her hair flew out wildly across her face. Breathing heavily, Christine could only see clouds of smoke rising around her when she glanced up with a gasp, although she didn't seem to be directly engulfed. It was as though an invisible glass wall were protecting her from the billowing grey clouds, allowing her to still breathe and see. Her friend was no longer in sight, though.

"Raoul?" Her voice was weak. "Raoul? Where are you?"

"Christine….Christine…."

Her head jerked at the sound of the familiar voice. It rolled over her like the smoke, smooth and perfect. She slowly stood on two shaky legs, wondering if it had been her imagination.

"Christine…."

"Spirit?" she whispered. He had found her! Desperately, she turned around and searched for the direction of the voice.

Suddenly, a black outline of someone or something appeared through the smoke, looming over a foot above her. Two glowing yellow dots shown from the top of it. Christine shrunk back and stared at the silhouette, trembling. "Spirit?" It was a plea for help this time.

"Yes, my beauty. You will come with me now." Indeed, it was the Spirit's voice.

But what was the shadow? It was coming closer and closer, flying like a black ghost toward her. Her head was unclear, and her mouth was dry. "Are we returning to the community?" she managed to ask.

"Not yet, Christine. There are other plans to attend to."

She thought she heard Raoul's voice somewhere behind her and glanced back.

"Christine…." The Spirit's voice guided her attention forward again. She looked down with dazed eyes and suddenly saw a pair of shiny black shoes. There was the sensation of cool leather beneath her palm and fingertips.

The Spirit wears clothes….

That was her last thought before she felt a strange and peaceful exhaustion finally consume her.