A/N #1: I apologize for the rather pointless previous chapter. I needed something to happen before the really big event, which will occur in the next chapter, happens.
A/N #2: I also apologize for the pointlessness of this chapter. Things just need to happen before next chapter.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Christine,
Happy birthday to you...
Erik sang to Christine on the morning of her thirteenth birthday.
Christine smiled softly. "Thank you, Father," she said.
Erik smiled back at her. "You're welcome," he replied. He handed her a small package. "Here. Open your present."
She took it from him. "What is it?" she demanded it eagerly, shaking it the tiniest bit.
"Open it. You'll see."
She tore off the glittering gold wrapping. Inside was a tiny wooden box. "Is it a music box?" she asked.
He chuckled. "Open it, ma cherie."
She opened up the box. Inside was a tiny model of the Opera stage, and in the center was Christine, her mother, standing in the middle of the stage, and she saw her father standing in Box Five, hiding in the shadows and observing her mother. The tinkling tune of Think of Me played.
"It's lovely, Father," she said to him, smiling at the familiar music. She got up on her tiptoes so that she would be closer to his height and hugged him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he replied, hugging her back. "Take good care of it, now."
"I will." She stood up and went to put the music box in a safe place in her room. She came back and sat next to him on the sofa.
"Well," she sighed, suddenly feeling rather bored, "what are we going to do now?"
He considered. "We could go outside," he replied. "Outside meaning above ground."
"What for?" she asked. "I have nothing to do up there."
"You're right," he replied. "Then let's sing." So he sat at the piano and began to sing The Point of No Return.
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish, which till now,
Has been silent...
Silent...
I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind, you've already succumbed to me
Dropped all defenses,
Completely succumbed to me...
Now you are here with me...
No second thoughts...
You've decided...
Decided...
As the music continued, the day passed. And all the while, Christine thought to herself, Another year has passed... another useless year... I want to do something with my life... I'm not content with simply living underground.