Mouse in the Opera House: The last chapter was really Christine visiting Erik for the first time since the fire. It wasn't her imagining things again.
This chapter is kind of long, but the next one is longer. This is basically a flashback chapter. And part of the next one will be too. This will have elements of Leroux and Kay. But I added my own things and switched dates and ages around to the way I wanted it. lol. Enjoy.
The Past is Real
The long stretching maze to the lair was cold and damp. Rats were all around her as she walked blindly down the path with little light to guide her. She cautiously walked forward knowing that her Angel did have traps.
Before she knew it her heart jumped into her throat, she fell into one of the traps. On instinct she reached out and grabbed a rope that was hanging on the side of the deep tunnel. She grasped onto the rope and looked down. She saw nothing, eternal darkness. This pit could have led straight to hell. Her mind started racing and she began to panic. "Somebody…" She cried out as loud as she could. "Help me please!" But what good would that do? The only one who could help her would be…
"Angel!" She breathed out when she saw the shadowy figure above her. Luckily the rope she was hanging on was in his reach. He would be able to pull her out. "Help me, please." She repeated.
He just stared at her. Those eyes... they're always piercing into her soul time and time again! His face shown no emotion, but his eyes…Those eyes held such sadness! So much hurt and agony. He reached over the side of the trap and pushed a button. Soon Christine heard some sort of machine type noise as the trap door started to slowly close on her. "No…wait!" The light from above was getting smaller as the door closed. "Angel! Help. Don't leave me here." She cried. Never before had she felt such terror. She knew she couldn't hang onto the rope forever. 'He wouldn't just leave me here!' She thought to herself. But as she looked up she saw the door shut for good. She was alone…alone in darkness, hanging onto the rope for dear life. Alone in the eternal night. Her angel didn't even bother to help; all he did was seal her fate. The pain in her arms grew and soon she felt herself slipping. "No…Angel!" Her hands let go of the ropes.
Christine shot up from her bed once again. "Damn it!" She yelled. 'When will this end?' She cried to herself. Madame Giry walked in and over to her bedside.
"What is wrong Mon chéri?" Madame Giry said hugging her.
"Nightmare."
"They seem to be happening often."
"Yes, every night." Christine replied looking down to the floor.
"That's not good." Madame Giry sounded concerned. She decided to lighten the mood by telling her some good news. "Raoul will be back today," she started, "He actually made a great business deal. His first deal he made on his own without his father."
"Really? That's great!" Christine said smiling. "So I expect he's going to want to go to a party?"
Madame Giry laughed and replied yes. "Try to get some sleep though." She kissed her on the head and tucked her in just like when Christine and Meg were little. Then Madame Giry got up and walked out of the room. This left Christine some time to think. Her mind wandered into the past.
Summer of 1860
Christine ran across the beach feeling the sand in between her toes. She giggled while she ran around in circles looking at the clouds in the sky.
"Sweetheart, don't go too far." Her father told her.
"I won't Papa." She replied sweetly. The breeze from the sea started to pick up as she continued to run in circles making her self dizzy. But then her red scarf her father bought her flew off her neck and into the water. Christine let out a cry when she saw her new gift land far into the blue sea.
"Don't worry mademoiselle, I'll get it." A young boy said. He was about 3 or 4 years older than her. He had light brown hair and was dressed in fine aristocratic clothing. Before Christine knew it the young boy jumped into the water and swam to her scarf.
Her father walked over to her, "Little Lotte, where is your scarf?"
"It's in the water. The boy went to go get it."
"What boy?"
"Raoul!" A high pitched, obnoxious scream rang in the young girl and her father's ears. The woman walked over to them and yelled again into the ocean. "What in God's name is he doing?"
"Fetching my scarf." Christine looked up at the tall shrewish woman. A minute later the young Raoul swam back to shore carrying her scarf. Christine gasped and jumped up and down, she then ran over to the boy and hugged him.
"Raoul, what have I told you about running off?" His mother yelled.
"But maman, I went to retrieve this girl's scarf. It was the right thing to do."
His mother sighed and looked down at him. "You could've gotten hurt! And look, your clothes are ruined." She sighed, "My dear boy, this is not how a Vicomte should act. Nor is it a way a future Comte should act!"
"I'm sorry mother."
"That's quite alright, but be sure to never do such a thing ever again."
"Madame, I'm sorry about all this." Gustave Daae came forward towards the woman.
"Oh, it's not your fault. You know what they say, boys will be boys." She laughed. Meanwhile Raoul and Christine started their own conversation.
"My name is Raoul, what's yours?"
"Christine." She stated shyly.
"Nice to meet you." He said holding out his hand.
Christine shook his hand and replied, "It's nice to meet you too."
That was the start of their relationship. Christine was 6 years old and Raoul was 9. From there on Raoul and Christine became good friends. He would visit her daily at their summerhouse by the sea. Everyday they would go up to the old attic to tell ghosts stories, and Gustave's favorite "Dark stories of the North" which were mainly collections of stories by Hans Christian Andersen. But Christine's favorite was the Little Lotte story. Everyday she would ask her Papa to tell the story.
But soon the months went by and summer came to an end. Christine and her father packed up and traveled once again. It was an emotional day when they left. Christine and Raoul were crying and hugging the whole time. Christine felt like she was losing her closest friend, though she only knew him for 3 months. But little did she know she would soon lose someone a lot closer to her.
Christine smiled to herself remembering all the fun times she had with Raoul. Afterwards she and her father traveled to Paris, where he had once played at an Opera house. Christine's mind then went to what happened that winter. Tears started rolling down her cheek.
It was Christmas time when it happened; her father was diagnosed with cancer. Christine was actually born on Christmas day and that only made it worse for them. It turns out that he had it for a while up to that point, and he would only have a month or two to live. When he found out that news he immediately contacted Madame Giry. She was a very close friend to his wife, Charlotte who unfortunately died while giving birth to Christine. Then soon that horrible cold January day came when her father was called from this world.
January 21st, 1861
"Come here my child." Gustave whispered to his little girl. Slowly she walked over to him and bent down by the bed. Her face was all wet from the tears and her eyes were puffy. She looked over and saw Madame Giry, whom she already knew was her God Mother.
"Christine, I want you to know I will always be watching over you." He said slowly. "The Lord has decided to take me home to your mother. But you need to keep living. Your destiny still awaits you."
"No papa!" Christine sobbed burrowing her head on his shirt. "Don't leave me."
"I'm afraid I have no choice." He said as he started crying. "But you are going to go live with Madame Giry and her daughter at the opera house. And I know one day you will become the Prima Donna, just like we always dreamed." He said and looked up to Madame Giry. She gave him a nod back in return. Christine looked a little happier with the thought of one day becoming a star.
"I want to make you proud papa, but I don't know if I can."
"Christine, would you like to hear one more story?" He asked.
"Yes please." She replied softly. "How about the Little Lotte story?"
Gustave laughed and replied, "I thought you'd say that." He recited the story to her, and she listened just like she always did before. Madame Giry listened and wiped a tear from her eye. When he finished he looked down at his daughter and said. "When I'm in heaven, I will send you the Angel of Music." Again his eyes darted up to Madame Giry.
Christine jumped up in shock, "Really papa?"
"Yes, with his help you will become the best soprano the world has ever seen." He smiled at his young daughter but soon felt weak. His breathing became shallow and slow.
"I love you papa." Christine cried holding him.
"I love you too my little Lotte." He breathed out. And then Gustave Daae was no more.
Christine got up out of her bed realizing the time. But her mind was still thinking back on what happened so far in her life. After her father died she came to the opera house with Madame Giry. There she met a young blonde headed ballerina named Meg, Madame Giry's daughter. The young girl was full of energy and was jumping around the dormitories. She saw Christine and smiled at her. They introduced themselves and Meg comforted her, this was the first but not the last time Meg would be there for her. She would always be there for Christine; she would be her shoulder to cry on. That night Christine prayed in the little chapel the Opera House had. After hours of sitting there and no sign of her angel she went hysterical.
"Daddy, why would you lie to me?" She cried. "Where is he? I miss you so much. I'm so alone and cold." She started sniffing uncontrollably between sobs. "I want my angel." She waited in silence for 5 minutes. When she realized she was alone she laid down on the ground and fell asleep.
Madame Giry found her there the next day. "Christine, Mon chéri, what in the world are you doing down here?"
"Waiting for my angel." She replied.
Madame Giry sighed and picked the young girl up. "I guess you won't want to start ballet practice today then."
"I will." Christine stated. She needed to do something to get her mind off of everything.
She didn't hear anything from her angel that night either, and her reaction was the same like the night before. Except now she was crying more and even screaming. And yet again, she slept in the chapel.
The next morning Madame Giry returned to the chapel to find her there for the second time. "Child, the cold hard floor is not where you should be sleeping." Madame Giry said concerned. Christine did not reply. "Have you heard from your angel?" She asked.
"No." Christine stated. Madame Giry was just happy to hear her say anything though.
"I see." Madame Giry started, "Christine, are you coming to practice today?"
"No."
"Ok. Are you going to stay down here then?"
"Yes."
Madame Giry sighed again. "Ok Mon chéri." She got up and walked back up the steps to the dormitories. Christine rolled over on her side and started crying.
"Child, do not cry." A mysterious voice called out to her. It seemed to come from everywhere…like an ominous being!
"Who are you?" She said with a hint of hope in her voice.
"I am your Angel of Music." The tears in her eyes disappeared and she jumped up to her feet, like she suddenly got the life back in her.
"Angel! I cannot believe it! Thank you so much…"
"Yes my child. You are very welcome. I am here to teach you to be an opera singer. We can meet here every night after your supper to practice. But you must keep this a secret."
"Yes of course! Thank you so much!" She was almost speechless and out of breath.
"Now you should go to practice. You must live your life and be happy. No one wants to spend the rest of their lives in a cold dark and damp room. Your father wouldn't have wanted that for you. He wants you to be happy."
Tears of joy formed in her eyes as she said thanks again and soon ran off to Meg and Madame Giry.
From there on out Christine went to the chapel every evening to practice. Along with that she started to become best friends with Meg and even improved her dancing skills. Life almost seemed perfect for her. Though she never thought that would be possible with her father gone. But she kept his story book, with the Little Lotte story in front, her mother's ring, and her memories with her. And now she had a new family… a mother and sister, and her angel.
When Christine was done changing she went downstairs to the kitchen table to find Raoul. She walked over to him and kissed him. "How was your trip?"
"Surprisingly it wasn't that bad." He stated.
"That's good. Maman told me about the great deal you made. I'm proud of you." Christine said hugging him.
"Thanks. Christine, there's a party today, but I guess you wouldn't want to go."
"Actually, I'll go."
"Really?" Raoul asked clearly surprised by her answer.
"Yeah, I need to get out. Try to go on with my life." She said softly. Raoul could not believe it, but he was so happy to see a change in her attitude. Maybe having Madame Giry and Meg over was the best thing to do.
"Great. We'll leave in an hour." He said.
"Ok." She smiled back at him and exited the room.
