Chapter Six
Christine sat on the edge of the narrow bed, a small piece of paper in her hand.
She had been in Marseille for two weeks, a long refugee amid hundreds of others. But, unlike the others, she was not eager to leave...she stayed on waiting for word.
The note was from Sam, hastily scribbled and sent to her by heaven only knew what means.
"I am sorry...there is no sign of Erik...don't give up hope."
Her shoulders shook as she fought back the fear and the sobs.
Two weeks...two weeks of waiting, of nothing...now only a note, a note dated a week earlier.
"Mademoiselle Daae?"
She turned to Berthe Firmin behind her. Marseilles was crowded with endless refugees and, over the fortnight, Christine had been obliged to share the hotel room with strangers.
The Firmins had arrived two days earlier, a pleasant young couple with two small children. They had been very kind to Chrsitine, sensing that something was very wrong with her.
In turn, she did not burden them with her troubles and gladly offered to look after the children for them.
The slim blonde woman sat down next to Christine and gave her hand a friendly pat.
"Thank you for putting the girls to bed for me, Christine. I hope they weren't too difficult."
"No, they were very good. Not difficult at all," Christine reassured her, forcing a tiny smile.
"Well, Adele and Madeleine can be a bit trying at times. Louis and I have spoiled them. But usually, they are perfect angels.
At that last word, Christine's smile faded and she looked away quickly, the note crumpling in her hand.
"Christine, I am sorry. Did I say something to upset you? I didn't mean..."
Madame Firmin put a comforting arm around Christine's shoulders.
"You left someone behind in Paris, didn't you."
Christine looked at the other woman, saw the genuine sympathy in her pale blue eyes.
"He used to call me his Angel," Christine said softly.
"Poor Christine. You loved him, didn't you? You didn't want to go without him."
"Berthe, if Louis had told you to go without him, would you have gone?"
Berthe considered the question for a second, then nodded.
"Yes, Christine. If I knew that's what he needed me to do."
Berthe stood and picked up Christine's gray hat from the chair.
"Christine, I'm sure he is all right and he will come for you soon. Now, Louis is here in case the girls awaken and it's still early. Come outside with me for a few minutes...we can sit in the little cafe across from the hotel. You've been hiding in this room and you need some air."
As the two women crossed the drab lobby, a lad approached them.
"Mam'zelle Daae? I have another message for you."
She gave the boy a few coins and unfolded the paper. She felt her heart hammering when she saw Sam's familiar scrawl on the dingy paper.
Then she sank to the floor, the note fluttering down to rest near her face.
Erik is dead.