Author: Sparkling-Diva
Rating: PG-13 (possibly more later)
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Christine/Erik
Feedback: Yes, please! Also being nice would make me happy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gaston Leroux's Phantom or anything I might refer to based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of it. I also do not own the song "Out of Reach" by Gabrielle.
Summary: Christine makes an important decision that could forever change the lives of many…
Author's Note: Oh no! Christine must escape! Will she make it? Her friend is coming. Could she possibly help her?
Chapter 25
"They're here!" a maid called out in the distance.
Christine snapped out of her alone gaze as she stared at her and Erik's ring.
She then got up from her seat and made her way to the window. At first, she tried to see what the maid had talked about since she hadn't heard her clearly. She then saw on the pavement in front of the house manor a carriage being drawn up. She then knew it must've been Meg and her mother.
Thankful her close friend was here, she ran out of the room opening the door with a great blast and down the stairs as quick as a lurky shadow in hiding.
"Meg!" Christine yelled as she approached the entrance.
"Christine!" Meg exclaimed when Christine came into her view at the top of some entrance stairs. At the moment, she had just been helped out of her carriage.
"Meg!" Christine called out as she ran towards her friend for an embrace once she was now standing before her.
Meg then noticed that Christine was crying.
"Christine, what's wrong?" she whispered knowing that probably this wouldn't be something that her mother would be interested in knowing.
"Christine, it's good to see you dear. Are you alright?" Madame Giry asked as she soon approached them.
"I-I," Christine started.
"She's just a little in shock after the incident," Raoul said coming down the stairs in now a brand new clean suit and fake smile.
How can he act like this after what we have done? Christine wondered. I hate to say it but he sickens me.
"Sorry you could not have met with us sooner," Raoul said giving Christine a look.
Christine feeling very uncomfortable just turned away. Meg noticed this gesture and thought best to keep silent.
"'Tis unfortunate, true. But we needed to make sure everyone else had a place to stay and some final things were put in proper order. I'm just glad that I'm here alive with my two daughters. Christine was always a second daughter to me," Madame Giry pointed out.
"And to me a sister." Meg pointed out.
Raoul gave a stubborn look before becoming all cheery once and yet again, "Yes, well, please come in and drink some tea. You must be tired from the carriage ride."
"Shall I take your bags Madame an Miss?" Henry, Raoul's butler, asked.
"Yes, why of course. What a gentleman. There weren't many men like these at the operas. Everything was about the money. All about the money! Sometimes I dreaded to think whether they even cared at all for the actual opera and ballet," Madame Giry replied following Christine and Meg up the steps.
"But they must've," Raoul exclaimed trying to make conversation.
"Business is what Monsieur Andre and Monsieue Firmin cared about. Even when I was leaving the last thing I heard was them discuss and complain about how ruined they were. As if they were the only ones none the less! There are many more with worser problems you are aware."
"I'm…" Raoul said clearing his throat trying to look up at Christine, "I'm sure that it is a certainty."
"Monsieur, there is a telegram," another maid said handing a note to him.
"Thank you," Raoul took a moment to read it and muttered, "Oh dear."
'Is there a problem?" Meg asked concerned sounding determined that any piece of information might solve what had been going on with her dear and close friend.
"I have a meeting in town for some last minute business deals I must do before leaving. I'm sorry for this short notice but I must leave at once. Mme. Giry, please stay with Christine. You too, Meg," he replied.
"Yes, we will," Madame Giry replied with a smile as they proceeded to go on with their business.
"Christine?" Raoul asked in a more gentle tone.
Christine with anger and sadness just ignored him, turned away, and walked up the stairs. This left mother and daughter Giry to gaze upon with astonishment. What mother didn't notice, her daughter did. Meg quickly turned around to see Raoul with a sadness on his face staring from his childhood sweetheart back to then to the pavement until he turned around and boarded onto his carriage.
Something mustn't have been right.