"Somewhere beyond happiness and sadness
I need to calculate
What creates my own madness
And I'm addicted to your punishment
And you're the master
And I'm craving this disaster."
-Papa Roach, "Getting Away With Murder"
Christine and Julianna sat in silence, quietly observing one another. Christine let out a breath that she didn't even realize she had been holding. She wanted to make conversation with this woman who helped her, criminal or not. Christine didn't really think of Julianna as a criminal, even though she didn't deny killing a man. She had only shown Christine kindness and sympathy. Besides, she only said she might have murdered a man. That didn't mean she actually did. She could have only been saying that to appear tough or to give her an edge so that no man would ever try to take advantage of her. That would be a good idea, Christine thought, …for someone who's completely insane.
Julianna suddenly got up from her chair and opened the curtains, letting radiant light flood the room. Christine smiled at the change. She didn't like the darkness and keeping to the shadows very much. It's what she couldn't see that scared her most. She definitely wasn't fond of the dark. Besides, it reminded her too much of the Phantom, and just thinking of him made her heart ache even more. She frowned. His death would be all her fault…and there was nothing she could do about it.
Noticing Christine's frown, Julianna shook her head slightly, and asked, "What's wrong?" To her surprise, she found that she was genuinely concerned about Christine.
"It's nothing," Christine said, trying to regain her composure and forcing a smile. She didn't want this obviously strong woman to think that she was weak.
Julianna nodded knowing perfectly well that Christine didn't want to talk about it. She decided that this must have been the first time that Christine had ever drunk alcohol. Something bad must have happened to her, she thought, for her to resort to alcohol. Julianna knew Christine's type. They were the type of people that looked down on drunks…and commoners, too, for that matter. It must have been something terrible for her to risk losing her reputation by going to a bar and getting drunk.
Julianna decided to pry. "Christine," she said, setting herself down on the floor next to her. "I was just wondering…why were you…I mean…" She tried to find words that weren't too cold, and that was proving to be rather difficult for her. After a while, she gently said, "What happened?"
Christine just shook her head. She couldn't speak. She couldn't find words to say what she felt. She didn't know if such words existed. She feared that if she did try to explain what happened, she would burst out in tears. She had to be strong. She had to.
Julianna held Christine's hand like only a best friend would, trying to comfort her. She looked like she was very close to crying.
Christine couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She let them flow like a river from her pretty hazel eyes and down her perfect porcelain cheeks. She was surprised when Julianna allowed her to cry into her shoulder.
Julianna held her until she was finished crying. She felt very sympathetic for this poor girl now. What could have possibly happened to cause so much pain? she wondered.
Christine quickly pulled away from the embrace, suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to-"
"It's alright," Julianna cut her off. "If you tell me what's wrong, maybe I can help." Normally, Julianna never would have offered her help to a woman like Christine, but this time something was different. She felt deep down inside that Christine was different. Not just another poster girl. She had potential for actually being a person.
"There's nothing you can do," Christine said, silently.
"Well, at least tell me," Julianna said, " and then I'll decide if there's really nothing that can be done."
"Alright," Christine said, hesitantly. "Well, there's this man…" She waited for a response but Julianna just urged her to continue, so she did. "He's in prison right now…with the death sentence. And it's all my fault." That last part she whispered, barely loud enough for Julianna to hear.
"How is it your fault?" Julianna asked. "Did you allow him to take the blame for one of your crimes?"
"No, not really," Christine replied. "He loved me so much that he was willing to kill for me, and he did."
"Oh, I see… You love him, don't you?" Julianna accused. She knew the look she saw in Christine's eyes. It was definitely love and also fear of losing that love. Julianna knew that feeling well. It had been all too common only a few years ago.
Christine's eyes popped open a little wider. "Um…I don't know. Maybe," she said. After a few moments of silence, she added, "Alright. Yes. I think I do. I think I…love him." Why else would his death cause me so much pain? she reasoned. It could be that she did love him or at least care about him deeply. She did notice that admitting that fact made her feel a lot better.
"So, who is this man then?" Julianna asked. "I used to break men out of jail quite a lot back when... Well, anyway, I haven't in a long time, but maybe I could for you."
Christine jumped up in happiness, a huge smile appearing on her face. "Really? You could? I mean, it wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"No, it wouldn't be too much trouble. I've got some free time on my hands anyway. It would be my pleasure to help you," she said. "Just tell me who it is so I can make sure to bring you the right man."
"Oh," Christine frowned. She didn't really know how to explain. "Have you ever been to the Opera Populaire?"
"Unfortunately, no," Julianna said. "But I've heard of it. Why?"
"Have you heard of the Opera Ghost?" Christine asked. "The Phantom of the Opera?"
"Yeah, I've heard the stories," Julianna replied.
"Well, he's the man," Christine said. "The man I want you to free from that horrible prison." And also, the man that stole my heart, she thought to herself.
Julianna's eyes opened in astonishment. "So he's a man? Not a phantom?"
"Yes," Christine said, remembering his touch. "He's very much a man."
"Then I'll take great pleasure in meeting him," Julianna said. "So, what's his name then?"
Christine looked at the ground. "I don't know his name. I never got the chance to ask him." She was thoroughly embarrassed that she didn't even know the name of the man she loved.
"Well, if the stories I've heard are true," Julianna said, "he shouldn't be that hard to pick out in a crowd." She decided he would either be wearing a mask or have his horribly deformed face showing. Either way, he would stand out. He wouldn't be that hard to find, she was sure.
Christine nodded, solemnly. It was true. Her dear Phantom wouldn't be hard to find. Christine did wonder why Julianna hadn't questioned her about loving an outcast of society, a man that was clearly unattractive. Christine didn't know if she could have answered if Julianna did ask.
Anyway, it took Christine and Julianna the rest of the day to come up with the plan to rescue Erik. Christine would go back to Raoul as if nothing happened and stay there until Julianna came back to get her with Erik. In the meantime, Julianna would go to the prison, rescue Erik, and take him back to her house. She told Christine that she had a nice house just barely outside of Paris, but she was sure that no guards would come looking for Erik there. Anyway, the journey to Julianna's house would take two days so she planned on having a horse ready to ride. They would have to spend the night somewhere and then the next day around noon they would arrive at her house. There they would stay until the guards stopped searching for Erik. Then he would be reunited with Christine and they would leave Paris and start a life somewhere else. You know, a happily ever after ending. Not likely. But Christine and Julianna thought the plan was foolproof, and it would go into action the next day. Friday. One day before Erik's execution.
Well, that's all I had time to write tonight. I'm actually starting to get excited about this story. Tell me if you like it. Please review and I'll post more. : )