Part 5. Miles and Carlotta

Next day Christine and Raoul had plans to visit the two Giry's and ask them out for dinner. In the hall Miles once again gave Christine her coat, and stared at her. Christine sighed.

"What is it now Miles?" she asked. Miles smiled a little, still staring at Christine.

"You will have a visitor sooner today, so don't get sad about the Giry's." he said and then left. This time, Christine didn't say anything to Raoul. No secrets… Well... just this time. She thought. And no lies… If he won't ask me, I'm not lying. Raoul took Christine's hand and they started to walk towards Meg's home.

After lots of laughs (cause Raoul did tickle Christine… ) they where finally there, meeting Meg and Madame Giry standing out on sidewalk surrounded by bags.

"Meg!" Christine screamed and both Meg and Madame Giry turned their faces towards her and Raoul.

"Oh… Christine!" Meg said. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, we came to invite you for dinner… but it looks like you're going somewhere?"

Meg nodded. "Sorry Christine…"

"I'm on my way home child and I can't get there without Meg's help… So sorry." Madame Giry answered.

Christine nodded disappointed. "Okay."

"Sure it's okay?" Meg asked.

Christine nodded. "Completely sure." She gave her friend a hug, said goodbye to Madame Giry, took Raoul's hand in hers and started to walk home again.

"It's bad that they couldn't come…" Raoul said but Christine, who was buried in her thoughts didn't hear him. "Christine?" he asked. And this time she'd hear him.

"Yes Raoul?" she asked.

"I said that it was bad that they couldn't come for dinner." He answered and then got silent again. Christine returned to her thoughts and reminded herself about what Miles had said earlier. "You will have a visitor sooner today, so don't get sad about the Giry's."

Suddenly Christine stopped and grabbed Raoul's hand so he would stop too.

"What is it Christine?" he asked.

"You will have a visitor sooner today, so don't get sad about the Giry's." she said and stared out in the air.

"What?" Raoul asked.

"Miles said so, "You will have a visitor sooner today, so don't get sad about the Giry's. He said that before we left…"

"Are you sure you're okay?" ha asked. "This is the second you've heard things from Miles that I haven't, even if I've been beside you at that moment. Are you getting sick? A cold maybe?"

Christine shook her head. "I don't know… Maybe… But will you hire a new butler if I asks you?" Raoul nodded and smiled.

"Of course baby, if that's what you want."

"Well, I don't know… but maybe another day or something. We'll see…"

They continued to walk home and in about twenty minutes the where there. When they entered the hall Miles where already standing there, staring at Christine.

"How did it go? Will they come for dinner?" he asked politely. Raoul shook his head.

"No, Madame Giry was on her way home so they couldn't." he answered.

Miles nodded slowly and then left.

"See, he didn't say anything that shows that he knew they couldn't come, and not that we are going to have a visitor either.

About an hour later Christine went to the kitchen to talk with Miles.

"Oh, Mame Daaé!" he said joyfully when she entered the kitchen.

"Miles…" she said insecurely and shook her head. "How… who… why? I mean… How can you know what's going to happen?" she asked and before he had time to answer she continued. "And who is coming to visit us? Why do you tell me all those thinks?" When he got time to answer he said:

"I don't know why I know things before they're happening, or, I know, but you will never. And it's your old competitor from Opéra Populaire that's coming, señora Carlotta. And why I'm telling you? That's one more thing you're never going to find out." He answered and Christine almost passed out in the shock.

Suddenly her eyes went grey and she just stared at him. "You… you… You know the Phantom… You know Erik…" Miles nodded.

"Yes mame, I know Erik."

The doorbell rang and Raoul went to open the door. He opened it and looked at the woman in front of him.

"Carlotta?" he asked surprised. "What are you doing here? Wait a second, I'll get Christine here." He left the hall for a minute and went to the kitchen and found Christine talking with Miles.

"Christine baby, Carlotta's here…" he said and suddenly Christine fell down on the floor.

"Christine!" Raoul ran to her, sat own on the floor side to her and turn her around. She had fallen with her face on the floor and it was full of blood.

"Oh god! Does she breathe?" Carlotta, that entered the kitchen after she heard the smash of Christine's fall, said.

Raoul putted his hand a centimetre over her mouth. "No, no, she's barely breathing!"