XVII
Raoul dismounted first, before helping Christine to the ground and leading her back into the safe confines of the theatre.
"You should get that taken care of," she suggested, "its still bleeding. Madame-"
"I will go to a doctor immediately," he said, brushing a lock of hair from her face, "if it worries you. Just promise me that you will stay here, Christine. Out of danger."
"I promise," she replied.
"Thank you," he said, "I will be back shortly."
As he left Meg came up behind her, "Christine! Oh, I was so worried when I woke up and saw you were gone. Where were you?"
"I went to the cemetery," she replied quietly, "to see my father again."
"Maman, has been looking for you," Meg said, "they wanted you to try on your costumes again, just to make sure they still fit properly."
"They have been fitting them to me all week!" Christine said, suddenly exasperated, "why would they not fit now?"
"I don't know," Meg murmured, "but they're waiting for you…I have to go now. I'll see you later?"
"Of course," Christine sighed, "I'm sorry, Meg. I didn't mean to be angry with you."
"Its fine, I know how much pressure you're under. Just remember: I'm here for you, Christine, and so is Raoul."
"I know…I think I'll go try my costumes on again. I'll see you later, Meg."
They all fit, just as they had the day before that, and the entire week before that. But the designers still fiddled with them, unhappy with one aspect or another.
"They're fine," Christine said at length, "thank you for helping."
"Alright dear," an older woman clucked, "and good luck tonight."
"Thank you," Christine murmured, as they helped her change into a more casual dress, "I think I'll need it."
"Nonsense," the woman replied, "you'll do fine, dear, you have a beautiful voice."
Christine nodded her head and left the costume department. She didn't want to return to the dormitory yet, so she decided to go up to the roof. From there she could see the entire city stretch out bellow her. People were already queuing to get into the theatre. Whether it was to see the performance, so blatantly advertised with the large, seductive posters, or to simply have a place to visit, she did not know.
With a final look at the city bellow, she turned away and started her descent back to the theatre. She would return to the dormitory, talk with Meg, and prepare herself for that night.
"I don't want to do this," she breathed, "I can't do this, Meg. I can't, I just know that something will go wrong…I can feel it."
"Then don't!" Meg exclaimed passionately, "you don't have to do anything. You can refuse to go on. Christine, it is your choice. No one else can force you into this."
"I don't know…do I have a choice?"
"Yes! Christine, go and tell maman, she'll understand, she'll make sure you don't perform," Meg said confidently, "if you think you're in danger then you shouldn't go on."
"You really think, Madame Giry, would be able to convince the managers?"
"Of course, and if not then just run, tell Raoul you want to go. I'm sure he'll take you away, just like he's been wanting to do these past weeks."
"I will," Christine said, "I'll go. I'll find both of them, and if one method does not work, then the other will…thank you, Meg."
Erik stopped the carriage a block away from the theatre and climbed down from the seat. Several people cast him curious glances, but he ignored them, unhitching the horses in the street at driving them off. He couldn't return with them, but he knew that they would eventually make their way back to the stable.
As he walked he began to strip off his jacket, waistcoat and cravat. He didn't need them, and they were becoming somewhat suffocating. As he approached the theatre he had to edge around the side and keep to the shadows until he found one of the secret ways in.
Once inside he made his way up, up, up, through the theatre, until he found himself above the auditorium. With practised stealth he slipped between the ceiling and the window to the controls for the massive chandelier.
The unhooking of the chain and the pulling of the levers quickly prepared it for it's part in the night's events. If things did not progress smoothly that night, there would truly be a disaster beyond their imaginations. A disaster that would seal all their fates, and he had a feeling that things would not run smoothly.
Antoinette followed the managers and Raoul through the theatre, she had been trying to find the two men when Raoul had shown up, asking about them as well. Now that he had found them he quickly pushed her to the side to speak with them.
"We have all been blind. And yet the answer is staring us in the face. This could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend."
"We're listening…" Andre said.
"Go on…" Firmin agreed.
"We shall play his game - perform his work - but remember we hold the ace…" he explained, "for, if Miss Daae sings, he is certain to attend…"
"We are certain the doors are barred…" Andre said, following the plan.
"We are certain the police are there…we are certain they're armed!" Firmin added.
"The curtain falls, his reign will end!" they all finished triumphantly.
Antoinette tried to argue with them, but they didn't allow her a word in edgewise. How could they think that their plan would work? Erik knew every passage of the theatre, every secret that it held. They could car every door and window, have the entire Paris police force present, and chances were, they would still get away.
It was then that she saw Raoul look up, and caught sight of Christine staring down at them from the wings. A mixture of accusation and fear clouded her features, and she quickly turned away and ran. So, it would seem that the vicomte had not told her of his plan, so he quickly went off to look for her.
Christine had hardly been able to come to terms with what she had heard. They wanted to use her to capture him. Like she was bait, used to lure in a large, dangerous creature so they could capture it. But she knew it wouldn't work, they wouldn't be able to catch him.
She lit a candle for her father, in the small chapel, and tried to calm herself. But it wouldn't work, her heart was tripping and tears clogged her throat. She knew what would happen if they attempted this. He would come, and they he would take her away.
"Raoul, I'm frightened," she said, as he entered the chapel, "don't make me do this…Raoul, it scares me - don't put me through this ordeal by fire…He'll take me, I know…we'll be parted forever…He won't let me so…What I once used to dream I now dread…If he finds me it won't ever end…and he'll always be there, singing songs in my head…he'll always be there, singing songs in my head…"
"You said yourself he was nothing but a man…yet while he lives, he will haunt us till we're dead."
Christine turned away unhappily, it was like he didn't understand anything. She was terrified, and all he wanted to do was use her for his twisted plan.
"Twisted every way what answer can I give? Am I to risk my life to win the chance to live? Can I betray the an who once inspired my voice? Do I become his prey? Do I have any choice?" she asked, panic rising, "he kills without a thought, he murders all that's good… I know I can't refuse, and yet, I wish I could. Oh God - if I agree what horrors wait for me in this - the Phantom's Opera?"
Raoul sighed and touched her arm gently before tenderly replying and attempting to calm her, "Christine, Christine, don't think that I don't care - but every hope and every prayer rests on you now…"
Christine was suddenly overwhelmed by all of her conflicting emotions, and buried her face in her hands. Raoul gently took her head from and kissed her gently, but Christine turned her face away.
"I have to get ready, Raoul," she murmured.
"I'll be there for you tonight," he said, "don't be afraid, Christine."
"I won't," she lied.
Erik sighed heavily as he began to prepare for the night's events. He stared at his own reflection in the mirror as he applied stage makeup to cover the parts of his face that would not be hidden by the black mask. Then he adjusted the dark wig and put the mask on, adjusting it so it rested perfectly.
"Seal my fate tonight- I hate to have to cut the fun short, but the joke's wearing thin…let the audience in…let my opera begin!" he sang, picking up one of the many candles and cruel laugh before turning away from the scene and making his way up to the theatre.