In Apprehension

Christine was trembling and she did not know why. The previous evening's supper with Raoul had been pleasant enough, and he had amiably bid her adieu and chastely kissed her cheek before leaving. Certainly, she had felt ashamed when he had promised to call on her in a week or two when his business concluded. She very well knew she would no longer be in Paris then, yet that was not why she trembled.

Erik.

Christine had seen him last evening only for the briefest moment, before Madame Marseille had announced Raoul presence, and Christine had been forced to leave him in his dark mood. She'd asked him again to trust her, but she knew that he'd followed them to Le Monde. She had expected to see him again upon her return home, yet she had not.

Something is wrong.

The feeling seemed every moment to become more pronounced, aided by Erik's continued absence from her tonight. She had expected him at the Theatre Mystere on this, the night of her final performance, yet he had not come and the feeling of foreboding had intensified. And so she trembled.

Even as Christine's foot crossed the threshold of the boarding house, Madame Marseille began to flutter around nervously. Only one word in the older woman's flurry of speech registered before darkness ascended to engulf Christine.

Police.

xXx

Christine awoke to the feel of a cool, damp compress at her forehead. She opened her eyes slowly to see Madame Giry frowning with concern.

"Are you well, child?" Christine struggled to sit, only to be pressed back down by Madame. "Easy, Christine. I would not have you faint again."

Christine closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. "I…I am alright, Madame."

"I am most pleased to hear that, Mademoiselle Daae." The masculine voice invaded Christine's fogged mind. Christine felt Madame Giry tense, and she turned her head to see the burly form of Inspector Pierre Bordeaux . Christine had met the man once before, soon after her return to Paris. He had questioned her about the ordeal at the Opera Populaire and her association with the Phantom. At the time, she had been able to satisfy him with half truths and some fine acting.

'No, the Phantom has made no attempt to see me since my return.' She had been the one to seek him out, and Erik had pushed her away.

'No, I have not noticed anything unusual, but I will certainly inform the authorities if I should.' But her entire life had been so tied to Erik's, the unusual had become the usual.

Seeing the inspector here now caused Christine's trembling to double. She could feel panic beginning to overtake her. Madame Giry must have sensed her distress because the older woman grabbed Christine's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "Inspector, Mademoiselle Daae has been recently ill and is still recovering, though she insists on not missing any of her performances. Perhaps you might give her a moment to collect herself before you speak with her."

Bordeaux furrowed his brows slightly, but nodded in assent and stepped into the foyer. It was only then that Christine saw Meg in the parlor as well, cautiously watching the Inspector's retreat.

Christine's voice cracked slightly, "Madame…?"

"Hush, child." She lowered her voice to barely a whisper. "As far as I know, he is safe. You must stay calm, Christine." Christine nodded mutely, and Antoinette's eyes softened in concern. "Are you certain you are alright?"

Christine closed her eyes briefly. Her heart was in her throat and she felt ready to fall apart at any moment. Her hand drifted absently to her abdomen, seeking to draw comfort from the life that slept there. Opening her eyes again, she drew a steadying breath. "Yes." She sat up slowly, glad when the room did not tilt before her. "S-show him back in."

Antoinette nodded to Meg, who went and fetched Bordeaux. When he came back into the room, Meg moved to stand behind her mother and Christine who both sat upon the sofa. The man nodded to the three ladies, "Mademoiselles, Madame, I apologize for this unexpected intrusion at so late an hour. I assure you my business will be brief."

Christine opened her mouth to reply, mildly surprised to find that her voice did not tremble as the rest of her did. "Please Inspector, what might we do for you?"

He smiled slightly. "I am afraid I have to broach the unpleasant subject of the Phantom once again." Christine painfully gripped the edge of the sofa, but the Inspector seemed not to notice. "I trust that none of you have been troubled by the fiend since last we spoke?"

Madame Giry spoke then, and Christine could not fathom how the woman's voice could remain so maddeningly even. "Of course not, Inspector. The Phantom is dead."

"Mm. Possibly, but there has been a report made to my department that may suggest otherwise. It seems that there was an attack in a side alley near Rue Scribe last evening. A…gentleman…claims to have been nearly strangled with a rope and left for dead. The burn around his throat seems to indicate that his story is true. He is insisting it was the Phantom who attacked him, though he has admitted that he did not clearly see the culprit."

"It was not the Phantom, Monsieur."

Bordeaux studied Christine, who had uttered the simple statement with such determined certainty. "Why do you say that, Mademoiselle?"

She met his gaze without flinching. "Because the gentleman is still alive, Inspector."

Bordeaux actually chuckled at that. "Yes…I had rather thought that myself, Mademoiselle. But, you understand, we must take such reports very seriously. We have, of course, performed another periphery search of the catacombs, and are even now in the process of conducting interviews with certain…citizens… who may have been in the area last evening and witnessed the crime. I truly do apologize for dredging this up again, but you understand that I must pursue every lead. If the Phantom truly is haunting Paris again, you may not be safe, Mademoiselle Daae. I am certainly glad you have thus far seen no sign of him, but I urge you again to contact me at once if you should notice anything…even a shadow."

Christine could not tear her eyes away from the floor, certain that her face would betray the turmoil that was assaulting her. She was only vaguely aware of Meg moving towards the Inspector and reassuring him, "We certainly shall, Inspector Bordeaux. Thank you so much for informing us of this."

"Of course, Mademoiselle, of course."

As soon as the two left the room, Christine broke down in sobs, her entire form crumpling on the sofa.

Erik. Oh, God, Erik…Where are you? What has happened?

She felt herself immediately enveloped in Madame Giry's arms. "Calm yourself, Christine."

"I must see him…I must go to him…he hasn't come tonight…oh, Madame…I cannot lose him now…I cannot…"

In the midst of this, Meg had rushed silently back into the parlor and knelt before her friend, clasping Christine's hand as her mother gently wiped a tear streaked cheek. Madame soothed the girl as best she could, "Hush, now…you will do him no good in this state. You must try to rest awhile. We will seek him out tomorrow."

Christine shook her head in refusal. "No, no…I must go to him now…please Madame…I…I feel that he needs me…"

"Think, Christine! The police are looking for him again. You would only be placing yourself in danger...and Erik, as well. They will not find him, child. He is very adept at self preservation."

Christine knew that Madame Giry was right. She could not seek him out tonight, but she was terrified for him. If he had truly attacked that man…

Meg gently squeezed Christine's hand. "I am certain he is alright, Christine. He surely would not have attacked anyone without reason."

Christine closed her eyes again and prayed.

God, please, do not let him have slipped back into the darkness without me.

A/N: Looks like the man from the alley blew the whistle. I hope to supply my usual daily updates in the coming few days--but being labor day weekend--I may miss a day or two. I'll try to get one up tomorrow at least, as not to leave you all hanging with too much angst.