I'm BACK! I had a lovely time, thank you very much all those who wished me well . Now, I wrote this while I was on holiday (see I DO think of you!) and the song in this Chapter is different, but I really wanted to get as many of the songs in as possible. Anyways, that's it, keep reviewing!
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Chapter 12 - Christine's ghost?
Once again, next days rehearsals went smoothly. Once again, Madame Giry summoned Christine to her rooms. The only difference was that Christine didn't feel nervous or dread. She sat herself down in her usual spot and waited for Madame Giry to speak. And, no soon as Christine had sat down, Madame Giry stood and began.
"My dear, last night I went to your Aunt," She said bluntly. Christine went numb.
"Louisa?" She said hoarsely. Madame Giry nodded.
"She seemed particularly upset. So…" She leaned on her cane. "I want you to go back."
Christine's eyes widened and the blood drained from her face.
"G-g-go back?" She whispered, throat dry, "As in permanently?"
"No, not permanently," Madame Giry said, shaking her head, "It would only be for a matter of minuets or even seconds." She took from a hidden pocket in her dress a rose, in a light shade of pink. Christine recognised it immediately. It was one of Louisa's prize rose's for one of her bushes. She took it and smiled slightly.
"She'll kill you, you know," Christine finally managed to say. Madame Giry raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"Hmmm…" She murmured, before continuing, "You will arrive beside your 'grave' in your time and, as I have said, only for a matter of seconds. Even then you will look translucent, even ghostly." Madame Giry sat down, tucking her cane under her arm as she did so. Christine stroked the rose, eyes glued to it.
"Can I go tonight?" She said suddenly, without looking up. Madame Giry studied her face before replying.
"Yes."
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It was the evening after Christine's funeral. Louisa had not cried, she simply walked around in a daze, as if none of it was real. She had done since she had found her body. Now, she felt she hadn't said goodbye properly. Louisa looked up, her husband had gone to bed early. She looked about her, at all the many bunches of flowers people had brought for her and in Christine's memory. Most were red roses, Christine's favourite. Louisa picked up a bunch of them that were in a deep crimson colour and headed for the door decisively. She still wore her black dress from the funeral and she doubted very much whether she'd ever wear anything but black again. Christine had been so special to her, like the daughter she never had.
Louisa walked towards the cemetery where Christine lay. Tears rose in Louisa's eyes, she fought to control them. Slowly, she prised open the ornate gate and slowed her walk as she entered the cemetery. She began to sing, slowly and sadly as she walked.
"You
were once my one companion,
you were all that mattered.
You
were once a friend and daughter,
then my world was shattered…
Wishing
you were somehow here again,
wishing you were somehow near.
Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed,
somehow you would be
here…
Wishing
I could hear your voice again,
knowing that I never would…
Dreaming of you won't help you to do,
all that I dreamed you
could!
Passing
bells and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental…
Seem, for
you, the wrong companions,
you were warm and gentle.
Too many days,
Fighting
my ways,
Why can't the past just die?
Wishing
you were somehow here again,
knowing we must say goodbye!
Try
to forgive, teach me to live!
Give me the strength to cry!
No
more memories, no more silent tears!
No more gazing across
unchanging years…
Help me say goodbye
Help me say goodbye…"
Louisa had arrived at the foot of Christine's grave. She laid the roses on the tombstone and knelt next to it. She bowed her head and let a single tear roll down her cheek.
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It was at that moment, when Christine fell asleep in 1870's Paris and arrived beside her 'grave'. She wore her Parisian nightgown and her brown curls fell about her face. She was indeed, half-see-through. When she looked through her hands, she could see the snow-strewn ground through them, yet still see them too. It was most eerie.
Christine looked around her, taking in her surroundings. She was Louisa on the floor on the other side of her 'grave'. Christine hadn't realised how much she had missed her till now.
"Louisa…" She said. Her voice echoed around, enhancing her ghostly appearance.
Louisa looked up at the sound of her name and gasped as she saw Christine. 'Can it be? Can it be Christine?' She thought (Sorry Raoul-haters! Just HAD to put that!).
"Christine?" Louisa whispered, hands shaking. She took a small step forward.
How Christine wanted to give Louisa a big hug and tell her everything. But alas, Madame Giry had said she would just pass through Louisa like smoke. And Christine swore never to speak of the Futori. So, she just smiled warmly and said,
"Hello again Louisa,"
Louisa took another step forward. Was it a ghost? Or was it Christine from another place, like the grim faced stranger had said?
"Hello Christine" She croaked. She looked down at the tombstone and at the roses. She didn't really know what to say no here was her chance.
"I miss you, Christine" She said softly. "I…I just wanted to say goodbye properly…" Christine nodded, a lump in her throat.
"I miss you too…" She whispered. Louisa had tears rolling down her cheeks, she looked up at Christine.
"Goodbye Christine," She said
"Goodbye Louisa," Replied Christine. Then it was all over; to Christine Louisa and the cemetery dissolved and she was flung back onto her bed in the Ballet Dormitories. To Louisa, Christine vanished like a fog, and she walked home silently. Louisa vowed to place roses on Christine's grave every week, in her memory. She prayed she might glimpse Christine again. And at last, she slept peacefully.
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Christine lay in her bed, silent tears falling and she gently cried herself to sleep.
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A/N - Sorry about the rubbish goodbyes and the song…if you hate it SORRY again! Anyways, thanks for all the reviews and please continue!