Raging Fire
howdyo. k, i know chris's parts aren't very detailed, but that is because we all know what's going on in the past already. soon though, i intend on messing with the story, unless there are any objections. please state in your reviews whether or not you have a problem with me messingwith the story.
Chapter 3: Holy Cow
"The darkness of the music of the night..."
Chris sighed as he showed her around the lair, singing his haunting melody to her. This was pure bliss. He was even more gorgeous in person, and she could do nothing but stare at him with her mouth wide open like a fish. He soon led her to the little curtain where she knew he would reveal the dummy. She prepared herself for it, and hoped she wouldnt faint. It had always been a theory of her's that should Christine have not fainted, things may have gotten a little more...'interesting'. He pulled the curtain back and showed her the dummy. And, she fainted. She didn't mean to, but it looked exactly like her in every detail. It just stared at her blankly with a stupid grin on its face, and fainting, at the time, seemed the only sensible thing to do. He carried her to the swan bed and laid her on the silky sheets. The curtain was drawn, and he went to his organ to compose.
- - -
"Chris darling, wake up," whispered a matronly voice in her ear. She opened her eyes and came face to face with a woman who looked like her only older.
"Who are you?" she asked the woman.
The woman smiled and laughed a bit. "I'm you mother of course. What's wrong dear?"
Christine gazed at her face, studying the lines of age and the happy brown eyes. She decided that it would be best just to tell the truth. "I'm not Chris, I'm Christine."
"Christine? Well, I suppose I could call you Christine. But why?" The mother cocked her head curiously.
"I am not your daughter, madame. I am Christine Daae, and I am the daughter of Gustave and Marie Daae." She sat up in the bed. "What is your name, madame?"
"My name," she replied, "is Marie Daley, and you are my daughter. I would know your face anywhere. Afterall, i did raise you and carry you within my womb for nine months."
"But I am not your daughter. I was born in Paris, and grew up in Sweden until I was eight when my father died and I was taken under the care of Madame Giry." Christine was beginning to cry now. Why wouldn't anyone believe her?
Marie sighed. "Fine. I'll be back in a little while, okay?" Christine nodded, and the woman left the room.
Marie went down the stairs to where Erik and her husband sat in the living room. "What are we going to do with her?" she asked, taking a seat.
"I haven't a clue. She's been acting this way since yesterday afternoon and I can't seem to shake her out of it. I mean, if it was a joke wouldn't she have given up by now?" he said. "And another thing, if she was going to pretend to be someone else, why would she pick Christine Daae? That's our favourite story so why would I believe that she was indeed the real Miss Daae when she has all the information to fake it. I just don't understand her."
"Have you tried talking to someone?" asked Chris's dad, Gavin.
"Well, I phoned and made an appointment with a psychiatrist for tomorrow. If she really is faking it, then she'll let me know before we leave."
"She always did hate doctors," commented Marie.
- - -
That was the best sleep I have ever had! Chris said to herself when she woke. She got up and pulled the drapes away. This was one of her favourite parts. She climbed out of bed and wandered out to the main cave.
"I remember there was mist..." She spotted Erik at his organ and could hardly contain her excitement. In just mere seconds she would get to touch his face. The only downside to this was that she'd rip his mask off and then throw her to the ground in a violent rage. Unless...she decided to take a chance. A chance that would involve messing up the story. A chance that could change the Phantom's life.
Chris approached the organ and placed her hands on his face. She reached for the mask. Then, instead of pulling it off, she simply smoothed her hands over the slick surface. He leaned his head into her hands and she moved around to the other side of him, and softly kissed his cheek. It was at that moment she remembered her husband. "Erik," she whispered.
The Phantom turned to look at her and asked, "Who told you my name?"
Chris panicked and did the only thing she could think of; she pulled his mask off. This of course, sent him into his temper tantrum, causing him to forget the 'Erik' incident. When he threw her to the ground she sighed, and thanked goodness that she had adverted a near disaster. Who knows what he would accuse her of if she knew his true name. Finally, she handed him his mask and he finished his angry rant.
"Come," he said, "those fools who run my theatre will be missing you." She sighed at the sound of his throaty speaking voice, and nearly giggled. However, she managed to contain herself and simply stare at him instead.
- - -
The next day, Erik woke Christine up early. Her appointment was at ten and he didn't wish to be late. He showed her where she could find clothes and get washed up, and then left her to prepare herself. It was nearly nine-thirty before she was ready, and he was getting ticked off.
"What took you so long? We're going to be late!" He grabbed her hand and led her out of the house and into their car.
"Where are we going?" Christine asked, once they were in the vehicle. She looked around it curiously, trying to figure out what they were in. "And what are we seated in?"
"This," Erik replied, "is our Aston Martin. It is a sweet car, and you should know because you picked it out. We're going to see a psychiatrist." He looked at Christine and waited for her to flinch and end the charade. No such luck. She simply stared at him, and then asked when they were actually going to leave. He sighed and started the car. They took off down the street quickly so that they would not be late.
By the time they arrived, it was pouring rain. Erik popped open an umbrella and ushered Christine into the shiny business building. She looked around the building they were in, in total awe. They stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the fourteenth floor. As soon as the box they stood in began to move, Christine shrieked and grabbed Erik. He laughed at her, and then they were there. They stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to Dr. Butler's office.
"Hi, we're here to see Dr. Butler," Erik said to the receptionist. She smiled and pushed the intercom button, then informed him that his ten o'clock had arrived.
"Please have a seat," she said with an incredibly fake smile. Erik fake-smiled right back, and then he and Christine sat down on the plastic reception area chairs.
"Okay Chris, the jig is up. Just tell me why you're doing this and we don't have to talk to the doctor."
"Stop calling me Chris! I'm Christine, and I don't even know how to jig!" She threw up her hands in frustration, and two tears slipped down her cheeks. Erik studied her face really hard for the first time since...since whatever. It was then that he noticed that there was something different about her eyes. He stared into the glossy brown orbs and realized that this was not the woman he fell in love with. He stood up and ran over to the desk.
"Excuse me, but we're going to have to cancel this appointment," he said, "I'm really sorry about the inconvenience, but something has suddenly come up." He glanced over to Christine and said, "Come on Christine, we should get going." She gave him small smile, and then followed him out of the office.
"I'm sorry Christine," he said once they were in the car.
"Sorry for what, Erik?" she asked, using his first name for the first time.
"For not believing you. I should have realized that there was something different about you, and I should have listened."
"It's alright," she sighed. "I just wish I knew what on earth was going on."
"Me too," he said, "me too."
- - -
Chris hummed to herself as she brushed her long curly hair. Last night had been wonderful. However, it irked her that her husband was no where to be found. Where was he? Why had only she been flung into The Phantom of the Opera? Maybe, she thought, maybe Christine and I switched places! Of course, that must be what happened. She put her brush down and frowned. It was nearly time for Il Muto to begin, and she was nervous. Joseph Buquet always gave her the creeps when his slimy body was hung over the stage. She shuddered and then got into her pageboy costume.
Soon afterwards, the opera began. Carlotta strutted her stuff on the stage and Christine played her part. Then, The Phantom's voice echoed through out the theatre and gave Chris a thrill. However, she calmly contained her smile so that nobody would clue in that she was not the real Christine Daae. "It's him," she whispered.
"Your part is silent little toad," snapped Carlotta. Then, the annoying diva went over to the wings to get her throat spray. Chris inwardly chuckled, for she knew exactly what was going to happen, and it would be funny. She took her spot on the stage, and Carlotta began her song once more. Then, the croaks came. The audience roared with laughter, and Chris couldn't believe how much funnier this was live, than on her TV screen at home. Carlotta went into her little hissy fit, and the curtains shut. Andre and Firmin rushed out awkwardly and made the announcement that the ballet would go on next.
"And Christine Daae shall play the role of the countess!" they yanked Chris out from backstage. The audience cheered, and Chris couldn't help but feel a little full of herself. She rushed backstage and to the dressing room to get ready. Madame Giry laced the corset up tightly, and Chris slipped into the pink skirt. Before she could finish dressing though, a shriek was heard from the auditorium. Madame Giry and Chris rushed out, Chris putting on her red cape on the way, to see what the matter was.
When they got to the stage, the dead body of Joseph Buquet lay face down. Ballerinas ran back and forth, and all was chaos. Chris remembered that it was at this point that she and Raoul went up to the roof for their little romance scene, and so scanned the crowd for the blonde vicomte. She found him and quickly grabbed his hand, and then they ran up to the roof top. Chris dreaded this, for she knew it was at this moment she would break the Phantom's heart.