Christine waited out the day, feeling it went by much too slow. She simply couldn't wait to find out what Erik's answer would be. She hoped she could sneak away with him tomorrow night, for Raoul had informed her that he had plans to go out with his brother.

She sat on the balcony that night, listening to Raoul's annoying little snores, looking up at the stars as she did every night. She sighed and leaned back in the small chair that she was in, staring at the moon. As she began to hum the melody to "Angel of Music" she jumped at the sound of someone humming from below. She got up slowly, and carefully peeked over the balconies railing.

She gasped, as there stood Madame Giry, holding a letter. She was early! She ran across the room to the door, despite her effort to keep calm and not wake Raoul. She hurried and opened the door welcoming Madame Giry. "Madame! It is so good to see you again, but you are early!" "Yes, See...Monsieur Erik is rather eager to reply to your letters quickly, Christine. He awaits your replies with painful impatience." She smiled and hugged Madame Giry tightly. "Oh, Thank you Madame! For I am greatly pleased!"

She said her goodbye's and sat in the loving quarters to read the letter.

She jumped with excitement as she finished the letter. She was to see her beloved Erik tomorrow night at 7 o'clock to join him for a performance of Hanibal! Of course she would have to leave early to have a mask made, to bode with Erik's request.

Oh, the greatness of it all! She had to try hard not to yip in her joyous state. She was breathing quickly now. "Good, good! Just in time to sneak away from this place! Raoul would be long gone by then, and not due back for at least a few more hours!"

She whispered excitedly to herself, gripping the letter so hard that she crumpled it slightly.

She ran back upstairs and sat down quickly on the balcony with her pen in hand.

Erik

Oh, I am greatly excited! I simply cannot wait! And do not worry, a mask can be easily made within time. I shall wear one as you have asked.

I have already bought my gown, and I must say it does look rather beautiful! Oh, Erik! How much happiness this brings me! I feel like a teenager all over again!

Running off to meet her true love. Oh, how romantic it is!

Tomorrow evening is sure to be one to remember! I should arrive in your box, just before the performance. I will have Madame Giry escort me there, to be safe. How delightful this is, I tell you Erik!

I shall wait for tomorrow night, with great impatience!

Your Adoring Maiden

Christine

She sighed happily and tried her best to be careful with the letter, she slid it into the envelope and scribble Phantom on the front, like normal.

Trying to calm her nerves, she placed it in it's normal hiding spot in her vanity drawer, and laid down next to Raoul.

A shiver escaped up her spine as the cold sheets and covers touched her skin. She would find it much more difficult to sleep tonight, for her nerves were still shot with the adrenaline of knowing she was to see Erik tomorrow!

Trying not to think the thought, and failing miserably, she closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to caress her mind.

Eventually it wafted over her as her heart rate slowed, and she found her breathing back to normal. Relaxing at last, a smile spread across her lips, and she slipped into a dreamless sleep.

...

Waking that morning, she found a small note on her vanity. Opening it she found that Raoul had left for his day out with his brother, and she smiled.

Looking at the time she saw that she had exactly 2 hours to have her mask made, and her dress fitted before the Opera performance.

She escaped to her wardrobe and threw on her casual clothes, covering her shoulders in a red cloak. She picked up the box that had her dress hidden away inside and left it on the bed.

Picking out shoes that she would wear with the dress and slipping them on she grabbed the dress and her letter from the vanity, and hurried out the door.

On the way to the fitting shop, she delivered her letter to Madame Giry at the opera house. She hastily roamed into the shop where she would have her mask made and her dress fitted. Grabbing an assistants attention, she was fitted for a mask which she would have in half an hour.

She put on her dress for the seamstress and found that there were no needed changes for it, which only bought her more time.

Waiting patiently for her mask to be finished, she roamed around the shop, looking at masks on display that had been made before. Some were covered in gemstones, some with feathers, and others with glitter and gold!

She smiled and was tapped on the shoulder. Turning around the mask maker presented her with her mask which she peeked at before leaving. It was even more beautiful than she had imagined it would be! The same burgundy as her dress, small feathers starting at the middle point of the mask ventured outwards and poked just above her hairline. The gemstones covered the corners of the eye holes, and went around the masks outlining. The glitter and shine made it gleam even more so!

She smiled and thanked the mask maker, payed for the mask, and retreated into a woman's room. She checked her time, and saw that she now had 30 minutes before the performance should start.

She began to feel a bit nervous, but smiled all the more. She slipped into her dress, zipped the back and fixed the top so that the corset fit her comfortably. Slipping into the shoes again, she covered her eyes in a soft smokey ash, just where the mask circled around her eyes.

She slipped the mask on and looked at herself in the mirror. She was beautiful! Her hair, just the perfect color, and stood out from the burgundy, making it seem to glisten when she moved her head to examine her mask.

She took a deep breath and left her clothes in the room, suddenly not caring about where they were taken off to. She ran hastily in the heels, making it to the opera house with 5 minutes to spare.

Madame Giry met her at the front door, and escorted her to the Boxes through the back, away from the crowd. "You look beautiful Christine!" "Oh, why thank you Madame!" They exchanged comments, and soon came to the door of Box Five.

'This is it. It's time to seal my fate, time to reunite with My Phantom,' Christine thought as Madame Giry opened the door.