Gee. This leaves me in a very tight spot. I would ask my readers what they wanted to happen next, but hey, it's against da rules. Oh Well. Enjoy. I need to go mull over the void that is my idea stash.
Ch.3: The Happy Father
Raoul sat at his box-sized desk, feverishly writing letter upon letter to send to his beloved back in Pairs. His fellow sailors were outside on the frigid deck, smoking or yelling about politics. The poor young lover had written over a dozen letters since his ship had sailed that morning, each becoming more and more sickly in structure. He had attempted to write her a romantic poem, but found his poetry skills even more lackluster than his writing ones. Other sailors made fun of the brainless lover, calling him a pansy and a fool. A disturbing detail of the wooden surface caught his eye. " Dear God, I'm all out of stamps!" He then promptly fell over, banging his head on the bunk. He was found hours later, mumbling mindlessly " Christine… " He moaned as his fellows hoisted him onto a bunk. A man by the name of Wendell took a long drag on his cigarette, staring at the motionless form of the Vicomte. " Poor sap," He wheezed, " He's done gone lost his mind and we haven't been outta port for twenty four hours. He'll be a sniveling ball in two years, by the looks of things."
Christine leapt out of he carriage, hurling a twenty-franc note at eh cabdriver. He grunted in thanks, clattering off into the night. She slowly walked up the stairs of the Opera Populaire, shivering from the cold. Everybody would just be heading to bed now, his or her candles being extinguished one by one. The heavy door creaked an agonizing, perpetual creak that seemed to echo through the deserted front hall. With her hand on her stomach again, she hurried off to the dormitories.
" Meg?" She whispered into the darkness. The rhythmic inhaling and exhaling of the sleeping chorus girls was almost noisy, a snore emitting from the darkness. She repeated her friend's name. A figure stirred.
" Christine? Is that you?" The blonde ballerina sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes blearily. Christine motioned violently for her to come into the hall.
" Meg, I need your help." The woman said in a low voice. Meg now held an expression of pure concern. " Anything. What's the matter?"
With a deep breath, she said, " I'm pregnant."
Meg was silent, then let out a high-pitched squeal of delight. " Christine, that's wonderful news! Oh, Raoul will be so happy!" Christine clapped a hand over her mouth. Meg's brown eyes practically spat confusion. She removed her hand and motioned for her to come closer. " Meg, this is not Raoul's baby." Meg put a hand over her mouth, her eyebrows high with horror and intrigue. " If it's not his, then whose is it?" She remained calm, much like a caring sister would. The girl motioned for her to draw even closer. " It's His, Meg." Christine whispered with a frightened glance at the ceiling and the floor.
Meg was silent again. " Y-you mean that it's Erik's baby that you are carrying?" She could practically hear Meg's heart stop. " Oh, my God."
Then Meg took Christine's hand, and with a gamey look in her eyes, said, " Alright! Let's hear some dirty details! That guy must be an absolute animal!" Only joking. She so did not say that. You only wish she did :).
" Well… have you told him yet? You are very lucky that Raoul's not around." Christine sighed. She knew this was true. " I will go to him now and ask him what I should do. Oh, God help me." Meg clutched her hand tightly in hers. Her face was quite pale. " Christine," She whispered, " I'm here for you. You can count on me for anything, you know that." Meg squeezed her hand, and then went back to bed, not finding any sleep all night.
As Christine descended those stairs to the hell below, her heart was pounding like a snare drum. Oh, what could he possibly say to this? Would he be happy? Knowing him, probably not. Perhaps he would be sad? As she tried to force the butterflies fro her nerves, a length of rope twined around her neck. The girl cried out as two powerful hands forced her arms behind her. She whirled around, looking a livid Erik in the eyes.
" You have some nerve to be showing your face around here again!" He roared. A bit of spittle rolled from his mouth. He was pretty damn angry. " I ought to string you up by your throat and leave you for the birds! How dare you?" The rope cut into her throat, her arms beginning to ache. " I-I" She could not get her words out. The man lifted her up and forced her against the stone wall. " How could you do that to me?" he shook the terrified girl as he spoke. " How could you toy with my emotions like that and then leave me like that? Was I nothing more than a quick fix to you?" The masked man was ranting now, tears stinging his eyes.
" Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tighten this rope. I could use one now." He looked fully intent on strangling her. You had to be careful with a man like him. " First of all, put me down. You may want to sit down for this." He narrowed his eyes, and then let her crumple to the floor. Erik plopped himself down on a step, Christine keeping her distance at a good yard. " Erik, please do not hurt me. There is a life more valuable than mine to protect." His gaze jerked up. " What are you saying?" he hissed.
" Erik, I'm pregnant."
The man was motionless for a moment, then a wide sneer spread across his face. " Well, my congratulations," He said in a mocking tone, " Who, may I ask, is the happy father?" She shot him her worst look.
" Oh, do not say that. You know perfectly well that it is you." At this, he froze, his fingers at his temples in mid –rub. He had been entirely sure that it had been the Vicomte whelk, but certain that it had not been he. With a disbelieving gaze, he looked up at her. She attempted a weak, shy grin.
" Oh, dear. What have I done?" He let out an expression of bitter remorse. Her life was ruined. " Well, have you told Raoul?"
She shook her head innocently. " I just found out this morning. He went on that Arctic expedition. He will not return for two years. He has no idea." Erik cradled his forehead in his hands, emitting a deep, dramatic sigh. " I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"
" Well, for now, the only thing we can do is wait."