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As a long day of rehearsal and dodging the media and gossip mongers came to an end the young ladies from the corps de ballet gathered in the dormitory's common room to serve each other the finest gossip they had to offer. One of the girls approached a redhead and eagerly began asking questions.
"Does anyone know what happened when they told her? I saw her leave for the manager's office and a few minutes later Andre was calling for a doctor!"
The dancer La Sorelli rolled her eyes in an annoyed manner and stood up from her seat, the girl who had been brushing her hair was startled at her sudden movement and backed away.
"Don't you know anything, Jacquelyn?" she asked in her usual rueful manner.
"After they told her about our little ghost, she 'collapsed'" Sorelli shifted her weight from one hip to another and made the remark with clear skepticism.
One uniquely beautiful female stopped tending to her blistered feet to glance scornfully in her direction "Oh come now Sorelli, have you no compassion?"
"Maybe compassion isn't the issue," replied a quiet girl from the sofa. "Perhaps our La Sorelli is simply jealous of the attention Christine has been getting lately"
The comment forced the girls into an uproar of laughter and they giggled happily maliciously at the prospect. Sorelli's face showed nothing of joy however, and her face grew red in fury. She stamped her foot and her hands formed ungraceful fists but she remained where she stood.
"Bite your tongue, Cecile!" she shrieked as the laughter began to subside. "You have no idea what your talking about!" Sorelli looked around then suddenly her eyes widening with sudden realization.
"I don't even know why I bother talking to you people! I'm so above you in skill-I-I have no time for such immature children." With that she stormed from the room leaving it silent with her departure.
"She does know she's the same age as us, right?" whispered one girl to another. The response was a simple shrug and laughter erupted once more as the girls continued to exchange gossip.
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Just beyond the door and around the corner Meg sank to the floor in relief that Sorelli hadn't caught her eavesdropping, and she had escaped behind the shadows before she was seen. Meg knew it was wrong to listen in on other people's private conversations (or at least her mother insisted it was), but in this case the blonde dancer had found justifiable cause to place her ear upon the door. Normally she would have just gone in and joined them… But they were talking about Christine now. And as clueless as the girls often were, they weren't gullible enough to think that anything they said to Meg wouldn't be repeated.
Meg had never been shut out like this before and with the recent events still weighing on her soul, she felt the urge to cry building. With a heavy heart she steadied herself and rose to her feet once more, swallowing the sadness that seemed to be taking over her senses and continued on her way to Christine's room.
Upon reaching the door, she was greeted by two guards that seemed far more professional that the one's she had known, for they greeted her respectfully and allowed her to enter upon Mademoiselle Daaé's request and even opened the door for her, nodding their heads politely as she walked into the dark room and shut the door behind her. Still, Meg sighed in relief as soon as she knew the door was locked and they were beyond it. The ballerina didn't have to lift her hand to her eyes to know that they were shaking. But she tried to ignore the memories of the previous night and the fears that came with them and focus on the task ahead of her as she pulled the hidden lever and walked cautiously through the mirror.
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Mme. Giry collapsed in a chair, clearly exhausted from her long hours without sleep. She leaned her elbow against the armrest of the expensive chair and rested her head against her hand. Sighing sadly, she closed her eyes. Desperate to remain alert, comma she arose once more and forced herself to stay awake. She strode around the grim layer that was Erik's home. It had been many years since she had been permitted to come down here. Erik had forbidden it long ago, and knowing the boy valued his privacy above all else, she had respected his wishes and never went beyond the staircase to deliver his salary, or the supplies that he ordered through her.
The ballet instructor felt her youth slipping from her as she explored the dark palace. Now she understood why Erik had banned her from this place of gothic invention and dismal darkness: for those who could see past the exotic artwork, vibrant furniture, and the tranquil shores of the lake saw the lingering soul of a tortured madman and Mme. Giry shivered at the sight A slight tapping upon her shoulder startled her back into reality and Mme. Giry turn to meet Christine with fear evident in the older women's eyes.
"Good heaven's child, you scarred me half to death!" she exclaimed with a harsh whisper. She reached for her heaving chest as if to steady her racing heartbeat.
Christine walked past her sullen and extremely fatigued from the days events, her arms dangling as though she was incapable of controlling them any longer. "Forgive me, Madame," she said after a short time. "It was not my intention."
Christine sat in the chair that her ballet instructor just had risen from and Madame Giry stood behind her protectively. The women remained in silence for several moments, listening to the sound of the wind howling from the water drains above them.
"Is he asleep?" Madame Giry asked.
Christine only nodded, finding that she was having difficultly producing words from her sore, dry throat. "Only now did he drift off," she said, eventually looking over her shoulder at the apprehensive woman behind her.
"You look as though you could use a undisturbed night's sleep as well, Madame," Christine said simply, noting the dark circles on the other woman's face and her ashen complexion. The suggestion however, only produced a small laugh from the older woman and Christine frowned, not understanding.
"My apologies Christine, if anyone in this parlor in this room needs a good night's rest it is most certainly you," she said with a slight smile. "I known you worry for him above everything else, but losing your health to exhaustion will not ease his illness," she said softly.
Christine closed her eyes, two tears escaping her pinched eyelids. "He has not spoken to me since we arrived here…"
Mme. Giry knelt patiently in front of the girl and attempted to soothe her with a bright smile. But as the moments passed, the older woman lost her wisdom and her false smile could no longer hide the despair that she felt as well.
"The doctor said he may have suffered a head injury or two while under the care of our police department, Christine. He may very well be fine, perhaps he is simply not in his right mind at this time but surly he will come to his senses…" The ballet instructor trailed off, not having the heart to continue further and explain to Christine the true extent of Erik's injuries.
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Yesterday evening, as the girls brought Erik in through the deserted doors as Madame Giry had done so many years before, Madame Giry thought it best to make a public appearance to avoid any further suspicion. She silently walked through the halls knowing that it would only a couple of hours before the sun rose and everyone in Paris knew of the Phantom's escape.
Since the hour was so late, she had little to avoid and thankfully only had to deal with the occasional stagehand who was just returning from the pub or local brothel. Still, she forced herself to remain cautious until she reached her destination. First, she halted at her daughter's dormitory to seek a proper replacement for Meg's torn clothing. Luckily, she completed this without waking any of the other young ladies nearby. After this task was accomplished, she hastily made her way to her own chambers to find her medical supply kit, for she was no longer sure what Erik kept in his lair.
And just as guards were beginning to arrive and the ballet girls were just beginning to rub their eyes and shift in their beds at the sound of the heavy footsteps Madame Giry escaped into Christine's dressing room, making sure to leave no trace of anyone's presence.
Somehow, using a will she didn't even realize she was capable of, Mme. Giry managed to tear Christine away from Erik's unconscious form long enough to make her own appearance in the Opera Populaire. With much protest from Mlle. Daaé, the older woman practically pushed Christine up the stairs, but it was only after reasoning with the young lady that she went, requesting of Meg and her adopted mother to take the best of care of him while she was gone.
"Listen to me, child," Madame Giry replied with harsh instruction "Make sure when you 'come to' and they insist you see a physician, that you request Dr. Charles Ferragus. He is a good friend of mine and despite the fact that he is a man of science if you beg him not to ask questions, then he will not."
Christine nodded eagerly, looking back at Erik every few seconds as though she were afraid he would disappear before her eyes at any moment.
"I realize he need a doctor Madame," Christine said with strong anxiety in her voice. "but bring one down here? Is that really such a wise idea?"
The older woman sighed sadly. "Charles is a personal friend of mind, Christine. Once when Erik was a child he developed a deadly fever that Dr. Ferragus assisted his with. He is a trustworthy man, you must take my word of that. You must also make sure to see him alone Christine, lead him through the mirror as we discussed and I am quite sure he will aid us."
"But Madame-"
"No more questions, girl! she scolded with a demanding tone. "Now do as I say, and be quick about it."
Christine bit her lip but followed the Madame's to the letter. And as promised, the doctor who apparently had many strange things didn't give a second glance to the dark passageways. At their request, he asked no questions other than that of Erik's medical history; the only other time he spoke was to bark directions to Meg or remind Christine that her fretting was getting in his way.
"Come, child," Madame Giry said, leaving Meg to serve the doctor's temporary nurse as she led Christine from the room. "Let us get you changed from these soiled clothes and find something to eat."
Christine protested but knew that the Madame's wisdom exceeded her own and she was most likely right about the need to save her strength for Erik's sake.
It seemed like an eternity before the physician reappeared, with Meg at his side. The moment the door was open Meg ran through it weeping, insisting that it was merely the sight of blood that had her so worked up. With one look from her mother, Meg rushed Christine off with the excuse that more bandages were needed. With the girl's absents, a feeling of impending doom settled over the room.
"How bad, Charles?" was all she asked. The weary doctor shook his head and approached the older woman hesitantly.
"At first the injuries appeared to be mild at best, but when I could not determine the reason for his unconsciousness I did a more extensive examination. The-the abdomen is swollen, suggesting internal bleeding. Unfortunately, we don't know how exactly the injuries were obtained or when they were received so-"
"What are you telling me, Charles," she asked with an air of impatience.
Charles sighed, knowing he couldn't hide the truth from this woman even if he wanted to. "Antoinette, he's bleeding from the inside out. I don't know where it's coming from and I don't know how to stop it."
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"Please Madame, for both our sakes, I beseech you to go upstairs and rest?"
Knowing the battle was lost, the older woman arose and placed a slight kiss on Christine's forehead. "I love you, cherie," she said softly. "Do not forget that most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who kept on trying even when there seemed to be no hope at all."
She left Christine then, silently she refusing to look back for fear she would begin to weep openly, but as she passed her daughter on the staircase she smiled sadly and Meg's eyes immediately fell at the silent news. The women continued their separate ways, Meg clutched her package of food and medical supplies as though it would save her from the tragic truth.
As the light of the few candles burning by the shore of Erik's home came into view, Meg took her bundle and placed it in a visible place but intentionally neglected to alert Christine to her presence, for as Meg glanced into Erik's open bedroom door, he lay eerily still and Christine rested her head on his shoulder and wept for all she was worth.