chapter 3

Rebekah woke up with a groan. She felt like she had been ran over by a Mac truck. Then she realized, as she opened her eyes, that she was still in the weird basement under the school's auditorium. The strange man, Julian…or whoever he was, was watching her intensely. His eyes were such a brilliant shade of blue that you could get lost staring at them, trying to figure out exactly what color they were. All the blues in a box of Crayolas couldn't compare. It was like looking at the heart of a blue flame.

She was lying on the pile of rags, or what she thought were rags. They weren't as dingy as Rebekah thought they were. They were soft, like cashmere.

He sat in a chair close by, never saying anything. Just watching. He looked sad, thoughtful….alone.

Rebekah didn't know what to say.

Eventually, he spoke. "How are you feeling?"

Rebekah stared back, uneasy. Not answering.

Julian sighed. "Well, this is off to a great start. I thought for sure it would be less awkward this time…"

She cut him off. "This time? What the hell are you talking about. Why do you keep saying things like that? I don't know you. I have never seen you before in my life, I think I would remember…"

This time Julian cut her off. "You do know me. You know me better than you think you do. And soon you will remember, some you might already remember and just not realize that you do."

Rebekah was both annoyed and confused. This guy had obviously lost his damn mind.

When she didn't say anything, he spoke again. This time sounding annoyed himself. "Look. Do you think it is coincidence that you got the part of Christine in the play? The reason you got it is because you lived it. You were Christine."

Rebekah laughed. Out of nerves of course, but she had apparently found her mysterious rose giver. "Right. I'm the reincarnation of Christine Daae. And what are you going to tell me next, that you are Erik?", she said sarcastically.

The serious look on Julian's face told Rebekah all she needed to know. "Oh my God! You are insane!" She wasn't laughing now. She was terrified. There is no telling what this psychopath would do to her if he really believed he was the Phantom of the Opera and she really was Christine.

"Rebekah," he sounded almost helpless. "I'm not crazy. And I need you to listen to me. I can tell you everything, but I don't think I have time to. You are in danger…"

"The only thing endangering me, buddy, is you. So if you don't mind, tell me how to get out of this basement. Please! I have a boyfriend, he will be worried when I don't call him and he will be here instantly and if he hears me shout, he'll…"

"He can't do shit. Just like the other time. He wants to act tough, but all he is an annoying boy who gets in the way and ultimately causes you to get killed. You need to listen to what I have to tell you Rebekah!" His mood had gotten dark and angry, instantly.

Rebekah couldn't help it; she started to cry.

"Oh, that's really great. Crying isn't gonna make it any easier." Julian said sarcastically.

"What…what are you gonna do…to…to me?" Rebekah sniffled. Julian's features softened as if her trembling lip took all the anger from his being. "I'm sorry, I… I just don't have very much time. If I want to save you this time, I can't let things happen as they have the last two times."

"Reincarnation isn't real." Rebekah pleaded. "It just doesn't happen, it isn't possible…"

His dark mood returned. "Nothing is impossible. You are an old soul. I didn't think you were the first time, when you were Christine. But then when I saw you not too long ago, when you came back as Jenny Thornton. I knew. And then, I found out how the tragedy happened, once it happened the second time. I don't know why you came back in another body so quickly, it seems as soon as you died you were brought back again this time. That is not exactly normal, but maybe it's the gods wanting to help out for once…" he seemed suddenly doubtful. "…but why would a god help a Shadow Man?"

Rebekah was beyond confusion now. She was tired. She just wanted to sleep.

"A…Shadow….what?"

Before he could answer she was asleep. Rebekah was only slightly aware that Julian had picked her up and was carrying her before she was into a deep unconsciousness.