A/N: Long last here it is! The answer to the mystery guy! But there are some questions that are not answered quite yet, which means you guys have to stick around. Thanks again for the reviews and to my beta Megan!

And to all those in London: I'm sorry to hear what happened and my heart and prayers go out to you and your loved ones. I feel this is whole terrorist thing is getting out of control and I wish that a peaceful solution will come sooner. I dedicate this chapter to those who lives were lost and injured and to their family and friends. After what happened on 9/11 no one should ever suffer the same way.

Chapter 7- Confessions of the Butterfly

A very bedazzled and irritated Meg glared down at the startled brunette. Her arms on her hips, Meg waited for her response. "Well?"

"M-meg!" Christine stammered. "I didn't hear you come in or knock."

And that was the truth. She never heard the ballet dancer enter and if she did knock, then Christine blocked the sound from her own distressed cries.

Meg went over to her and pulled her up from the floor. "You are not Christine." It wasn't a question it was a statement.

Christine opened her mouth to speak but silenced by Meg's raised hand. "Please don't lie to me anymore. I get enough from Maman."

Christine lowered her eyes and shifted nervously on her feet. Should she tell her? Madame Giry insisted that Meg should never know the truth, but she was her friend! No, she's not! She's Daae's friend. Meg Gary is your friend.

But seeing the hurt in the blonde's baby blue eyes almost made her resolve crumble. Almost.

"Don't deny it Chr- or whomever you are! How could you do this? What sort of black heart do you have to make up such a sick game?"

"Meg it's not like that-!"

"Oh it isn't? So going around pretending to be my best friend and making everyone believe you're Christine Daae is what? A practical joke? And how in the world did you even come to look like her? You would have fooled me if it haven't been for the Vicomte to show up as he did."

"Meg, I'm sorry but it's not what you thi-"

"Think! I don't know what I think of you! And Maman! She's in on this too isn't she? Or why else would she bother to help hide you. Where is the real Christine Daae? What did you do to her!"

Meg's frantic accusations stabbed Christine in the heart. She hated doing this but what other choice did she have? And she couldn't try reasoning with her. She got herself so worked up that any excuse coming from Christine would go in one ear and out the other! Tears pricked in her brown eyes but she refused to let them fall.

"Enough of the lies! Tell me who are you!"

"My name is Christine, but you're right. It's not Christine Daae it's Dallas," she finally said.

Meg blinked at her, surprised how easily she admitted it. "But how?"

Christine sighed. "I'm sorry I tricked you, honestly, I am. But your mother thought it would be safer if I never told you."

"Why?"

"You wouldn't understand. She said she wasn't sure how you would react, she probably meant this."

Meg Giry's features softened a little bit, but the visible hurt was evident in her eyes. "But where is Christine?"

Christine pitied the girl's helplessness. She didn't deserve to be drag along in this masquerade, but what else could Christine do? She had no idea how she winded up here; let alone how to get back to where she belonged. But looking at Meg reminded her of Megan and she couldn't keep this up anymore. She owed her an explanation to her actions and to Hell with the consequences if Madame Giry finds out, she surely believed that the older woman would know sooner or later from her daughter. Meg was her best friend. It didn't matter what time they were from. They were friends and will always be.

"I don't where she is," Christine confessed and that was the utmost truth. Meg looked away from her, her crestfallen countenance clearly shown. Christine wished she could tell her what she wanted to hear, but it would sound hopeless and false if she did. And she knew Meg would know as well.

"So if you don't know where she is, then I suppose Maman doesn't either?" Her voice came out tiny but it didn't disguise her poignant tone.

Christine shook her head. "I wish I did but I don't and neither does your mother."

The petite dancer let out a sob. "But… but you look like her!"

Christine rushed over and embraced her in an endearing way, relieved that she didn't shove her away. Meg held her back in return, her sniffles becoming predominant to her emotions. She let Meg cry on her for a bit before she pulled back, letting Meg wipe a few stray tears away from her now pink cheeks.

"I'm sorry I deceived you so Meg," she whispered. "It wasn't easy for me to do. You look like my friend Meg too and lying to you was like lying to her. I hated it but I had to."

"Why must you lie? You could have told me the truth. I would have understood."

Christine shook her head in an tsk tsk manner. "You would think so but you wouldn't. It's not easy to explain…"

"So tell me! I promise I won't tell a soul or my mother if that's what bothers you," Meg pleaded. "I just want to know. Please."

Taking a deep breath, Christine proceeded to tell her that she was from the 21st Century, how she came to be here, and how Madame Giry knew who she was and what she had her do. Meg listened intently, her childlike wonder returning when Christine explained how she and Daae were so much alike and about her and Megan Gary. When she finished, Meg was no longer in tears but they were replaced by idle curiosity.

"You know I should hate you so but I don't. I guess that counts for something."

"Thank you." And Christine really meant it. She was afraid what it would be like if Meg did hate her.

"So you're really from the future? Of what's to come?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

Christine laughed. Who would have thought that the time you came from could be so interesting to others? After a while Meg joined in with her, laughing out their hurt. It felt… good. A huge weight was lifted from her chest but there was still more but it was a start.

"So Christine, may I ask, where you got that necklace? It doesn't look like anything of Christine's."

The brunette completely forgot she was wearing it. She was so busy trying to figure out what she should tell Meg that hiding the necklace fled her mind.

"It's mine," she answered softly, lightly touching the pendant.

"It's lovely." Meg watched her and then held out her hand. "I think there's more for us to discuss. You actually and I know the place for the privacy."

Meg led Christine to the rooftop of the opera house, to Apollo's Lyre.

Christine held her breath at the breathtaking view. You could see the entire city from there.

Meg stood by her side, gazing out at the view, before softly saying, "Christine and I used to come up here all the time. And Maman would find us and scold us for missing practice. Ha, such fun times."

"I bet."

"I kind of suspected for some time that you weren't Christine Daae. I didn't mention it before since Maman told me to hold my tongue. But I'm sure you know what I mean."

"I do." Thinking back to the Angel of Music and Raoul, if Christine were in Meg's shoes she would have thought the same thing.

"Who are you?" Meg asked.

"The long or the short version?"

Meg shrugged. "We have plenty of time."

Christine nodded. "I guess I should start by saying that everyone here has some importance to me in the future. Ray is Raoul or I should say, Raoul looks like Ray. We were childhood friends. Meg, Ray, and I lived by each other and we used to play with one another until Ray's family moved to Florida when I was thirteen. We kept in touch for a while but eventually grew apart. My father, Charles Dallas, was a violinist like Christine's and he was extremely talented.

"We made a few recordings together, but the one I'll never forget was on my sixteenth birthday, he made a special CD for me. Any song I sang at some point in my life was on it. He always told me I would make it big and I did. And I have him to think for it.

"When I was eighteen, there was this talent show and that was where I was discovered. My agents are Andre and Firmin and before I knew it I was in Los Angeles with a record contract. It was so surreal if you could imagine. I went by the name Angel because it was my nickname and it suited my personality. Within a year I was a rising star on the Charts.

"I know what I'm saying might not make much sense to you, but opera isn't the only music around and most people don't appreciate it anymore. I grew up wanting to be an opera singer but this opportunity was at my feet and I couldn't refuse. I decided to live in L.A. and my friend Meg and her mother moved in with me. Though, everything hadn't been smooth sailing.

"You see, the media has been trying to get dirt on me for the longest time and they never had much luck, except for Caroline. She is the Carlotta of the future basically and we have the same agents. Ever since I walked in, Caroline had this chip on her shoulder. The good thing is that she can't control them like Carlotta does with the managers. But whatever she does to me it usually backfires and it shows when you compare our record sales. Then he came along.

"It was after a show in L.A. when I found a letter in my room. It was from a guy who wrote saying he loved the show and that I have a voice of an angel. But he advised me that I lack emotion, no zeal in the songs. So he explained some techniques that would help me breathe on stage so I'll be able to project my voice louder. Meg thought he was a show off but I tried it and it worked. And after that show I got another letter and inside the envelope was a silk red rose with a black ribbon tied on the stem.

"Meg called him my 'Letter Lover' and at the end of every show, every appearance I always got some message from him with a rose. It went on for a few months and I got to know a little bit about him through his writings. He was musician, himself, and he really knew a lot about how to help me to become better. My first tour was approaching and I was so nervous. He seemed to know that and sent like a hundred encouraging letters to me telling me I would do fine and he would be at every show. I thought he was exaggerating a bit on the shows he'll attend, but he felt it was time we met.

"The first concert took place in Detroit. When I was on that stage, I knew he was there. I never knew his name but I felt him watching me and I wanted to make him proud. It was one of the best performances I ever given and it was for the mysterious man who sent me notes and flowers. For an after party everyone went to Hockey Town Café for some drinks. Meg and I were chatting and the only thing in the back of my mind was about him. I wondered if he saw me and if he would show up here. It was a long shot in thinking that but I was afraid I somehow missed him or something. Anyways, I went up to get us some drinks when I literally ran into some guy's back. I was terribly embarrassed and as I looked up to apologize, I swear, time stopped. I knew it was him.

"He was taller than me, around six foot one, with clean cut black hair that was shiny as a new penny and the most gorgeous ocean blue eyes I ever seen. He wore nothing but black head to toe and it outlined his muscular frame so well. And his voice! It was so… entrancing. I could easily lose myself in his deep, intoxicating voice and do anything he asked of me. All he said was 'hi' and I was gone. I sold myself to the Devil that night and I would gladly do it all over again if I had too.

"We started talking and he admitted he wrote me all those letters and sent me the flowers. He was thrilled I took his advice. In fact he told me he was embarrassed to do such a thing because he didn't want to offend me in anyway. I laughed and told him I appreciated all of his comments. He didn't seem to me like the stalkerish type and we got along great.

"Meg eventually left for the hotel but I stayed with him. We talked for about another hour or so before he offered to take me back to my hotel. It was so gallant of him and I didn't want the night to end. We hopped into a cab and went to the hotel. When we arrived, he walked me up to the door and kissed the back of my hand, bowing to me while he said his good-bye. I was sad to see him let go of me, but I couldn't ask if he wanted to come up with me. It would send him the wrong message and I didn't want to ruin the evening. I asked if I would see him again and he promised I would definitely will. He turned to walk away when I realized I never got this dark gentleman's name. He smirked and said, 'Erik. Erik Destler.'"

Christine paused as the distant memory came flooding back to her. Meg watched her in awe as the rapture quickly disintegrated into bitter pain. She bit her lip as tears threatened to spill. She hadn't said his name for six months. Six months and it was out in the blue. His name echoed in her ears as a small weight seemed to leave her shoulders. It felt good on her lips to say it again and at the same time she cursed it. Oh how she hated him and loved him at the moment.

"I went into my room and right away Meg hounded me with questions. The one that stuck out to mind that I didn't have an answer for was 'Why is he wearing a mask?' To be perfectly honest, I never noticed he was wearing one. And you would think I would have seen it since it covered his entire right side! But I didn't and I felt bad about not asking about it. How rude is that of someone not to even the decency to ask? Then I thought, if… Erik (She had to wet her lips before saying his name again and it proved to be hard Meg noticed) wanted me to say something he would have brought it up by giving me some kind of hint. But he didn't.

"The next concert was in Philadelphia and just as he promised he was there. He bought a bouquet of red and white roses for me. We spent another night together and we went to a movie, um it's a play on a flat screen, forget it. Again, he ended the night the same way as before by returning me to my hotel and kissing my hand.

"Our little tour courtship continued and without telling me, I knew he was rich. How else could anyone afford to go to every concert and have enough to spend the night and airfare? He did and the only information he told me of his profession was that he earned a lot from sells and private shows and that was that. He never elaborated so I figured he wanted to keep it at a low-key. I knew he wasn't in the mafia or anything so I assumed he was probably a music owner because of his detailed background of the arts. This guy really knew his Mozart from his Bach.

"The tour ended in Sacramento and Erik asked me out to dinner once we get back to L.A. He lived close by and after the evenings spent together I couldn't let him go. I gave him my number and address and we made plans right away. I couldn't stay far from him very long. Traveling to city to city he was always on my mind and it drove my friends nuts. I couldn't shut up about him!

"When our date came, he came in a limo and waited downstairs for me. Before he came I was pulling my hair out over what to wear. I wanted to impress him. So I settled on this low-cut knee-length black slinky dress. His expression was priceless as I met him. I thought his eyes would burst from the look he gave me. He couldn't say anything and I remember smiling to myself and thinking, Hey, I did my job for tonight. I rendered my date speechless.

"When he finally got over his shock we went to dinner. While we waited for our drinks this teenage girl, around fifteen, came over to our table and asked Erik for his autograph. He was humiliated but wrote her a special message and kissed her hand like he did mine that left her all in blushes. It was the sweetest thing I ever seen.

"Erik apologized to me and I told him it was all right. I mean while we were hanging out I kept signing autographs every way we went. But it did leave me curious as to whom he really was. The girl knew Erik and I was dying to know his secret. He explained he was an accomplished singer and pianist. He's done shows all across Europe and had the pleasure to play for the Royal Family. Then it hit me. He was the 'Phantom'!

"My dad was a huge fan of his for years and owned every record he's done. I listened to them so I knew his style very well. I loved his music and he would be often accompanied by an orchestra and on rare cases sing the vocals. But when he sang… it was Heaven and you could feel yourself being transported to somewhere magical and beautiful.

"I didn't recognized him at first because the Phantom was never one the cover of his albums and he hardly does any concerts in America. He doesn't do interviews and if he does then it's all words and no pictures. He was like a ghost of a man. Imagine my surprise when he told me who he was! I always pictured the Phantom as an older man, around fifty maybe balding. But he was only twenty-six. Twenty-six! And the fact he listens to my music and not just classical came as a shocking as well. But Erik said he only listens to pop music because I was the only singer in the field that interested him. It was an honor to know that the aloof Phantom happened to be my number one fan.

"After dinner we walked around and then he took me back to my place. Outside my door, we said goodnight and then we kissed. I kissed plenty of guys in my time but with Erik it was new and exciting. I felt like I was fourteen all over again experiencing that moment when the attraction is known. The feeling of his lips on mine was nothing I ever felt before. It was so right and he knew it as well. And from that point on we became inseparable."

"Wow. He seems like Prince Charming," Meg commented. "I wish I knew someone like him!"

"Ah, but there's more. Erik and I were literally attached to the hip. Wherever I went he was there and vice versa. We were never far apart for long periods of time. The separation killed us and when we were together, it was electrifying. Meg swore she saw electric sparks shooting from each other when we stood by each other. He was the perfect man in every way. So polite and gentle as a lamb, though he did have his moments. He lost his temper easily and we did have a few heated arguments but making up was the best part.

"When we did fight it was always about Ray. Before I actually met Erik in person, I caught up with Ray Chandler. He was striving to be a guitar player in a band so I set him up with my own. It was good to see my old friend again, but there was something different. He still had his old charm but now it seemed like he got irritated all the time for the littlest reasons. He also took up smoking and drinking. It's a disgusting habit and I wanted him to quit but he stubbornly refused.

"One time he punched me but it was the booze. I forgave him. What else could I do? He was my best friend despite this distance between us. I loved him like a brother and I knew he would never hurt me intentionally. After that incident he cut back on his drinking but it didn't help much with his attitude. I told him about Erik and it was also the first time I admitted I was falling in love. I never been in love before so I wasn't sure how it felt, but I knew I loved Erik and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. Ray didn't seem to be all that happy about it but he did want to meet him, as did Erik. So I arranged a date for the three of us to meet at my apartment. Once Ray walked through that door, World War III erupted and it wasn't pretty.

"They disagreed over everything! No matter what was said that evening, one or the other had an opinion. They criticized over each other's jobs and clothes. It was like watching a couple of two-year-olds going at it over a toy. And the toy was I. It got to the point where a contest was being done over who knew me the most. It got so out of control so I sent Ray home. He was getting drunk and I was worried a fight would break out. After that I made sure those two were far apart.

"They were jealous over the other and as much as I love the possessive side of Erik it got to the point where enough was enough. I was not at all head over heels over Ray. I love Erik but it didn't seem to be enough for him. Men."

She stopped when Meg began to snicker. She laughed along until the tears did begin to spill. Meg noticed how her saying his name wasn't as painful as it was before. Christine wiped away a tear before continuing:

"I wrote to my father about Erik and he wanted to meet him. So we flew back to my old hometown for a visit. Since I was dating my father's favorite singer you could just envision his joy. I was worried he would scare away Erik from his enthusiasm, but Erik didn't seem to mind. He listened to my father's playing before so they both had plenty to talk about. Erik never played violin before and he wanted to learn so my dad taught him. I was happy to see them getting along. Erik got along nicely with Meg and her mother and now my father. So the disaster with Ray didn't seem as bad as I originally thought before.

"When we came home we were discussing about doing a CD together. We talked about it briefly before and we decided let's do it. It would be fun and we would get some great publicity. He had a recording studio so we did everything with some help from his producer. He played and I sang and for a few songs we did duet. It was the best project I ever done and the sales hit the roof! Everyone loved it so much we decided to do a tour together promoting it.

"It was perfect timing. Our first anniversary was approaching so it was the perfect get away. We were going over to Europe with Paris in mind as our first destination. It would be the trip I would never forget if I lived to be a hundred.

"The show went well and since we didn't have to go to London in a few days we decided to stick around longer. It was late out one night and we went for a walk. We were being followed by a group of Paparazzi. They were calling for us, but mostly at Erik. They've been trying for years to get a picture of what is under the mask. It was their goal to know who the Phantom was.

"We tried to get away but one of the photographers pushed me. I fell and scraped my knee. I wasn't hurt too bad, but Erik became furious and went to punch the one who shoved me when they all grabbed him. The same guy who pushed me came over and ripped off his mask."

Christine paused to let her voice to rest and for the memories to resurface of that unbelievable night. She closed her eyes and she could still witness it all over again. Erik's anguish cry when his mask was gone, the mortified facades of those Paparazzi it was too much. The pain in Erik's beautiful blue eyes will forever haunt her mind.

She heard Meg's quiet weeping. Without having to say much she knew what he must have felt. Meg Gary was the same way when she told her about Paris. Opening her eyes, she took a deep breath and went on.

"Not one single picture was taken. I thank whatever force prevented it for Erik's sake. Those cowards fled after they stared at him in disgust and shock. I heard this horrendous sobbing and realized it was Erik. He had his back to me, holding his face rocking back and forth, muttering all sorts of phrases towards himself. I couldn't believe what I heard! But the one that hit me the hardest was 'You can never love me'. I began to cry and I crawled over him, with his mask in my hand. I removed his hand so I could look at him. Really look at him.

"His right side was deformed but he had scars all over his face from numerous surgeries. His eyebrow was missing and there was a tiny scar underneath his eye. His cheek was a pale yellow warring with white. From the temple to his lower jaw, he had different textures of skin, due to the overlapping of skin from a malpractice surgery. His lips were two perfect curves and so was his nose. Unlike the others, I didn't see horror. Instead I saw this undeniable beauty and I fell in love with him all over again.

"I wiped away his tears and together we got ourselves back to the hotel. Erik had his mask on, yet he refused to look me in the eye. My knee was all right (there was a slight cut) but he made a fuss all over it. He was avoiding what happened but he wasn't going get away with it so easy. I asked him what happened and why he wouldn't talk to me. He blew up in my face. He never wanted me to see him. He tried to get corrected but he ended up with marks that never healed properly.

"He was hoping that I would love him for himself and he was convinced I would no longer look at him in the same way. I told him he was acting like a dumbass and that it didn't matter what he looked like I loved him. It was the first time I told him I really loved him. He was skeptical about it and claimed I had no idea what I was talking about. No girl would ever give him a second look when they saw what lay beneath and he saw the same reason for me to do the same.

"'How can you love a hideous face such as mine?' he asked and my first reaction was to hit him, but I grabbed his face and kissed him. I can still feel his tears on my skin as I kissed his mouth and then his marred cheek. I loved him with all my heart and I was trying to convey this to him through my actions. We both clung to each other as we cried. Our tears mingled together and it was the most beautiful moment in my life. Once we were able to compose ourselves he told me he loved me too.

"'It was love at first sight', he explained. The first time he saw me and heard my voice was on television. It's a box with a screen that shows different shows and people. Anyways, I was a guest on TRL. Erik took one look and found himself plastered to it. He couldn't believe the angelic voice he heard and he had to meet me. 'It was destiny,' Erik put it bluntly."

"And he started off with the letters," Meg interrupted, a goofy grin shining on her features.

Christine nodded. "When did you fall in love with him? From what you been telling me, I have to say when you actually met."

She shook her head. "You would think so but nope. It was his letters. Whenever I read them I felt like I knew the writer my whole life and he was now speaking to me. I fell in love with the man who wrote them before I met him and again when I saw his entire face without any barriers.

"We were so elated once we realized our feelings went so deep for each other. I know this might sound cliché, but that was the same night we made love for the first time on our anniversary. There are no words to describe it but it was incredible. I never felt anything so intense with Erik until then. It was like my soul was finally set free in his arms and it was beyond any words. I don't mean you should go sleep with the first guy you're serious with, but I knew Erik was THE ONE for me. We couldn't ignore this bond we shared and for the rest of the tour I found myself going to places I never thought possible to go to. It was wonderful."

"Sounds it," Meg said dreamily.

"When we returned to the States we decided to buy a house. At that point Meg and Mrs. Gary were no longer living with me. They bought their own apartment closer to the city where Meg worked. Erik and I moved towards Beverly Hills to a place that was private and secluded. We didn't want another repeat with the Paparazzi. I fell in love with the house instantly. It was a 19th century style Victorian mansion and it fit our moods and furniture perfectly. It was home.

"For the most part Ray never entered our lives all that much, except when we held a party or something. He usually had someone with him and he didn't start anything with Erik. It was just Erik and I in our peace. Last year, for my twenty-second birthday, he bought me this necklace."

Christine fingered the chain as Meg nodded in understanding.

"It was a token of our love. Erik would always joke about how he's the caterpillar and I would tell him if he was the caterpillar then so was I! But he would shake his head and reply with a smile, 'No you're not. You are the glorious butterfly that aspires the caterpillar to become one. That way she would fall in love with him'.

"'But she falls in love with caterpillar and wants him to stay the way he is. It makes him appreciate life the way it is and he is not stuck up like the other male butterflies.'

"He would respond, 'What if he wants to be a butterfly?'

"And I go, 'Well, too bad. I love him the way he is.'

"It was our inside joke and when he found this he had to buy it for me. I wore it everyday, no matter what I wore. This necklace was glued to my skin and I was never going to take it off."

"Your relationship sounds like out of a fairy tale! I can't see why there could be any problems."

"There was though. They weren't that bad and wouldn't be the reason for why we ended. Starting with my father. I've been trying for years to get him to move in with me, but he refused. He doesn't like California's weather, he prefers Michigan's unpredictable climate. And my mother is buried in Roland and he didn't want to be separated from her. So I try to visit as much as I can. Erik would come with me if he wasn't busy, which of course made my dad's day. He loved Erik like a son and he loved him like a father.

"Sadly, my dad had heart problems. He had a history of minor attacks for as long as I could remember, but it wasn't until after my birthday when he had a major heart attack. Erik, me, and the gang all flew out to see him. Ray had other plans so he couldn't go."

Christine's voice wavered and failed miserably to hold it in.

"He was so horrible looking! He laid, lifeless, on the bed hooked up to all these tubes and machines. I stayed by his side for a week, praying for a miracle. Erik stood by my side and did everything he could think of to help my father. We sang and he would play my father's violin. He would smile and mouth 'Thank you' and I thought he would make it. One day, while I finished humming a lullaby he would sing to me when I was younger, I bent to kiss him and he was cold. I panic. I called for Erik and within seconds he was there, trying to calm me down. I cried hysterically and he held me. I knew he was gone. The man who gave me my voice and was my everything was gone.

"Erik and I remained there for the funeral. God bless the man for sticking by my grouchy moods and me. I was so out of touch that I would pick fights with him for no reason. Erik was so understanding and he let me take my frustration out on him without any complaints. He was my Angel there.

"We returned home when I was feeling better. Erik never spoke much about his parents, but after going through my father's funeral, Erik opened up a bit.

"His dad came from a well-respected family. He was a good man and a very talented musician. The Destlers' were known for their musical prodigies since, well, this era I guess. He married a beautiful woman (Margaret) and within the first year of their marriage, Erik was conceived. Sadly, his father died before Erik was born. Now Margaret, Erik said, was spoiled to say the least and she expected her children to be as 'attractive' as she. Imagine her shock when he was born. Erik told me she was as fake as anyone could be. To put it mildly, she was a bitch. And though she did love her son she had a funny way of showing it. She forced him to wear a mask and she would rarely let Erik out of the house. He ran away at sixteen and lived with a friend, Nathan Kappa. Like his father, Erik had a passion for music and an exquisite voice. Nathan convinced Erik to pursue his talent and within a few months Erik was making it big. That was the birth of the Phantom.

"Being back at home was refreshing though the winds were beginning to shift. Ray and Erik were once again at each other's throats and there was nothing I could do to stop them. Both wanted me to do a CD with them at the same time. They couldn't handle the fact that I could do both, it had to be one. So I turn them both down until they learned how to get along.

"But when Ray and Erik weren't fighting it was nice and quiet. Erik and I were together for a couple of years and I knew I wanted to marry him. I often hinted we should take the next step, but he never said anything. So I assumed either he wasn't ready for that sort of commitment or that he was and he was waiting for the perfect timing to pop the question. I knew he was leery about his face if he would pass it on, but I assured him that if it happens it wouldn't bother me. I wanted to have kids, specifically his, but he seemed to be distant on the topic. He still harbored the fear I would leave him, though I gave him no reason to. I loved him and I never wanted to stay apart from him.

"Then one night we got into a heated fight. Ray invited me to go on a hiking trip and Erik didn't want me to go. It was only going to be for a few days and Erik was dead set that Ray was up to something. I had to draw the line there. I knew Ray for a long time and he would never take advantage of another's girl. It wasn't in his nature. I tried to tell him he had nothing to fear. If Ray did try to pull something, then I'll cut the trip short and come home. Then if he wants to go at Ray afterwards then okay. But I knew nothing would happen between us.

"Erik wasn't so sure about it. He told me this before, but he suspected that Ray had feelings for me. I thought he was joking. I mean, Ray and I knew each other since we were in diapers and I always saw him like a brother and nothing more. Yeah, I'll admit, that when we met up with each other I couldn't help but feel a little attracted to him. What girl wouldn't? But he was still the same old Ray. The one that would play house with me and the one who would dump worms down my shirt. He was Ray Chandler. The boy next door and there wouldn't have been a future.

"So we ended up saying things we didn't mean. I felt bad but Erik was becoming too possessive. If he wanted to go on a trip with his friends, I would let him. Even if he had a girl as a best friend. I would still let him because I trust him. The next morning I woke up to an empty bed. All of his belongings were missing. It was like he vanished into thin air. There was no note no nothing!" She broke down into heart wrenching sobs.

"He just left?" Meg gasped. "Why? It couldn't have been over Ray!"

"I don't know," Christine confessed. "I did everything I could to find him. I called his phone, agent, friends, anyone I could think of! Meg and I went to the places he hung out and there was no sign of Erik anywhere. No one seen or heard from him. I convinced myself he was out blowing off some steam and he'll return any day. I waited for days that turned into weeks and there was still no word from him. I assumed the worse that he didn't love me anymore. I just shut down. Nothing could have made me feel better. Everything I saw reminded me of him and what we had.

"It was a tough time for me and I realized I couldn't sing without thinking of him. And this necklace only kept reminding me of our promises. I stopped wearing the necklace and after a couple of months I decided to give up my career."

"Ah, so that's why you didn't want to sing anymore. I thought that was strange," Meg replied. "Oh Christine, I'm so sorry that happened! I had no idea. But how does the Vicomte and Ray fit into your sorrows?"

"Remember how I said Ray changed? Well, first off, he was glad Erik was gone. The man practically gloated while I wallow in my self-pity. He began asking me out continuously and I kept turning him down. As much as I despised Erik for leaving me with a broken heart, I couldn't let him go. There will always be a small part of me that still hangs onto this hope he'll come back. I still love him. Ray couldn't understand and when I told him Angel wasn't coming back anymore, he snapped. He hit me until I gave in and ever since he's been controlling my life and my career.

"I had to go back and sing. If I tried anything funny he would punish me. At that moment I hated my childhood friend. More than I could possibly say! He abused me not only physically but emotionally as well. He enjoyed violating me for his perverse pleasure and using me as his little puppet. I couldn't escape from this Hell. My friends were Ray's friends so they wouldn't believe me if I told them. And Meg and Mrs. Gary couldn't tell something was wrong from my fake cheery disposition."

"Do you think the Vicomte is like Ray?" the blonde asked softly.

"I don't know. Everyone here reminds me of someone I know, despite the difference in personalities. For all I know, Raoul could be a nice guy and nothing more. But I don't want to 'assume' he is what he appears to be. I can't let Christine Daae go through with what I been through. It's my way of making it up to her by disrupting her career."

"That's very noble of you," Meg commented. "I don't what to say but I'm sorry that happened. I would hate to see my friend go through such torture. You're very brave for putting it up with that fiend."

She laughed, not in good humor but as a release. "Thanks. I feel so much better now than I have in a long time. But please you mustn't tell anyone! I promised your mother I wouldn't speak a word and you must promise me that this goes unspoken."

The ballet dancer gripped her hand and squeezed reassuringly. "I promise. You have my word Christine. I'm glad you confided in me. You may not be my Christine but I still consider you as a friend."

Tears began gushing out of Christine's hazel eyes. "T-thank you Meg. I consider you as my friend as well."

Meg grinned. "Now that's out let's go inside, shall we? I would like to know more about my counterpart!"

"I don't know if that's a good thing," Christine told her as both girls left arm-in-arm.

Hidden in the shadows, a gleaming porcelain mask glowed through the darkness unnoticed. A lone tear fell to the ground.

TBC…