Disclaimer: If you've seen it before, that means I stole it.
A/N: Thank you to those who reviewed, I appreciate it so much :) Um…I think that's it! On with the story.
Christine walked slowly down the corridor that would lead her to Meg's dressing room. She ran her hand lazily along the wall as she went, feeling her fingers drift up and down as they ran over the edges of the dark wood paneling.
Meg knew that she was all right. Her mother had told her, but had insisted that she not inquire about Christine further or attempt to contact her until Christine was ready.
She was ready now. At least she hoped so. In a way, she was happy she was finally going, she desperately needed someone to talk to…but how could Meg possibly understand?
Christine felt her feet hit hardwood as the carpet in the main hallway ended. She turned right and stopped in front of Meg's door. Christine knew she would be inside, rehearsal had just ended, she'd been listening through the hollow ducts underground.
She raised her hand tentatively, her fist rose to the door. She paused, then shook herself slightly. This was just Meg! There was no reason to be afraid. She pulled her hand back and knocked on the door, slightly harder than she had intended in her anxiety.
She dropped her hand and waited impatiently, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She heard the patter of Meg's footsteps and the door opened.
Meg's face split into an enormous smile. "Christine!" she cried as she flung herself onto her friend's neck in relief. "Oh Christine, are you alright? Oh Christine!"
She pulled away and realized that they were standing in the doorway, "Oh, I'm sorry, in all this excitement…come in!" Meg didn't wait for her to enter, she grabbed her hands and dragged her inside and sat her down on the divan.
"Christine…" she began but stopped abruptly at the look on Christine's face. "Christine, what is it? What's wrong?"
Christine was trembling and looked about to burst into tears at any moment.
"Meg, I'm sorry, I…I need someone I can talk to right now." She laughed then, but there was no joy in the sound. "But now that I'm here I don't know if I'll be able to say it…"
"It's all right Christine. You know I will always be here, if you don't want to discuss this now…"
"No," Christine said softly. "I came here to talk to you and I plan to."
"Oh Christine, I'm so sorry about Raoul," Meg said putting her arm around Christine.
"Thank you Meg," she whispered. "But…oh Meg it was horrible," Christine buried her face in her hands and leaned on Meg's shoulders.
Meg hugged her friend's small form against her own rocking her gently, "It's all right Christine, you're safe now."
Madame Giry strode quickly down the corridor. She had told Meg to meet her in her office nearly forty-five minutes ago and she hadn't shown up. She hurried to Meg's dressing room, angry about their delayed trip home.
She knocked loudly on the door with her stick. "Meg, are you in there?" she asked harshly.
She was about to open the door, but the knob began to turn and Christine came bursting out, she avoided Madame Giry's eyes and did not stop for a moment. She ran quickly around a corner and was gone. Madame Giry stared in the direction she had disappeared wondering what on earth that was about.
She stepped into Meg's room, and immediately knew something was wrong. Meg was shaking and her ashen face was streaked with tears.
"What is it Meg?" she demanded gently.
But Meg could only shake her head, "Let's just go home mama," she whispered.
The next day found Madame Giry nearly running through the halls of the Paris Opera. She had turned off of the main corridor and was now running through a stone passage. She stopped one hundred steps from the last turn and pushed a latch, invisible to anyone who did not know of its presence. She stood back as the door swung open and stepped into the darkness.
In her haste she had forgotten a lantern and she cursed herself for her stupidity. However, it didn't stop her, she ran her hand along the wall to guide her. She walked steadily and finally the passage opened up into a wider one. A short while later the underground lake came into view and she could finally see by the eerie light the lake seemed to reflect.
She ran her hand along the wall searchingly. Her fingers brushed the cord, which she grasped and pulled firmly. She sighed and leaned against the wall, the morning paper clutched in her fist.
Erik and Christine were in the sitting room, each reading separately and silently as they had taken to doing after lunch. At the sound of a bell going off Christine jumped, dropping her book in alarm.
Erik looked up at his alarm system with a frown, but relaxed when he saw which bell was ringing. Christine looked at him, obviously afraid that someone was attempting to break into the house.
Erik stood to leave. "It's all right Christine. I'll be back in a moment."
Erik left the house quickly wondering what Madame Giry wanted.
He stepped into the boat and rowed swiftly across the lake, approaching the east bank where he knew he would find Madame Giry waiting for him.
He saw her before she saw him, his eyes being more adjusted to the darkness. She didn't even give him a chance to step out of the boat before she accosted him.
"Have you read today's paper?" she demanded.
Erik eyed her, "No, but apparently I should."
"Look, just there," Madame Giry said, handing him the paper and indicating the article that needed his attention.
He skimmed over the first paragraph and looked back up to Madame Giry, "Why does this concern me?" he asked.
"Do you not recognize the address?" Madame Giry asked.
Erik looked more carefully at the address she spoke of, and realized that he did recognize it, of course he did.
Erik look up sharply, "When did this happen?"
"Last night," Madame Giry said.
Erik read the article thoroughly now. Christine's home had been broken into. The residence next door was quite close and the neighbors had heard noises from inside. They had summoned the police and one man had been caught. Apparently they were still questioning him and they believed it may have something to do with the de Chagny murder.
Erik sighed and turned away from Madame Giry. "I had hoped that this would all be done with," he said quietly.
Madame Giry remained silent. Erik turned back to face her, "Is there anything else I can do for you Madame?"
Madame Giry opened her mouth, but shut it again quickly. She had wanted to inquire about Christine's welfare. After seeing her and Meg so shaken she wondered what was going on. Meg had refused to say anything saying she had promised Christine. But Erik had enough to worry about already without thinking about anything that may be wrong with Christine. And besides, if Christine had forced Meg to swear to keep it in confidence then Erik probably did not know.
"Nothing monsieur," Madame Giry said, "I will take my leave now."
"Thank you Madame Giry."
Erik quietly slipped back in the house, only to find Christine standing right inside the door.
"Is everything alright?" she demanded.
Erik nodded, "Madame Giry wanted a word with me," he said, quickly forcing the newspaper to disappear beneath his cloak.
"Erik you knew that didn't you? Why did you leave me here worried that you were in danger?"
Erik face softened a great deal, "I'm sorry that I worried you Christine, but you didn't need to be concerned about my welfare."
"Of course I was concerned Erik!" she said. She felt tears pricking at her eyes and saw Erik flinch as if it physically hurt him to see them. She wouldn't let them fall. "I'm sorry Erik, I guess it was silly."
Erik didn't know what to say. He couldn't imagine what had upset her so. Of course he had been all right. She seemed to care about him so… He raised his hand slowly as if to caress her cheek, but his fingers stopped an inch away and he was suddenly overcome by an intense longing to touch her. To really touch her cheek.
She looked into his eyes, almost willing him to move his hand toward her just that much more. Erik would never give her any physical comfort, which she often desperately needed. She remembered his fear as she forced him into that embrace…
She saw his fingers begin to tremble; she saw his eyes, locked onto his hand, and the look of longing therein.
She took a deep breath, then moved her head forward so his hand cupped her cheek. He looked up at her in shock, and she met his gaze steadily. For several moments he cradled her face and she closed her eyes to savor the sensation.
Suddenly Erik dropped his hand and walked quickly to the door to his room, which he slammed shut behind him.
Christine gazed after him as she let the tears finally fall from her eyes. She vowed to never shut out Erik from her room again, for now she knew how he must have felt.
A/N: Please review :)