The wooden box was something Meg had recovered. It would hold her special and personal belongings. The chest on the floor over by the corner wall could hold her other things such as clothes. The box was a mahogany colored square. The key was lost but the lock was that of an old fashion. At least to Collette years. The rose was safely in there along with the pouch of money. Collette didn't want to spend any of it but if she was to survive she knew she would have to eat somehow. Her diet must not vanish only because she stepped back in time. She must find a salad bar somewhere, with little carbohydrates and an ice tea. Well I suppose the normal British tea would have to suffice, but Collette knew she must have her salad. She could already feel the effects of having nothing but a few grapes to eat in the last day. For Collette to not eat would mean a bad headache would come upon her. That was done already about half a day ago.
The water fell down her throat so readily that Collette choked and spilled some out onto the street. The onlookers watched her in disgust. Collette could only shrug and blush. The head pounded less on her and she made her way into a market corner.
Collette entered the opera house with her basket filled with food to last her a few days. No salad but bread, cheese, milk and a wee bit of fruit that she managed to haggle down the price. Collette wanted to wash her mouth out with soap and maybe some Listerine after she thought about the kiss she had to present for the bargain chip. Distaste in her behavior assaulted her. Collette reminded herself that she needed the money and she needed the food. But her reputation was also at stake she reminded herself again.
"This is the 1800's, things aren't the same as they are now." She muttered to herself. Collette almost collided with Madam Giry who looked at her in annoyance.
"I suggest you be more careful mademoiselle Collette. Now run along." Madam Giry said. Although the voice was a little harsh Collette could see softness in her eyes.
Collette entered the special room. Still no one had used it. It still remained fresh and clean. A faint hint of some perfume lurked in the air. Collette smiled. She had found the perfume rolled under the wardrobe. She placed the basket on the vanity chair and sank to the floor. What a day she was still hungry of course but she would have to eat very little until she was paid that is. Perhaps she could live more finely after the first opening night. If only somehow a accident would happen to one of the girls.
Collette obviously didn't want anyone to get hurt but at least some of the girls had places to go people to see and all that. Collette had no one. Not even in the future. A tear slid down her cheek. Her mother had given her up for adoption. When they realized Collette was girl they quickly left her to a couple that loved to take pleasure in the hardships of life. Collette pulled her blouse down. The scar was still there on her rib cage. The sign of a German nazi symbol. Collette had spent her years down in the basement that held the couple's secrets. Collette read all she could on mechanical engineering, time travel, and everything a built herself a time machine. It could only be used once but that was all Collette needed.
Collette pulled herself up from the ground and began dancing a scene she did in the nutcracker play. The couple had let her take ballet only if she would pay for them. Collette was always surprised by this act until she heard of the robbery happening. Cash being stolen from purses, credit cards. Collette could only imagine the shame she would have to face. Everyone knew who it was but could not get any evidence to prove so. She was shunned. Kicked out of different classes. Until she found a private tutor, who turned out to be an ex cop. Mr. and Mrs. Badeau were arrested and Collette who lied about her age found herself to be turned out of the house in a period of two weeks. Collette glanced at her wrists. Although there were no scars faint lines were there to mark her hard life. Twice she had tried to take her life but the final cut of her skin she couldn't do. She couldn't bear to let Mr. and Mrs. Badeau win her over.
Collette began to shake, the tears were falling more rapidly. She danced harder but the tears blinded her. She crumpled on the floor and began to sob. It was over she reminded herself but the memory of the bruises and beatings she took over the years felt as though they were yesterdays marks. Collette sniffed. No Kleenex, not even a handkerchief. Collette rubbed her arms. It felt cold in here, the basket of food still sat waiting to be devoured. Collette dragged herself up again and headed towards the basket. Breaking off a piece of cheese she began her meal for the day. Surprisingly it was quite filling, it was not processed like some of the food of the twenty-first century and had a little different flavor to it but Collette found it not to be so bad.
The opera house was dark and still, everyone was in dreamland. Well, almost everyone. Collette pulled back the sheet and quilt and carefully climbed out of the bed. The bed creaked and Collette froze. No one made a sound. Collette as quietly as she could leaped off the bed, it barely made a sound but one of the girl's moaned and rolled over to face Collette. The eyes did not open but Collette wondered if somehow she knew she was sneaking out.
"I have to use the latrine." She whispered. The head nodded.
The candle only held enough light for Collette to see in front of her. There it was, the room, Collette had dubbed it her room. She entered and lit a few more candles. Collette shivered. The nightmares had returned. She was still being beaten for not rising early enough to make breakfast. Collette began to rock herself back and forth. The nightgown held her knees close to her chest. Her hair fell down her shoulders and in her face. Collette could only cry the silent tears. She shook at the memory of her nightmares. Collette thought that once she headed into the past all of her nightmares of the future would be gone. Collette shook her head and rocked all the more harder. If she were at home Collette would have jumped into the shower to wash the past away. To wash the filthiness of James Badeau and power over her.
The nightstand on the corner where the singers dancers or whatever could wash their makeup off still held a little bit of water. Collette had made sure of that when the dust clung to her earlier. There was perhaps half a basin left and the water was cold. Collette pulled the water to her face and began scrubbing. With each sob she scrubbed harder, down her shoulders across her neck. Collette gasped and tried to get a hold of her sobs. She was not a quitter. She would not let James overcome her, with one final splash of the cold water on her face and shivered as it fell down her nightgown.
Collette huddled on the corner, the light flickered and blew out.
Collette woke up screaming a crying. Where was he? He was after her? Why was it so dark? Just like so long ago…
LA
Collette crashed against the wall. She moaned as silently as she could. No use in getting James Badeau more upset or making him excited. Her black t-shirt blended into the darkness but her white sweat pants gleamed her presence. James pushed her against the wall and Collette could feel the knife digging into her ribcage. As quickly as she could Collette wiggled out of her pants while James made his mark on her. The pain was intense and Collette could only think about the alcohol breath that lingered on her face. James had been drinking and taking out his anger on whatever the day's advents gave him. James had finished his masterpiece and pulled Collette's face up to his. Collette gave him a strong kick in the groin and moved away while she had the chance. Under the bed would be the first place he would look so Collette headed towards behind the dresser. She had pulled it away from the wall earlier to get her report card that fell behind. It was a tight fit but Collette managed to get in and hold her breath for as long as possible. She could hear James looking under the bed and cursing. Then went for the closet. Collette silently picked up a bat and pushed the door closed. James rushed over to the door and opened it and rushed down the hall. Collette sighed. Lydia would make sure that he did nothing more to Collette tonight. Lydia did beat up Collette but she wanted James to herself. One more night Collette was safe.
Collette felt around her. No one was here. She sighed and sat for a while in the darkness. Collette lifted her head up, she must have been sitting there for an hour or two. She could swear she was hearing music. It was soothing, different from what she was us to hearing. It was not long before her eyes drooped and she fell into a deep slumber. It was restful and no more nightmares assaulted her through the night.
Collette woke up with a jerk of scariness. Where was she? She lifted herself up from the floor. The stiffness of her body told her she slept on the floor a long time. She slipped out of the room and into bedroom with the other girls. Some of them were up and others still slept.
"You never returned from using the latrine." Said one of the girls smirking in her direction. Collette cringed, of course they thought she was doing something else.
"I stopped at a room and fell asleep in there. I think I didn't realize where I was going." Explained Collette. The girl nodded but moved away to get dressed. Collette donned herself in a simplistic outfit and followed the girl's into the warm up area. Collette spent the next thirty minutes warming up.
Collette with the other girls waited for their practice to become. It was only a few days until it was time to rise and shine. As she knew she must have heard somewhere. The singing was constantly interrupted and tried again. The singing had to be just perfect every act had to be perfect. Collette hummed along some of the songs that she recognized from her opera CD.
It was finally the girl's turn. They danced they fluttered about, Collette copied and practiced each move along with them. There were three acts where they girls danced. They still had a lot to learn and plenty of need for practice. Madam Giry watched with critical eyes. She wanted to take pride in her ballet as she did a few years ago. Madam Giry tapped the floor with her stick. The orchestra stopped.
"Once again. Chantal pull your leg up higher." (Authoress asks the readers to look up the meaning of Chantal. It is a joke.)
Once again the ballet scenes were completed and almost met Madam Giry's satisfaction. The new owners Ansel Dupre' and Ramond Gaston watched the performance from two front row seats. They did not look displeased but their grim faces showed little pleasure.
Collette could swear she saw dollar signs dancing in their eyes and faces. Girls with great bodies, great skill, and great singing voices could bring in lots of money. The opening night was for a full house. No one knew if the tickets would be returned. The phantom had not made any appearance and many assumed him dead.
Collette finished watching the opera. Although she had listened to many opera's and under her bed many posters were hidden of different opera plays never had Collette been to an actual one. The front of the stage was lighted up with candles. The chandelier was to be lit the night of performance. The performers left the stage, the building or clean up crew came on board to set the scenes again for the next day. Collette remained even after the set was staged and everyone retired. What would it be like to be to sing in front of a full house?
That night Collette stayed in bed. The lightning flashed out the window and thunder was heard. Of course she was not scared of the dark but the noise kept Collette awake. There it was again. That music. Collette smiled and soon was serenaded to sleep. Unbeknownst to Collette someone else was watching her.