"When we are in love we often doubt that which we most believe."
-La Rochefoucauld


The sun shone brilliantly in its place in the pale blue sky, slowly illuminating the barren and rocky land. The earth seemed to quiver in the intense heat t heat that was quickly spreading. Within seconds the entire long stretch of land was bathed in the sun's unforgiving rays as there were no mountains or shrubbery to direct it otherwise. It seemed that there was not a living being for miles. Only every few seconds a small creature would dart from one hole to the next, cautiously avoiding going into the sun's direct rays for too long.

But off in the distance a blurry, black figure was slowly making its way across the empty landscape. The outline staggered and swayed and looked as if it would collapse in a heap at any given moment. It was a man, tall and dreadfully underweight was he. He paused and staggered dramatically before letting his knees clash against the sandy terrain, causing small pebbles to fly out from underneath him. He let out a loud cough and placed his head in his shaking hands.

Christine found herself approaching him cautiously. Her intrigue and curiosity for the man outweighing the fear of what could happen.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly, trying to ignore the rasping breaths that he was taking.

His breathing seemed so labored that Christine had the intense awareness that he could stop breathing all together.

"Sir?" she repeated again "Monsieur..."

Christine kneeled down beside him and tried to brush off some of the dirt and grime that had formed on his jacket. His face still rested in his shaking hands and Christine found herself gently taking his larger hands in her small ones.

"Sir, Are you..." she trailed off as he lifted his head to look at her. He had a dark complexion, with jet black hair.

And a white porcelain mask covering half his face.

Christine dropped his hands in shock her eyes wide with an emotion that she could not name. She could only assume it to be fear.

"It's you..." she whispered her eyes never leaving the glowing mask.

His eyes locked with hers, seemingly pleading for help. He was alone in the middle of nowhere and death was on his very doorstep and she knew that she was the only one that could save him.

"Christine..." came a clear voice from behind her.

Christine turned and saw Raoul standing behind her, dressed in his very best attire looking at her intensely.

"Come Christine we must leave...our guests are waiting..."

Chrisine watched him for a moment he seemed to be glowing in all of his glory. The expensive garnishes of the suit reflecting in the sunlight. He looked ravishing, like a handsome prince coming to save her from the horrors of the world.

Oh how she wanted to run to him!

But then she glanced behind her where the Phantom was still lying. His eyes were still burning into hers. For a moment she let herself be consumed by his intense gaze. She couldn't leave him, she had to save him. She could, she knew she could. He just needed a doctor and perhaps some water. She couldn't very well just leave him!

Christine looked back and forth between the two men continuously, utter confusion filling her up completely.

Raoul shook his head slowly. "Christine, you must come with me...I love you. We must return..." he walked towards her and extended his hand.

Christine took it without a second thought. Behind her the masked man spluttered and coughed so violently that his body shook with the effort of it.

Christine paused and stared back over her shoulder. Seeing his withering figure something in her mind instinctively snapped into gear.

"Raoul stop. I have to help him..."

Christine turned over her shoulder to approach him again but found that she couldn't reach him. It seemed as if there were separated by a large glass pane.

"Christine..." he rasped desperately, his eyes flickered closed.

Christine was in a state of panic, he was dying and she couldn't do anything. She was trapped she couldn't move. She couldn't save him.

It was all her fault.

Christine's eyes flickered open quickly. She sat up in her large bed and swung her legs over the side. She was usually plagued with nightmares. Nightmares of past hardships or ones that she couldn't explain. But each one haunted her. Haunted her always and shook her to the very core.

They had never ceased since she had run with Raoul from the Opera Populaire a year previously. But it seemed to be in a whole other lifetime that she had lived there.

Christine ran a trembling hand through her hair and resolved to read to calm herself. If she could loose herself in the story of others, then maybe she could forget about her own.


"Are you excited Madame?" asked Agnes from behind her.

Christine only gave her a weak nod and let out a sharp breath as the familiar sensation of her ribs cracking overwhelmed her. Agnes finished fastening her corset and turned around to look at her entire ensemble.

"Well it seems as if it will be a very grand evening," she said passively, dusting off Christine's shoulder. "You look beautiful. I'll give you a moment."

Agnes turned and left Christine on her own. She stood in front of the mirror and took a long hard sigh.

She didn't look beautiful.

She looked like a tired old maid. Her hair hung limply from her twisted up-do, her eyes were decorated with glorious dark bags and her entire frame was too fragile to be healthy. It looked like just touching her hand would snap her in half.

Christine could hear the distant murmuring of arriving guests and the smell of delicious cuisine entered her nostrils. As mouthwatering as the scent of the cookery seemed to be it only made Christine's stomach clench in disgust. She felt terribly sick and didn't feel like anything to do with food...or other people.

She didn't fancy playing the hostess, but had been forced to play such a position on more then one occasion.

Christine exited the bedroom, not keen upon staring at her undernourished figure for any longer. Immediately Christine was surrounded with a large throng of people, they gave her friendly smiles but no one made a move to go and talk to her. Actually, if she looked closely, those friendly smiles seemed to be brimming with pity.

It was as if she had a deadly disease that they were all terrified of catching.

"Christine!"

She turned around to see who had called her name and smiled slightly as she saw Josephine, Raoul's aunt, walking briskly towards her.

"Josephine, how are you? How's the baby?" she asked politely, eyeing her large bump of a stomach.

Josephine smiled and placed a hand upon it.

"Fabulous Christine, really, this baby is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me..."

"But it hasn't even been born yet." Christine pointed out.

"I know, but I have never been happier."

Christine had to admit that Josephine seemed to glow. Her skin looked flawless and dewy and she radiated complete and utter happiness. Christine couldn't help feel a small twinge of jealously.

"Seriously Christine, This baby is such a gift to all of us. You should really be considering it darling. It's a wonderfully uplifting experience and wouldn't it be grand to have little de Chagny's running all around. They could be friends, your child and mine. Just think of it!"

Christine tried to look as if she were considering the idea at all.

She turned as she felt a hand on her arm and smiled slightly as she saw her husband smiling back.

"Sorry to intrude on your little conversation but May I steal my wife away for a moment Josephine?"

"Of course Raoul."

Christine murmured a small goodbye before allowing Raoul to pull her away from them.

"I thought we could start and direct people into the dining room."

Christine nodded and walked into it without another word. Her head pounded excruciatingly and she wanted to get the dinner over with as quickly as possible.

Raoul looked a little concerned at her sudden departure before calling out to their guests that dinner would be served.

The multitude congregated into the dining room and sat in the marked chairs. Raoul stood and caused all of the murmurs of conversations to cease.

"Welcome to our home Madame's and Messieurs. I am so very happy that you all could attend this evening. I just wanted to say that it has been far too long without seeing all of you and I hope you enjoy the..." Raoul trailed off "Christine...Christine?" he said, his voice full of concern.

The entire room was spinning and all sound was amplified in her ears. The murmurings seemed to be ripping her head apart. She blinked her eyes, furiously trying to right her vision. But the room only increased speed. She swayed slowly and barely heard Raoul's worried voice as she fell from her chair and was consumed in blackness.