Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to "The Jewel Song" or "I Believe". "I Believe" belongs to Yolanda Adams and not me.

A/N: A big shot out thanks to my hip-hop teacher Miss Jennifer for the choreography and of course my beta Megan and to you lovely reviewers! I'm putting this up a day early because I won't be home at all tomorrow and I didn't want you guys to wait much longer.

Chapter 10- The Challenge

The day arrived much to Christine's delight. She spent the past week rehearsing her dance and song in her dressing room and secretly with Monsieur Reyer at night. No one else was allowed to watch, not even Meg. Meg hated the wait and it made Christine laugh to see the normal calm blonde all wound up.

She selected the black outfit she made and added a bright green sash from an old costume to put through the belt loops. She found a jacket she could wear over it so when the song picks up she could throw it off her as a shocker. Christine could only begin to imagine the looks she would get but it didn't bother her in the least.

Now that everything was in place all she needed to do was sing her heart's content and show Carlotta once and for all she's no common singer.

Other than that she did noticed a small change in Raoul. He was staying away on his accord and would politely smile and make small talk whenever they did ran into each other. But when they were together he did seemed to be on some kind of outlook for something or someone. She never asked him and he never said anything so she decided it best to let it be.

Christine assumed his change of heart must have been from the Phantom's threats, but there had to be something more to it. Why is he all of a sudden heeding the warnings? But she kept it to herself. Raoul maybe a nice guy but he was a little odd for her tastes.

On top of that, Christine started to have strange nightmares every night. A few times Meg had to wake her up because of her hellish screams. The brunette couldn't bring herself to tell her anxious friend they were about Ray. Like the one she had before, they all dealt with Ray beating on some poor girl.

But this time she saw who the girl was.

It was Daae. Every night when she closed her eyes the fear and pain came charging towards her and there was nothing she could do to stop them. There were countless times when the screams and cries from the girl caused Christine to snap. She had to help. She had to! But she couldn't. She would simply go through Ray like a ghost.

The only good thing about these dreams was that Christine never had to witness Ray forcing himself on the frightened girl. But it didn't stop him from hitting her. Hearing those wretched sobs haunted Christine. There was no escape from them.

At first, Christine honestly believed it was a resurfacing of memories of her and Ray. But she was beginning to realize they weren't. Despite how Ray made her feel, she would sometimes try to fight him but this girl wouldn't. She would let him take advantage of her and she would cry out for an Angel to help. Always an Angel.

Christine knew it had to be Christine Daae she was dreaming about. It could be of no coincidence. But she kept telling herself it wasn't. But the nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach told her otherwise.

What if it is Daae? She's an innocent! She doesn't deserve that treatment. If only I could help…

Christine didn't confide this to anyone, not even Antoinette. She didn't want Daae's surrogate mother to know that at this very moment Daae could be getting a beating of a lifetime. But what if she was wrong? There was a chance it wasn't her and she would have caused Madame Giry to be distressed over nothing. She prayed it was the latter.

She had to push aside those thoughts otherwise she feared she would drive herself mad with worry.

To keep her mind occupied, Christine prepared herself so when Carlotta arrived they could begin.

They planned for it to be a private affair with all stage doors closed and locked with only Madame Giry, Meg, Andre, Firmin, and Piangi as the viewers. The patron, sadly, had some business to attend to and couldn't come. It was fine by Christine. She had enough support around and she trusted herself this will end in her favor.

"Christine? She's here," Meg said as she opened the door.

"Thanks Meg."

She smoothed out her outfit and pulled on the jacket. Smiling, she said, "Show time."

Carlotta waited impatiently, stomping her large foot, while loudly complaining to her lover Piangi. Christine and Meg emerged in time to listen to the diva this was a waste of her time and voice. Christine rolled her eyes and wondered, what talent?

Meg offered Christine a good luck squeeze on her hand before joining her mother in the audience. Monsieur Reyer and the orchestra sat in the pit, waiting to begin.

"Are you prepared to lose?" Carlotta crooned.

Christine smirked. "Nope. I'm prepared to win."

"We'll see."

"Ladies," Reyer interrupted. "Who shall be the first?"

"I will!" cried the Spanish diva.

Christine shrugged and went off to join Meg, waiting for the Queen to perform.

"Signora."

"Maestro," she replied sweetly, taking her position center stage.

Christine leaned over to Madame Giry and whispered, "Is she going to dance?"

Antoinette grinned. "No. Her majesty feels she can do without it."

Christine chuckled. "She's going to wish she tried."

The introduction started and at her cue, Carlotta screamed out:

"Ah! Je ris de me voir

si belle en ce miroir,

Ah! Je ris de me voir

Si belle en ce miroir,

Est-ce toi, Marguerite,

Est-ce toi?

Reponds-moi, reponds-moi,

Reponds, reponds, reponds vite!

Non! Non! Ce n'est plus toi!

Non… non,

Ce n'est plus ton visage;

C'est la fille d'un roi;

C'est la fille d'un roi!

Ce n'est plus toi,

Ce n'est plus toi,

C'est la fille d'un roi;

Qu'on salut au passage!

Ah s'il etait ici!

S'il me voyait ainsi!

Comme une demoiselle,

Il me trouverait belle,

Comme une demoiselle,

Il me trouverait belle!

Achevons la metamorphose,

Il me tarde encor d'essayer

Le bracelet et le collier!

Dieu! C'est comme une main,

Qui sur mon bras se pose! Ah! Ah!

Ah! Je ris de me voir

Si belle dans ce miroir!"

Carlotta dramatically fell to the ground, while a few politely applauded.

"Thank you! Thank you!" she said, blowing a kiss to her lover before moving to the side.

Meeting Christine's eyes, she snapped, "Let's see you try and beat that!"

Christine smirked and got up to take her place.

"Mademoiselle," Reyer said, grinning.

"Monsieur."

A piano began playing the first notes and Christine started off in the fourth position and slowly moved her arms in a circle as she sang the first verse:

"They said you wouldn't make it so far aha

And ever since they've said it its been hard

But never mind that night'cha had to cry

Cause you had never let it go inside

You worked real hard and you know exactly what

You want and need so believe

And you can never give up

You can reach your goals

Just talk to your soul and say…"

The music was soft as Christine sang and as she came at the last word, she looked up at Reyer and winked.

As the rest of them music picked up on a faster beat, she ripped off her jacket throwing it to the side. Everyone gasped as she kicked out her leg to the side throwing her arms down and swung her hips to the front as she continued:

"I believe I can

I believe I will

I believe I know my dreams are real

I believe I can

I believe I will

I believe I hold it soon man

That is what I do believe."

Christine went over to the side, clasping her hands over her head and swung them down as she collapsed to her knees. Flipping her head up, she slammed her fist down twice and brought her upper body up. She spun around, her legs crossing over the other, until she stood up with a little swing of the hips.

"Your fools are just singing,

your soul aha

And you know that your moves

Will let them show

You keep creating pictures in your mind

So just believe they will come true in time

It will be fine

Leave all of your kiss and stress behind and

Just let it go

Let the music go inside

Again the pain

It just starts to believe…."

Christine stood in the middle when the music had its interlude. Bending low, she walked as her right arm went out and in and turned to the right with her hands over her head. She ball changed and swung her leg to the opposite side and took baby steps around while flicking her hand over her shoulder until she swung the leg back to the left. She hop right-left-right-left and turned to the side by dropping down and jumped up, turning. Holding her arms out she stepped forward and slid to the right and back to the left, then pop out her chest while her arms circled around.

Even though the music was startling, she could tell it was meeting the approval of her strongest critic- Madame Giry. Meg let out a whoop when Christine started to sing the last verse:

"At third my yet when people say Hold your head high and turn away

With all my hopes and dreams

I will believe

Even though it seems it's not for me

I won't give up,

I'll keep it up

Looking in the sky

I will achieve on my knees

I will always believe…."

For old time sake's she clapped her hands to get the others to do so and to her delight they did. Even Piangi was getting into it much to Carlotta's disgust.

Christine leapt, skidding on her knees, and as she stopped she brought her arms up and slowly in as the last words left her lips:

"I believe…. Yeah."

All was quiet and the only sound was Christine's ragged breathing. Then one by one the applause broke out. Meg squealed out her name and jumped up. Christine beamed and bowed to them. She looked up at Reyer who had tears in his eyes.

Carlotta snorted her opinion and stormed out with Piangi following faithfully behind. It was obvious who the victor was.

Up in Box Five, Erik secretly joined in the mirth with a pleased grin on his obscured features. He was right. After that anyone can believe…

Far from where Erik was another figure, wiping his own tears away at seeing such passion on the stage. The angelic voice that she so long contained was now released in fervor became his undoing.

"My angel," his low voice choked before he spun on his heels to leave before anyone noticed him.

"It is she!" Raoul gasped in shock. His "business" wasn't his usual duties to his family, but an odd request from an unlikely source.

"Listen to her and watch carefully. You'll see the truth."

And he did. Raoul was torn between anger and sadness. He was upset that she led him to believing she was his childhood friend still. But he was also sad knowing she didn't confide in him the truth of her identity. He was trustworthy and his source told him she trusted him the most. So why did she keep herself hidden from him?

He left the Opera Populaire and on the way back to his estate, Raoul wondered if there was anyone else who knew whom this Christine was. Most likely not, he thought grimly but another voice told him otherwise.

The carriage stopped and Raoul quickly fled to his guest room where he kept his new companions hidden.

It was part of the bargain. An odd one as Raoul thought about it. He dismissed it, knowing his guest had his reasons for keeping himself and his lady friend safe. Raoul had not gotten a glimpse of her, but his friend assured of her extreme shyness around strangers and Raoul dropped it.

But there was a familiar feeling about her like he knew her from somewhere before.

The Vicomte opened the door to find the stranger staring calmly out the window.

Raoul couldn't believe he was doing this, even after the absurd story he heard about a week ago from this man. But he insisted he was telling nothing but the truth and the urgency in his tone for someone to understand made Raoul's sympathy gained the best of his senses. He told him he did and welcomed him into his home.

As the nobleman looked around he noticed the girl was nowhere in sight. He didn't say anything about it. Raoul figured his servants might be preparing a bath for her as his guest informed him of her constant pains in her sides. Hot water does the trick to soothe the aches and it seems she was always having one whenever Raoul pays a visit. He offered to send for a doctor, which was immediately declined.

"The pain is too much for her," he had said. "She refuses anyone to touch her, even a doctor. It just makes it worse and they eventually go away on their own."

The way he had said this to Raoul was a message of never bringing it up again, which he never did.

Raoul approached his companion and shifted his weight nervously. Whenever he was around him it was always awkward, but the fellow didn't seem to mind.

"She's there all right," Raoul, said to break up the tense silence. "I watched her like you said and her skills are not of like any dancer I've ever seen."

"Told you," came the mocking tone. "Does anyone else know that you can tell?"

Raoul shook his head. "But I do suspect Madame Giry and her daughter of possibly knowing. They are rather close."

"Good to know some things hasn't changed," the other sneered. "Is he around?"

"No. From what you told me, I have never met or seen anyone matching his description. Are you sure he's there?"

"Probably. I'll warn you though. He's dangerous and will hurt her when he gets near her. The bastard has already done enough damage to her these past months. I want her safe."

His last sentence sent chills down Raoul's spine. For a brief moment he wondered if he was dealing with the devil in disguise…

Shaking his head from such nonsense, Raoul went on: "I did what you asked to do. She's there and so far there's no trouble. Now, what do I get in return?"

The man chuckled. More chills went down his spine at the sinister emotion it held. "You'll get paid Vicomte for your services like I promised you."

"I don't want your money," Raoul exclaimed.

"No, no. It's better than that. I can give you the power of knowledge of what's to come and it's a far better payment than you'll ever get. And since you been so kind to me and my friend I would extend another source of gratitude to you."

"And what is that?"

"A wife."

"No thanks," Raoul retorted. "There's only one woman I would want to marry, but she's indisposed."

He smirked. "I don't think so. She's a lot closer than you expect, but I won't reveal just yet. Just take my word for it."

"I don't trust you, my friend. How do I know you're not lying?"

"I'm surprised by you. I thought you would trust me after what I told you before. But I understand your suspicions and I'll let it go. May I ask one thing—you do trust yourself right?"

"Y-yes I do," Raoul replied, confused at such a question.

"Then there's no problem in trusting me is there?"

He thought about it. He did make a good point. "I guessed not."

"Good. I know you're worried about your love, but soon your fears will be laid to rest once I get my love back from that monster's sight."

Raoul nodded in understanding and berated himself for making his guest feel bad. He almost forgot about his predicament.

"Monsieur, I have housed you for a week now and I still do not know your name. Tell me there's no secret in knowing that."

The man smiled, a true genuine friendly smile, that Raoul's earlier accusations were left forgotten.

"Ray Chandler."

TBC…

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