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Christine slept soundly that night, better then she had in years. She dreamt not of haunting nightmares, but of the sweetest dreams, always in each dream was there the most beautiful singing voice to accompany it.
"In sleep he sang to me..."
After such a night, Christine had every intention in awaking to a bright, crisp beautiful morning that would begin her wonderful, carefree day - even if it would be filled with working in a small, cramped seamstress room. But that was not how fate had planned it, and in the end, it was fate that had won out.
Christine awoke to Meg's once again frantic voice as she jumped onto her bed.
"Christine, Christine, you must wake up and see this! Wake up!" Meg's shrill voice pleaded as she shook the poor girl's arm.
Christine forced her sleepy eyes open. "What time is it, Meg?"
"It's five in the morning. But who cares about the time? Look at this!" Meg said anxiously, thrusting a newspaper in front of Christine's face. Christine took the paper and read the title slowly, and a few times over again before she could start to grasp the meaning, as if her mind had momentarily shut down.
"Vicomte de Changy Nearly Killed! Long Lost Phantom involved?" Read the headline. Christine couldn't believe her eyes, but forced herself to read the article anyway.
" Last night, in the hour of midnight, while the Vicomte de Changy slept peaceful on his davenport after falling asleep accidently from the weariness of the long business day, an intruder snuck into his home. Strangely enough, when the Vicomte awoke, he saw that this man stole nothing, merely looking for something...or someone. Upon finding that the Vicomte was in the room, the intruder took out his sword and slashed the Vicomte upon his chest. Just as he was ready to strike again for a finishing blow, Mademoiselle Lafoife started down the stairs, after hearing the racket. Quickly the intruder tried to get away, not knowing how many were coming down, and incapable of seeing who was on the stairs. Before he succeeded in escaping the house though, it has been recorded that the moonlight shining in from the window had caught the intruder's face - or what should have been his face. Instead, the Vicomte says he saw a white mask upon his face. Horror struck him, making him fall to the floor as the intruder got away. A doctor was sent, and the Vicomte pulled through. The real question now remains - after four years, since the night of the Opera Populaire fire, and such peacefullness - has the Phantom of the Opera returned to haunt us and get revenge once again?
Christine shook her head violently, staring in horror at the article that was before her. Surely Erik had not done such a thing! And the price above his head now...why, attempting to kill a vicomte? It was a fine too large to bear, if they'd even accept money now. What chance did Erik have against the world? If they killed him on spot, would anyone think to care that someone might want justice? No, of course not. And even more thought wrenching - would Madame Giry step up and claim him? Why did her heart doubt the woman so?
While thinking of Erik's safety, there were other thoughts whirling through her mind. How could he! Trying to kill Raoul? What sense was left in the genius' mind? He already knew she hadn't seen Raoul since the day they broke off the engagement - there was no need to try to rid him from her! How dare he try to take the life of an innocent man, just trying to carry on with life, the same one that she had reduced to shambles. How could Erik be so thoughtless, so cruel?
He couldn't be! He couldn't be like this! It wasn't true - it was all made up, at least, she tried so hard to believe that as she stared at the enlarged photo of Raoul laying bloodied on a hospital bed, surely looking near dead.
No, she wouldn't believe it. Just as simple as that. She'd go down to Erik's lair, and he'd explain that he had nothing to do with it. Then Raoul would say that the press just had a field day and stretched the truth - of course there was no mask involved! That must have been just for flare. And then after that confession, she could go back to Erik and they'd live the lives they had planned the previous night. So why did the pit of her stomach churn at the thought?
No matter the outcome, Christine had to know the truth. And starting at this moment, she was going to find out!
