Ok, here's another chappy! Won't have time tonight or tomorrow to update so prepare for another one on Wednesday. I have to catch up in my other story, plus I'm adding a Labyrinth story this week so again, sorry for the delay!
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Chapter 11: No!
"Mom!" Cat cried out in the small hospital room as she ran to her mother's side. Everyone was there:Christine, Mark, Meg, Madame Giry, and even Raoul's daughter Delilah who looked half bored until Cat came rushing through the room, nearly falling out of Mark's arms who was holding her because of her condition. Raoul had met up with Cat earlier but when the doctor insisted they take some of her blood so they can transfer it to her mother, Raoul then stayed behind with the good doctor.
As Cat lay crying at her mother's side, the doctor walked in shaking his head. "Had we caught the poison earlier she might have had a fighting chance but the poison has spread too far. There's no chance she'll survive the night,"he stated.
Cat started sobbing as she clutched her mother's cold hand. She had never broken down so easlily in front of public before, but there was no need to hide it. Soon she would be an orphan, like the Phantom, and no doubt would have to return to the Americas alone.
"It's...not...fair," she cried. Mark took this chance and placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"The only thing we can do now is pray," the doctor said. "I'm sorry. I wish we had better-" But he was stopped as Christine raised her hand to the doctor. She nodded to him, a signal for him to leave, at which he did.
Everyone sat in silence as hours passed. Delilah eventually left to go home once it reached midnight and as did Meg who was very tired herself. But Christine, Mark, and Madame Giry remained with Cat who was now laying on the bed next to her lifeless mother.
Every half-hour, the doctor would return and give an estimated time, each one becoming even smaller.
Then at last, at 3:45 am, Claire Revue's heart gave up. All three adults held the young girl as the doctors were forced to take her mother's body away to the morge where she would eventually be checked for any other clues to the poison mystery.
Just as the body left, Raoul barged in and with what looked like a lawyer.
"Who is Ms. Catherine Revue?" the lawyer asked in a monotone voice.
"Who wants to know?" Mark asked.
"Relax Mark. Catherine, I'm very sorry to hear about Claire but I do have some news that might cheer everyone up," Raoul stated.
"Nothing you say can make me happy again," Cat said. This was true. More then likely, it could only be Erik's music that could have the power to reach her sore heart. He has known this type of pain, sang and wrote about. Perhaps Erik would not mind if Catherine would live with him. That way, the both of them would not have to be alone.
"I believe I can ease the pain," the lawyer stated gently. He then pulled out layers of paper. "Based on some blood tests both the doctor and Raoul gathered from you and Claire Revue, I have results that prove Claire is NOT Catherine's mother," he said.
"What?" Cat screamed.
"It's true," Raoul said as he kneeled next to the girl. "In fact, the truth really is Christine is your mother," he explained.
"What?" everone exploded.
"No! Claire is my mother!" Cat yelled.
"I'm afraid not. You see, we were just informed by the Vicomte that before the doctors could reach Claire, who was found by Raoul, that she had told him everything," the lawyer stated.
"She was a nurse at this very hospital the day you were born. She took you to the Americas in hopes that she would ransom you for some money that was taken from her when she was stripped of her title as Baroness. As a result, she did come to care for you as her own, and felt no need for a ransom. The doctors told us our child had died because there was Claire had mixed up babies. You're home now Catherine. We can be a family again," Raoul said.
"No! I won't, I can't believe your lies!" Cat yelled running out of the room, then out of the hospital. Rain was pouring down hard but Cat could care less. Her heart was bleeding. Everything she was was a lie. Nothing about her was real. Not her name, not her mother, not her life, not even the part about her past, the stories Claire Revue had told her. All lies!
This was like a big nightmare that Cat could never wake from. She was stuck here with strangers, two of which turned out to be her parents. Claire was all that Cat had in this strange society and now she was lost.
Cat suddenly felt a heavy coat cover her body but she made no move to reject it. Then a sweet voice began to talk to her.
"I never could believe you were dead. I held you when you were first born and sang to you a tune. You were a strong babe, much like your father, and I fell into a depression unlike any other the minute they told me you were gone," she said.
Cat turned to face Christine who was crying as well. "I know I cannot replace the happy life Claire started for you and I'm happy she gave you such happiness. But I can pick up where she left off, if you want. Our house is always welcome to you," Christine continued. She hugged Cat . "I'm so happy to see you again Christy."
"Christy?" Cat asked.
"Your real name, your birth name, is Christine de Chagny after me. I called you Christy when I sang to you," Christine explained.
"Please, I like Catherine. I may be your daughter, but Catherine Revue will always be apart of me and I have grown attached to this name," Cat stated.
Christine nodded in understanding. "Catherine, I will grow to like that name as well. I can not change the past, but we can renew the future," she replied. They hugged one another. "Let's get inside. Raoul and Delilah would not like it if they had to take care of us when we get sick," Christine said making Cat laughed. So, things could get better afterall.