Madame Giry, Meg, and Christine return to the Opera House. Madame Giry and Meg look to return to their jobs, Christine looks to return to something else.
I Remember
"Yes it is true that the Opera Populaire will be returning." Andre announced to the crowd.
"Thanks to a few patrons we were able to restore all the damages done during the fire." Firmin stated. They then continued to answer questions from the press.
"Are you still worried about the so called 'Opera Ghost'?" One man asked.
Firmin and Andre looked at each other; they knew a question like this would come up.
"No, we are not worried about this so called 'ghost'. We have heard nothing of him since the fire and no one has seen him. Most likely he has left the country, or he's dead."
"How can a ghost die?" One reporter blurted out.
Andre laughed and said, "He's not really a ghost. He was just some psycho lunatic who decided to dress up as a ghost to scare everyone in this Opera House."
'Good thing Erik isn't here to hear this.' Madame Giry thought. She was with Meg and Christine at the press meeting. Madame Giry and Meg were both looking for their jobs back. Once Christine found out where they were going she wouldn't take no for an answer.
"I'll ask the managers about our jobs after they're done." Madame Giry whispered to her daughter.
Christine glanced around the opera house; so many memories flooded her in that one moment. Though it was only a couple of months ago, the fire seemed to be lifetimes ago. One thing caught her eye though.
"Christine, what are you looking at?" Meg asked.
"Nothing, I thought I saw something…someone over there." Christine said walking towards the side of the building.
"Christine, no!" Meg grabbed at her sleeve. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I want to find out who…"
"No, don't go over there." Meg begged.
"Why not?"
"Because it's nothing. It was your imagination, you were probably hallucinating again."
"Maybe you're right Meg." Christine said, but she knew what she saw. She would pretend to lose interest in it and when Meg and Madame Giry weren't looking she'll sneak away.
"Ah, Madame Giry. What a pleasure it is to see you again!" Firmin said walking over to her.
"Bonjour Monsieur Firmin. I am here to secure our jobs back once the opera house is open."
"Yes, of course. You two are welcomed back anytime." Firmin said smiling.
Christine slowly started backing away from the crowd and over to where she saw a shadowed man watching from the side of the building. No one was there now, so Christine started checking for secret passage ways. She could not find any but knew that the side entrance could lead her easily to her old room. There she could figure out how to open up the mirror and find him.
She made it past the lobby, and finally to the bedrooms and the dormitories. She found her old room and walked in.
Everything was untouched, nothing damaged from the fire but there was dust everywhere. She looked straight ahead to the mirror and prayed nothing from her dreams would happen to her. She walked over to it and found a lever to open it.
Christine gasped at how different the passage was from what she remembered. She remembered candle bras and the walls were glowing with gold and magic. But this was dark, eerie, wet, and full of rats. She took a deep breath and walked through.
Eventually she made her way down without any harm to her. The only thing that bothered her was that she ran into 3 rats along the way.
"Shit." Christine spat out when she realized the gondola wasn't on her side of the lake. "Just great." She was mumbling as she got into the freezing cold water.
Slowly she swam to the other side of the lake, and the gate that blocks people from entering the lair was actually open. She swam through quietly looking around.
It was destroyed, just like in her dream. "Oh, dear God…please don't let this be true." She ran over to where she saw the Phantom laying in her dream. But he wasn't there. She looked down and saw a shadow right next to hers. Her heart skipped a beat and soon she felt the Punjab lasso around her neck. Christine screamed out in terror. "Stop…"
"Who are you?" The Phantom demanded in a low threatening voice.
"It's me…please let me go."
"Why should I? Do you know what happens to trespassers?"
"Angel, please…"
"What did you just call me?" He laughed.
"Angel."
"You're out of your mind." He continued laughing. "Why the hell would you think I'm an angel?"
"Because you're my angel of music...remember?" She started to cry.
"That's funny, now really… what are you doing here and who are you?"
"What? Don't you remember me?"
The Phantom grinned, "Believe me I'd remember someone as pretty as you."
Christine felt a shiver go down her spine. "Stop it, I know you remember me."
"Oh, wait! I remember now."
"You do?" Christine said surprisingly, and relieved.
"Yeah! You're that prostitute I forgot to pay." He said going for his wallet.
"What? How dare you!" She furiously slapped him across the face.
"I'd advise you not to do that again mademoiselle." She starred at his cold hard eyes and went to slap him again, but this time he grabbed her wrist and twisted it. Christine let out a cry and then he pushed her away.
"I don't know who you are, and I'm about to lose my patience. I'm only going to ask you to leave one more time. "
"I'm not leaving. I know you know who I am."
"No, and I really don't give a damn who you are." He spat out.
"Here, I'll make you remember me." Christine said furiously. She walked over and pulled off his mask without really thinking.
'Oh no, what have I done?' She thought suddenly. Her eyes grew wide when she realized what she's done.
She looked up at him to find his eyes staring into hers. Both anger and sadness were held in those eyes. At that moment she knew for sure he remembered her.
"Damn you, Christine!" He screamed, "Have you not learn to never EVER touch my mask?"
"Well it looks like you got your memory back." She said mockingly. Still angry with him, and his stupid mask she decided to tear the mask up. Little pieces fell from her hands and hit the floor.
"You bitch!" He yelled and threw her to the ground. Christine hit the floor hard and let out a cry. Soon flashbacks of the first time she pulled off his mask came to her. She remembered his wrath. 'Oh God, he's going to kill me!' she thought. But he never made his was over to her. Instead he was sitting down by his torn up mask. Christine picked herself up and slowly made her way over to him. He was obviously sobbing.
"God damn you." He screamed. "Damn you! All I wanted was to forget you! And you just have to come around like the little she-devil that you are."
"Angel…"
"Don't…don't you dare call me that!" He threatened. "There are no angel's born in hell, only demons."
"Well I'm sorry, but I don't know your name."
"Too bad." He replied.
"Listen, I wanted to talk to…"
"Leave Christine." He said lightly.
"No."
"Leave!" He said a little louder.
"No, I'm not going to leave until I talk to you."
"You little whore, why won't you leave when I ask you to!" Christine gasped at his language towards her. She then remembered in her dreams he would call her that. Rage built up inside her and yet again she went up to him and slapped him.
"You have no right to call me that!" She screamed.
The Phantom laughed, "Don't I?"
Christine paused for what seemed like an eternity. She turned around in defeat and ran away crying. She ran to the lake, swam through it, and ran back up to her old room crying the all the way back. She walked through the mirror and there she found Madame Giry waiting for her.
"Maman…"
"Christine, what did I tell you?"
"I'm sorry, I had to…" Tears started flowing down Christine's face and soon Madame Giry could no longer understand the words coming out of her mouth. She was out of breath and soon Christine became hysterical. She placed her head on Madame Giry's shoulder and cried her eyes out.
"There, there…it's alright." Madame Giry whispered comforting words to her. She started patting her hair and comforting her more. They stood there for a good minute, and when Christine calmed down she started to talk again.
"I'm sorry for disobeying you."
"Shhh, its ok Mon chéri. Let's get you back home."
Madame Giry led Christine out of her old room and out the Opera House doors.
