Enter Christine Daae!
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The sound of people shouting and carriages passing by woke Erin with a start. She was lying on an extremely fancy bed with silk sheets. The walls of the bedroom were painted a deep red color with gold trimmings. There was a large desk on the other side of the room next to two doors. Erin guessed that one was a closet and the other was the exit. Her eyes then fell upon the fireplace. She looked out the window and saw that the window was frozen over. It was winter.
"What was in that binder?" Erin asked herself.
"Binder?" A large woman wearing a maid's uniform had walked into the room.
"Oh, nothing. Where am I?" The woman came over and felt Erin's head.
"You must have fallen pretty hard." She looked into Erin's eyes and smiled. "You're in Paris."
"PARIS! I can't be in Paris! It's just imposs—oh wait." She slapped her head. "Stupid binder!"
"I'm sorry, but, what is a 'binder'?"
"It's like a book." Erin thought a little longer. "You can understand every word I say, right?"
"Yes."
"But I only speak English."
"Well, you're speaking very good French now."
"How is she?" Another woman walked into the room. She was tall, rather skinny and had long, curly, black hair.
"She fine ma'am."
"Good. Well, how do you feel?"
"Like I just past through a rip in the space/time continuum. Why?" The tall woman gave Erin a very confused look and then nervously smiled.
"Right. Well, there are some clothes on the chair over there that you can wear." She got up to leave.
"Wait!" The color had drained from her face. "While I was traveling I had a friend with me. Where is she?"
"Oh, she's just in the room across the hallway." She began to leave again.
"Wait. I'm sorry to keep doing this but may I ask what your name is?"
"Christine Daae. And you?"
"Totally amazing!"
"That's an odd name." She responded with a look of puzzlement.
"No, no, no. My name is Erin Perinovic."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Now, if you don't mind, I have things to attend to. Dinner will be ready in about a half an hour, so be ready."
Erin nodded in agreement and then quietly gave a thank you as Christine left the room. She practically fell out of the bed trying to get to the door so she could see how Carley was.
"Ma'am? Where are you going?" The maid asked.
"Well first, I suppose I should change my clothes. And then I am going to see my friend across the hall… that she is." Erin laughed at her little joke but the maid just gave her a confused look. "Sorry it's a little joke between me and my friend." Erin tried to put on the dress that had been draped over a chair by Christine but it was impossible. After several minutes, the maid offered to help get Erin into it. She whispered a thank you as she ran out the door and across the hallway to the room that Carley was in. It was picture perfect. Carley lay on the bed like sleeping beauty. Hands folded neatly while her hair flowed neatly on the either side of her head. A smile grew on Erin's face. She skipped to the bedside. "Hmm. Prince Charming woke sleeping beauty up with a kiss but," Erin stroked her chin. "I wouldn't kiss you if the world depended on it so… I'll just whisper sweet nothings." She leaned in close to Carley's ear. "BOOM!" Erin shouted as Carley shot up.
"OW!" Carley furiously rubbed her hear. "What did you do that for!"
"It was either that or trying to find some ice cold water. I'm just looking out for you best interests."
"Oh shut it." Carley started to look around and then her eyes got big. "Where are we?"
"Paris. At least that's what I hear. And I'm guessing were in the, oh," Erin looked at the imaginary watch on her hand. "1870's."
"WHAT?! How could this happen! We were just in Meg's apartment and then you touched the black binder and then… and then…"
"And then what? I would like to know what happened too."
"So, do you think this is like when you touched the TV and saw the Monkee's?"
"Yes, I do. But this," Erin walked in front of the door and held out her hands. "this, is no Monkee episode. This is a fan fic."
"Of what?" Erin crawled on to the bed and came very close to Carley's face.
"The phantom of the Opera." She softly sang.
"No! You're joking!" She breathed.
" 'Fraid not." Erin stood up. "Come on and put on this dress. Miss Christine Daae expects us for supper."
"No! Don't do this to me! This can't be real!" Carley started to put on the dress. She slipped it on with ease.
"Cheater." Erin grumbled, but Carley just smiled. They both left the room in silence and headed down to the stairs. At the bottom, Christine came out of a pair of doors to Carley and Erin's right.
"Oh! I was just going to go up and get you." Christine paced her hand on her chest and heaved a sigh. "You gave me such a fright!"
"Sorry, we did mean to. So what's for dinner?" Erin asked as they walked into the main dinning room. Carley's mouth hung open a tiny bit from the shock of actually meeting the real Christine Daae. Two waiters came and pulled chairs out for the both of them.
"It will be just a moment. Raoul will be finished shortly."
"What is he doing right now?" Asked Carley.
"Finishing some business with the managers of the Opera Populaire."
"André and Firmin."
"Yes. Have you met them?"
"No I haven't had the pleasure yet." Carley said with a frown.
"Well, maybe…" Christine paused to think. "Maybe tonight, I could introduce you to them."
"I don't think that would be -," Erin cut Carley off.
"That would be wonderful!" Carley caught Erin's eyes and then realized what she was trying to do.
"Oh yes! That would be absolutely delightful!"
"Tonight will be my last night performing there. You see, tomorrow, Raoul and I are going to London to be married."
"How wonderful." Erin wasn't paying much attention to Christine. Just then, Raoul walked into the dinning room.
"I am terribly sorry for being late." He leaned over and gave Christine a kiss on the forehead. "Those two just wouldn't stop talking."
"It's quite all right dear. Let me introduce you to our two guests. This is Erin Perinovic and… I am sorry I don't know your name."
"Carley Perinovic."
"Sisters! I never would have guessed." Raoul gave a small chuckle.
"Most people don't." Erin clenched her teeth. All she could think of was Erik's face as Christine and Raoul drifted out of sight on his boat.
"Darling? Do you think it would be a problem if Erin and Carley came with us to my last show?"
"That would be grand! I think there will be enough room in our box for them." Carley gagged involuntarily.
