Chapter 2: Sing Once Again
2 weeks later
Christine knelt down on the steps of the mausoleum, where her father is buried, and lowered her head as she prayed.
" Papa, I have returned to Paris after three years and I feel more alone than ever. I've lost everything that means so much to me. I don't know where to go or how to live a life without them," Christine whispered, " I just want these horrid dreams to go away."
She closed her eyes and held the flowers close to her and there was only silence around her. She only knew silence since she returned to Paris, a world of loneliness when one pulls away.
Suddenly in the distance a soft note played on a violin string. She looked up and saw a warm glow come from the mausoleum and she rose from where she sat. The singing violin became louder and Christine walked up the steps as though she were drawn to the light.
" Christine," a voice said, " I have come once more."
" Who are you?" she whispered
A shadow appeared behind her and Christine turned around to see a shadowy figure standing there.
" Can it be?" she muttered
" You've turned from me Christine," the figure said
She walked to the figure and as she did the figure melted away and Christine was pulled into the mausoleum.
" Let me go!" she cried
" Christine, Christine," Meg's voice came
Christine opened her eyes and breathed deep and Meg looked at her friend.
" Oh, Meg," Christine began to cry, " it was horrible."
Meg hugged her friend and stroked her head, she was burning up with a fever.
" Daniel call a doctor!" Meg ordered
" I'm fine," Christine whispered, " I just am a little hot."
Meg opened up a window and let some cool air, she then placed a cool cloth on Christine's head to bring the fever down.
" The shadowy figure keeps appearing in my dreams, but something different each time," Christine whispered, " he was real Meg I saw him."
" Shh, your ill Christine you must rest. Once you are better then these dreams will die away," Meg said
Christine laid back and crumbled the ends of the sheets in her hands. Meg looked at her children as they stood there.
" It's alright, Thomas, Abigail go off to bed," Meg said
They went off and Meg looked at Christine.
" They're just dreams Christine," Meg said, " they can't come true."
Christine nodded and closed her eyes and once the doctor came Meg told him she had a fever. He gave Meg some medicine to her and told her to give her a dose when she woke up the next time.
Christine woke the next morning and felt the warmth of her covers wrapped around her. She got up and fixed her hair for the day and then dressed. She walked downstairs and Meg looked up.
" Good morning, I wasn't expecting you out of bed this early," Meg chirped
" I didn't either, but I feel alright," Christine said, " I'm going to go down to the cemetery to visit my father's grave."
" Alright, perhaps something warm to eat first and then be on your way," Meg suggested
Christine nodded and sat down and the children ate their breakfast before once more going out to play. Meg sat a warm plate, with a beautiful light breakfast, in front of Christine. Daniel came down for breakfast and the three sat down and then he left for work.
" Have a good day ladies," Daniel said
" Good bye," Meg said
She smiled as her husband kissed her head then returned to breakfast. She poured Christine some tea and once more the women chatted about the weather and much more.
Christine went out bundled up from the frosty Paris air. She walked past the Opera Populaire and did not look at it in fear that the shadowy figure would be there. Christine made it to the mausoleum and walked up to it. She prayed a little and then went on her way. She once more past the Opera Populaire and this time she stopped to listen, listen for any echoes of her past. Christine bit her lip and looked around then climbed the stairs and entered the abandoned opera house. She closed her eyes and suddenly felt warmth come from it and she opened her eyes to see the grand staircase glittering once more. The grand lobby beautiful as ever and she walked through and saw the auditorium once more restored. She smiled softly and walked to the stage, where she gently sang.
She did not know with her voice she had awaken a sleeping spirit of the opera house. She closed her eyes once more and beamed with a glow of the memory she had. But when she opened her eyes it was once more the burnt out opera house.
" Can I help you Mademoiselle?" a voice questioned
Christine looked around and then saw an old man standing there. He was dressed rather nicely, but there were signs that he was not well off.
" I'm sorry I did not know anyone was here," she replied
She got off the stage and walked towards the grand lobby.
" You wouldn't be Mademoiselle Daaé would you?" he asked
" Yes, I am," she replied
The old man's eyes came to life and he said, " Perhaps there is hope after all. We all thought you were dead."
" No," she said
" Arthur," a voice rang out
Christine looked up for the voice and Arthur sighed.
" Who else is here?" Christine asked
" A friend Mademoiselle," the old man replied
Arthur went on his way and Christine looked around for a sign of hope. She sighed and stopped feeling a hallow wind come from the dark hallways of the opera house. She looked behind her and then went down one and found herself in the darkness once again. Christine followed her instinct and went straight and as she went straight she saw a floating candle that outlined a figure.
" Wait!" she called
The candle's holder took off down another hall and vanished when Christine got there. She found herself lost again and she shivered from the dampness.
" Sing once again for me," a voice echoed
Christine stopped and suddenly candles lit the hall way one by one. Christine looked around breathing hard. Laughter filled the emptiness of the hallway and Christine looked around.
" Who are you?" she cried
A sudden wind blew at her and snow flew with the wind, the candles remained lit and then went out all at once.
" Please," she whispered, " I'm lost."
Christine ran down the dark hall and then stopped to find it was a dead end. She looked around for a passageway that the shadow might have taken. Christine turned around and felt something touch her hair. She did not move, but she felt a breath upon her neck and she took off running.
" Your running from what you came here for," the voice said
Christine stopped and did not feel the presence of anyone behind her. She walked back to the grand lobby and entered the auditorium, she climbed on the stage to where the trap door was. Christine pulled it open and felt a cool breeze up and push her hair back. She slipped down into it and fell to the ground, but then she heard the sounds of water dripping.
" The boat," she whispered
A candle lit and she took the candle then walked down several steps and stopped. There was no boat, but she knew another way.
" Wait!" a voice snapped
Christine stopped and looked down the passageway, there was floating lights coming in her direction. She breathed deep as it stopped and saw a hunched over figure rowing it.
" Come the master awaits," the figure said
Christine climbed on the boat and the figure pushed off. She saw candles light their passage and then blow out as they passed them. Christine felt as though this was the wrong decision to make, but she could turn back…not before she found if this 'master' was the man she knew as both her Angel of Music and the Phantom of the Opera. The boat stopped at a gate and it rose dripping with rusty water, and the candles rose from the lake's murky water. Christine breathed deep as the hunched figure got off and vanished into the shadows. The sounds of wheezing and then a cough disturbed her and then a voice came.
" You have come here, hardly knowing the reason why," the voice said
She saw a shadow standing in the darkness of the lair, he walked a little to the light to where the outline of his body showed. He was tall and wore black as well as a cloak and wide brim hat. She swallowed and he walked out and she slightly gasped.
" Erik," she whispered
" You are not to dull Madame," he replied softly
He extended his hand to her and she took his hand. He walked her into the dim light and Christine just stared at him.
" You have returned after three years, you surprised me," Erik whispered
" Raoul and I divorced with a neutral agreement," Christine said, " I've taken back my maiden name."
" I see," Erik said
She looked at Erik and reached over to take his hand, but he pulled it back quickly. Christine looked up at him and breathed deep afraid he had truly changed for the worst.
" I'm afraid I do not wish to be touched," Erik whispered
Erik looked at Christine as she showed fear in her eyes.
" You are such a child Mademoiselle Daaé ," Erik said
" And you have changed," Christine whispered
She stood up abruptly and went to the boat and stood there, Erik stood and walked slowly to her.
" Your ill Mademoiselle," Erik whispered
" You don't know me Erik, you never did," Christine replied
" It's in your eyes, fear that this is just another dream from your sudden fever," Erik said, " Your breaths are staggered with a cold."
Christine turned around and breathed deep. Christine looked at her pouch which held the very item Erik wore all the time. She removed it from her pouch and presented it to him. He looked at her and gently took the mask and slipped it on. She nodded and reach up and touched his face with her soft hand. Erik closed his eyes to her touch, the touch he longed for three long years.
" What are you hiding?" Christine whispered