Chapter Seven – Il Muto

Christine had given 110 at school. Her grades had shot up again, and she had even invited a few friends round, just to keep Louisa happy. And Louisa was happy. The worry had all gone, and she even made a cake for Christine and her friends. It all felt rather put on to Christine though. She felt mixed up inside. Like she didn't really want to be here. Still, it continued, Christine just put up with it.

The day arrived for the big performance. The Phantom wouldn't be pleased, she knew. The managers had gone against his orders and he promised a disaster. She shivered. She dreaded to think what would happen. Then she stopped shivering, and sank into a trance. Her Angel's voice filled her mind; making her soul soar higher then an eagle could fly. She nearly stopped breathing. He eyes snapped open. Her breathing became heavy. Christine began to change, it was getting dark. She slid her necklace out of the box, and put it on. Then, she laid down and let sleep wash over her.

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Madame Giry sat up. "She has come..." She whispered to herself. She dressed and began her morning rounds on the girls. And yes, Christine was there, dark curls filing her pillow. She gently shook her awake. Christine groaned at her, but woke none the less.

"Ready for the last rehearsal?" Madame Giry asked quietly. Christine nodded. Madame Giry moved on, waking each girl in turn. There was an atmosphere in the dormitory. It was hard to place. It was a mixture of nervousness and excitement. When all the girls were up, they all readied themselves and began to make their way towards the stage. Carlotta was there, fully made up. No one else was. They weren't allowed to outshine their star. She was at the height of an extravagant song. Once she was done, it was time for the ballet to practice. Then, a final run through before the performance.

The orchestra struck up and the stage filled with Meg, as a maid, and three confidents of the Countess. They began to sing their various parts, Carlotta and Christine waiting for their cue.

1st Fop:

"They say that this youth,
Has set my Lady's heart aflame!"

2ndFop

"His Lordship sure
would die of shock!"

3rd Fop

"His lordship is
A laughing stock!"

1st Fop

"Should he suspect her,
God protect her!
Shame, shame, shame!"

All

"This faithless Lady's
Bound for Hades,
Shame, shame, shame!"

The curtains covering a large bed onstage swept back to reveal Carlotta, as the Countess, and Christine, as the Pageboy, in a 'fake' passionate embrace, partly covered by Carlotta's fan. They sprang apart and Carlotta began.

"Serafimo! Your disguise is perfect!"

A knock form the orchestra...

"Why, who canna this be?"

Piangi strode in, as the Count.

"Gentle wife, Admit your loving husband"

At this, he spanked Meg on the bottom, raising many a laugh for the audience.

"My Love, I'm sent to England
On affairs of State
And must leave you with your new maids"

He turned to the audience...

"Though I would happily, take the maid with me"

More laughter...

Onstage, Piangi walked out, and Carlotta turns again to Christine...

"Serafimo! Away with this pretence!"

Christine whipped away her skirts, revealing herself as a man to the audience. Carlotta continued...

"You cannotta speak!
But kiss me in my husband's absence..."

Carlotta spread her fan again, and Christine and she faked a passionate kiss behind it. They separated and Carlotta sang again...

"Poor fool! He makes me laugh!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha ,ha ,ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Time I try to get a better, better half!"

Fops:

"Poor fool! He doesn't know!
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!
Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!"

Suddenly from nowhere the Phantom's voice rang out,

"DID I NOT INSTRUCT THAT BOX 5 WAS TO BE KEPT EMPTY!" The stage and audience fell quiet. All was still. The ballet girls twittered nervously in the wings, clutching at each other. Monsieur Reyer started the song again, and Carlotta began again...

"Serafimo! Away with this pretence,
You cannotta speak!
But kiss me in my CROAK!"

Carlotta's eyes bulged out of her head. She sniffed haughtily, then tried again...

"Poor fool! He makes me laugh!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Ha, ha, ha ,ha ,CROAK!"

She stopped, croaked again and began to shriek, "Madame! I cannotta go on! I cannotta go on!"

The managers ran from their Box onto the stage. The curtains swept to a close, leaving the managers to explain the situation.

"The performance will continue in 10 minuets time..." Began Firmin. "When the role of the Countess will be sung by Miss Christine Daae!" He dragged Christine roughly out from behind the curtain. The audience clapped politely. Christine blinked in the sudden light. She was shoved back behind the curtain and taken off by Madame Giry to change costumes.

"I hope the rest of tonight goes to plan. Time is of the essence!" She said tying Christine's corset. Christine said nothing. She had just spotted a blood red rose tied with a black ribbon on her dressing table. When Madame Giry had finished, she picked the rose up and hugged it.

'He's here, my Angel...' she thought, excitement rising in her chest. She turned and looked to Madame Giry. She only nodded and showed her out. The noise died down and the orchestra started again. Christine looked up, and there was a swish of black. She looked harder, and whispered,

"Angel...?" The shadow stopped and turned. She let out a soft sigh. It was him. In all his black and white masked glory. He smiled down at her, his mask seeming luminous in the gloom. He swished his cape, and he was gone. Christine tore her eyes away from the spot where he had stood and shivered. The ballet girls were just finishing.

The audience suddenly erupted into screams, and Christine ran onstage to see what was going on. The chief of the flies, Joseph Buquet, was hanging in the middle of the stage, eyes goggling, and limbs limp. Christine screamed. He had been garroted. A cackle came from Box 5. The Ballet girls ran off squealing in fear. Christine ran too, but to her dressing room. There she looked into her large mirror, where the Phantom had first came to her. She sang into it,

"Angel of Music,
Guide and guardian
Grant to me your glory...

Angel of Music,
Hide no longer,
Come to me,
Strange Angel... "

Christine stopped and looked hard at the mirror, trying to see through it. She had to see her Angel. After a few minuets, his shape became visible, and he offered his hand to Christine. She took it, no doubt in her mind. He led her to his Lair, no song this time. But just the feel of his hand in hers made Christine's heartbeat race. They finally arrived and the Phantom led Christine to a seating area. He sat down, as did Christine. "

Why have you come here?" He asked, quietly.

"I don't know..." Christine said. She searched his eyes. Nothing, yet.

"Angel..." She began, but the Phantom cut her short,

"Erik" He said. Christine looked at him puzzled. "My name is Erik. Not Angel." He gazed at her; she was beautiful, even when heavily made up as the Countess. He stood up and walked to his desk. He picked up another rose, tied with a black ribbon. He handed this to Christine.

"You should return, they will be missing you…" Christine took the rose, and Erik took her back to her mirror. She went back to her room, and with one last glance back at the mirror, she left for the stage. Erik remained. He simply stood. Why had she come? Why? She shouldn't be with him, this monster in a mask. Erik raised a hand to his face, and touched his mask. He huffed, and then set off back for his Lair. Buquet had known too much, he had had to go. But now, a more exact revenge was in order.

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