I know, that was pretty tough, right. Sorry, but it was necessary. That was just about the worst thing that happens in the whole story, though. So, keep going. It gets good, I promise. I don't own the characters, don't sue, here's Chapter Nine!

Changes

Christine returned to her senses slowly, hesitantly, as if her mind were loathe to face this new, terrible reality. She lay rigid, breathing softly, staring at the ceiling for a few endless moments, then sat up, face set in an expression of resolve. She grabbed a bag, put several plain dresses and her most treasured belongings into it, and walked stiffly from her room, determined to leave this life and everyone in it behind her. She began to run, almost panicked, her feet bare and silent on the cold floors; she had almost reached a side door, one that would lead to her new life, when a familiar voice called er name.

Christine stopped suddenly, and stood trembling and unmoving as Meg walked up behind, and softly touched her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently, concern wrinkling her pretty face. Abruptly, the tears Christine had fought for so long broke free, and she began to sob. Meg, surprised and alarmed, pulled Christine around to face her and hugged her tightly, embracing her for a long time while Christine cried into her shoulder.

"Shh, shh," Meg soothed, running her fingers through Christine's unkempt hair. "It can't be that bad, now, can it?"

"Oh, God, Meg," Christine choked. "It was Raoul, he... he..." She haltingly told Meg what had transpired so few hours ago, and of her plan to run to the French countryside, to forget this life and forge a new one.

"My God, Christine," Meg said, utterly shocked, "we have to tell someone. The police, the managers, something."

"No," Christine said adamantly. "He'll kill me, I know. He won't let me live, I'm too great a liability. If I leave, he can't find me. No one will be able to find me. I'll be safe, I'll be happy again someday."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"No!" Christine said, even more sharply. "You have a wonderful future here. I won't let you give that up for me."

"Christine, you were my best friend when I was an ugly, ungraceful, pathetic excuse for a ballet student. I will not leave you now, when you need me the most."

"What about your mother? She raised both of us. It will be like losing two daughters at once."

"She'll understand. I won't tell her what happened," she added hastily, seeing the stricken look on her friend's face. "If she doesn't approve, I'll just leave without her consent. You're my sister, Christine, in love if not by blood. I refuse to abandon you."

"Oh, Meg," Christine said, beginning to cry again, "how could I live without you?" She hugged the petite blonde girl tightly, then they walked back to Meg's own room to gather her possessions, hands clasped tightly as if to ward off further evil.

Within twenty minutes, the girls had called a carriage and were on their journey to a new life together, far from the world where they had grown up. The trip was long and exhausting, and it was over two weeks later when they finally arrived at the small cottage that Christine's father had owned in the heart of rural France. The pair stood in front of the dilapidated white house, surveying the small, overgrown fenced garden and the now-wild orchards, abundant with fruit.

"Well, it'll take some work, but it's lovely, Christine!" Meg exclaimed, pulling the other girl up the walkway, stepping through weeds that had grown unheeded for almost twenty years. "It's the perfect place for us. We can forget Paris here, and learn to love the country!"

Christine smiled weakly, her mind still utterly emotionless, feeling like a disembodied spirit who had lost its way to the nether world. She vaguely appreciated Meg's cheerfulness, though, and stepped through the doorway after her, crossing the threshold into a new beginning.