Raging Fire
YO! yes, so, here is chapter 4. i decided to mess around a bit with the story. and i know it's short, but it's going to be over soon unless i can someway think of a way to make a sequel. if you have any suggestions, please tell em to me! R&R!
Chapter 4: She Isn't Crazy
As Chris and Raoul made their way down away from the roof, she could hear the Phantom's voice echoing outside. In the movie it made her cry, but in life his cry was so heart wrenching that she wanted to kill herself and end the sadness. However, she resisted, and instead allowed Raoul to take her to her dressing room, and then afterward to his home for a while. For nights on end, Chris gained no sleep for in her mind she could hear the anguished cry of the Phantom ringing in her ears.
Patiently, she waited for the masquerade to arrive.
- - -
Weeks passed relatively peacefully for Christine and Erik. She somehow managed to convince him that she truly was Christine Daae, and he then hit her with a million questions. He, like his wife, was obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera. Christine gracefully answered all of his questions. That was, until he asked the one she had been dreading.
"Tell me please," he asked gently, "who do you really love? Raoul, or the Phantom?"
Christine didn't say anything for along time, but Erik was patient. Finally, she came out of her thought bubble and replied, "The Phantom."
Erik nodded, and then a troubled look came over his face. "Wait, you said you disappeared just as Hannibal was beginning, right?"
"Correct."
"Then, how do you know that he is the Phantom?"
"Oh," she said, "well, it's kind of obvious when you think about it. And, I watched that 'DVD' of yours. I'm not nearly as dense as you people make me out to be." She gave him a playful smile.
"Oh, sorry," he said, and they laughed. Erik looked at his watch and said, "Wow, it's getting late. Would you like to go out for lunch?"
"I would like that very much," she said, and then he led her out to the car.
- - -
"Why so silent good messieurs?" The crowd gasped as the man in red with a skull mask took dramatic steps down the stairs. Chris was simply amazed at seeing how beautiful his costume really was. The television screen did the man no justice whatsoever, as she was discovering. Raoul backed away from her and ran to get his sword. Gosh, finally a moment to breath. That man is so suffocating!
The Phantom made his way down the stairs, insulting various people on the way and then finally stopped in front of Chris. She gazed into his dark eyes and fell under his spell of power and passion. Sadly, the spell was broken when he realized that there was something different in her eyes. She broke the stare and glanced down at her neck briefly. He glanced down as well, and caught sight of the ring.
"You chains are still mine, you belong to me!" Chris nearly fainted, for as he said theses lines, a bit of spit flew out of his mouth and landed on her cheek. All she could think at that moment was, Oh my goodness gracious. I have the spit of the Phantom of the Opera on my cheek. Spit. His. On my cheek. Crikey.
- - -
"Thank you for lunch Erik, it was lovely." Christine and Erik were walking down the sidewalk, looking into any stores that caught her fancy.
"You're welcome Christine," he replied. "So, how long do you think this will last?"
"I'm not sure," she said sadly. "I wish it would end soon. It's not that I do not enjoy being here with you, I just miss the Giry's and the Phantom, and even Raoul. This time period is so strange to me, and I'm sure that you miss your wife."
Erik sighed sadly. He did miss his wife. He and Chris had been married only a month and already they were seperated to some degree. He had no idea where she was, whether she was in 1800's Paris, or someplace else entirely. Chris was his whole world, and he missed her so much it was beginning to hurt. "I do miss her very much."
Chris placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can see it in your eyes. You are hurting a great deal. I'm sorry."
"Thank you Christine." He grabbed her hand, and then they continued on their way down the street.
When they arrived back at the mansion, some time later, a group of people awaited them. Amongst the group were Gavin and Marie Daley, and they did not look to happy. "What's going on?" Erik asked. "Why are all you people here?"
"We have come to help Chris," voiced Marie. "I heard from the good Dr. Butler that you cancelled your appointment, and we came to find out why."
"I cancelled the appointment, becaue I realized that there was nothing wrong with Christine. She is perfectly sound of mind, and needs no professional help. Now, unless you are willing to accept that, I would appreciate it if you stepped off of my property." Erik was angry. They had no right to do this, and why was Dr. Butler in contact with his mother in law?
"There is something wrong with her though," protested Marie. "I saw in her eyes that she wasn't herself. Something is going on and we need a professional to figure it out."
"No, even if there was something wrong, Chris hates doctors and it isn't right to put her through that torture. Please Marie, just let me handle this."
"Fine," she relented. "But, if she is still this way at my next visit, I am bringing in a psychiatrist."
"Good bye Marie."
"Come on everybody, let's go," she said to her posse. They piled into a 15 passenger van and drove off.
"Let's go inside, Christine," Erik said, and led her into the house. "I'm really sorry about them, they just don't understand."
"It's alright," she replied, and they locked the door behind them.
- - -
Rehearsals were underway for Don Juan Triumphant and Chris had become a nervous wreck. She didn't want to rip his mask off and expose him to Paris. It would be her fault that the Opera Populaire burned down and her fault that innocent people were killed. None the less though, she put her heart and soul into each practice.
Then, one morning came when she felt it was the right time to go to the cemetary. She snuck past a dozing Raoul, and down to the stables. She paid the man there, and then put on her black dress. Chris had always hated this dress. Why, of all times, would Christine choose to wear something so cleavage bearing to go to a cemetary and visit the grave of her deceased father? However, she put it on anyways and then climbed into the carriage.
The entire ride to the cemetary she had to literally hold in her laughter. She knew who was really driving that carriage and it was so much fun! He was trying to act all sneaky and nonchalant, but she knew it was him. Putting part of a cloak over half of his face was not going to hide that fact that he was the Phantom. She sighed and leaned back to enjoy the ride.
When finally they reached the cemetary, she pushed through the iron gates and found her way to te Daae masoleum. She skipped the whole singing bit, because she felt that if she didn't bother then perhaps Raoul and the Phantom would show up quicker and she could get her shivering cleavage back inside where it was warm. She sat down on the steps and heard his voice.
"Wandering child..."
She did, however, sing along with this part. She absolutely adored the way Christine's and the Phantom's voices blended and was thrilled to find that it happened when she sang too. They neared the end of the song, when Raoul was to turn up, when something changed...
"Stand up Christine," he commanded. Hold it, she thought, this isn't in the script. She stood up. "Come stand in front of the door." Obediently, she stood in front of the door. She heard the swishing of a cape, and suddenly found the imposing figure of the Phantom right in front of her.
"Uh...hi?" she said, her voice squeaking. He had to know she wasn't Christine.
"You, mademoiselle, are an imposter," he said.
She sighed. "I know, and I am also a madame, if you please."
"Really?" he said, beginning to pace. "What is your true name, then?"
"Chris Destler," she replied. "I've been married for a few months now, I think; who knows how much time has passed now? And, I'm from the year 2005."
"Fascinating. And how, pray tell, did you come to be in Paris during the 1800's?" He had stopped pacing, and was now perched upon a statue, simply staring at her.
"I really haven't a clue, to be honest with you. I can only assume that Christine is in the future with my husband right now." She paused and wrapped her cloak more tightly around her. "Hey, shouldn't Raoul be showing up soon?"
Just then goldilocks appeared in all his loose-shirted glory. Okay, so maybe Chris is somewhat of a Raoul-basher, but can you blame her? Tender moment with the Phantom and he shows up. She shook her head and thought, Phantastic.