Chapter 2: The Return of The Phantom...or should I say Phantomess
(Continued in Christine's Narrative)
I took a long glare at the ring that Erik had stolen from me and gave back and then I returned it to him and then he gave it to me as a final token of his gratitude. He looked so pale – paler than I had ever seen him – and his masculinity seemed to disintegrate as I watched my poor husband die. Raoul will never be the man he was or the teacher. It was decided as I kissed Erik that Raoul had never had my heart. Erik stole it from the beginning.
I took one final glance at him and found myself in a tunnel of insecurities. Three things were certain: 1) Raoul and I were never to be wed. 2) The Opera House is in need of two things and 3) I can only be one of those two. The second option would be more enjoyable and more of a respect to Erik.
I hadn't seen Raoul since I left for the Opera House. I lived down where Erik once did and his skeleton lies in the coffin he slept in. The bed, it was down there for me when I became his student. There had been a search for me and Raoul was just about hysterical. Mme. Giry came down and discovered me. She brought me down a few black dresses and new hair band.
She also brought me down one of Erik's masks. His had shattered and he needed a new one for his death bed. Once I convinced her to hand the mask over to me, that one also became destroyed.
"Christine! That took a week to make!" I slyly smiled and she stood dumb-found.
"Madame, you said you made that mask?" She nodded. "Do you think you could make me one?"
"Christine, I don't see why you would...NO!" I smiled. "Christine, you're to be the new Prima Dona and all you're worried about is who the new Phantom will be?" I shook me head. "Alright, let's see your face." She took the measurements and went back up to the upper levels.
I looked over the room. I had adjusted it a bit to suit my living style. Erik loved the mirrors covered and I uncovered just a few to let me check my dresses. Mme. Giry also brought me a few riding pants and white shirts...and an outfit like Erik's except the fact it was fitted to my size. If I was to be the new phantom, I must dress like one. She also brought down the mask that I had her made. It gleamed but only a little. It was porcelain and fit right over the right side of my face...like Erik.
"Mme?" but she was already out of the room. I slipped over to one of the mirrors, the one by the room where my wedding dress once was, and saw myself. I looked absolutly ridculous due to the mask and I couldn't help but laugh. I felt like a child playing dress up...except this was who I was now. I was Mlle. le Fantome! 'I'll have to get used to that' I mussed to myself. My curly hair kewp getting in the way of my face.I thought a ballet bun would due the trick so up went my hair and I became what I was fated to. I checked my attire once more and found out I looked rather stunning.
I figured out later that night that I had two option. 1) I'd let Raoul look for me and never find me and presume I'm dead or 2) I could tell him I'm ok and then kill him. Thinking like Erik did - and he was right most of the time - I decided what had to be done...and it's what Erik only dreamed of doing. Kill the fop!
