Author's Notes Sorry, for no update in like forever. I lost intrest in the story, but just recently I changed where I was going with it, so hopefully, I can keep with it again. Thanks for reading!
The next morning Christine happily ate breakfast, blocking all thoughts from the previous night from her mind. Raoul was excitedly telling her the events planned for the day; a luncheon with a duchess, a ride in the park, and another ball in the evening. Every day was the same. Yet, even with someone always around and her days full, she was remained bored and lonely. She was trapped in her body, a prisoner to her own mind, and was silently screaming to escape. She needed something to do, a purpose in life. She hadn't done anything productive since she left the opera house. She wasn't allowed to do anything that would be considered work and no longer had a driving ambition. All her life she had dreamed that she would always have her singing. The latter was impossible now due to the scandal and her attachment with Raoul. The former brought back to many memories that she was not ready to deal with, so she pushed singing aside. She finished up breakfast and agreed to meet Raoul at the stables for a ride to enjoy the gorgeous weather. At least riding made her feel better. She felt free of all burdens as she and Raoul raced across the country side.
At the ball, one of Raoul's friends had managed to extract him from Christine's side. Shortly after, she had found herself the center of a gathering of young men whom were all fawning over her. She was used to this sort of attention at the opera from all the gentlemen hoping to gain a "special performance". She slipped easily into the role and chatted innocently with them. Flirting, but never encouraging them. Christine finally began to relax, and even started to enjoy herself, relishing in the memories form the opera house. A man made a joke about the current fashions and she laughed. When was the last time I laughed? The banter went on for a little longer until a few women approached the group, hoping to join. One of the ladies who joined that group was Maria Bridgington; a debutante with too much confidence for her own good and a vicious sense of humor. Oh where is Raoul. Christine knew that without him by her side she had no protection from the likes of Maria. She steeled herself for what she was to come.
"Christine Daae, how surprising to see you in such respectable surroundings, it must be quite a change from that opera house you used to live in," purred Maria.
"Quite. The scenery at the opera house is far superior to any I have seen here." Christine replied coldly looking straight at Maria. Everyone else had faded out of her view as she focused on her.
"Well then one would have to question your opinion of beauty, because the last time I was at the opera I remember an extremely hideous man. And you seemed to be enjoying his touch immensely," Maria commented smirking, knowing she hit a sore spot as soon as Christine winced.
Christine saw red as soon as Maria finished. She has no right to judge. She doesn't know anything. She thought back to that night and once again could feel his hands upon her. She shuddered as she remembered Raoul's face when he was watching her on stage with her angel.
Maria continued on before Christine got a change to reply. "It's a wonder that De Chagny was still so eager to involve himself with you. You know, with the chance that he could be getting damaged goods." Maria cackled to herself as she saw Christine go livid. This will put that lowly opera girl in her place.
Christine could not believe what she was implying. She was furious at the implication but a small part of her protested. She is right, look how eagerly you embraced his advances. But I wasn't myself, I was acting. You could have fooled me. How could Raoul really know if you were still an innocent the way you acted on stage? He loves me and wouldn't care about that. Would you still be with him if the accusations were true?
Maria's eyebrow rose mockingly at her silence and went on to quote headlines from the scandal. "Chorus girl and lover blackmail opera managers into making her a star." "Opera diva involved with a maniac murderer." "Fiery inferno of a monster's love." Christine visibly winced as each headline cut through her heart. The group around them started whispering to each other staring at Christine, waiting for her to respond.
"You have no idea what really happened." Christine ground out, barely containing her rage.
This time Maria actually laughed out loud, ready to deliver the final blow. "It's common knowledge on how the Viscount likes his women loose. It only makes sense that he would settle for you because his parents approve. This must be a wonderful arrangement for you now that you have nowhere to go. You get to be the lover of the infamous Opera Ghost and when that turns disastrous, fall into the safety net that is the De Chagny family. They probably all think you are as innocent as you seem. Oh, but the Viscount knows. Why else do you think he is waiting so long to marry you? He wants to make sure you aren't carrying the bastard child of a disfigured murder. Who knows what could be passed along to the baby?" Slap
Each word said cut deeper into her heart, tearing away all happiness she had felt since the opera. With just a few words she was hurled back to feeling the depression and self loathing she tried so hard to fight off just after the fire. The very last comments Maria so cruelly spouted off put Christine over the edge and she slapped her. Disgusted with herself and despising the crowd around her she ran out of the room into the gardens, blinded by her tears. As she was fleeing, she could hear Maria crowing with victory and the others laughing with her.
Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor. As Christine distanced herself from the glowing blaze of the ballroom she began to feel a little better. She slipped easily through the gardens in the shadows, avoiding anyone else who might be wandering around. She felt an eerie calm settle upon her as she sat down, alone in one of the secluded gardens, cloaked in darkness. Huddled on a stone bench, the cool breeze and silence were enough to completely remove her from the situation. And her thoughts began to wonder once more on their own accord.
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. The accusations that Maria made began to swim around in her head, in no coherent fashion and linked to vivid images of her past; "enjoying his touch", "damaged goods", "chorus girl and lover", "Baby... Baby… Baby…" The thought of having her angel's child was frozen in her mind. She was intoxicated with the vision and could almost feel the baby in her arms. How could something so wrong feel so right?She tried to change the image in her mind to that of Raoul's child but it began fading away.
Turn your face away from the garish light of day. Tears started to fall from her eyes once more as she thought of what society must think of her. I can't go back in there. But at the same time, if I stay out here people will assume that Maria was right. Where is Raoul? He has been gone for quite some time, and he never leaves my side normally at these events. Christine began to wonder franticly, standing up to make her way back to the ball. He won't know where to find me, and who knows what people are going to tell him. She started walking back quickly, picking her way through the gardens. As she neared the window, she saw Raoul with Maria on his arm. She seemed to be telling him something important and he didn't seem too happy. Then he laughed, and he laughed hard. She hadn't remembered seeing him laugh the whole time they had been together. He looked very pleased and smiled at her as she flirted with him. The orchestra just started up a new song and he asked her to dance. And with that, Christine ran back into the gardens as far away as she could, to get away from the ballroom.
Turn your thoughts away from cold unfeeling light. What am I doing here in this horrible society of judgmental nobility? I will never fit in, I was so wrong to think that we could live our lives happily here. I wish I was back in the opera house, everything was simple there. Oh what am I to do, I wish my angel were here. Her eyes widened at the thought. Before she could think of anything else, two hands reached out from behind her and pulled her away farther into the garden. Christine kicked and screamed, but to no avail, she was too far away from the ballroom for anyone to hear.
And listen to the music of the night. While being dragged away into a carriage, she heard the music from the ballroom, swirling around in her head. And then there was nothing but darkness, as Christine lost consciousness.