Chapter 6: Erik, Raoul, Christine
The last of Le Cirque Boheme's patrons stumbled drunkingly into the night. Music, laughter, and shouts of drunken mirth filled the nightclub quarter. Caroline left the backstage area and stole away into the night. She knew what the other people out would think of an unescorted beautiful woman at night, but she wasn't dressed like those women. Caroline walked passed darkened stores and windows until she came to the Opera Populaire.
Lights illuminated the building and music wafted down from open windows—music which differed from the music she just left. On balconies outside, couples sat talking and gazing at the stars. Caroline observed them for a minute and then stole inside.
She prayed no one had seen her as she slunk inside the Opera House. But somebody had seen her and was following her. Raoul and Christine were out on the balcony, getting a breath of fresh air, when Raoul spotted the form of his lover. Her presence at the Opera concerned him, so he excused himself from Christine, claiming to tend to some business. He quickly found Caroline and fell into step behind her. He knew she wasn't here to attend the Gala. She wasn't invited nor was she dressed for a gala. Raoul figured she had just come from Le Cirque Boheme's show. Her blonde hair was still up in the fanciful bun Caroline curled her hair into for her headpiece.
Caroline was unaware of her lover's presence behind her as she was trying to find Guilliame and Erik's lair. Guilliame had told her one entrance was through a loose board in Christine Daae's dressing room. Caroline knew that it was too risky that way, Christine was undoubtedly at the party and Caroline didn't want to explain herself. So, she was trying to find the backstage entrance to the lair. It was an ornate door hidden by velvet red curtains. No one in the Opera ever looked there anymore. Caroline pulled the door and realized she had to push the door to open.
Caroline began to walk down the stairs, Raoul trailing her carefully. Her shoes drowned his as the both walked down the stone stairs. Raoul wondered why Caroline was heading down to the deserted lair. Caroline untied a boat and pushed it adrift. She began to carefully paddle across the lake, cautious not to look down. Raoul took the other boat and carefully followed her as well.
Caroline reached the other side with no problem. Raoul crossed right behind her and hid in a secret spot he was already aware of from a past experience. He watched as Caroline hesitantly approached the gates. She pulled her cloak tightly around her to block out the chill. She also took her hair out of its bun, sending her curls cascading around her shoulders. After that, she slipped through one of the bars. Raoul kept his ear out.
Caroline was in the lair. She turned and came face to face with an older masked man. "Uh, hello," she said, nervously. "You must be Erik. I'm Caroline, Guilliame's student. Is he around?"
Erik glanced over the dancer. "Yes, he is. Hold on." Erik turned and disappeared in the shadows. Caroline stood fidgeting with her hands and her cloak. She started to wander towards Erik's organ, longing to play it again. She started to play something she had learned as a child and had long forgotten the title. When she was finished, clapping followed. She looked up to see Guilliame clapping and smiling.
"You never told me you could play the organ," Guilliame said.
"No one really knows I can. I really don't tell anyone I can. I haven't played in a while," Caroline explained.
"You play wonderfully," Guilliame replied.
"We can stand here all night arguing over my talent, but I'm getting tired," Caroline ended the potential argument.
"Okay," Guilliame said, "what brings you here? At this hour? With a Gala going on upstairs?"
Caroline smiled. "We have business to attend to. Adair informed me earlier that Myrcel is changing the show. We do it every month. Anyway, rehearsals are held during the afternoon. But we can still practice after rehearsal. For the week we rehearse, the club is closed. So night's pretty quiet and deserted. Can we reschedule?"
Guilliame pretended to ponder Caroline's proposal. "I don't know. That's asking a lot of me," he said.
Caorline's laugh brought Erik out. "Sorry," she said to the Phantom.
"No, no. It's just laughter isn't heard around here very often," Erik said.
"Oh," Caroline responded.
Guilliame smiled and turned to his student. "It's okay. Nighttime will be fine. Easier to slink through the Parisienne alleys at night anyway." Caroline smiled.
"Great! See you tomorrow night, then," she said, kissing Guilliame on the cheek. "It was nice meeting you Erik. I do hope we see each other again. Maybe you could accompany Guilliame one day? Two opinions are always better than one and I'm babbling so I'll be going," Caroline said, also kissing Erik on the cheek.
She left and Guilliame turned to Erik, saying, "Told you she was something else." Erik just stood there, holding the spot Caroline had kissed. "Don't start on her! I saw Caroline first, remember?" Guilliame joked.
Erik recovered his wits to reply, "I know! I know! Don't worry."
Raoul grabbed Caroline as she left. "What are you doing in there?" he demanded.
"Raoul! How long have you been here?" she likewise demanded.
"Since you came into the Opera House," he answered. "But how come you're here?"
Caroline pried his hand off her arm. "Guilliame offered to teach me to sing opera again. To really ensure the fact I get into the Opera and our plan will work," Caroline said. For a moment, a look came to Raoul's eyes, like he had forgotten about the plan.
"About the plan," he said slowly, " we have to return to Paln A. There is no way we can get Christine to go abroad. We will have to kill her," Raoul said.
Caroline was taken back. She still didn't want to kill Christine. "But Raoul-" she started to protest.
"Listen, Caroline, if you really love me, you will kill Christine. And stop seeing Guilliam or Erik, which is probably his real name," Raoul ordered.
Caroline recoiled; she didn't like anyone giving her orders. Raoul knew this and Caroline was upset he did it anyway. "Why? Why can't I see Guilliame, which is his real name?" she shouted.
"Because, if Guilliame is anything like Erik, he will try to kidnap you from me like Erik tried to do with Christine. And I won't allow it," Raoul said, concerned.
Caroline softened. "I'll think about it," she said and turned to leave.
She emerged backstage, only to run into Christine. "Caroline!" the Opera singer exclaimed. "What brings you here?"
"An offer," Caroline responded.
"Is Erik still alive?" Christine asked. Caroline hesitated, knowing not how to answer. "If he is, will you tell him I sing every song for him?" I'd appreciate that," Christine asked.
"Okay," Caroline agreed before dismissing herself.
"Wait! Caroline, have you seen Raoul?" Christine asked.
"I'm right here," Raoul replied, taking her arm. They walked inside as Caroline left the Opera Populaire.
She got home and went quickly to sleep. Her dreams were dark ones, and she couldn't sleep peacefully. She kept dreaming about how hers and Raoul's plans could go horrible wrong. Yet, sometimes, Caroline's nightmares were broken with peaceful images of her and Raoul married. Yet her dark thoughts always soon took over.
This last time, Caroline saw herself declared guilty for the murder of Christine Daae. In the crowd stood her weeping friends crying out:" We told you not to!" Also, there was Raoul looking up at her, playing the part of the wronged and grieving fiancé with a beautiful blonde next to him. Just as they were about to hang Caroline, strong arms saved her. Guilliame had caught her and was taking her away with him.
Caroline awoke, panting heavily. She was confused about what to do. She loved Raoul and wanted to be his wife, but she didn't want to kill Christine. Caroline decided to get advice from Guilliame the next day at rehearsals.
A/N: Sorry this took so long! My laptop went down when my AC adaptor blew and I couldn't start my laptop up again. I hope I haven't lost all of you yet! Thanks to all who reviewed! Mac