It was colder than she remembered. Her hands felt around for the blankets, maybe one of the other girls had taken them. Except... she never made it back to the dormitory, did she... Christine's eyes snapped open. She wasn't in the Opera anymore, she didn't know where she was. There was no ceiling, it was just rock. Two gas lamps lit her surroundings, there was a wardrobe, a mirror, and to Christine's surprise the giant bed she was lying in. If she could call it a bed, it didn't look like one she had seen before. She was lying on velvet, she had often touched it in the costumer's workshop. It felt luxurious, but Christine still didn't know where she was. There was no way this was a part of the Opera House or even Paris! Had something happened to her? She hadn't seen a door, but plenty of doors were hidden... She decided to stand up, that's when she noticed she wasn't wearing a dress. She just had her shift on and her stockings, that concerned her. She stood up and as soon as she did, she collapsed again.

She hit the floor with a thud. Groaning, she listened as she heard footsteps coming her direction. Panicked, she scrambled onto all fours and tried to find some place to hide. She didn't find it, but she did find the door. It swung open in front of her and she was staring at a pair of men's shoes. She slowly looked up and saw a man wearing a mask. She gasped and tried to scurry away, but he spoke.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you."

Christine recognized that voice. "Angel?" she looked up again. He nodded, "is this..." she looked up around at her surroundings, "purgatory" she whispered.

He shook his head and squatted in front of her. "You were ill, I brought you here for you to recover. When you're feeling better, you'll return the Opera."

"Where are we?" Christine asked.

"This is where I live when I am not in heaven."

Christine nodded.

"Have you eaten today, ma petite?" Christine shook her head. "Come you must eat." He held out his hand.

Christine took it and he helped her stand up. He handed her a robe, Christine put it on. He held out his arm for her to take, she leaned it to him faint from her lack of food.

"Why didn't you eat?"

"I was nervous" Christine whispered.

"You sang beautifully, but you could have had more confidence. I know what you are capable of, but the next one will be better, I am sure of it." He patted her hand as he lead her out of the bedroom.

Christine gasped as she saw the lake outside of the door. There was a boat on the lake, like Christine had seen in the park. She always saw couples out on them and dreamt that one day that could be her. He cautioned her to be careful on the steps as he led her to the kitchen. He gestured for her to sit as he tore a section of baguette for her and cut cheese and sausage for her to eat. He put a kettle on the stove for tea he told her.

He watched her eat and drink the tea. Christine spoke next, "I never thought I would meet you, Angel."

"Your dressing room is dangerous, the stove needs to be fixed."

Christine was shocked at his rebuff, but said nothing. She continued eating, demurely looking up at him occasionally. When she finished, he led her to the boat and handed her a piece of cloth. "Cover your eyes," he whispered. Christine nodded and turned around as she held the fabric against her eyes. He tied it and picked her up into the boat. Christine had always hoped it would have been more romantic to ride in a boat, but she tried to enjoy it. After the boat ride, they walked for a bit. She heard the same scrapping sound before she was standing alone in her dressing room. It was colder than before, "count to thirty before you remove the blindfold," he whispered in her ear.

Christine shivered and began counting. When she got to thirty, she shakily untied the blindfold, she looked around there was one candle lit. The dress that Madame Giry had gone to fetch was thrown on the ground. She bent to pick it up as Madame Giry burst into the room. The managers were behind her.

"And there she was lying on the ground because of the defective stove. This stove was fine for Carlotta what happened between then, did no one clean it?"

M. Firmin had his collar partially undone.

"We were too close to losing her, I insist that this is fixed before she even practices again." Madame Giry bellowed at them.

The managers looked at Christine who gripped the dress against her body.

"We will finish discussing this tomorrow." Madame Giry said shooing them out, "she must sleep now. Adieu, adieu."

She shut the door on them and helped Christine into her dress. Christine wasn't sure whether to bring up her experience with the angel or not. There was another knock on the door. Madame Giry opened her mouth to speak before the new patron entered. Madame Giry bristled as she finished buttoning Christine's dress.

"Monsieur," she began.

"Leave us," he said.

Christine looked over her shoulder as Madame Giry scowled at the patron. "I'll fetch your shawl my dear," as she stared at the patron.