The air was turning frigid, and Christian watched his breath as he exhaled
out on the balcony of his room. He gazed down on the Moulin Rouge, its
sparkling lights, dazzling, enticing red windmill, and he listened to the
sounds of joy and excitement of the patrons within. Arcee was in there,
probably tantalizing the men and women with her beautiful face, long sexy
hair, and eyes that even the greatest writer in the world couldn't
describe. And how his heart longed for her to tantalize him, even more so
than she already had.
Even as he thought about her, the guilt inside was beginning to grow. It was a horrid monster, welling deep inside of his chest. He wanted desperately to scream, the emotion was so overwhelming. But then again, as he thought about her still, the guilt resided every so slightly until finally he couldn't feel it at all. This strange feeling was still as new as when he first felt it; when he first laid eyes upon Arcee as she lowered from the ceiling.
"I try, but I can't seem to get myself think of anything but you." he sang lowly. Sitting down on a bench near his window, he clasped his hands between his knees. His head hung low, and he stared at the spinning windmill. "I wanna be with you, if only for a night, to be the one who's in your arms, who holds you tight."
*** At 2:15, Arcee had had enough. The lights, the make-up, the tight costumes that restricted her breathing and the hungry men that tried to fondle her and grope her. She quickly bolted into her room and shut the door, ignoring the strange man that had been following her. She collapsed on her bed; similar to the same position she had been in last night. Lying there a few moments, she stared at the moonlight that was shooting beams across the room in the dark. She moved her eyes to look at her dresser, and in her mirror, she saw herself. Sad, forlorn, and desperate looking all in one. She looked away disgustingly.
That was when she noticed Christian's shirt lying on the chair in front of her dresser. She had brought with her, and now it was here, and somehow, without evening realizing what she was doing, she was holding it to her face, breathing in his smell, and wishing that he was there.
Suddenly, for the hundredth time in the past few days, her door swung open, but this time it wasn't Zidler. It wasn't Marie. And much to her dismay, it wasn't Christian.
"I've paid for your company tonight, miss. I suggest we get started, hmm?" The man who had been following her said. He took off his top hat and his gloves.
Arcee, thinking quickly, sprung up from the bed and smiled broadly. In an airy voice, she sauntered over to him. "You'll have to forgive me, monsieur. I'm afraid I'm all...closed up for the night. Perhaps another can- can girl would like to keep your acquaintance?"
She started to lead him out when he placed a firm grip on her shoulder. "No, no mademoiselle, I do not think you understand. I have bought and paid for you...in fact..." he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a medium-sized velvet box. He let go of Arcee and opened the box, holding it up to the light and allowing her to peer at it. Inside, nestled in a soft silk pillow lay a pair of very large diamond earrings. They were at least two inches long, and the hunger down from a single 14K diamond. They a color she had never seen before, so dazzling it almost took her breath away. He pulled them out and clipped them onto her ears gently. When she gazed back into the strange mans eyes, she saw nothing but lust and desire. And as his hand traveled to the back of her dress, she was suddenly pulled into him, and he kissed her hard on the mouth. He squeezed her frail body so tight she thought she was going to suffocate. She pressed her palms against his chest to push him away, but he only held on tighter. Suddenly she was very scared, and she started to scream in a forced voice underneath his lips. He overpowered her and pushed her on to the bed. She tried to struggle, but no one would here her over the loud music from the club. As he kissed and groped her, she fought back tears and tried to think about something else, but her thoughts kept coming back to Christian. In some way, she felt as if she was betraying him, and she'd wish for anything not to be who she was, or look like she did, just to be with him. But she didn't even think he wanted her that way, and right now, she desperately wanted him. She wanted him to take her away from this place and the man who was lying on top of her. But he wasn't there.
**** He tried to stop thinking about her. He tried to shut off those feelings, to lock them away and never feel them again. But the more he tried to suppress his urge to go to Arcee, the more he wanted to. "God help me." He whispered. "What if I help you instead?" A voice said behind him. Christian turned his head and looked into his room. Toulouse stood in the doorway with a grin and a bouquet of red flowers. Christian smiled slightly. "And what do suppose those might do?" Toulouse grinned even bigger and hobbled over to Christian. "Go to her. You want to; I can see it in your eyes." Christian lowered his eyes. "Toulouse I can't." "You have to go on, Cwistian! You can't stay locked in this room forever!" Gripping Christian's shoulders tightly, Toulouse forced him to look into his eyes. "She wanted you to go on." Christian's eyes were full of pain. He was conflicted about his feelings. He did feel something for Arcee but how could he ignore his feelings for Satine so quickly? His heart was crying out but he couldn't heed its tears.
Christian looked to the windmill; the bright lights of it's spinning wheels antagonized him. Where was Arcee right now? What was she doing? What was she thinking about at this very moment? Standing, he took the flowers from Toulouse and headed for the door.
He stood at the doorway to the Moulin Rouge. The two doormen looked at him precariously, trying to decide if they should let him. He wasn't dressed in the normal formal attire that the club usually required. "I'm sorry sir, coat-and-top-hat are not optional." One of the men said, standing in front of the doorway. Christian held the flowers behind his back. "I know, but it's urgent. I need to see Arcee." The two men looked at each other and smiled. Christian deciphered the look right away. They didn't believe someone like him would even know someone like Arcee. He sighed desperately and tried pleading his way in. "Please believe me. It's very important that I see her." "I'm sorry sir, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises." "Please!" Christian shouted, startling the patrons who were entering and leaving the establishment. His heart was screaming by now. He needed to see her. He couldn't bare the pain any longer. "If you don't leave right now sir, we will escort you out." One of the men growled at him. At that moment, Zidler pulled up in a carriage with a group of wealthy men. Christian sighed a sigh of relief. Zidler knew him; he had to let him in. Christian yanked on his lapels as he passed by. "Harold please tell these gentlemen to let me in to see Arcee. It's very important that I speak with her." Christian's eyes wavered back in forth as Zidler pulled him over roughly to the side. "I'm sorry but I can't let you do that." Christian blanched. "Harold, please? I just want to." Zidler cut him off. "I won't have you messing with her head. She has a job here. I won't have you putting silly thoughts in her head about love." Zidler pushed Christian back, causing him to fall to the ground and gave a slight nod to the two doormen. They pulled him upward and shoved him towards the street where he fell again, lying there limply. Zidler's words hammered into his brain, he felt limp and weak. Is that what he did to Satine? Fill her head with silly thoughts of love? The flowers in his hand were brown now, crumpled and missing petals. It was hopeless, he thought. Absolutely hopeless. He would never love again. And Arcee would never know what it felt like to be truly and deeply loved. The world went on around him as usual. As he lied in the street, people passed him without giving him even a simply glance. Completely and utterly alone, his world collapsed in on him and he gave up. Until he heard a piercing scream so loud he felt as if his brain had shattered.
**** Arcee tried with all her might to push the man off of her. She punched and kicked at the air, clawing at his face and trying to relief herself from the pressure he had on top of her body. He grabbed at her clothing, ripping it with ease. "Let me go!!!" She screamed so loudly she thought that she heard the walls shake. Why wasn't anyone coming? Why wasn't anyone trying to help her? Crying and screaming as loudly as she could, her emotions caved in on her and she couldn't move anymore. The man atop of her slapped her hard on the cheek and her head swung limply to the side. With all her emotions and tears spent, she cried out with one more breath, with all she could muster. It was the only thing she could think to say. "Christian!"
**** Christian burst through the doors of the Moulin Rouge, knocking over both men. He ran at full speed through the courtyard, knocking past men and women, can-can dancers and waiters. He thrust opens the halls doors and entered into the screaming mass of patrons, dancing and shouting above the loud music. Into the backstage, he pushed his way toward Arcee's room. "I'm coming," was all he could think. Running and running, he finally came to her door and he tried to open it. The knob wouldn't turn. Another dreadful scream pierced through the air and Christian was dire in trying to get in. Taking a step back, with several dancers and attendants watching in horror at his ferocity, Christian sent a kick in the door that sent it flying open. Without hesitation or even a thought, Christian flew to the bed and grabbed the man by the jacket and threw him to the floor. "Christian!" Arcee cried out, hugging her torn clothing to her body fiercely. Christian dropped to his knees and began to beat the life out of her attacker. Punch after punch, the man laid lifelessly on the ground. The doormen from the front entered swiftly and tried to pry Christian away from the lifeless man on the floor, but Christian's angered only fueled him to fight them off as well. Rearing back his arm for another punch, he suddenly stopped, breathing so hard he felt as if his lungs might explode. "Christian?" He looked up into Arcee's eyes as she leaned over the bed, her cheeks stained with tears. She embraced him just as the piano began to play in the hall. "Christian, let's go." She whispered. Nodding, with no energy left, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to his flat. Not knowing what to say to one another, the two embraced one another tightly, afraid to let go. They held on to one another in the darkness of his room, listening to another's heart beats, and the lulling sound of their breaths. And although it was entirely silent, the sound of the piano's haunting melody from the Moulin Rouge could still be heard. The tap of each key felt like a whirlwind of fury, threatening to attack them. And yet, they clung to another. Christian tried to overcome the guilt that was plaguing him. Arcee was trying to forget everything about herself. And together, with their arms wrapped around another, they succeeded, falling into a deep sleep. Perhaps things would be better in the morning.
Even as he thought about her, the guilt inside was beginning to grow. It was a horrid monster, welling deep inside of his chest. He wanted desperately to scream, the emotion was so overwhelming. But then again, as he thought about her still, the guilt resided every so slightly until finally he couldn't feel it at all. This strange feeling was still as new as when he first felt it; when he first laid eyes upon Arcee as she lowered from the ceiling.
"I try, but I can't seem to get myself think of anything but you." he sang lowly. Sitting down on a bench near his window, he clasped his hands between his knees. His head hung low, and he stared at the spinning windmill. "I wanna be with you, if only for a night, to be the one who's in your arms, who holds you tight."
*** At 2:15, Arcee had had enough. The lights, the make-up, the tight costumes that restricted her breathing and the hungry men that tried to fondle her and grope her. She quickly bolted into her room and shut the door, ignoring the strange man that had been following her. She collapsed on her bed; similar to the same position she had been in last night. Lying there a few moments, she stared at the moonlight that was shooting beams across the room in the dark. She moved her eyes to look at her dresser, and in her mirror, she saw herself. Sad, forlorn, and desperate looking all in one. She looked away disgustingly.
That was when she noticed Christian's shirt lying on the chair in front of her dresser. She had brought with her, and now it was here, and somehow, without evening realizing what she was doing, she was holding it to her face, breathing in his smell, and wishing that he was there.
Suddenly, for the hundredth time in the past few days, her door swung open, but this time it wasn't Zidler. It wasn't Marie. And much to her dismay, it wasn't Christian.
"I've paid for your company tonight, miss. I suggest we get started, hmm?" The man who had been following her said. He took off his top hat and his gloves.
Arcee, thinking quickly, sprung up from the bed and smiled broadly. In an airy voice, she sauntered over to him. "You'll have to forgive me, monsieur. I'm afraid I'm all...closed up for the night. Perhaps another can- can girl would like to keep your acquaintance?"
She started to lead him out when he placed a firm grip on her shoulder. "No, no mademoiselle, I do not think you understand. I have bought and paid for you...in fact..." he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a medium-sized velvet box. He let go of Arcee and opened the box, holding it up to the light and allowing her to peer at it. Inside, nestled in a soft silk pillow lay a pair of very large diamond earrings. They were at least two inches long, and the hunger down from a single 14K diamond. They a color she had never seen before, so dazzling it almost took her breath away. He pulled them out and clipped them onto her ears gently. When she gazed back into the strange mans eyes, she saw nothing but lust and desire. And as his hand traveled to the back of her dress, she was suddenly pulled into him, and he kissed her hard on the mouth. He squeezed her frail body so tight she thought she was going to suffocate. She pressed her palms against his chest to push him away, but he only held on tighter. Suddenly she was very scared, and she started to scream in a forced voice underneath his lips. He overpowered her and pushed her on to the bed. She tried to struggle, but no one would here her over the loud music from the club. As he kissed and groped her, she fought back tears and tried to think about something else, but her thoughts kept coming back to Christian. In some way, she felt as if she was betraying him, and she'd wish for anything not to be who she was, or look like she did, just to be with him. But she didn't even think he wanted her that way, and right now, she desperately wanted him. She wanted him to take her away from this place and the man who was lying on top of her. But he wasn't there.
**** He tried to stop thinking about her. He tried to shut off those feelings, to lock them away and never feel them again. But the more he tried to suppress his urge to go to Arcee, the more he wanted to. "God help me." He whispered. "What if I help you instead?" A voice said behind him. Christian turned his head and looked into his room. Toulouse stood in the doorway with a grin and a bouquet of red flowers. Christian smiled slightly. "And what do suppose those might do?" Toulouse grinned even bigger and hobbled over to Christian. "Go to her. You want to; I can see it in your eyes." Christian lowered his eyes. "Toulouse I can't." "You have to go on, Cwistian! You can't stay locked in this room forever!" Gripping Christian's shoulders tightly, Toulouse forced him to look into his eyes. "She wanted you to go on." Christian's eyes were full of pain. He was conflicted about his feelings. He did feel something for Arcee but how could he ignore his feelings for Satine so quickly? His heart was crying out but he couldn't heed its tears.
Christian looked to the windmill; the bright lights of it's spinning wheels antagonized him. Where was Arcee right now? What was she doing? What was she thinking about at this very moment? Standing, he took the flowers from Toulouse and headed for the door.
He stood at the doorway to the Moulin Rouge. The two doormen looked at him precariously, trying to decide if they should let him. He wasn't dressed in the normal formal attire that the club usually required. "I'm sorry sir, coat-and-top-hat are not optional." One of the men said, standing in front of the doorway. Christian held the flowers behind his back. "I know, but it's urgent. I need to see Arcee." The two men looked at each other and smiled. Christian deciphered the look right away. They didn't believe someone like him would even know someone like Arcee. He sighed desperately and tried pleading his way in. "Please believe me. It's very important that I see her." "I'm sorry sir, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises." "Please!" Christian shouted, startling the patrons who were entering and leaving the establishment. His heart was screaming by now. He needed to see her. He couldn't bare the pain any longer. "If you don't leave right now sir, we will escort you out." One of the men growled at him. At that moment, Zidler pulled up in a carriage with a group of wealthy men. Christian sighed a sigh of relief. Zidler knew him; he had to let him in. Christian yanked on his lapels as he passed by. "Harold please tell these gentlemen to let me in to see Arcee. It's very important that I speak with her." Christian's eyes wavered back in forth as Zidler pulled him over roughly to the side. "I'm sorry but I can't let you do that." Christian blanched. "Harold, please? I just want to." Zidler cut him off. "I won't have you messing with her head. She has a job here. I won't have you putting silly thoughts in her head about love." Zidler pushed Christian back, causing him to fall to the ground and gave a slight nod to the two doormen. They pulled him upward and shoved him towards the street where he fell again, lying there limply. Zidler's words hammered into his brain, he felt limp and weak. Is that what he did to Satine? Fill her head with silly thoughts of love? The flowers in his hand were brown now, crumpled and missing petals. It was hopeless, he thought. Absolutely hopeless. He would never love again. And Arcee would never know what it felt like to be truly and deeply loved. The world went on around him as usual. As he lied in the street, people passed him without giving him even a simply glance. Completely and utterly alone, his world collapsed in on him and he gave up. Until he heard a piercing scream so loud he felt as if his brain had shattered.
**** Arcee tried with all her might to push the man off of her. She punched and kicked at the air, clawing at his face and trying to relief herself from the pressure he had on top of her body. He grabbed at her clothing, ripping it with ease. "Let me go!!!" She screamed so loudly she thought that she heard the walls shake. Why wasn't anyone coming? Why wasn't anyone trying to help her? Crying and screaming as loudly as she could, her emotions caved in on her and she couldn't move anymore. The man atop of her slapped her hard on the cheek and her head swung limply to the side. With all her emotions and tears spent, she cried out with one more breath, with all she could muster. It was the only thing she could think to say. "Christian!"
**** Christian burst through the doors of the Moulin Rouge, knocking over both men. He ran at full speed through the courtyard, knocking past men and women, can-can dancers and waiters. He thrust opens the halls doors and entered into the screaming mass of patrons, dancing and shouting above the loud music. Into the backstage, he pushed his way toward Arcee's room. "I'm coming," was all he could think. Running and running, he finally came to her door and he tried to open it. The knob wouldn't turn. Another dreadful scream pierced through the air and Christian was dire in trying to get in. Taking a step back, with several dancers and attendants watching in horror at his ferocity, Christian sent a kick in the door that sent it flying open. Without hesitation or even a thought, Christian flew to the bed and grabbed the man by the jacket and threw him to the floor. "Christian!" Arcee cried out, hugging her torn clothing to her body fiercely. Christian dropped to his knees and began to beat the life out of her attacker. Punch after punch, the man laid lifelessly on the ground. The doormen from the front entered swiftly and tried to pry Christian away from the lifeless man on the floor, but Christian's angered only fueled him to fight them off as well. Rearing back his arm for another punch, he suddenly stopped, breathing so hard he felt as if his lungs might explode. "Christian?" He looked up into Arcee's eyes as she leaned over the bed, her cheeks stained with tears. She embraced him just as the piano began to play in the hall. "Christian, let's go." She whispered. Nodding, with no energy left, he picked her up in his arms and carried her to his flat. Not knowing what to say to one another, the two embraced one another tightly, afraid to let go. They held on to one another in the darkness of his room, listening to another's heart beats, and the lulling sound of their breaths. And although it was entirely silent, the sound of the piano's haunting melody from the Moulin Rouge could still be heard. The tap of each key felt like a whirlwind of fury, threatening to attack them. And yet, they clung to another. Christian tried to overcome the guilt that was plaguing him. Arcee was trying to forget everything about herself. And together, with their arms wrapped around another, they succeeded, falling into a deep sleep. Perhaps things would be better in the morning.
