Christine's eyes fluttered open slowly under the sun's assaulting rays. She could feel Raoul's arm around her as it was every morning. Her eyes glanced up to the endtable
alongside the bed. What she percieved stole her breath from her- on the table sat a deep crimson rose tied with black ribbon as well as a plain sealed envelope. "Raoul, Raoul
wake up...wake up"she whispered as she rolled over, her voice stressed and a slightly higher tone in her panic. She began to shake him violently, her eyes darting around the
room. Raoul woke up with a start, "Christine, what is it? what is the problem?" he asked as he waited for his own panic from such an abrubt awakening to settle
down.Christine's voice had now been stolen from her, she pointed at the end table, her eyes wide. Raoul caught sight of what was causing his love so alarm and nearly fell
out of the bed. "Christine, my love, we can't just sit here...let's give the fool the attention he so craves."he said panicked, though trying to remain calm for her sake. She
reached over to the table and retrieved the envelope, within were two letters: one addresed to "Glorious angel" and the other to "wretched boy". Christine passed the one
marked "wretched boy" to Raoul and opened her own and read aloud:
" My dearest Christine, my love and my muse,
How long it has been since last we met face to face...if I can even call it that. I must say my dear...my music has suffered since you left me... but
soon...our love will no longer hide in the shadows...you and I shall start a family in this very mansion, my love...together. My dear...you are just as glorious and wonderous
as the last time we met..your beauty has nearly brought me tears. We shall meet soon, my love, very soon.- your loving Erik"
"Absurd!" shouted Raoul. "Does he honestly believe he can steal everything from me? My life, my love, my home? I think I have played along with this charade too
long...next time I see him...I shall kill him." He took in a deep gulp and raised his own letter, he opened it and read it aloud:
"Boy,
We shall meet soon enough...i know your trigger finger is twitching...soon, boy...soon. By the way what a magnificent house Vicomte-.how kind of you to
welcome me to come and go as i please- and I shall do so...Until we solve this tiny dispute- The 'vile beast' "
Raoul flung the letter to the floor in rage and noticed something peculiar.. The "beast" appeared to have taken his time and written some sheet music on the back of the
letters. The vicomte snatched christine's from her hands and picked up his own, he took flight down the stairs and returned to the grand piano which sat forsaken and dust-
ridden.. He sat down and set his own letter in front of him. He began to play the music inscribed...shockingly a funeral dirge was the result...Raoul's breath left him for a
moment. He quickly pulled Christine's letter out and played the tune...to his surprise...the haunting echoes of the wedding march bellowed from the piano. Raoul's head
fell somberly into his hands as Christine entered the room.
"Raoul...what troubles you" she asked calmly, unaware of the music on the backside of the letters.
Raoul quickly suffed the letters away and threw on his coat, though still in his pajamas. "Nothing, my dear, nothing...I am going to the stables...I'll be back later" he said
hurriedly, and rushed out the door.